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05/26/2007 12:51:50 PM · #1 |
...RIBS!
After a trip to the emergency room in the early hours of this morning it's official...the 'stumble' I took yesterday has resulted in 2 cracked ribs on my right side :o(
Just wondering if any of you guys have cracked a rib or 2 and if so, just how did you manage to get comfortable enough to sleep??!
Cheers - Natalya :o)
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05/26/2007 12:58:21 PM · #2 |
| Ouch! So sorry to hear that. I've never personally had cracked ribs, but my Dad cracked four in an auto accident. He said it was about the most painful injury he ever sustained, and he did have a devil of a time getting comfortable for a while. |
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05/26/2007 01:00:59 PM · #3 |
talj!!! {gives a very gently hug}
be careful.
nard's ribs aren't cracked, but after his open heart surgery last month, he found that propping up in an almost upright position with like 10 pillows eased the discomfort some. |
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05/26/2007 01:02:41 PM · #4 |
Oh my goodness! I've never broken a rib so I have no advice except take it easy and heal quuickly!!
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05/26/2007 01:04:29 PM · #5 |
I've done the same and unfortunatly you don't really get comfortable. The bad part is getting out of bed in the morning as that is the real pain. I don't envy you right now, good luck and get well soon.
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05/26/2007 01:09:58 PM · #6 |
ouch...
I did the exact same thing a few years back falling down a flight of stairs outside in the dark - very painful - plus there's not a lot the doctor can do. I found, similar to what karmat mentioned, propping myself up about a third of the way to a sitting position helps. good luck - I hope you feel better soon. |
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05/26/2007 01:12:12 PM · #7 |
Done that. I ran into a car - literally - and broke a rib on my right side. The good thing is that bones heal fairly quickly. Comfort? Probably not for the first week. Take drugs and don't hold your breath, even if it hurts to breathe deeply.
So sorry! Let us know how you progress. |
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05/26/2007 01:23:43 PM · #8 |
I had 5 broken ribs at one time, a TIGHT elastic wrap around my middle helped some, as did a semi-upright sleeping position.
The elastic wrap was similar to this one : Wrap
Message edited by author 2007-05-26 14:11:28.
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05/26/2007 01:25:54 PM · #9 |
It's a good excuse to sleep in a recliner in front of the TV. You'll have a hard time sleeping at first, but at least you can discover the weird joys of late-night cable. Sorry to hear this happened to you.
R.
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05/26/2007 01:34:41 PM · #10 |
YES!! and it hurts like hell.
When I was a forklift operator for a local mill (about 20 years ago). My forklift was one that had 2-12" polls to pick up roll of cloth, some weighed 1000 lbs or more. We would stack them like a pyramid and when we had to pull a roll it may not be on top so we would have to move rolls off the top to get to the one we needed. I was doing that and an stack of roll fell on my forklift forks while they were about 5 foot of the ground. The weight of the rolls hitting my forks lifted the back of my fork lift off the ground and when it slammed back to the ground it gave me a big jar. Forklifts have no shocks so I slammed down in my seat as hard as the large forklift hit the ground.
Immediate pain on my left side below the chest around my mid section. I drove myself to ER. I had broken my support rib. That's the rib that goes down and around to the back that all the ribs connect too. Sleep? yea right, how do you lay to keep the pressure off? The best thing is wrapping it up to keep it tight. In my case I could not wrap it because it would put pressure on the broken support rib. Took a few weeks to get better or a least enough to get good sleep.
Message edited by author 2007-05-26 13:37:27.
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05/26/2007 02:15:18 PM · #11 |
Thanks to you all for your replies...I had a feeling there wouldn't be a good way to get any sleep :o( It would have been better had I damaged the left side as that is the side my bad leg is....as it is now I won't be able to sleep on my right because of the ribs and I cant sleep on my left due to the pain in my leg...B*GGER!
Thanks for the extra pillow idea, I am going to try that tonight...I'm actually finding just sitting the chair quite painful too...maybe it's the slightly scrunched up position?
It's good to hear these things seem to heal themselves pretty quick though!
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05/26/2007 02:27:46 PM · #12 |
 talj I am so sorry to hear that this has happened to you on top of all your other medical problems.
A broken rib is a tough problem, as you can't just stop breathing to be still and get some relief. I broke a couple a few years ago, and it took me about 2 years before I could sleep with that side down again.
I think that the latest is that they have abandoned the "wrap it all up with tape" routine that they used to do for broken ribs.
Whatever you can do, if it feels better, it is better for the ribs. I don't think there is any one solution, you will just have to experiment to find ways to live with it untill it gets better. It's really bad that your leg on the other side don't allow you to sleep either way. Try a pillow or folded blanket under your matress where your knees rest, and maybe you can be a little more comfortable sleeping on your back.
I hope that the break was the extent of the injuries and that it will heal quickly for you.
Prayers and best wishes for you,
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05/26/2007 03:07:36 PM · #13 |
MelonMusketeer is right, they don't encourage wrapping broken ribs any more, because when they're wrapped, you tend to breathe more shallowly, which increases the risk of contracting pneumonia.
Put all the pillows you've got on your bed and just try to arrange yourself around them; sometimes elevating your arms or legs will help. Also, you might consider trying to wake yourself up an hour or two early and taking your painkillers then -- this will give them time to take effect before you actually have to get out of bed.
Best wishes. |
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