What does a broken rib feel like?

[siouxi31]

Last night I took the kids ice skating. My son, who plays hockey, just couldn't believe that I could ice skate. It's been about 4 years since I last skated and apparently he didn't remember my ability. Well, I was showing off, tripped and fell where my knees hit the ice first and then the right side of my chest went down on the ice. Apparently somewhere in that fall I hit my elbow too.
When I went down on my chest, I heard something crack. My son helped me up and I gave myself a minute to make sure everything was OK. Other than feeling badly bruised on my knees and elbow, I was sure the crack I heard from my chest was nothing because the ribs felt OK. After waking up this morning, I'm finding that my chest is very uncomfortable where it's difficult to take a deep breath. Other than that, there is no sharp pain. Could I have cracked my breast bone or a rib? What does that feel like? Is there no real pain in it and only discomfort? I'm not sure if I should go to the Dr. for an xray or not.
The older you get, the harder you fall.

 

[Jabber_Jaws]

I had a cracked rib from my car accident a few years ago. I just remember feeling discomfort. You can go for a x-rax, but if it is a broken rib there is not much they can do for you. Then again I am not a doctor, but I was told it would heal in time. I also had a broken clavicle, and had to wait for it to heal. I hope you're going to be ok.


Cheers:

 

[siouxi31]

Thanks. Other than being uncomfortable and having my pride hurt by falling in front of 3 fathers who were videotaping their little kids skating, I think I'm OK.
It seemed I had heard that nothing could be done for a broken rib. I just feel so out of whack now.

 

[ADisneygirl]

If it were me, to be on the safe side, I'd go have it checked. I've not had the misfortune of a cracked rib before, but I have watched enough doctor shows on tv to know that you might have internal bleeding from a cracked rib. Not probable, but certainly possible.

I'd get it checked. Let us know how you are.

 

[siouxi31]

Good point about internal bleeding. I think I'll have it checked just to be on the safe side. Thank you.

 

[minkydog]

Sounds like you could have cracked it. Ow~ My mother fractured my dad's ribs one time, turning over in bed She leaned on him a little too hard and CRACK! Broke three ribs.

 

[damo]

From what I've been told with my son's hockey injuries, is that if you have a cracked rib you are in a ton of pain with every breath and movement. A friend of mine just cracked hers in a skiing accident and she can hardly sleep because of the pain from any slight movement. She walks around with deep frown lines because of the pain. The doctors can't do anything for her, but they said it will take 4-6 weeks for it to heal.

 

[Pop Daddy]

I woudnt do nothing but complain and take a pill

 

[Blondie]

If you had a broken rib, it would hurt for you to breathe and make subtle movements. I'd still get it checked out though for your own piece of mind! Good luck and hope you feel better soon!

 

[C.Ann]

I've had borken and cracked ribs on numerous occasions.. Used to be that I would crack them simply from coughing too hard when I had bronchitis.. One time I was sent for a bone scan for a different reason and it showed that I was walking around with a cracked rib right then..

Sometimes the pain is severe - sometimes it's a dull ache - sometimes it hurts with every breath - other times only with a deep breath.. I would suggest you go and have an x-ray just to be on the safe side..

During one of my bouts the doctor put me on some heavy-duty pain medication because he was afraid I would develop pneumonia from shallow breathing.. Best to have it checked out!

 

[momsgoofy]

Now, I'm not a doctor nor do I play one on TV....But, my dad had 3 compression fractures last winter, 2 ribs and 1 vertabrae. The first occurred right before Christmas when he lifted 2 (1rib & 1vertabrae) 70# bags of sand into the bed of his truck and the other...we haven't a clue. But, with the first fractures Dad walked around for about 2 weeks before going to the ER...at Christmas he complained of his stomach hurting and that he couldn't get a good breath. Well, his doctor put him in a brace...reminded me of a 19th century woman's corset...after the first ER visit. After he complained that it didn't feel comfortable...too blasted tight, he said...made breathing harder (he has pulmonary fibrosis also), so the doc fitted him for his "turtle shell" brace...formed plastic material that reminded me of the breastplates worn by knights. In my dad's case, it ended up that he has osteoporosis.

But, I'd give anyone the same advice I gave him, but he's stubborn and didn't listen at first....get it checked out...better to know what is causing the pain and if anything can be done about it...or at least if they won't put ya in a brace like they did my dad, then you will be told if there is any restricted movements or such. And IF the doctors give you orders to follow...then follow them. Dad was way too stubborn and that is how the 3rd fracture happened...refused to wear that brace...and even then he didn't do as told 100% of the time...he wore that thing for almost 6 months because of it.

I do hope you're feeling better soon! After watching my dad last winter I wouldn't wish a back injury on anyone!

 

[iMom]

My dh is just recovering from 3 fractured ribs from a snowboarding accident. He fell with his elbow hitting his chest. At first he didn't feel it was that bad. It hurt some but not so bad that he couldn't stand it. The pain got worse and a few days later we were in the hospital.

No, they don't do anything like wrapping you for broken ribs (because that constricts the lungs) but the bigger problems are the risk for pneumonia, pneumothorax (collpased lung) and for lacerations to the liver.

I would suggest going to the hospital and getting checked out. They will most likely give you xrays and a ct scan if they are worried. The fact that it is hurting you to breathe deeply will probably warrant the ct scan (that was one reason they did it for my dh). They will give you medicine and most likely a breathing apparatus that you suck air from to help expand your lungs. It will hurt but it is good for you since it can help keep you from getting pneumonia. They also gave my dh antibiotics because in just the 4 days it took for us to come home and go to the hospital (we were out of the country) he was already starting to develop pneumonia.

It's better to be safe than sorry in these cases.

 

[Syrreal]

sorry everyone, the iMom post was by me. I was showing my mil about the dis and getting her setup and didn't realize that I was still logged in by her.
So in the post above just change dh to ds

 

[figment52]

From what I've been told with my son's hockey injuries, is that if you have a cracked rib you are in a ton of pain with every breath and movement. A friend of mine just cracked hers in a skiing accident and she can hardly sleep because of the pain from any slight movement. She walks around with deep frown lines because of the pain. The doctors can't do anything for her, but they said it will take 4-6 weeks for it to heal.

That would be true depending on which rib was cracked. Some cracked ribs can cause more damage than others if you put additional stress on them.

I cracked two ribs and broke one and had to sleep sitting up, at not less than a 45 degree angle, for several weeks because they were concerned that rolling in my sleep could cause futher damage. The rib cage protect some rather vital organs.

 

[daisyduck123]

I'd go & get it checked out. I hope everything's ok.

I had a fractured rib once...I don't remember it though...I was 10 months old & my father had let me roll off of the changing table.