I’m struggling with the best title.
A week ago I fell on some ice while I was taking out the barrels for trash day. The barrel went on its side and I landed on it, with the corner of it hitting me in (or me hitting it) in the chest about halfway between my sternum and my left nipple, and at the same height at the nipple. It hurt like Fuck. As in, I lay there for about 10 seconds debating whether to call 911. I would put the incident as probably similar to taking one solid punch in that spot.
But after a few minutes it was hurting less. And after a couple of days much, much less.
I never developed a bruise, and now a week later I’m mostly fine. But over the weekend, feeling OK, I did a few things around the house (moved firewood, climbed a ladder a couple of times). Everything was OK but as I lay in bed last night it was really hurting again.
I took an Ibuprofen and it helped a lot. That was about 12 hours ago, and I feel fine again. Just a little tenderness if I poke at the spot.
I assume I’d be much worse off if I’d done any real damage, and so I’m in the since it keeps getting better, I just need to not overdo it and it will be fine camp My wife, who is prone to hypochondria, thinks I need a doc.
My reply is what I would think and do.
I would consider it highly likely that I bruised a rib and it will go away in its own. I would treat it with ibuprofen, avoiding straining my chest muscles, perhaps applying ice it if it is really bothering me, and continue to monitor. If it worsens, or does not lessen over the next week or so, I would consider seeing a physician.
I would tell myself that, at worst, I fractured a rib, and if so, that it will heal on its own in 6-8 weeks.
I would also monitor myself for any signs of shortness of breath, productive or ongoing cough, fever, or any other possibly-related symptom (and see a physician if any appear).
But that’s just me.
mmm
Also, get someone else to take out the trash.
MMM’s response is certainly reasonable.
But if those red flag signs or symptoms appear, seek help. And don’t exceed recommended doses for ibuprofen and/or acetaminophen.
I had a similar experience years ago, slipping on ice and landing on my upper right back. It took my breath away, left me gasping for a good minute. But it eased, so in my wisdom, I decided to not seek medical attention (a doctor who treats himself has a fool for a patient).
Pain got worse over the next 3 days, despite my interventions with heavy duty but non narcotic pain meds. Finally I could no longer be comfortable at all unless floating in our hot tub, which allowed me to breath with minimal pain but got me overheated quickly. ER evaluation showed 3 fractured ribs causing much intercostal muscle spasm. I did need more potent analgesia and muscle relaxers.
Over a decade later, it still aches at times.
Thanks everyone. And yeah, straining the chest muscles seems to be the thing that triggered it. When I was climbing the ladder I could feel it in the injury area, but it was just noticeable, not painful. Likewise with the firewood. It was odd to me that the actual pain didn’t come until much later.
I’ll PM you my address. Sunday nights or Monday before 8am.
Tuesday if Monday is a holiday.
I did something similar with a wheelbarrow handle, the rounded grip part jabbed me in the ribs and I couldn’t move for three or four days without stabbing pain. There was ONE position sitting on the sofa that allowed me to sleep. Not fun.
My Boss just had a similar fall. He is back from his XRays so I would tell you that he had a cartilage injury. No broken bones but the Doc said it would probably be a good two weeks before he felt better.
There are three layers of muscle that hold the ribs in place, so it usually takes a lot of speed or distance to cause severe damage. But it’s important to get checked out if there are any breathing concerns, worsening pain not controlled by simple measures, difficulty eating, persistent nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or other chronic severe medical issues; and to be sure the accident itself was due to something common, and not due to something with a medical cause.