Broken ribs

farnorthstar · Since 16 Jun 2009 20 Posts Portland

Broke two ribs. One is displaced. that was from doing tricks without impact vest. That was six weeks ago. Not kiting but tried basic workout at gym and ribs are killing me again. What are folks experience with getting back to full kiting after broken ribs? I am going frickin stir crazy here. Rolling Eyes

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4910 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Give em a chance to heal - then grab a seat harness

Sol-flyer · Thu Oct 18, 12 8:52 am

I've had two rib injurys from kiting and the only thing you can do is let them heal and i mean dont rush to get back out on the water/snow. Took me about 2-3 months and even then i used a seat harness for about 6 months. just think, one wrong landing or small tweak and your back to square one.

LVDWD · Since 04 May 2009 104 Posts Stoked

Same as any broken bone, 6-8 weeks depending on age. Many on this forum have been through this route (ouch). Danger if you exacerbate the problem with a further blow/trauma before healing is a punctured lung.

Sella · Thu Oct 18, 12 12:22 pm

Patience and yes the seat harness for sure. If you're used to a waist harness the adjustment to the seat will feel funky at first but give it a chance as it will get you back out flying and boosting as big as you want to go with no pain.

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

Try some kind of strength training physical therapy perhaps? Not sure what to do for ribs, but it helped get my ass back in gear with my separated shoulder. And don't fuck it up. Too many friends have been semi-injured for over a year by hurting the same injury over and over before it properly healed.

Jellyfisher · Since 01 May 2012 9 Posts Kook

If your still hurting after 6 weeks of lay-low, the bones have healed but not the cortilage-to-bone joint, then you have costochondritis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costochondritis) meaning your rib cartilage and the ligaments that hold it together with the rib bones were thrashed. You will need prolotherapy to get back, otherwise it could be really really chronic. Cool

I've treated many of these and they all have gotten a good response.

Chipotle · Since 26 Mar 2011 70 Posts

Broke three ribs in a really bad ski accident March 1 2012. One was displaced, severe internal bleeding, had my lungs drained 3 days later. Didn't do ANYTHING for 5 weeks. On the 6th week I started riding my bike, but deep breathing still hurt. First weekend kiting wasn't until early May.

I would suggest, as others have, laying low as long as you can handle. Then do cardio, non-impact stuff. Then get a massage to work that scar tissue. I haven't gone to a seat harness, but do wear an impact vest with integrated harness. I have no residual effects from my injury, so be patient but don't worry.

Good luck!

Bker44 · Since 21 Sep 2012 5 Posts Kook

Rest, no upper body workouts for 6-8 weeks (they usually heal in 4-8 weeks). Don't lift anything over 15 pounds for at least 6 weeks. If you reinjure them/do too much, you start over….so best to get some pain meds and mellow. Dang broken ribs hurt….but the good part, they heal, no problems, if you let them rest. Once they stop hurting so much, the mellowing part gets better, cause you know you are on the mend…I broke two and could still feel them while working out in the gym after 3 months….but they will still hurt a bit after they are structurally fully healed. Good you waited at least 6 weeks before going to the gym….maybe a few steps back, but they should be on the mend.

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2099 Posts PNW Bigfoot

When I was learning back in '03, I crashed my kite and it relaunched and I had the speader bar move right into the left side of my frontal rib cage. Felt like broken ribs, but the next day at the doctor's office the affected area kinda shifted and moved back into place--the area didn't hurt as much. Turns out I had damaged the intercostal cartilage. I was able to kite again in about a month, but it was very sore. I changed my harness from a seat harness to an impact vest. The soreness went away after a few months, but the area was still sensitive to the touch and I had even more pain with more pressure applied to the area. A year later it was still sensitive. I now have a bump proturding in the affected area.

The injury occured when I was using a seat harness. I switch to an impact vest and added a speader bar pad. Last year I replaced my impact vest for a newer one and don't use the speader bar pad as it isn't possible to use the pad with the new vest. On occation the injured area is tender, but the impact vest works well for preventing the speader bar from digging up and into the frontal rib cage area.

A regular waist harness with a speader bar pad will probably work just as well.

Oh yeah, I found that really spicy food that gave me hicups hurt and so did watching comedy tv and/or movies. If your on pain killers, make sure you eat lots of fiber or drink some prune juice as those pain killers pug you up.

Good luck with your recovery.

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

I have had three occasions of broken ribs over the years biking/kiting

If you can sleep without waking every time you move you can start to bring the cardio up to speed , otherwise the big deep breathes are not fun.

then a few weeks later its on....

take it easy broken arms and legs heal more reasonably.

:

sfbomber · Since 27 Jun 2012 113 Posts Stoked

I dislocated a rib in a motorcycle wreck. I went to a chiropracter who eventually popped it back into place. A month later, I tried skateboarding, only to have it pop back out in a knee slide. The chiropracter was again able to pop it back into place. This time I waited 6 months with no physical activity. No problems since. The tendons that hold the ribs in place take a long time to get strong again. My advice is to stay off it for 6 months. Stay away from any impact sports. Try cycling, swimming, etc, once you think you are ready to be active again.

Jellyfisher · Since 01 May 2012 9 Posts Kook

melokitegirl · Since 28 Oct 2008 396 Posts Where the wind blows Obsessed

I've broken my ribs so many times... heal thyself. No kiting. No sneezing. No laughing. It sucks but you just gotta rest. Drink milk.

farnorthstar · Since 16 Jun 2009 20 Posts Portland

Thanks everyone for the great comments. Now it has been three months and there is no question I have Costco hondroitis (damn that spell check) costochondroitis. Big deformed ribs sticking out. Really attractive. I am doing much better in gym and even kited recently but it aggravates quickly. I am going to start crunches and leg lifts and see how I tolerate it. Good news is no need to kite for awhile. May try prolotherapy if cannot get through next three months. No way on seat harness. That is last option.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4910 Posts Portland Unstrapped

18 months on these...
http://www.oregonsurfshop.com/dakine-nitrous-board-short-kite-harness.html?&gclid=CIainISv2rMCFcaDQgodG2gAkg

Dean · Since 08 Jul 2009 58 Posts Penticton BC

land on your feet.