Best Treatment For Broken Ribs?

I have broken a couple of ribs. What are your experiences with broken ribs and how do you suggest I treat them? My injury came from just a minor nose dive that barely hit the ground with any pressure. But it was enough. I fell, got a little bit of wind knocked out of me, but stood up and went about what I was doing. I noticed a little bit of tenderness but nothing major. The next morning it hurt a bit to breath deeply or move in certain ways. Over the week this pain got more intense and was triggered by littler movement. It got severe enough and didn't seem to be reasonable so I chose to go to the doctor and get it checked out. They took some x-rays and a CT scan. They determined that I had broken a couple of ribs but there was no internal trauma. In the process they found a mass in my liver that they wanted to explore further. So I got another CT scan a couple of days later.
I feel like a pincushion. I have 9 holes where they either tried to get blood or put the contrast dye into me. I told them, 'You can have it if you can find it.' They usually didn't believe me until they tried to go for it and they couldn't get a vein. I used to try to donate blood but after a few unsuccessful attempts I stopped trying. So now I have been sent home with broken ribs to deal with. I am told that I should use my pain as a guide to how much I can do. I shouldn't be in any danger of injuring it any further. But it will take several weeks for it to truly heal. Now what? Do I take pain killers? Do I stop using it? Do I exercise more to get it reconditioned? Do I indulge myself and use it as an excuse not to do anything? Do I tell others about it? Can I use it as an incentive to get into better condition? What ideas and suggestions do you have for coping with this situation?

I think it's unsafe for you to take advice from random people in a forum... you might hurt yourself by doing something wrong... go to your doctor and I'm sure he/she will know what to do.

This post has been edited by seez: May 18 2007, 12:21 AM

I suggest a Lawn chair and a pitcher of Pina Coladas, preferably with an ocean view...

Not much you can do except be thankful for the lack of internal injuries beyond what you have. If it hurts to do something, don't do it. It'll be a few weeks before you vacuum anything, or push a broom. Pushing the schedule to advance the repair will only hurt more and take longer to heal, as far as I know. They can't be splinted and even breathing hurts, so grin and bear the pain. All you can do...

Im getting a second (or more) opinion as well as some entertainment from hearing other people's experiences.


It is easy to grin when people like you respond to my post.


I think I'll take a chocolate milk and a seat at my computer, with a view of the trap17 forums.

Whatever floats your boat. Enjoy.

Lots and lots of beer!

I'd follow up with Jlhaslip's advice and indulge in a little R&R and fine spirits, but please, please, please stay away from the chocolate milk. The reasons are twofold: first, milk is an inflammatory which will increase your pain and hinder healing. The pasteurized milk force fed the public at grocery stores is a "dead" product which brings on all manner of illness due not only to it's dead nature but the Bovine Growth Hormone and assorted host of toxins injected into cows forced to perform more like machines than animals. Bottom line: if it's bad for the animals it's bad for you. If you want cow's milk, please seek out real milk from wholesome sources - not factory-farmed poison. I think it's of note that the power broking-elite among us keep their own herds as opposed to buying the factory farmed trash they force on their peasants (i.e., the public). It appears they know something most of us are either too stupid or too blind to accept.

Secondly, the sweetener in chocolate "milk" will compromise your immune system for roughly five hours after ingestion. Try to stay away from processed sugar, factory produced meat, pasteurized products and white flour/rice until you've healed. I know this is a tall order, but I assume your goal is to heal as quickly as possible. Consider becoming an aficianado of whole foods, raw garlic, strong herbs and pungent spices. Turmeric and Stinging Nettle come to mind. Wise animals naturally seek out these bitters when afflicted with illness. Find a source of powdered Vitamin C which you're body will actually absorb as opposed to the useless tablet variation that ends up being flushed down the septic system. The FDA has recently issued warnings and become quite paranoid about this essential healing nutrient, which leads me to believe it's probably one of the better supplements for the human body. Remember, the FDA is in bed with the power brokers and medical establishment, who benefit from your sickness - not your good health.

And lastly, when you're in physical pain, a shot of good whiskey will render less harm and side effect than any pharmaceutical your pill-pushing "doctor" would have you become addicted to. Yes, I know that doesn't sound politically correct, but are you going to do what's best for you, or what's best for the power brokers?

Breaking my ribs helped me to continue to recognize how out of condition I am. I had noticed it before but wasn't really at a point where I was willing to do anything about it. The subject would come up, I'd do a few stretches and then I would forget about it. Result? I am now 60lbs above my ideal weight and I sit at the computer for hours at a time without even moving from my chair. What would it take for me to be willing to change my habits? Breaking my ribs! I know it seems a bit drastic of a way to get motivated but if it works I am going to use it. Some of you may know that I recently resolved to stand at least one time an hour while I am at the computer. A little step but it will make a big difference. I just returned from a walk around the block with my dog. What used to be easy is now a big struggle. I want it to be easy again. I want it bad enough to do something about it. Once every other day to start with until that is not a struggle anymore then increase it to everyday. Who knows maybe I'll get to where I can go two blocks. Good health comes from proper diet and activities. My eating habits are pretty healthy so I am left with changing my activities to get more healthy. I don't drink alcohol, sodas or coffee, I don't smoke, and I have a healthy sex life. What is left for me? Physical activity. I spend a lot of time sitting at the computer. It is time well spent but it doesn't promote good circulation or lung capacity. I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and now wear a CPAP machine. For those of you who don't know what that is, it is a machine that provides constant air pressure down your throat preventing your throat from constricting and cutting off your airflow causing you to wake up enough to start breathing again. The sleep/wake cycle keeps you from achieving REM sleep and leaves you unrested even after a long sleep. My sleep cycle has also been in the pattern of being awake for a couple of hours then sleeping for a couple of hours. My sleep doctor and I are working to change that so that I get a solid 8 hours of sleep and have 16 hours available for other activities. So what will these activities be? What are my resolutions?

• Stand at least once an hour
• Walk around the block at least every other day
• Eat healthy
• Control my sleep habits
• Update my website www.ldkingsland.trap17.com
• Post on the Trap17 forums

What recommendations do you have in order to motivate and encourage me to keep these resolutions? Maybe you could share your experiences and the steps you are taking to keep yours. This would help me and you would do your good deed for the day by posting your answers.

Asprin

Ice

Heat

Rest

Food

Sleep

These are the things I would suggest, but you should ask a doctor too.

Thanks For sharinh