seperated rib

Discussion in 'Injuries and Prevention' started by Knee Rider, Oct 20, 2017.

  1. Knee Rider

    Knee Rider Valued Member Supporter

    Hello guys and girls,

    I had the misfortune of being smashed in the ribs by a body hook last week during sparring and it flipping hurt. It hurt quite a lot. It still hurts in fact. Being the imbecile I am I elected to finish the round and tried to do a few more but the pain and impairment to my breathing and mobility forced me to sit out.

    I have RICED all week thinking it was just bruised but some prodding and poking has revealed that my left lower rib is popping and clicking. Google fu has revealed it may be a seperated rib: it matches all my symptoms.

    I am making a GP appointment for next week but to be honest I'm not expecting themto be able to do much.

    Has anybody ever experienced one of these and is there anything they would reccommend to ease and speed up recovery?
     
    Dead_pool likes this.
  2. El Medico

    El Medico Valued Member

    Yuck. I've had broken ribs but the very worst was a sprained rib.Soft tissue injury there is worse than broken bone.A separation at the end? I'm sorry,really.

    All you can do is be careful regarding posture and movement,like when you're walking, and don't stress it.Like try not to turn to look at anything too quickly-or quickly period.Try to be real conscious of turning the body and not the torso.Yeah,trying to breath is an ordeal sometimes.Expect around 10-12 weeks to be healed.

    Man,with rib injuries even T'ai Chi slow forms require delicate care in executing,and some of the "additional mechanics" have to be deliberately eschewed during healing or you can rip yourself up.

    Rib injuries suck! Get well.
     
    Knee Rider, SCA and Mitch like this.
  3. aikiMac

    aikiMac aikido + boxing = very good Moderator Supporter

    Had something similar when I did TKD. In "light" sparring my opponent executed a beautiful, textbook-pretty spinning sidekick. It landed precisely on one rib with more than "light" force. I felt it. His heel on one rib, with authority. Applause to him for such a pretty kick, but, wow, that hurt. I don't know if it was "broken" or "bruised" or something else because I didn't go to a doctor -- because I was 20 and I was poor, so I thought it'd heal on its own. It did heal after more than a month. I couldn't move without pain for a month. But, ya, it healed -- after more than a month!! Ohhh, so annoying!!

    An ace bandage or two wrapped firmly around my ribs helped control the pain, by restricting movement a bit. That little "squeeze" feeling was just enough to keep me from moving my chest unnecessarily.
     
    axelb and Knee Rider like this.
  4. Mitch

    Mitch Lord Mitch of MAP Admin

    Rib injuries can be really painful. Get it checked properly, then it's likely to be rest for a good few weeks. Sympathies dude.
     
    Knee Rider and SCA like this.
  5. Dead_pool

    Dead_pool Spes mea in nihil Deus MAP 2017 Moi Award

    Broken or bruised ribs - NHS Choices

    NHS guidence ^

    I'd also say, take painkillers regularly so that you don't shallow breath, a really common follow on from rib injuries, are horrendous chest infections from shallow breathing.

    And I'd say avoid any twisting movements/ bjj sparring for 4 to 8 weeks minimum.

    Good luck, hope it heals up quick!
     
    axelb and Knee Rider like this.
  6. Knee Rider

    Knee Rider Valued Member Supporter

    thanks all for the advice and sympathy. I guess I'll just be benched for a few weeks if not months while I rest up. On a more positive note, it looks like I'll be getting out of the housework for a while! every cloud.
     
    Dead_pool likes this.
  7. Late for dinner

    Late for dinner Valued Member

    I see this sort of thing quite frequently with rugby guys. You land on the ground or the ball and pop the cartilage out of the rib or sprain the ligaments attaching the ribs to the sternum or the ribs to the cartilage.

    Usual story is the same as any ligament sprain. RICE type of management for a few days then start to stretch gently regularly until you get your full mobility back. That might involve breathing, twisting or a number of different movements. Initially I use some sort of strapping to stop the person from going into the direction that irritates the sprain much the same way that I would strap an ankle to allow it to heal.

    I haven't seen you and this is the internet so take the advice with a pinch of salt but these aren't uncommon, heal fairly quickly and aren't as bad as they feel . If you are concerned by all means go and see a professional. Just don't forget that there is a natural healing process at work and often as things heal they tighten. That may account for pain long after the initial injury has healed.

    FWIW :' )

    PM me if you have specific question. I can't promise anything but I might be able to give some answers to specific questions.

    LFD
     
    Knee Rider, Simon and Dead_pool like this.
  8. Knee Rider

    Knee Rider Valued Member Supporter

    Thanks a lot LFD. It's certainly heartening to consider that I might not be out for as long ascI thought. Being at home all day yesterday and doing nothing has and a difference already. As has following some of the previous advice around my movement etc. I'm going to continue the rest and cross my fingers unless that hurts my ribs in which case I'll cross my toes!

    Thanks again!
     
    Dead_pool likes this.
  9. axelb

    axelb Master of Office Chair Fu

    Ooh nasty,I can't imagine anything worse to have than a chest infection causing a cough with rib injury!

    My teacher fractured his rib in SanDa competition, which became much worse when he sneezed it became much worse!! :confused:
     
    Dead_pool likes this.
  10. Vince Millett

    Vince Millett Haec manus inimica tyrannis MAP 2017 Gold Award

    In BJJ, a common injury is a "popped" rib. A rib has popped out of its cartilage sheath. Painful and takes a while to get better. Often they never quite return to normal and you're always aware that if someone tries to fold you in half or puts heavy pressure on you, it'll pop out again. Unfortunately, we spend all our time trying to do just that.
     
    Smitfire likes this.
  11. Smitfire

    Smitfire Cactus Schlong

    I got hit with monster bare knuckle body shot about 10 years ago in a knockdown karate grading that messed up my front left ribs.
    That same spot has caused me issues ever since.
    The same spot got hit again about 18 months ago with an overly enthusiastic side kick (had to get retribution for that one). And then a couple of weeks back I ran onto an 11 year old kids side kicked and messed them up again. :(
     
  12. Late for dinner

    Late for dinner Valued Member

    One thing that people don't always remember is that pain isn't a good indication of tissue health. Not being in pain doesn't mean that you are better. Tissues mature over time yet people rarely carry out regularly rehabilitation or plan their recovery with knowledge of tissues healing. I tore my rotator cuff in a judo throw and it took 9 months before I had full mobility, strength and relatively normal coordination back. You also need to consider that when, for example, you roll you apply forces in unusual directions with greater than usual loads. Sometimes things don't get completely better because of the injury and sometimes because of our efforts (or lack of). Pain may be present because of tissue sensitivity or on the other hand because of lack of rehabilitation . I think its difficult to know what to do sometimes, particularly when trying to recover on your own. I hope this gives some perspective.
     
    Knee Rider likes this.
  13. Morik

    Morik Well-Known Member Supporter MAP 2017 Gold Award

    May I ask what the 'D' is in RICED? I tried googling but didn't find it.
    Rest, ice, compression, elevation, and ???
     
  14. aikiMac

    aikiMac aikido + boxing = very good Moderator Supporter

    I think he was just speaking of the past. (Specifically, I think he was using the present perfect tense, if I remember my grammar terms correctly.)
     
    Knee Rider likes this.
  15. Knee Rider

    Knee Rider Valued Member Supporter

    Your grammar is strong (unlike my typing)!
     
  16. Knee Rider

    Knee Rider Valued Member Supporter

    Let's say it stands for Drank bourbon (irregular past simple haha)
     
    Mushroom and Morik like this.

Share This Page