Things you discover with a rib injury. PSA post#29

[LVSteve]

Through not paying attention to the concrete/gravel interface of my sloping driveway, gravity got the better of me Wednesday evening. Got the wind knocked out of me by the edge of the concrete. Fortunately, it was rounded. No blood drawn or even a visible bruise, but I clearly had some sort of issue on the part of the body that took the impact.

Doc in the local quick care diagnosed an intercostal muscle strain and wrote me three prescriptions. Here are a few things I have learned in the last few days.

1) They don't strap you up for rib injuries any more.

2) If you move wrong, the pain can go from a 3 to an 8 in under a second.

3) There are more ways to move wrong than I ever imagined. Your upper body moves a lot more in normal life than you know.

4) Don't put the reclining bed back to flat too quickly. Apparently your ribs move when you do that.

5) While picking up the prescribed medication, lay in a good supply of Dulcolax and Philips. Your digestive system is about to be messed up. Others may find Imodium more appropriate.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I give testament that rib injuries and laughter do not mix.

 

[Protocall_Design]

Best Wishes for a quick recovery, Steve.

 

[Greyman50]

Recover quickly, its almost hunting and out door shooting season.

 

[lihpster]

I was at work loading a curtainside semi trailer. Up inside with the curtains pulled but not buckled. Foot slipped off the edge and clawing at the curtain, which just billowed out like a matador pivoting away from a bull, down I went. Landed with my fist under me, on my side, on the asphalt below. Knew instantly I had cracked bruised a couple ribs. Lay there for a minute or 2, then went and told my Sup what had happened. Then I went back to work. I knew what the treatment would be at the docs, so why go. Let me tell you, climbing up and down on a forklift for 10 hours a day ain't easy with hurt ribs.
I feel for ya. Hope you feel better sooner rather than later.

 

[tlawler]

I give testament that rib injuries and laughter do not mix.

Amen to that! Don’t watch comedies and try not to think funny thoughts.

 

[walkin jack]

I learned:
.to sleep sitting up
.not to take deep breaths
.not to cough
.not to sneeze
.not to laugh
.not to bend over

Some of those things I was not able to control. But the laughter wasn't much of a problem...not many things struck me as funny.

 

[lihpster]

Amen to that! Don’t watch comedies and try not to think funny thoughts.

Most of my thoughts are a bit funny. occasionally, some are even humorous.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Had 2 lung cancer surgeries which cracked my ribs. First one led to a long uncomfortable recuperation. Second one was preceded by acupuncture, which massively lessened the pain and recuperation time.


Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk

 

[Onomea]

Ouch! Best wishes for a swift recovery, Steve.

 

[Rustyt1953]

...try not to think funny thoughts.

That's like saying don't blink. Nigh on impossible.

 

[sureshotbob]

Years ago working as a sprinkler fitter I was on call for the week.

On a Friday night a blizzard and freezing temps hit Ct.

My second call was too a National Guard Armory that was sheltering homeless .

A pipe froze and burst in a stairwell flooding the stairwell and out to a loading dock.

I was just about done and taking tools out to my truck when I ended falling down 4 stairs flat onto my back getting the wind knocked out of me.

That weekend I ended up by Monday morning working 40 hrs with 2 broken ribs.

I finally went to the E.R. 7:00 am Monday morning taking a few days off but the first day back to work I had to go back to the Armory by my self and set up a extension ladder up in the stairwell to finish the repair to the burst pipe that I had plugged off.

 

[arjay]

Ugh. I fell through a roof raking my ribs on the rafters as I dropped.They ached for a long time and I was young…

 

[LVSteve]

Oh dear, I see I'm not the first. Yes, laughter is not the best medicine in this case.

 

[Rustyt1953]

After they wired my sternum back together and sent me home they told me to try not to sneeze, cough or laugh and take laxatives and let gravity do the work.

Not laughing was indeed the most difficult.

 

[Mule Packer]

Steve, having received a few different rib injuries due to being bucked, thrown, and unceremoniously dumped from young horse and mule colts all I can say is...an incentive spirometer is your friend. Really. If your doctor didn't give you one, I'd ask.

It will help prevent lung infections and help keep mucus and other gunk from your lungs. Right now, you're undoubtedly taking several short breaths. A spirometer will strengthen your lungs and help you breathe normally again.

Hope you're feeling better soon.

 

[ZGrand]

I feel for ya, LVSteve. I damaged ribs and the sternum in a motorcycle accident when I was 51. Coughing and laughing were manageable, but sneezes were the bane of my existence. Hope you heal quickly.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Chip, I, too, used a spirometer with success.

 

[YkcorCal]

I was once in a car wreck where I sprung my whole rib cage bending the steering column with it. You never realize how often you breath until every breath HURTS!

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGWF3ZsZPYs[/ame]

 

[john17427]

Fell backwards down a flight of steps to the landing, then fell off the landing to the ground. Bruises from the side of my face to my knees, broken rib, and a few abrasions mixed in. Toughed it out for about 6 hours and finally went to the emergency room. They took x-rays and tested for concussion, then told me to take Tylenol and cut me loose. I guess if there's a next time, if I can see, walk, and talk, I'll just skip the ER, lol.