kbarch

So, after getting the news yesterday that today's group ride would be cancelled due to inclement weather - wouldn't want anyone to get hurt riding in bad weather - I went out to do some errands, despite the rain and increasing darkness. So, staying close to the buildings, and looking in the shop windows now and then, I didn't notice a standpipe connection in the middle of the sidewalk....



BANG! Splat!
I'd heard about people busting a kneecap on those things. I got little matching lacerations just below both both knees, which, surprisingly, don't hurt. But in the fall, I somehow managed to crack a couple of ribs! Can you imagine? I know from experience it takes a few weeks to recover, but in the past I've had more serious injuries that restricted my mobility at the same time. I tried getting on and off the bike just now, and while that doesn't hurt any more than getting in and out of a chair, I suspect it won't be too wise to go riding any time soon. Fortunately, I don't rely on cycling for anything but recreation/exercise - not that that isn't important.

Anyone have experience cycling before fully recovering from cracked ribs? Any advice (besides HTFU)?

BoSoxYacht

I'm pretty sure I have a cracked rib on my left side. Last week I fell on my side from a low speed spill. It hurts like hell if I lay on either side, but isn't too bad when cycling unless the road is very bumpy.

There's not much you can do for broken ribs. They'll be sore for 4-6 weeks.

SalsaShark

Try not to sneeze, this is my advice!

DXchulo

I think I cracked a rib back in 2008, but never did get an x-ray since there's nothing they can really do about it. I had all the symptoms- it hurt to laugh or sneeze and it was very difficult to sleep. The sleeping thing was the worst for me. Riding wasn't too bad- I just kept the intensity low. You'll know if/when you're pushing too hard. Just listen to the pain.

tjkoko

Former chiro here and my cracked rib took about 9 months to heal and then sneezing was no longer an issue.

popeye

Don't get a bad cough, it's unbelievable torture.

BoSoxYacht

9 months??? How old are you?

This past February I broke all my ribs on my right side, and the pain was gone in 6 weeks.

RIRview

Oh yeah...the first time I sneezed I almost went into orbit the pain was so intense.

Also, trying to sleep was tough. No matter now I contorted myself, I just couldn't find a comfortable position. I finally had my doctor prescribe Valium so I could relax and get some sleep.

tjkoko

It could all depend on two things, Grasshopper:

1. Your own pain threshold;
2. The degree to which the rib has been cracked.

UnfilteredDregs

Ouch! Riding on the sidewalk?

Stay away from good jokes...

BoSoxYacht

I guess you just can't handle pain very well, because my ribs were a mess. I could hear them rattle when I would breathe deeply.

10 Wheels

Believe it is not legal in NYC.

UnfilteredDregs

It isn't, I'm not judging, but from a hazards point of view it's chaos... Way too many variables. Then again riding here is chaos with few exceptions.

Be well OP.

10 Wheels

Did a group tour there in 2009....Five riders got tickets for sidewalk riding.

tjkoko

AS STATED everyone possesses a different threshold of pain.

mike12

Like others have said, it really depends on your pain tolerance & how bad the injury was. I cracked one and bruised my lung (didn't know you could do that until the doc told me I had done it) in a motorcycle crash and the rib sure let me know when to stop doing things it didn't like.

It will just take time for the ribs to heal. If I remember correctly, I stopped feeling any pain after about 2 months.

kbarch

Thanks.
I definitely stay off the sidewalk when on the bike. This only happened because I was walking so close to the buildings, something I normally avoid because of those very things. But in this case I was just trying to get a little shelter from the rain. And it just happened that there were some elaborate and distracting displays in some of the windows, and it was kind of dark....

79pmooney

I've cracked ribs several times but never as the only or most significant injury. A couple of times along with fully broke ribs. They can hurt a lot. For me, breathing deeply was a major issue. And it was just as obvious that I needed to breath as deeply as feasible for oxygen for recovery for those and my other injuries. (Oxygen, plenty of it, is a real pain reducer, especially when you are about to do or have done something painful. I have learned that when I am on the gurney with broken ribs to DEMAND oxygen before they lift me out of it onto a CAT or MRI bed because that lift is so painful I cannot breath, and being on the edge of oxygen deprivation because breathing hurts so much, my lungs will just freeze and the anaerobic on top of the injury pain is WAY over the top.) I view the powerful opiates that allow the deep breathing and good sleep to be one of God's gifts to mankind. (I did a rotation every night between sleeping on my good side in bed, my favorite couch and a comfortable arm chair)

Riding can be done as soon as you feel up to it. The pain will make it very obvious how hard you can go. It will be probably 3 weeks before you have any interest. Starting off on a trainer for the first week or two has been helpful for me.

Get a good prescription. (I am assuming you have no addiction issues with opiates. I know the ravages of addiction very well and I feel a deep compassion for anyone who breaks/cracks ribs and cannot handle opiates. That could be a living hell.) Adopt your life to the bounds of the opiates (with regard to work, driving, etc.) Breath as deeply as you can to speed the healing. Sleep as well and as long as you can.

Keep in mind that everyone feels different levels of pain for the same injury as well as each of us having different thresholds of tolerance for the same level. I know there are those who can brush off rib injuries. I have experienced pain from a rib and shoulder injury that went right through the effects of intravenous morphine.

Heal fast! Stay in touch here.

Ben

TrojanHorse

I cracked some ribs in the middle of a mountain bike ride, finished the ride and then went bungie jumping off a 342 foot bridge. I wouldn't recommend it.

Unless they're actually broken you can probably do whatever you want to do within the bounds of what pain you can withstand. Some things didn't hurt, others hurt like nobody's business (sneezing, coughing and trying to sleep was uncomfortable)

FLvector

My crash about a year ago resulted in 5 fractured ribs, along with other injuries. The recovery time was about 6-7 weeks off the bike, then a very gradual return to the level of fitness prior to the injury. That took about 2 months to get back where I was. The length of your healing could depend on whether the ribs were bruised, cracked or completely fractured. Regardless, it will still take time. You'll likely experience pain during the first few weeks, then things will get progressively better. Don't push it during these first few week. Pain management is very important to allow for deep respiration, so use them as needed. Let your body and how you feel guide you regarding getting back out on the bike. You might try some easy spinning on the trainer first. As others mention, your first sneeze or cough will get your attention and you'll do your best to avoid the next one.

Also, laying flat on the bed to sleep was very uncomfortable. I slept in the recliner for several days, then used a wedge pillow to allow me to slowly transition back to a normal position in the bed.

f4rrest

Opiates make you poop a brick. Not worth it unless you have unbearable pain.

BoSoxYacht

Not true for everyone.

znomit

Thats awful. It should be Standpipe Conjoined.

UnfilteredDregs

Got it....ouch! You definitely clobbered yourself!

Podagrower

Pray you never get an intercostal muscle tear. That's the muscles between the ribs, same pain, just lasts way longer. I don't know how I did it, but I managed to tear one on the right side about 3 years ago. It still gets agrevated every 6 months or so. When it first happened, I wound up sleeping in a chair for several weeks, using absurd amounts of aspirin to get thru it. Riding when it is flaired up is not bad, but I can't turn to look behind me at all, which creates other hazards.