A question for anyone that has been the recipient of CPR

[lrrifleman]

Greetings! Please bear with me, since this is a rather unusual question.

When I have taken my classes for CPR recertification, the instructor often states that if you do the CPR correctly, you will most likely break a rib or the sternum.

About 15 years ago, when I had my accident that left me disabled, the helicopter medivac crew had told me that they had lost me twice en route to the hospital. I presume that they performed CPR, since none of the hospital records indicated any heart stoppage.

Since the accident, I have found that if I lay on my side without any form cushion support, I experience an excruciating degree of pain in the chest, as if one side of my ribcage moves under the sternum and pinching the flesh caught between the ribcage and the sternum.

I have mentioned this to my doctor, who refers me to my cardiologist, and they start with the ekg. No one has checked for either bone or cartilage damage, but this pain persists and seems to be getting more debilitating.

Finally getting to the question, has anyone here that has received CPR experienced pain like I have described?

As always, thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Beemerguy53]

Greetings! Please bear with me, since this is a rather unusual question.

When I have taken my classes for CPR recertification, the instructor often states that if you do the CPR correctly, you will most likely break a rib or the sternum.

About 15 years ago, when I had my accident that left me disabled, the helicopter medivac crew had told me that they had lost me twice en route to the hospital. I presume that they performed CPR, since none of the hospital records indicated any heart stoppage.

Since the accident, I have found that if I lay on my side without any form cushion support, I experience an excruciating degree of pain in the chest, as if one side of my ribcage moves under the sternum and pinching the flesh caught between the ribcage and the sternum.

I have mentioned this to my doctor, who refers me to my cardiologist, and they start with the ekg. No one has checked for either bone or cartilage damage, but this pain persists and seems to be getting more debilitating.

Finally getting to the question, has anyone here that has received CPR experienced pain like I have described?

As always, thanks in advance for your help!

I've never been on the receiving end, but I've done CPR more times than I can remember, and yes, you often break ribs.

 

[pawncop]

I have served as a PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) and an ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) instructor for several years.

The goal of compressions was to move the sternum 1 1/2 to 2 inches. I have participated in countless resuscitations and have had multiple fractured ribs as a result of our efforts.

I once had someone question the fractures, but I pointed out if compressions are forceful enough to circulate blood, then our patient may be alive to gripe about it.

 

[hsguy]

I wonder if an different doctor might help who deals with skeletal and bone issues? Perhaps even a thoracic surgeon who has more experience dealing with chest problems after surgery.

 

[Jon651]

Here are my bona fides in this arena:

I was a professional paramedic in Florida for 30 years and have performed CPR and other associated life-saving measures uncountable times. I taught paramedic students, evaluated intern paramedics, and remediated problem paramedics.

In addition, I have an extensive cardiac history (yes, you do learn from personal experience!) and had my chest opened during a specialty cardiac surgery back in 2001. In addition, in 2020 I suffered from split cartilage to my right ribs from my shoulder blade around to my sternum, as a result of a horrible hacking cough. That was a souvenir of Covid-19, and took me from March through October before I healed enough to get anywhere close to what I considered "normal". Every breath greater than 1/2 of full, every cough, every sneeze, and every sudden twist of my back felt like someone had stabbed me with a knife and shocked me with a taser at the same time in the same spot.

So to make a long story short, I know about suffering from cardiac-related chest pain, trauma-related chest pain, and how to treat and deal with both. Among those of us in the age bracket this forum caters to, chest pain is always taken seriously until proven otherwise, so please let your doctor and cardiologist do their magic.

As for breaking ribs during CPR the answer is Yes, it is quite routine. My sternum still "clicks" on occasion from my open-heart surgery in 2001. My floating ribs on my right side are still detached from my coughing fits from Covid (although no longer painful). I don't think injuries like this - especially to the chest and ribs which are always in motion - ever completely heal.

As for minor fractures of your ribs and/or cartilage there really is not much they do for it these days short of lots of rest and pain killers. They don't even wrap them as often as we used to because that kind of pressure could cause the ends of a bone fracture to rub together. The diagnosis of fractured cartilage usually is made after everything else is ruled out because that type of injury doesn't really show up very well on the various scans they do.

The upshot is - if it's not a cardiac issue then be prepared to spend some time doing a LOT of reading and taking pills. The typical answer to your next question is "about six weeks" if you injured something recently, but considering you have a long-term issue the answer will be "could be six days, could be six months, there is no way to tell".

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.

 

[redneckemt]

20+ years doing this only had two patients complain about aches and pains post CPR.

Count yourself lucky. Hug your family and take in the sun rise and sun set. We don't do CPR on living folks just remember that

 

[Imissedagain]

Not to drift but.... any tips about CPR on youngsters, water related as well, or might another thread be in order?

Thx OP

 

[Jon651]

Not to drift but.... any tips about CPR on youngsters, water related as well, or might another thread be in order?

Thx OP

How well you perform it is completely up to you, but here's a few general tips for CPR:
1. Make sure the patient absolutely needs it before you begin.
2. Make sure you are safe. There is an old adage in the FD that goes: "Never do CPR in a burning building..."
3. Never assume 911 has been called. It's better for the dispatch center to get 15 calls than none. Trust me, they will understand.
4. Kids are also very resilient and could recover quicker than an adult. ANY patient who receives CPR or has experienced drowning/near-drowning needs to be seen by a doctor right away regardless of how well they are doing afterwards. This is hard for some parents who have had this kind of fright to understand. Often the true life-threatening problems don't start or reveal themselves until later after they believe the issue to be resolved.

Hope that helps!

 

[v_ger]

In July of last year I had a "widow-maker" heart attack. In the ER I had a round of CPR and two shocks with the paddles. Left me purple from nipple to nipple and half-way to my belly button. Had a large knot to right of sternum and lots of clicky-poppy places. For several months a cough or sneeze would nearly take me to my knees and leave me light headed and "greyed out". Now the knot has gotten smaller and I only have slight discomfort at times. I can't imagine 15 years of dealing with that.

Related to pawncop's comment on being alive to gripe about the pain. First time I was taught CPR (back in the 1970's) it was by a crusty old Navy Corpsman fresh back from Viet Nam. His comment on the breaking ribs was "he's already dead, you can't screw him up any worse."

 

[30-30remchester]

Being on the local fire department I have seen them used but never administer the shock myself or have needed it myself. Oh, so often these forum ask advise about personal protection. Which gun, which caliber, which bullet. The theme is personal survival with a gun. However, there are many other life threating situations far more likely to get you killed or seriously injured. Poor driving is a major contributor. I have never heard of a single person on these forums ask about a defibulator. Scads of people die each year from Sudden Cardiac Arrest, that could be saved with a simply devise that costs less than a thousand dollars. Mine rides under the seat of my daily drive. Since you can't administer the shock to yourself, this placement gives us a universal go to place to retrieve it if necessary. If either the wife or I need it at home it is in the garage. If we are traveling together, it is with us. Only makes sense to have such a lifesaving devise.