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I keep my change in my pockets
Posts: 2985
   
Location: MN | I got dumped off our young horse on Sunday and spent the night in the hospital, what are something to do to make life more comfortable? I have 2 broken ribs (6th sn7th on the back side) a bruised lung and a sprained hamstring. I'm wrapping the hamstring with ace wrap and that has gave me some relief. But I'm open to other suggestions.
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | I broke 5 ribs twice last year within a month timeframe....it is not fun!
I literally slept in my recliner, and took alot of ibuprofen (I dont take pain pills), and would wrap my chest with an ace bandage...and laid on a heating pad. |
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| if you can avoid don/t laugh or cough don/t wrap to tight as those lungs need to expan not fun i have had 5 broke at 1 time ouch
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| No advice besides saying I'm really sorry! I hope this time goes by quickly for you and you feel better really soon! |
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I keep my change in my pockets
Posts: 2985
Location: MN | Did the doctor tell you to wrap your ribs or did u just do it yourself?
I have been thinking some support on the ribs would be nice.
Coughing hurts like hell! |
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I keep my change in my pockets
Posts: 2985
Location: MN | Omg how did you survive that?! |
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I keep my change in my pockets
Posts: 2985
Location: MN | This is last straw for this young horse, she just to skittish and flighty for this lady ride let alone my hubby. |
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 Scorpions R Us
Posts: 9586
Location: So. Cali. | Heating pad helped me alot!! Ugh, I feel for you, that was the most uncomfortable feeling. Glad you are ok otherwise! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| Coughing is really bad but Lordy Jesus DO NOT SNEEZE. My husband broke 2 ribs last year and he also slept in the recliner for about 2 weeks. and his were the front. I cant imagine what you are feeling right now. Prayers for quick recovery! |
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 Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
Location: 31 lengths farms | Do you have Lameaway spray? I'd give it a try. Not on the recommendation of my doctor but I took a concoction of Aleve and Ibuprofin. Got bucked off, broke 3 ribs, seperated my shoulder and fractured my knee cap, had to "sleep" semi propped up by pillows in a mostly reclining position for about 3-4 weeks. I got desperate one night and took a few CC's of Banamine  It tastes horrible but about 20 minutes later I actually felt pretty good but wasn't brave enough to try it again. From what I remember they do not recommend wrapping them as that typically doesn't allow you to breath fully and had caused other issues. |
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Expert
Posts: 3147
| I only had bruised ribs. I sneezed-once.
Edited by BMW 2016-10-13 8:52 PM
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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | You should not "wrap" broken ribs, and here's why. First, if you wrap to "immobilize" ribs, that is impossible, unless you are dead. Your ribs are constantly moving so long as you are breathing. They move up and down like a bucket handle. Broken ribs can't be immobilized like an arm or a leg, and that's why it takes so long for them to heal....but the good news is they always heal.
The only thing wrapping does is decrease your "tidal volume".....the amount of air that you breathe in and out. If you restrict your breathing with wrapping and taping, you increase your chances of pneumonia. That's just a known fact. As much as it hurts to breathe deep, you need to be able to do that. Trust me on this.
The mainstay of treatment for broken ribs is analgesia. This is one area where your doctor needs to give you fairly strong pain medication for at least the first week or two. Hitting painful injuries like this hard with good pain meds early will make it more tolerable later on. Commonly it takes 4-6 weeks before you are real comfortable, sometimes longer.
Don't believe this nonsense that "wrapping" is a good idea. You will increase your odds of pneumonia, and trust me, if you think broken ribs are horrible, try adding pneumonia on top of it. |
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I keep my change in my pockets
Posts: 2985
Location: MN | Bear - 2016-10-14 9:24 AM
You should not "wrap" broken ribs, and here's why. First, if you wrap to "immobilize" ribs, that is impossible, unless you are dead. Your ribs are constantly moving so long as you are breathing. They move up and down like a bucket handle. Broken ribs can't be immobilized like an arm or a leg, and that's why it takes so long for them to heal....but the good news is they always heal.
The only thing wrapping does is decrease your "tidal volume".....the amount of air that you breathe in and out. If you restrict your breathing with wrapping and taping, you increase your chances of pneumonia. That's just a known fact. As much as it hurts to breathe deep, you need to be able to do that. Trust me on this.
The mainstay of treatment for broken ribs is analgesia. This is one area where your doctor needs to give you fairly strong pain medication for at least the first week or two. Hitting painful injuries like this hard with good pain meds early will make it more tolerable later on. Commonly it takes 4-6 weeks before you are real comfortable, sometimes longer.
Don't believe this nonsense that "wrapping" is a good idea. You will increase your odds of pneumonia, and trust me, if you think broken ribs are horrible, try adding pneumonia on top of it.
I did try to lightly wrap my ribs this morning and I thought I was being strangled. So the wrap is not happening.
Pain control is the issue. I'm finding out that I can't wait the 6 hrs in between doses and have to take it 30 minutes earlier and taking Tylenol more then every 6 hrs then the doctor said.
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| A girdle |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| cheryl makofka - 2016-10-14 8:56 PM
A girdle
You're kidding, right? |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | GLP - 2016-10-14 8:58 PM cheryl makofka - 2016-10-14 8:56 PM A girdle You're kidding, right?
Oh my lordy that sounds so painful putting a girdle over broken ribs, oh the pain the pain..  |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| GLP - 2016-10-14 8:58 PM
cheryl makofka - 2016-10-14 8:56 PM
A girdle
You're kidding, right?
Nope it was the only way I could ride, cracked ribs, lacerated liver and bruised kidney. Still could only ride one horse till 6 weeks. And no I didn't wear it 24/7 |
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 Lady Di
Posts: 21556
Location: Oklahoma | Listen to Bear. As far as I know, he's the only doctor on this thread. A year ago September, I got dumped off a new horse that someone royally lied to me about and broke 3 ribs in the back. I could always lie down, and the day after I did it, I rode a horse AT A WALK to cool it down while my jockey ran another one. I did NOT try to run barrels for about 2 months and was pretty sore for at least 6 weeks. I did try to take deep breaths several times a day to stave off pneumonia. I also didn't lift anything much heavier than a pop for several weeks...certainly nothing more than 20 lbs. I did start riding at 8 weeks, but it was painful for awhile. Sitting for more than about 20 minutes really hurt, so I switched up between lying down and sitting up and really the only thing that did me much good pain wise was ibuprophen every 4 to six hours. Then, this May, I broke 3 in the front. Started riding again in July, but am just now getting as strong as I was prior to the fall....takes awhile to heal when you're 64. I'm sure (if you're young), you'll probably come back much quicker. :) Rest A LOT. Try not to get tired and you will heal more quickly, too. And try not to laugh or sneeze for about a month. Edited to say: I couldn't wear a bra, either because of where the broken ribs were....3, 7 & 8. I just couldn't take the pressure on my ribs....so that pretty much ruled out riding. 
Edited by dianeguinn 2016-10-15 12:41 AM
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| cheryl makofka - 2016-10-14 8:56 PM
A girdle
They do make a light weight elastic girdle with Velcro closures on it ... very light pressure used .... it does help stabilize your torso but not tight enough to restrict your breathing ... take it off as much as possible ..
Walking down stairs was a killer for me ... so I would back down them so my heel walking forward would not feel like a sledge hammer had hit me each time I took a step downward .... this is a trick to use for broken collar bones too ...
RECLINER is a savior for broken ribs and collar bones!! |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| I broke 4. Ribs when a dog jumped out of the Wood's and I did not know it I was very sore had some good meds. Just kept on trucking actually I was on the horse the next week. But I am not the norm. Had a test for something else showed I had 4 broken ribs |
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | cheryl makofka - 2016-10-15 12:07 AM
GLP - 2016-10-14 8:58 PM
cheryl makofka - 2016-10-14 8:56 PM
A girdle
You're kidding, right?
Nope it was the only way I could ride, cracked ribs, lacerated liver and bruised kidney. Still could only ride one horse till 6 weeks. And no I didn't wear it 24/7
You know better than that, Cheryl. |
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | dawnb - 2016-10-14 11:38 AM
Bear - 2016-10-14 9:24 AM
You should not "wrap" broken ribs, and here's why. First, if you wrap to "immobilize" ribs, that is impossible, unless you are dead. Your ribs are constantly moving so long as you are breathing. They move up and down like a bucket handle. Broken ribs can't be immobilized like an arm or a leg, and that's why it takes so long for them to heal....but the good news is they always heal.
The only thing wrapping does is decrease your "tidal volume".....the amount of air that you breathe in and out. If you restrict your breathing with wrapping and taping, you increase your chances of pneumonia. That's just a known fact. As much as it hurts to breathe deep, you need to be able to do that. Trust me on this.
The mainstay of treatment for broken ribs is analgesia. This is one area where your doctor needs to give you fairly strong pain medication for at least the first week or two. Hitting painful injuries like this hard with good pain meds early will make it more tolerable later on. Commonly it takes 4-6 weeks before you are real comfortable, sometimes longer.
Don't believe this nonsense that "wrapping" is a good idea. You will increase your odds of pneumonia, and trust me, if you think broken ribs are horrible, try adding pneumonia on top of it.
I did try to lightly wrap my ribs this morning and I thought I was being strangled. So the wrap is not happening.
Pain control is the issue. I'm finding out that I can't wait the 6 hrs in between doses and have to take it 30 minutes earlier and taking Tylenol more then every 6 hrs then the doctor said.
I usually prescribe hydrocodone 5/325 or 7.5/325. Take 1-2 every 4 hours. Hit it hard for the first 7-10 days. After that you can switch to just Tylenol, and usually that will be tough, but getting through that first week with a strong pain pill is the key. After the first 7-10 days, you'll still hurt like hell, but you can get through it. Pain pills are not evil. |
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I keep my change in my pockets
Posts: 2985
Location: MN | Bear - 2016-10-15 8:57 AM
dawnb - 2016-10-14 11:38 AM
Bear - 2016-10-14 9:24 AM
You should not "wrap" broken ribs, and here's why. First, if you wrap to "immobilize" ribs, that is impossible, unless you are dead. Your ribs are constantly moving so long as you are breathing. They move up and down like a bucket handle. Broken ribs can't be immobilized like an arm or a leg, and that's why it takes so long for them to heal....but the good news is they always heal.
The only thing wrapping does is decrease your "tidal volume".....the amount of air that you breathe in and out. If you restrict your breathing with wrapping and taping, you increase your chances of pneumonia. That's just a known fact. As much as it hurts to breathe deep, you need to be able to do that. Trust me on this.
The mainstay of treatment for broken ribs is analgesia. This is one area where your doctor needs to give you fairly strong pain medication for at least the first week or two. Hitting painful injuries like this hard with good pain meds early will make it more tolerable later on. Commonly it takes 4-6 weeks before you are real comfortable, sometimes longer.
Don't believe this nonsense that "wrapping" is a good idea. You will increase your odds of pneumonia, and trust me, if you think broken ribs are horrible, try adding pneumonia on top of it.
I did try to lightly wrap my ribs this morning and I thought I was being strangled. So the wrap is not happening.
Pain control is the issue. I'm finding out that I can't wait the 6 hrs in between doses and have to take it 30 minutes earlier and taking Tylenol more then every 6 hrs then the doctor said.
I usually prescribe hydrocodone 5/325 or 7.5/325. Take 1-2 every 4 hours. Hit it hard for the first 7-10 days. After that you can switch to just Tylenol, and usually that will be tough, but getting through that first week with a strong pain pill is the key. After the first 7-10 days, you'll still hurt like hell, but you can get through it. Pain pills are not evil.
I'm a wimp about pain. That is why I only last about 5-1/2 in between pain pills ans taking extra strength tynelol about every 3 hrs. I know be kind to my liver but I don't do pain.
I'm 53 so I hope I heal fairly fast got some pills from T.H.E. To help the healing process.
Hate to say this and to bring it up but pain pills have really messed up my bowl movements. Only had one since the fall. Taking stool soften and a powder mixed in water hoping soon for that to happen |
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | Try Miralax |
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Broken ribs human?