Update on my condition...

[Archae]

As to my bicycle accident...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181501692

Turns out I don't have 3 cracked ribs.

I have seven.

Seeing an orthopedic doctor in the next day or two.

Gawd! I hate how much it still hurts!
"Whoopie pills," (narcotics,) do help, but they wear off.

And I don't want to take them constantly, that's a great way to get addicted really quick.

[dweller]

1. If the drs tell you

to take every 4,5,or 6 hours do that, that’s how they work the best
If you wait an extra hour or two til you hurt, it’s harder for the drug to ease the pain again..
I’ve had my share of pain meds, morphine, oxys etc and when they were no longer needed (ie no pain) you won’t want them and will be glad you’re done with them...
used correctly, they are wonder drugs

Imo

✌🏻

[Hugh_Lebowski]

2. As one familiar with the concept, I'd say it's not so much the addiction part that's terrible

It's more the 'running out of drugs' part

Hope you feel better mate

[Rhiannon12866]

3. Oh, yikes! I once had 3 broken ribs and it hurt so much I couldn't sleep!

That has got to be awful! I was given serious painkillers a couple of years back and I was fine as long as I didn't take them long term (think I did for 4-5 days) and only when I needed them. And I really don't see how anyone would enjoy them after how they made me feel - I wasn't supposed to drive, I couldn't get up off the couch!

[ailsagirl]

12. I've had painkillers prescribed before but found

they were useless. Don’t know why.

[2naSalit]

4. Yikes!

That has got to be painful! I had two separated ribs and a cold where I had to cough at the same time, and all I could take was IB... that was rough but seven cracked ribs, ow.

I hope you feel better soon!

[csziggy]

9. Yes, I had separated ribs and sometimes they still hurt

If I stretch the wrong way, it's as if they are not sliding back into the right track. The accident was in 1985 so I guess they never will stop hurting.

[frazzled]

5. On the bright side (if there is one)

You’re lucky if the broken ribs didn’t puncture a lung.

My husband had 2 major bicycle accidents in his long cycling escapades over the years. Both times he broke multiple ribs (among other things), and both times a broken rib punctured his lung. The first time they put him on a morphine drip, which he didn’t want, but the nurse told him he had to ... because otherwise it would be too painful to breathe deeply, and then his lung would collapse. Second time (where he also broke his shoulder in two places) they just gave him the breathing thing with the tube and sent him home ... he already knew the drill. Had to sleep sitting up for a while.

I was so glad for the pandemic, where he stayed inside and put his bike on a trainer. I think it should be permanent!

I think it’s harder when the back ribs are broken (I think his were always the front).

[malaise]

6. Damn - seven cracked ribs?

Icepacks will help - get well soon

[beaglelover]

7. I don't envy you at all. Cracked some ribs years ago in a rollerblading accident. Ouch!

Have you sneezed yet?

[panader0]

8. What can a doctor do?

I had three on the left side of my back some years ago. I was quite black and blue
from my hip to my shoulder blade on the left side. I got a few pills from friends and rode
it out. I didn't think the doctor could do anything, so I just wrapped it. I can still feel a little
motion in there sometimes. Let us know what your treatment will be. Good luck.

[csziggy]

10. If you are a woman, get a long line bra

One of those that goes down to your waist. When I separated some ribs in 1985, that's what the doctor recommended. It helped, partly because I simply couldn't move around as much as I normally did.

As for the narcotics, take as instructed but if you can stand it, cut them in half to reduce how much you are getting. I've had them lots of times but anymore just cannot tolerate how stupid they make me - plus for me, they don't really help with the pain, they just make me so groggy I don't care about the pain or anything else.

Ice packs - homemade, have two 1 gallon size ziplocks on hand. Mix 3 cups water, one cup rubbing alcohol, pour into one ziplock, squeeze all the air out as you close it up, place zipper side into the second bag and zip it up. Freeze flat. The bag will stay flexible and can be molded around the sore area. I keep two around so one can be freezing while I use the other. Put a towel or something between you and the cool pack.

Hefty made (may still do) a 2.5 gallon extra large bag, that might be better for ribs. Just figure 1/4 the volume of liquid for the capacity of the bag, then 3 parts water to 1 part alcohol.

[gratuitous]

11. Well that ultra sucks

I've just gotten back to riding, and getting hurt would really set me back in so many ways. Be kind to yourself.