Fifty Plus (50+) - Hell of a way to start 2009

Took a tumble on Jan 4th when the front wheel washed out. Bike goes right, I go left. It wouldn't have so bad except for that 4 foot drop off on the left side of the trail. Ride/walk the bike home about 1/2 mile. Kaiser urgent care takes x rays, and transfers to local ER. Cat scan shows 4 broken ribs and a partial collapsed left lung. Admitted to the hospital and on Monday a chest tube was installed. 5 days later the tube was pulled and I went. Nothing, not even my triple bypass has hurt as much as broken ribs. I only have 4 more weeks of fun. :notamused:

Bruce

Glad you were able to get home to help. This is the reason that a small cell phone is tucked into the kit (off). I tend to ride a lot of solo rides into the woods and I would like to have a chance to ask for help if necessary. I also usually leave an approximate route at home so they know where to search for me if I don't show up.

Hope you start to feel better and can get up and ride again in a month or so.

Ouch! Sorry to hear that, Bruce.

Hang in there, do what the doctors say and try to think positively.

Terrible! Hope the recovery is quick and complete.

You have my sympathy. Get well soon!

Ouch!! Heal up soon!!

I cracked some ribs 3 years ago and they do indeed hurt. Lots. & mine were not nearly as bad as yours. Ibuprofen seemed to help more than "stronger" pain killers. I also slept in a big comfy chair as it was easier to get in and out of.

Get better soon!

5 days later the tube was pulled and I went.


:eek: Where? Home I hope, and you’re not typing this from the big bike adventure in the sky!

Fun'n aside, falling sucks! I'm glad you are going to be ok. I can't think of much worse pain than when I had broken ribs.

The bad news for busted ribs
Don't:
laugh
sneeze
cough
twist
bend
uh, do pretty much anything

The good news regarding busted ribs, they heal up 100%:thumb:

Get well quick, and I am sorry that you tumbled on my birthday; I will try and make it better for you next time:D

:eek:

The bad news for busted ribs
Don't:
laugh
sneeze
cough
twist
bend
uh, do pretty much anything

The good news regarding busted ribs, they heal up 100%

+1 IT WILL HEAL. Hang tough.

:eek: Where? Home I hope, and you’re not typing this from the big bike adventure in the sky!

Fun'n aside, falling sucks! I'm glad you are going to be ok. I can't think of much worse pain than when I had broken ribs.

The bad news for busted ribs
Don't:
laugh
sneeze
cough
twist
bend
uh, do pretty much anything

The good news regarding busted ribs, they heal up 100%:thumb:

+1. I had my first broken rib ever a couple months ago, and was shocked at how painful it was. I wish you a speedy recovery and good painkillers.

Get well quickly, Bruce. I have been fighting a cold and flu since Dec 30. I have only ridden on Jan 3.

but, I am feeling much better and expect to ride with the club tomorrow morning for our regular Sat ride.

Have had the broken ribs and collapsed lung. NO FUN! Even before you can stomach it, use that stupid breathing machine they probably sent you home with. It hurts like crazy, but you lose lung capacity without that blasted thing. Take care and move slowly for awhile. +1000 on the coughing, sneezing etc. I cried for a half hour with that first sneeze.

Ah the saga continues. Yesterday afternoon I noticed a stream of nasty looking stuff exiting the cut where the chest tube had been. Back to the ER this morning, more X rays and cat scans. Good news it appears to have been a "surface" infection, the lung have the same little area that needs to re inflate but other wise it appears to be fine. Heavy duty antibiotics and yes keep using my blue machine of pain to keep lung capacity up.

Bruce

My condolences. This is no fun to start a new year. Hope you heal 100% SOON.
---------------------
I just had my first accident for 2009. Not as bad as yours but a tumble with abrasions down to the bone. I had severe pain for a month and moderate pain now.
Did not stop me from biking except 2 days.
------------
Let us hope we paid our dues for this year.

I've had broken ribs a few times and they do hurt. They can't immobilize them or you wouldn't be able to breathe! My only advice is to start getting active as soon as the doc says it's OK. The sooner you get busy, the sooner you'll feel better. Best wishes. :)

Ouch! I just bruised a few ribs in a crash last fall and that was bad enough. Get well soon.

What the hell did you do that for? :eek:

Oh I get it, they had that really cute nurse on duty in casualty that afternoon **wink**

Richard

This is making me feel better about my time with Coach Troy.

So what's everyone opinion on how long I should wait before getting on the trainer ? I'll ask the doc on Thursday but I don't know that she's a biking type. I'm just talking about getting on and spinning for a while, no hard chest thumping interval work type stuff.

Bruce

So what's everyone opinion on how long I should wait before getting on the trainer ? I'll ask the doc on Thursday but I don't know that she's a biking type. I'm just talking about getting on and spinning for a while, no hard chest thumping interval work type stuff.

Bruce

Based on decidedly less than half-vast experience my guess is that getting yourself going on deep breathing would be helpful but your position on the trainer could be an issue. You might want to supply your doc with a picture so she can make an educated guess.

So what's everyone opinion on how long I should wait before getting on the trainer ? I'll ask the doc on Thursday but I don't know that she's a biking type. I'm just talking about getting on and spinning for a while, no hard chest thumping interval work type stuff.

Bruce

I'm not doc, so take my advice for what it is worth, about nut'n. That is based on the fact that my oldest daughter is a doctor and I've never been able to give her advice.... her entire life.:lol:

If you are talking your lung, listen to the docs. If your are talking about your ribs, my experience is that you just listen to your body. If the ribs don't like what you are doing, oh boy! They will let you know right now, not two minutes from now, but right now!

Keep mending:thumb:

If you are talking your lung, listen to the docs. If your are talking about your ribs, my experience is that you just listen to your body. If the ribs don't like what you are doing, oh boy! They will let you know right now, not two minutes from now, but right now!


This makes sense to me too. I never had activity restrictions for broken ribs, other than tolerating the pain. But a collapsed lung is different. You don't want to mess with your lungs--they're kind of important.

Thanks folks. I see the doc tomorrow so I'll ask her, I'm just looking to put my MTB on my trainer and while sitting straight up just turn the pedals for a while. No bending over or hard breathing yet. Since I just started riding again to try and lose weight and improve overall health I don't want to lose what little benefits I may have gained.


Bruce

Thanks folks. I see the doc tomorrow so I'll ask her, I'm just looking to put my MTB on my trainer and while sitting straight up just turn the pedals for a while. No bending over or hard breathing yet. Since I just started riding again to try and lose weight and improve overall health I don't want to lose what little benefits I may have gained.


Bruce

You probably won't notice any change in conditioning for at least two weeks. Even then it'll be a gradual decline, and you'll make it up quickly. So don't let that stress you out. Eat a little less to make up for the decreased activity.

So the Doctor tells me the drainage from the incision site is just the body "cleaning up dead little bits of stuff" and it may continue for 2 weeks or so as the incision seals itself. I can get on trainer in 2 weeks and she recommended another 2 weeks before I take to the road, with pain being the limiting factor. :thumb:

Thanks for all the advice and encouragement.

Bruce

When I cracked two ribs several years ago, my husband was NOT very sympathetic. The first week was the hardest, but once I was able to get off the toilet by myself, things started to improve

It wasn't until he bruised his ribs in a fall that he finally realized what pain I had really been in. Now when I get hurt, he is much more understanding.