i think i broke a rib (or two)

Factual Questions
1

a very stupid night of drinking ended with me badly bruised. i think i broke my ribs.

q1: is there any point in seeing a doc, other than to confirm?

q2: how long will i be in this much pain, and how long until it heals up?

2

…you’re joking, right?

  1. is there any point in seeing a doc, other than to confirm?

Well, unless you feel like dealing with something like a potential punctured lung and the resultant pulmonary complications yourself, I’d definitely see a doctor.

There also may be insurance issues further down the road, and if you don’t have X-rays, you’re screwed.

  1. how long will i be in this much pain, and how long until it heals up?

Ask the doctor. A punctured lung and the resultant pulmonary complications can add a long time to your recuperation period.

3

  1. Yes, you should to make sure it’s not a serious fracture that could result in piercing the lung. Or a complex fracture which may require surgery to correct and heal right. And you DO want it to heal right, trust me.

  2. It will hurt to breathe and talk for 1-2 weeks, hurt to cough/sneeze for up to a month, and afterwards hurt when you exercise or breathe hard, including sex, for up to a year or more.

My rib, which broke about this time last year, is hurting with a continuous dull ache as I type this post. So some people aren’t that lucky. Others say their ribs heal completely in a couple of months. It really will depend.

4

  1. As others have said, yes, get it checked out. If it’s just a simple broken rib you’ll feel like you’ve wasted time and money, because there’s essentially nothing the doc will do for you except give you pain killers. But there are complications that can come from a bad break.

  2. For the handful of ribs I’ve broken (interesting mental image) full recovery times have ranged from 3 months to a year. The first 75-90% of the recovery goes fairly quickly, but you’ll be reminded of the injury for quite some time when you do something strenous, or even twist the wrong way.

5

thanks guys, i’ll go tomorrow…

6

Just to confirm that broken (even bruised!) ribs will hurt like a sonofabitch for at least two months. Helpful hint: when you feel a sneeze or cough coming on, hug yourself around the ribs, fast.

7

Or grab a very stiff pillow to hug against your chest. The difference between vomiting in pain and wincing in pain.

8

I split my sternum in half, coughing is not something you want to ever do. Also, stay away from any animal that likes to sit in your lap, like my cat, who loved to sleep on my chest. :eek: