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I came of my bike last Wednesday, after hitting some ice, and landed heavily on the upper right side of my rib cage (there was a rather sickening moment when I felt my whole rib cage lurch violently several inches to the left as I hit the road).
Bizarrely I haven't bruised up (except on my hip) but it's been a very painful experience. The pain's been manageable at home and at work, so I went out for a ride today (perhaps not wisely). The slightly stretched position on the bike was immediately uncomfortable, rough country roads didn't help either and deep breathing did hurt.
I'm in rather more pain now then I was when I set out (and did hear a rather alarming cracking noise when I tensed up at home) but the NHS Choices page on rib injury does suggest keeping mobile (and warns against strapping which limits this) and I have been advised to occasionally breath deeply to keep things mobile.
The pain's bearable at all times and I really don't fancy 6 weeks off the bike but is riding through the pain a stupid idea?
I didn't go to the GP our Minor Injuries as, again, the NHS website advised that home treatment is the best option (I don't think I've broken anything but could have cracked some ribs and/or stretched/ripped cartilage and muscle).
I'm hoping that I'm not being an idiot, but then again perhaps I am.
(IANAD).
You might be alright to go spin pedals a bit, but if you mash up something technical, ride fast down a rough trail, or start jumping a lot, that could put a lot of forces through your intercostals and make the injury worse.
Exactly what I did after binning it near new year, still waiting for them to heal fully. I've been able to ride gently, but after not doing that at first and pulling the injured muscles chucking the bike up a steppy climb, it got much worse. I had a very un-fun week of cramps when walking, lots of pain and painkillers.
Take it easy. If you've actually got broken ribs, landing on them again could be a punctured lung.
The problem with ribs is that, aside from taking bloody ages to heal, is that they'll start feeling fine then you'll have to make a small quick move and they'll make you cry.
Take it easy for a bit or you risk really hurting yourself and your wife laughing at you because you can't even get out of bed.
In a similar situation 4 weeks ago, rode two weeks ago but far to painful afterwards no offroad for another two weeks 🙁
Been there, unfortunately done that.
They take an age to heal properly, sadly there's no middle ground either. They are either bruised/broken and hurting or fine.
Riding can be done Obvz, but hioking on the bars uphill and sharp sudden turns tend to bring the worst out in the pain threshold.
Advice ?
Rest, sadly that's all you can do unless very mild peddling with no real effort involved.
I too ANAD
IANAD,
My Dr was very specific OFF the bike (6 weeks) time off is a mental game.
If you had another off and fell on weakened ribs much more RISK of serious damage, so not worth it, even if just cracked.
Go see a Dr.
They're certainly rather hurty at the moment but hopefully they'll settle down.
Hoping that everyone heals quickly and get back on their bikes soon!
Keeping mobile doesn't mean go mountain biking 🙄
I've done the same though OP. Injured my ribs coming off and then riding again the next day because I was in the lake district on holiday, it didn't help one bit. I'd give it a complete miss for a couple of weeks and see how it goes, will take longer than that though.
Have you sneezed yet ? 😀
I would just listen to your body. Broken or bruised ribs are that sore that your body won't let you do anything daft.
I rode on the road as soon as I could after mine - about 3 weeks I think. The MTB was just too sore so I stayed off it for ages.
I had similar last year - managed to break a rib or two surfing. A couple of weeks later went on a cycle tour around Arran for the weekend.
Nice easy spinning and NO big efforts. Fairly easy during the first day. That evening though, once off the bike - I have never experienced pain like it!
Luckily the campsite owner managed to get me some strong painkillers for the second, shortened day.
I'd suggest a few weeks off the bike and don't sneeze!
Sounds like you need to invest inna zwift 😉
Broke 3 ribs in October and had 7 weeks off the bike. Jesus they hurt. Mine was the result of a high speed collision with a car and subsequent bounce along the road. I hit the top of the hatch/roof with my ribcage.
Day after my wife poked me in the ribs and I passed out on the kitchen floor.
Rest up, but try short easy walks. Broke a couple of ribs a few years ago + made me jump a bit when I sneezed, rolled over on them during the night, laughed...Mend well!
What everyone else has already said.
Plus, don't even THINK about getting food poisoning while those ribs are healing
I've done this three times..... probably bruised rather than broken, six weeks is a good rough guide; i got on the bike after three weeks and did gentle stuff.
First time I found that one heavy off can lead to another if your not careful - I think I got tense, tentative and before I knew it i was in a heap again.
Last time, I was a bit less gung ho and all of a sudden the pain had gone and all was well.
whatever you do don't get a vomiting bug.....
All I can add is don't ignore the advice to do the deep breathing, I did on one of the occasions i'd bruised mine, and suffered random and unexpected knife in the ribs type pains for about 2 years afterwards.
Listen to your body. If it hurts like hell, stop doing it.
I've bust up ribs so many times I've lost count. I gave up actually going to the doctor / hospital after the first time when they said there's crap all they can do really and just have to MTFU.
Since then, many bruised and at least one time I'm convinced fractured (took many months for the pain to go away fully, especially sleeping).
Each time, back on the bike within a few weeks. Just take it easy. If bumpy riding is making it painful, then just don't do that. Gentle pootle and rest up frequently.
Usually with bruised ribs, within a couple of weeks it's mainly a killer when sleeping. Serious smash and it takes longer so I'd avoid the bike a bit longer (though a couple of times have been smashes related to skiing rather than bike).
Looks like the STW Zwift club just found its newest member 🙂
coatesy - Member
All I can add is don't ignore the advice to do the deep breathing, I did on one of the occasions i'd bruised mine, and suffered random and unexpected knife in the ribs type pains for about 2 years afterwards.
That, and this time round I found out that the persistent shallow breathing you tend to do with a rib injury puts you at increased risk of pneumonia.
6 weeks off the bike is a reasonably safe bet. When I did this, I kept on trying to go back to riding too soon and makng my injury worse just by putting strain back on the ribs, which meant much longer off the bike in the long run. Keeping mobile just means not lying in bed the whole time. Oh, and you should try and do a really deep breath every hour no matter how much it hurts!
Another voice you don't want to hear I'm afraid - stay off the bike. I tore an intercostal on a riding weekend last May. As I wasn't going to miss the next day, I rode through it. It bloody hurt. It then took about 2 months to get to the point where it was comfortable, and 8/9 months later I'm still getting twinges from time to time. IANAD, but I can't help but think that if I hadn't thrown a load of painkillers down my neck and carried on 'into the gnar' then it would have got better a lot more quickly.
I had a hard fall on my right shoulder the weekend before last and it bloody hurt, I've learnt from my previous escapade and am completely laying off the MTB until it's alot better.
On another note,
Plus, don't even THINK about getting food poisoning while those ribs are healing
...and don't go out for a 'bit of a drink' either. hangover vom with rib injuries is not in the remotest way enjoyable :/
Thanks for the advice; I'll try and take it easy.
I don't think that I've broken anything but may well have cracked one or two and very possibly done something unpleasant to my intercostals and/or cartilage (I'll try not and think about the fact that I've got a week off the week after next!)