Foo - My first wreck, horray. Bruised ribs?

So the other morning me and my buddy stopped at a park to refill our bottles. While leaving we took the bike path out and he reached up to close a batting cage gate right as I was drinking. I looked over with just enough time to squeeze my brakes, but just with my left... aka the front. I went over the bars and luckily caught myself with his rear tire to the ribs... wait, not so lucky. I winded myself and my wife, a nurse insisted I go to the ER. So my ribs are bruised, not broken or cracked and I've got a sweet tire track across my ribs all the way around to my back. Well, and some road rash on my knee.

My question is, how long am I off the bike? I'm at a point now it hurts like hell to breath but I'm dying to get back on and ride. Like I said, nothing is broke, just bruised to hell. ANyone else ever had to deal with this? I generally heal pretty quickly, but I've never bruised my ribs before so I've got no clue how long this is going to take, but I'm dying here just sitting around. Anyone?

If your ribs are really bruised, and not just the muscle around them you'll be off the bike for at least a week. You probably won't be full-soreness till about 3 or 4 days after the accident.

Eh ,it's both I think. She said "Your ribs are pretty bruised up" and I was in so much pain I left it at that. The nurse said "it looks like 3 of your ribs are bruised" so I don't know for sure one way or another. If it's the muscles, how long am I looking at? Seriously, another week of sitting in this chair and I'm going to freak out. I have been in the garage a bit changing my son's spare bmx type bike into a 10 speed bike, but even now he's turning most of the wrenches. This sucks.

injuries do indeed suck. I've been off the bike almost a year due to various bone breaks...speedy recovery, and listen to your body (and your wife!)

If it hurts worse when you ride, don't ride. If it don't hurt, then ride.

You'll be fine as long as you don't laugh, cough, sneeze or turn over in bed. Sorry to say my two bruised rib injuries (car accident, mountain bike fall onto a tree stump trying clipless for the first time) took quite a while to clear up, but riding is one thing you can do before it's totally healed. Maybe a week or two?

I'm on my 9th day and still hurt like hell. I believe I've got a cracked rib and they missed it, or perhaps it is a bruised rib and it's just taking me a while. I can't do anything though. Stuck in a recliner and miserable. This sucks, I miss biking badly.

rub some dirt on it.

You might want to start on roads rather than dirt and avoid the jolts. I found that riding at least didn't make me feel worse. It is amazing when you finally do something physical and suddenly realize hey - it dooesn't hurt any more! Hope that day comes soon.

rub some dirt on it.

This.

If your ribs are bruised you are probably not going to want to ride anyway. Bruised ribs, along with broken ribs, suck big time ass.

Couch