Last Saturday I participated in the Orange County Bianchi Gran Fondo. My friend and I rode at a pretty good pace and I was able to give the new Campy Record components a good work out as I climbed through the canyons of Orange County.

That's the good news.

Now for the bad news.

Saturday night I took a fall (at home of ALL places) and I broke a rib. At first I di dnot realize the rib was broken, I thought it was just a bruise and it would go away.

Sunday morning I went out for a ride and climbing was painful because every time I took a deep breath it felt like I was being stabbed on the side.

Being the optimist that I am, I felt that if I kept riding, it would eventually get better. Well, it didn't.

Finally Monday I broke down and I went to the doc to get x-rayed. The x-rays confirmed the diagnosis...a broken rib.

Doc says I need to take it easy for a few weeks-meaning, he said, lay off the bike.

When I am doing noting, there is no pain, just a mild discomfort. But if I bend, or twist, or try to get out of a chair or out of my car, I can certainly feel a sharp pain. About a 5 or 6 in a 10 point scale. If I exert myself even more, the pain level goes up.


My question is, have any of you continued to ride in a more or less normal fashion, while nursing a broken rib? It is rib #7, so it is down on the rib cage (if that makes any difference).

If you rode with a broken rib(s) what precautions did you take? What should I be doing? In your individual case, how long did it take for the rib to fully heal?

Any comments, suggestions, etc will be greatly appreciated.

Mille grazie!

You fell off your Bianchi bike? Oh my... how's the bike? Just kidding. Sorry to hear that bro'. I really don't know what to say about broken ribs except a friend of mine went through the same thing and he was out for about a month and a half - that's his version of a "few weeks". He had to avoid watching comedy shows for a while... and stop going to choir practice as well.

Since you'll be off for a few weeks, and your Bianchi is one of the bikes I wanted to have, can you send it over my way so I can ride it for you? Promise, I'll return it when you're all fixed up. LOL Jokes aside, rest up man. And just HTFU when you're back on the road again.

Doing an xray to confirm a broken rib is pissing money away and needless radiation.

It's not dangerous but it's going to be sore for a few weeks, and probably will take 6 weeks total to fully heal.

Activity as tolerated.

+1

Had 2 cracked ribs about 2 years ago from a fall. Pain was barely tolerable the first 2 weeks as taking a deep breath, coughing, turning in bed, laying on my back, getting up, turning my torso, and anything that involved moving my chest hurt like a mofo. Ibuprofem and no cycling for 2 weeks. Then, I took it easy for a week and progressed depending on how I felt. Not fun for sure!!

Yeah, it is gonna hurt if you exert yourself in any meaningful way. I'll take it easy for a while. Mine took about 5weeks to mend.

Heal well, and soon.

Had 4 broken ribs, puncutured lung, and a broken collarbone...was able to ride after 3 weeks. If it wasn't for the double-break in my collarbone. I probably coulda rode in two weeks time.

Tony Romo broke a rib and had a collapsed lung and is still playing. You need to HTFU!!!

https://www.usatoday.com/sports/footb...tus/50485752/1

Just kidding about the HTFU. Get well soon.

It's helpful to go see the doc to make sure your lung isn't collapsed. From there, most docs will want the xray.

Hop on the trainer for the first little while. The stabbing pain should go away in about 2 weeks.

P.S. I have not idea what I'm talking about. I'm just typing on the internet.

LOL

I rode Sunday, the day after the fall. I was OK on the flats and going downhill. It was climbing that hurt.

If I had four big linemen carry me and my bike up the hills, I could make it no problem!

Laughing and sneezing are to be avoided if possible.

After 11 broken ribs my best advice is to take two weeks off to let the breaks begin to "knit" then begin to ride staying below the point where you feel stabbing pain. After a couple more week start doing stretches and deep breathing exercises to the point just below the point of stabbing pains. Depending on the rate that you heal and the degree of peripheral injury, you should be good to resume normal training in 5-6 weeks. That stabbing pain is a gauge that indicates that you are pushing too hard. Be patient and heal smart. It will pay dividends down the road.....

did u died? LOL seriously though, do your rib bones heal them selves without any treatment?

I've broken ribs before. I'm VERY sorry to hear you're going through it. While it's not very painful to begin with, breathing deeply (like when you exercise hard), sneezing, and even sleeping on it, hurt. For weeks, at least in my case.

The good news is they heal on their own, and you don't need to set them (iron lung anybody?).

...helpful comments and suggestions.

(gundom66, you can come and pick up the bike...I've even just recently installed Look Keo Blade Carbon pedals-with the Ti axles. You can then tell me how they pedals ride. )

I know I have to rest...a little bit.

But if Fiorenzo Magni could ride in the Giro with a broken clavicle then maybe I can do the same, even if I have to climb like Fiorenzo did -using my teeth and an old dinner tube tied to my handlebars.

The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated. LOL.

I know, the ribs heal all by themselves, I just wanted some advice/suggestions - and perhaps a little sympathy as well.

I broke a rib in a crash on May 5 this year. It hurt pretty bad for a couple weeks, I knew it was there for about 10 weeks. It hurt, but I rode anyway. Climbing hurts because you're pulling with your arms.

Laughing isn't so bad, but sneezing is excruciating.

did you get hit by a drunk driver? Cinco de Mayo is like New Years Eve around here. A lot of DWI cagers.

Nope, user error. Going too fast on a descent I had never ridden before trying to bridge a gap that developed on the ascent . Didn't make the almost 90 degree bend waiting for me at the bottom. . . Ouch!

Nursing a bruised rotator cuff here. Might do a quick ride tomorrow to see where I'm at health wise. Have a planned group leaf peeper ride next week.

Take it easy and get well.

If it was me I would keep riding and just not push it too hard. I have no idea if the pain is a signal that you're slowly the healing process. I suspect not, but since no one knowledgeable has expressed an opinion I'll add mine.

If you want better advice you should post up your x-ray.

Yes to that. Last night I went to the supermarket and as I walked by the frozen food section I began to sneeze.

OUCH!!!

I rode this morning. Climbing is not too bad if I stay on the saddle and not stand up on the pedals.

Hitting bumps on the road, however, hurts like a mudder. I did not see that coming!

I broke a rib on my bmx bike when I was a kid and it hurt like hell whenever I would breathe. It especially hurt when I sneezed, coughed, or laughed. Healed all by itself. It was not a pleasant experience.

This is my first broken bone...made it through 55 years of life no broken bones.

No trips to the Laugh Factory for me for the next few weeks.