Last week on usual night ride I cleared a gnarly rooty little chute and then, while feeling pretty pleased with myself about that, as it transitioned to the flat botttom trail I went flying otb. My left side took the landing on a slab of rock. Fork Oring is literally jammed into the stanchion so I must have been fully compressed with no more travel to take the sharp transition, or i struck a pedal, bike stopped dead while I carried on.
Turned into the most immense pain I’ve had in a long time. A&E confirmed nothing broken so presumably 'just' intercostals. Now 5 days later its calmed down a bit, ok while shuffling around with frequent spikes to 10/10 lasting a few seconds. On codeine, paracetamol and ibrupofen.
I’ve bruised ribs before, I know it just takes ages of time. Is there anything new in the collective STW wisdom to assist the killing of pain or the recovery time?
And how are you supposed to tackle a steep rollout with no rollout?
Busted ribs here from a stupid crash about 10 days back. Sympathies.
Did you get an x ray at A & E? sharp pain often means broken bones. Heal well, rotten time to be off the bike hope you have a good book : )
And how are you supposed to tackle a steep rollout with no rollout?
I favour the approach of: stop, look at it, dismount, walk. 🤣
If the pain persists, I'd be back at A&E asking for more / better X-rays, that sounds like more than bruised intercostal muscles to me.
No point in an xray. The treatment is the same either way. Only if there is a flail chest or coughing up blood is there a different treatment as that is then a surgical emergency
They did X-ray to confirm no emergency chest injury, then a CT scan to check neck, ribs, kidney and hips. Standard amazing thorough NHS care once you get past the 3hr queue.
So annoying. Just ordered new bike. And look at the weather. FFS.
See if gp will give you naproxen instead of ibuprofen. You might need a lansoprazole to go with it. Naproxen is fab for bust ribs
Yeah that is annoying, but sounds like the treatment from NHS was excellent! The weather wont last, will be back in June and you'll have a nice new bike to ride : )
Might be worth adding a bottomless token or a bit more air if you need to firm up the fork?
Don't forget to take occasional painfully deep breaths to avoid stale air trapped in the bottom of your lungs
Last one laughing on prime would be a good way to pass the time you need to heal
Try and get off the Codeine, it's horrible for constipation. Which will be fun grunting away with busted ribs. Or take something else to make the world fall out of your bottom... Oh, and get well soon 👍
And hold a pillow to your chest if you need to cough.
A month or so I was riding with with someone who turned out to be an NHS physio specialising in trauma cases - I don't like to worry but apparently ribs/lungs can be a serious problem. Subject came up as a mutual friend is still not back on a bike 3 months after a careless dismount damaged her ribs.
Done my ribs 3 times, twice on the bike. Usually able to ride again after a few weeks depending upon pain - you'll struggle to pull on the bars. Gets easier as you go on. Ibuprofen is no good if you have broken bones. I know this from when I broke my Spine - the consultant stopped the prescribing as soon as he found out I was being given ibuprofen when in for my long stay.
You did well getting a CT Scan - the local A&E failed to identify my extensively fractured pelvis recently.
Heal well ! Turbo time to keep fit.
I cracked 6 ribs in November. It healed pretty quickly if I remember correctly. Was on the turbo within a few days then outside after three weeks. They say 6 weeks for ribs healing time. Inter coastals I’m not so sure. I was on Orimorf. I had to stop using it as it bunged me up.
Update
Pain levels are now down to 'uncomfortable with spikes'. Spikes happening with occasional random wrong move, if i could work out what the move is I could avoid it. Down to just regular painkillers, figured it cant be good to be on the hard stuff for so long. Although I have new learning that paracetamol appears to be the worst risk (I always assumed the least risk) as it can mess up your liver function. Surprised vs codeine, narproxen, ibruprofen.
I managed the band pub gig on Saturday (frontman, guitar player and singer) by the rest of the band being full roadie / setup crew. I used my lightest weight guitar and forced yself to not jump around like I normally do. Very hard. Went realy well but may have put me back a couple of days progress! The Rock was worth it. 'Bruised Ribs tried to kill the metal, but the metal was too strong.'
I can also recommend K-tape. It feels like its keeping things stable. Just applied in a DIY style over the area. Used it before on my back with an actual physio applying it so I know it really helps for short term support.
It does feel like it could be a while before back on the bike on anything resembling a proper trail. Which is worrying as we've got a Golfie/Inners trip booked beginning of May...time will tell.
I have a bit of useful advice to share on this, so these comments aren't aimed at the OP specifically, who's gradually getting better...
ironically, all NSAIDs ( ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac etc ) are now specifically contra indicated in new trauma involving fractures, for at least 2-3 days post injury. Why ironic? Because their mechanism actually slows down the early phases of the bone healing response. Once it has kicked in and is running well, their impact on the process is reduced and they become net beneficial, whilst it's still a significantly painful injury.
Paracetamol is tricky; it's reasonably effective as a pain reliever but like all drugs, does have it's own side effects and is an oddball in the sense that your personal toxicity levels are really hard to predict.
And as most folk know, codeine is just horrible, best avoided as soon as able.
Yes - docs at A&E all said same about NSAIDs - they don’t give it in the initial days of injury now. Not just for fractures but for my type of non fracture muscle trauma too.
In my case the Oramorph and Codeine didn’t even seem to touch the pain, it was ridiculous.
Just had to shut up and put up. Could have been worse so at least there is that.
Last time I cracked a rib I subsequently caught some awful coughing disease a few days later. I can't recommend it, nearly passed out from the pain whenever a coughing fit took me.
I'd heartily recommend this to reduce the pain. (1st hand experience)
I panicked and tried to supress a sneeze with a cracked rib once whilst driving. Nearly passed out from the pain. Hope you're feeling a bit better OP.
I bust a couple of ribs around the back (8 o clock position) 2.5 weeks back. Parallel recovery from a cough was really tough, but once that cleared with antibiotics and breathing exercises I’ve felt loads better. Being a static sleeper really helped too. Early season hay fever and sneezing is manageable. Lots of walking helped through a combination of mobility snd regulating speed to promote mild fatigue and subsequent deeper breathing. I’ll start on the bike again this week sticking to gravel type stuff at first.
Had my customary April 'off' yesterday - ejected OTB and slammed into the ground on a mellow trail before I even had time to realise what was going on - I think must have had a stick flick into the front wheel and jam against the fork.
Hand took the brunt, still swollen up a fair bit, but able to at least move it now.
That initial moment of being winded sounds like someone else is sitting next to you groaning.
Or take something else to make the world fall out of your bottom...
There's some guidance on an old thread I believe about a suitable product. https://singletrackmag.com/2009/02/the-picolax-thread-returns/
Although reading the thread may impact your recovery in other ways. 🙂
Or take something else to make the world fall out of your bottom...
There's some guidance on an old thread I believe about a suitable product./
Although reading the thread may impact your recovery in other ways. 🙂
I remember that thread the first time round. Luckily for me the New Forum shite formatt8ng has rendered all the text white on yellow so I couldn’t read any of it, thereby saving my ribs from laughter pain. Forum Fail Win. I did start giggling when I read the title but I think I got away with it.
Feeling your pain right now. Heavy off on a pump track and suspected intercostal round the back, as well as a shoulder that hurts when I try and lift stuff. First time I've ever hit my head and seen stars.
I'd say I'm getting too old for this, but the reality is I obviously just need a better bike.
Ouch. Might want to go get your head checked out. Obvious advice I know but similar happened to a riding buddy who had a fairly delayed concussion diagnosis.
A mate had a massive off last week in Derby, Tasmania. Fractured pelvis and rub, lengthy extraction off the mountain but it wasn't until he got the full scan they found an arterial bleed and then a chopper ride to another hospital to fix it up. Fortunately he's been allowed to fly home now.
Apart from the ongoing pain, the really annoying bit is having to cancel all the biking plans for Apr/May and not being sure what to arrange for the summer. And losing all that winter bike and gym fitness that was about to be unleashed on trails.
Trying to stay positive, Makes me even more determined to ride whenever I can and I’m able.
