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Broken Ribs

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2004 Nov. - 2005 Jan.: Health Center (ARCHIVES): Broken Ribs users admin

Author Message
Cathie
Member

08-16-2000

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 3:36 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Can anyone who has experienced broken ribs give me an idea of how long the healing process is? My hubby rolled over a guard rail and down an embankment in his truck last week, breaking four ribs when he came into contact with the console. After seeing the truck I was glad he leaned toward the console--if he had stayed upright he might not be here now for me to worry about. Anyway, he still winces and cries out in pain with a sneeze, cough, hiccup, or even a deep breath. The doc who treated him in the hospital said he could go back to work tomorrow, with some restrictions (no strenuous activity, no lifting over 10 pounds, no climbing stairs or ladders) but he feels far from being ready to go back. He is trying to limit his pain meds to bedtime only, and make do with Tylenol during the day.

Any advice???

Here are some before/after photos of his truck (which I will miss, 'cause I loved the color and they have dropped it from the line now :-( )

http://members.aol.com/theiiioftexas/blue.html

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 4:03 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
OMG, Cathie!!!!!!! I am so thankful for you both that that is the extent of his injuries! Sorry, don't know anything about ribs, but it sure seems rough to me to have to head back to work so soon! What does he do in his job?

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 4:29 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
After seeing that truck, I'm delighted to hear that your dh is still on the planet. Man!

My sister is a nurse...granted a maternity nurse... and she says that he should probably not be going back to work tomorrow if he is still in a lot of pain. Call the doctor and get that straightened out. Also, if he should be in a lot of pain, call the doctor because there can be complications. Further, there's no need to be a macho man about the pain meds... he should take them if he is too uncomfortable because he needs them.

Is Babyruth around? She's a good one to ask, too.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 4:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
No advice, but so thankful that's the worst of his injuries!!!!

Lancecrossfire
Moderator

07-13-2000

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 4:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Wow! Glad this is all he has! I realize for him it will be painful for awhile--all the things you say are causing him pain make complete sense--including just breathing.

Not much one can do other than pain meds for that. They need to heal and that is just a time thing. As far as going back to work I think it depends on a couple of things--first is his pain meds.

If he takes them during the day, could it affect his work? If so, he sholdn't go. I see you say he takes the meds only at noght--if he needs them during the day, I agree with Vee--he should take them. Compensating for severe pain can cause other things to go wrong.

If he can get by and take the pain, then he is making a good choice--but he has to be the judge of that. Again, everything you do--breathing, sneezing, coughing--will cause some very extreme pain.

Next, his job--if it is a desk job, he could sit at a desk at work the same as he could at home, as fair as the level of pain he will feel. If his job is fairly physical, he might experience so problems with it. And there is the issue of healing time--the more he lifts heavy things, (the things doc restricted him from) the greater the chance of messing them up more.

The best thing you can do to figure this out is give as much information to your doc as possible, and ask as many questions as you can think of. That way you reduce any surprise, and also give the doc the best chance to give good advice about work and other things he will need ot do in the coming weeks. Yep--weeks.

Jmm
Member

08-16-2002

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 5:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Cathie, From Mayo Clinic


Broken ribs
What can you do about broken ribs?

No name / No state given


Unfortunately, you can't do much about a broken rib except control the pain until the fracture heals. A broken rib is a common problem that usually occurs from an injury to the rib cage. Signs and symptoms of a broken rib include:

* Pain with a deep breath
* Pain with pressing over the area of injury

Pain medications may help relieve discomfort. Compression wraps around the chest can stop you from taking deep breaths and limit pain. But it's important to take full, deep breaths to prevent lung infections. Doctors typically don't recommend compression wraps unless absolutely necessary for pain. A broken rib usually heals completely in about two months.

I too am so very glad that this is the extent of his injuries. It could have been so much worse.

Danas15146
Member

03-31-2004

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 5:19 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Cathie, thank God it was only his rib! How frightening for both of you. I hope he heals quickly.

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 5:36 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
cathie, i was hit by a car when i was 17. i had 3 ribs broken on my right side, and 2 on my left. it took about 3 months for me to take a breath without it hurting. he's very luck he didn't collapse a lung. that can very easily happen with a broken rib. praise god, after seeing the pictures of your truck, that your husband is alive and with you. trucks can be replaced, husband's can't.

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 6:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Cathie, your DH being in pain probably doesn't feel too lucky right now, but after looking at the pics I'd say some guardian angel was working overtime. Hope his injury heals quickly.

Babyruth
Member

07-19-2001

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 7:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Cathie,

Wow- your hubby was lucky that he didn't have worse injuries, from the looks of those pics!

As to your question, Jackie and the Mayo clinic (and Lance and everyone) pretty much covered it.

What does your hubby do at his job? Is there any physical exertion? What pain med is he taking at bedtime? If it's Vicodin or Darvocet, then yes, the narcotics in those would make him sleepy.

He does need to be careful to avoid exceeding the safe daily dose of Tylenol (3000-4000 mg) by mistake. It's easy to do when he's using them during the day, AND then taking a med at bedtime that contains acetaminophen (Tylenol), too. Vicodin and Darvocet have acetaminophen in them, as do some others. Too much of that can damage his liver. I also would be concerned about him taking it, even at the max safe dose, for weeks rather than days.

I guess I would have him call his doc and ask what other meds he could use during the day to help with his pain, maybe ibuprofen (Motrin) or naprosyn (Aleve) alternating with tylenol, or maybe a prescription for ultram, a non-narcotic pain reliever (although it can cause some drowsiness). I would also encourage you to call the doc if his pain gets worse, if he has any trouble breathing, if he runs a fever...I'm hoping they gave you a list of things like that to call about...

Hope this info helps. Best wishes to your hubby.
Sorry about your pretty blue truck!



Cathie
Member

08-16-2000

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 8:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks for the responses. He is an electrical construction supervisor, and even though he is not usually working with tools he sometimes has to.

I think our main problem is that even though the wreck was in Fort Worth they took him to Parkland Hospital in Dallas (because it is a major trauma center and based on the appearance of the truck they thought he would have a lot more trauma.) Our personal physician wasn't involved in the treatment at all, just the Dallas ER and trauma docs. He has a follow-up with them next week so he is thinking of not going back to work until after that appointment, hoping he will feel better and they will release him without restrictions (wishful thinking, IMO.) I don't think he realizes that it will be a long time before he feels "normal" again.

The driver of the car that hit him (knocking his truck over the guard rail) wasn't injured, but we have heard she is really having a hard time with guilt. I think she initially thought he had died, and still hasn't gotten over the shock of what happened, so she has some healing to do, too.

Lumbele, I think he does realize how lucky he is. He was shocked to see the photos, too, and didn't realize at the time it happened how bad it was. We were definitely giving thanks last week on the big turkey day!!!

His pain med is Lortab, which does knock him out for awhile. They told him he couldn't drive as long as he is on the medication, so that's why he has tried to reduce his use of it, planning to be able to drive to work tomorrow.

As it stands right now he will not go to work tomorrow.

Urgrace
Member

08-19-2000

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 10:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Your dh will have some episodes where the pain will be sharp and I feel bad for him but it's wonderful that he did not get hurt worse. If he can keep from going to work for a few days, he should relax and start the healing. Good luck. Oh and there are painters who can match that blue paint if you get another truck.

Conejo
Member

08-23-2002

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 8:52 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Cathie, I hope your husband is feeling better.

I had 4 broken ribs back in 1999 and it seems like it takes forever to get back to normal. I would say that after about 2-3 months the major pain of laughing, coughing, breathing, ect. subsided. However, it was probably a good (sorry) 6-7 months before I could sleep comfortably on my right (injured) side. One thing that seemed to help if I needed to cough/sneeze/laugh was to put pressure on my chest/ribs with my hand.

Babyruth
Member

07-19-2001

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 3:14 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Cathie, here's a link to some information on Lortab. It does contain acetaminophen, so it would be wise to count the total mg's consumed per day, including the plain tylenol. We see accidental overdoses of tylenol every so often by people who pop them all day long, unaware of the hazards of too much. Not trying to scare anyone, just an FYI. :-)

http://www.drugs.com/lortab.html



Cathie
Member

08-16-2000

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 10:14 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks for the link, Babyruth. He has only a couple of Lortabs left for the next couple of nights, and said he got by today without any Tylenol. I think he feels he should "tough it out" but I think he will go to Tylenol or Advil at bedtime after the Lortab is gone.

We got the official call from the insurance company today telling us that the truck is totalled. Um, no kidding! It just took them 10 days to decide that, lol. Now it will take a "few more days" for them to decide the value of it, and then "a few more days" to pay it off. We fortunately had "gap" insurance that will cover any difference between the insurance company's idea of value and the truck loan balance.

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Wednesday, December 22, 2004 - 12:11 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
On the subject of broken ribs.....

I don't have a broken rib, but what does a cracked rib feel like? I can't lay on my right side, which is my sleeping side, without getting an excruciating pain in my ribs (backside). Then when I try to move to compensate my pain, it hurts to move. I can lay on my left and on my back ok. Any ideas?

Jmm
Member

08-16-2002

Wednesday, December 22, 2004 - 1:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Sounds like you may have cracked a rib. Have you fallen or hit your rib cage against anything lately? There isn't much a doctor can do for you, if it's painful enough you might want to go and get some pain meds. The only other thing I can recommend is getting one of the Ace bandages for that area, just don't make it too tight.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Wednesday, December 22, 2004 - 1:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
NO answers, but OUCH!!!!

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Wednesday, December 22, 2004 - 3:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
That's just it, I can't think of anything that has injured it at all. The other day DH and I were dancing in the kitche, goofy, I know, but he bent or dipped me backwards and I wasn't prepared and it sent a really sharp pain down to my low back. Could that have caused it?

Jmm
Member

08-16-2002

Wednesday, December 22, 2004 - 3:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
That almost sounds more like a pinched nerve injury. Does it hurt when you breathe deeply? Does it hurt when you are sitting up? Can you press on it without pain? How about bending or twisting at the waist?

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Wednesday, December 22, 2004 - 6:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
How about when you do jumping jacks?

Oops, bad dawg.



Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Wednesday, December 22, 2004 - 7:11 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Stand on your head?

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Monday, December 27, 2004 - 9:08 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Nope, only hurts when I lay on that side.