OP
OP
I have RA and sjogrens, so I feel you. Maybe the sjogrens is making it hurt worse? This is worse than any of my five abdominal surgeries:(
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Has anyone here broken a rib? Advice needed
- Thread starter Fiction
- Start date
OP
OP
OP
OP
I think there is a good chance the RA and other conditions are exacerbating or affecting the pain for sure. RA seems like it would increase your sensitivity in the case of a broken rib. I have HS and vasculitis which has created or compounded into other issues. Anemia, fatigue, arthritis, etc. Sucks your having to deal with the auto immune stuff on top of a broken rib. As if the RA and sjogrens isn't enough on your plate.
Sorry OP
I did not break a rib, but one of my floating ribs slipped out of place and it was the worst pain I ever felt
Sneezing was awful, laughing hurt, breathing hurt and I did feel a painful pop
I did not break a rib, but one of my floating ribs slipped out of place and it was the worst pain I ever felt
Sneezing was awful, laughing hurt, breathing hurt and I did feel a painful pop
While the vast majority of rib fractures will heal on their own, we're now plating the more serious ones. For example, for flail chest or severely displaced ribs, we'll drill holes and fix a titanium plate. Can work miracles in the right patients. Got a trauma patient off the ventilator a day after we installed 7 plates.
Not only does OP have a rib fracture, but also a pneumothorax given the description of the lung lining separating from the chest wall. Only 2 common ways to diagnose that: chest x-ray or CT. If OP only got the x-ray, there is the minor concern that the true volume of the pneumothorax is being underestimated. That ER is knowingly taking the gamble of sending OP home with a pneumothorax (no aspiration attempt, no serial monitoring, no supplemental oxygen). A repeat outpatient chest x-ray should be performed within the next two weeks. Absolutely no smoking.
Not only does OP have a rib fracture, but also a pneumothorax given the description of the lung lining separating from the chest wall. Only 2 common ways to diagnose that: chest x-ray or CT. If OP only got the x-ray, there is the minor concern that the true volume of the pneumothorax is being underestimated. That ER is knowingly taking the gamble of sending OP home with a pneumothorax (no aspiration attempt, no serial monitoring, no supplemental oxygen). A repeat outpatient chest x-ray should be performed within the next two weeks. Absolutely no smoking.
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Seriously, avoiding comedy shows and maintaining good hygien to minimize the risk of getting sick helped me.
I suffered through that and honestly, there is not much that you can do...
Also accept the meaningless of good actions and humanity in general.
OP
OP
The reason I posted the gif is because as I said in the op, I broke the rib from coughing to hard because I have pneumonia:(
So....not coughing isn't an option.
OP
OP
The ER was extremely busy, I was on a bed in the hallway. They only did the xray, and told the thing was too small to be of concern.
I am seeing my gp tomorrow, so cross your fingers for me.
lol so did I. My wife was there too. Big blubbery man cries. Mine was also caused by a cough. You have my sympathy, Fiction.
ETA: I remember eating spoonfuls of honey to try and make the coughing stop
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Walk it off.
That's actually about all you can do.
Hopefully the coughing subsides so you can be a bit more comfortable.
Ya know the saying, "laughter is the best medicine?" That's not going to be true in your case.
That's actually about all you can do.
Hopefully the coughing subsides so you can be a bit more comfortable.
Ya know the saying, "laughter is the best medicine?" That's not going to be true in your case.
Uhh, they protect a lot of vital organs without costing us mobility.
I did this to multiple ribs in high school. It's completely normal and will hurt for a month or so.
Not sure if others have mentioned this, but given your situation, if the doctor has not already prescribed stuff for it, ask them to get something to help suppress the coughing.
Hopefully they already have though. I hope you get better. Try and take it easy and keep movements restricted to a position that is most comfortable for you. Ask friends and family to help with things if they are willing so painful movement is lessened for you. And see also if you can get something stronger than tramadol. Folks are correct in that this sucks hardcore. I'm surprised that tramadol was all they gave you for pain.
I'm not sure if it was a break or a fracture because I never went to get it checked but I got suprise tackled on my bachelor's party and for the next few months (up to and including my wedding) it hurt to lift, breath, laugh, cough etc. Figured the doctor's couldn't plaster it so there was no point doing anything about it.
The recovery time seemed to be in the ball park of other broken bones I've had over the years and it did get better eventually.
The recovery time seemed to be in the ball park of other broken bones I've had over the years and it did get better eventually.
Very good post.
CXR should be sufficient to rule out a small pneumothorax. No need for CT. Source, am a radiologist. Good luck OP.
you guys are not really helping Fiction here >:\
no laughing or coughing remember?
I came in EXPLICITLY for this and nothing else
Edit: OP you got change for a hundred
They actually hinder mobility for some "activities."
And "vital" is subjective.
yowza. my mum broke a rib once after a tumble on a train -- it's shitty :/
feel better soon, fiction.
feel better soon, fiction.
Uhh, your heart and lungs are objectively vital. You literally can't live without them. And ribs don't affect mobility much for our typical activities. You'd have limited mobility from your spinal column even without ribs.
You can break your ribs by fucking coughing?! Jesus Christ, I didn't think we were that fragile... Is this supposed to be common knowledge? I see like only one other person besides me taken aback by this.
OP
OP
Don't look at it as being fragile.
Look at it as being badass, because we can cough hard enough to break bones.
I had several broken ribs at one time, and while the sharp pain sounds familiar I don't recall any popping and grinding. I became an expert at suppressing every cough and sneeze, and eventually laughter after an incident involving watching a humorous youtube video.
I also broke my collarbone and shoulder-blade, along with a collapsed lung, so it was kind hard to tell exactly what was the cause of the pain. Getting out of bed was the absolute worst and I'd have to sit for a moment to recover. Once I was out of the sling and doing exercises to help strengthen the muscles, I didn't notice a popping sensation for a wile when moving my arm.
I also broke my collarbone and shoulder-blade, along with a collapsed lung, so it was kind hard to tell exactly what was the cause of the pain. Getting out of bed was the absolute worst and I'd have to sit for a moment to recover. Once I was out of the sling and doing exercises to help strengthen the muscles, I didn't notice a popping sensation for a wile when moving my arm.
I broke 2 scuba diving last year.
Pain was on the lower end, but it was constantly there.
Also don't try to have sex, believe me, it won't work. One of the worst ideas I ever had...
Pain was on the lower end, but it was constantly there.
Also don't try to have sex, believe me, it won't work. One of the worst ideas I ever had...
Ribs are terrible. I cracked one when i crashed my scooter the first time and couldn't take a deep breath.
For the doctors: is the concern of developing pneumonia during a rib break an actual concern? I was recommended to do these deep breathing exercises multiple times a day to ensure I was keeping the lung clear but I didn't. I just made sure to breath with some regularity instead of shorter ones. Nothing came of it
Today I learned that it's very stupid to jump in a thread having just read the title and not the OP. I sincerely apologize.
In one occasion, a few years after my broken rib healed, my physician treated me with corticoid to reduce the inflammation when I had such a severe cough that we feared that I could break another one. Corticoid can be quite effective to reduce the cough, and used in combination with antibiotics. Obviously, that's just a personal anecdot. I hope that your physician can find something which works for you.
OP
OP
Went to the doctor. She gave me tylenol 3 and prednisone, says it should heal up, and is having a specialist review the new xrays.
Also I start my new job Monday. Wish me luck in being able to fake it :(
Also I start my new job Monday. Wish me luck in being able to fake it :(
Good luck!
Actually, it is terrible luck to break a rib right before starting a new job.
OP
OP
Right? I can't take anytime off during training either lol
I can do this.
OP
OP
Update:
Specialist reviewed the xrays.
The hospital was wrong. I didn't break a rib.
I broke TWO ribs.
Apparently when I cough I don't fuck around.
Specialist reviewed the xrays.
The hospital was wrong. I didn't break a rib.
I broke TWO ribs.
Apparently when I cough I don't fuck around.
OP
OP
Update: pneumothorax was correct as well. I can't believe I'm walking around with a partially collapsed lung :(
Apparently it's going to get better on Its own?