 Poster: A snowHead
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I have broken 3 ribs a week ago and go to Tignes on the 18th January. Does anybody know what's good for broken ribs, whats bad etc.
I have ordered a rib protector (bit late now i here you say) just to give a bit of support.
Any help please?
Shane
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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apart from medical advice you probably need to let your insurance know as it will probably be a pre existing condition if not healed.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Even with tons of painkillers & a good dose of optimism - thats 20 days for healing (assuming you don't start skiing until 19th). Est recovery time for this if undisplaced (sitting stuck together despite the break) is 6w. Ribs cannot be 'splinted' as you need them to move (otherwise you can't breathe) so treatment is rest. For the same reason, healing takes longer. Getting out of breath & breathing heavily will stop healing. Altitude & exercise will both do this.
Your breathing will be slightly less effective due to the damaged area. This will become evident if you exert yourself. Might even become evident at altitude or in the aeroplane.
If you fall onto this weakened area, the 1st risk is: bone gets pushed through the lining of the lung (pleura) & lung deflates. Might take out 1 side completely or just a lobe (you have 5 lung lobes 3 on R, 2 on L). Needs hospital treatment immediately (you will be short of breath at rest with this - called pneumothorax). Up a mountain, you will probably need medical evacuation - horribly expensive, many 000's & doubt your insurance will pay.
Sorry.  (I'm a GP BTW)
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| what...snow wrote: |
Even with tons of painkillers & a good dose of optimism - thats 20 days for healing (assuming you don't start skiing until 19th). Est recovery time for this if undisplaced (sitting stuck together despite the break) is 6w. Ribs cannot be 'splinted' as you need them to move (otherwise you can't breathe) so treatment is rest. For the same reason, healing takes longer. Getting out of breath & breathing heavily will stop healing. Altitude & exercise will both do this.
Your breathing will be slightly less effective due to the damaged area. This will become evident if you exert yourself. Might even become evident at altitude or in the aeroplane.
If you fall onto this weakened area, the 1st risk is: bone gets pushed through the lining of the lung (pleura) & lung deflates. Might take out 1 side completely or just a lobe (you have 5 lung lobes 3 on R, 2 on L). Needs hospital treatment immediately (you will be short of breath at rest with this - called pneumothorax). Up a mountain, you will probably need medical evacuation - horribly expensive, many 000's & doubt your insurance will pay.
Sorry. (I'm a GP BTW) |
Thanks for that. I broke it on 27th December. No where near 6 weeks. Went to the doctors new years eve and he reckoned 3 weeks or is that to knit together?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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In my experience of bust ribs you will think you are better when in fact you are not. Pain free, good breathing, no issues.....and then you get a whack on them and it is "go straight to jail, if you pass Go do not collect $200"
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| chect2000 wrote: |
| what...snow wrote: |
Even with tons of painkillers & a good dose of optimism - thats 20 days for healing (assuming you don't start skiing until 19th). Est recovery time for this if undisplaced (sitting stuck together despite the break) is 6w. Ribs cannot be 'splinted' as you need them to move (otherwise you can't breathe) so treatment is rest. For the same reason, healing takes longer. Getting out of breath & breathing heavily will stop healing. Altitude & exercise will both do this.
Your breathing will be slightly less effective due to the damaged area. This will become evident if you exert yourself. Might even become evident at altitude or in the aeroplane.
If you fall onto this weakened area, the 1st risk is: bone gets pushed through the lining of the lung (pleura) & lung deflates. Might take out 1 side completely or just a lobe (you have 5 lung lobes 3 on R, 2 on L). Needs hospital treatment immediately (you will be short of breath at rest with this - called pneumothorax). Up a mountain, you will probably need medical evacuation - horribly expensive, many 000's & doubt your insurance will pay.
Sorry. (I'm a GP BTW) |
Thanks for that. I broke it on 27th December. No where near 6 weeks. Went to the doctors new years eve and he reckoned 3 weeks or is that to knit together? |
If he reckoned three weeks, then the ribs are probably actually only cracked, rather then broken right through.
Even then, skiing three weeks later seems extremely optimistic.
If I were you, I'd cancel now - you should be able to reclaim most of the cost through your insurance, although they will say you should have cancelled sooner, and they won't pay out any extra deposit you lose due to not cancelling a week ago.
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Lots of kidney & liver to help the bones heal plenty of rest and somthing Like the nike pro fit or the SG Skins from Slush and ruble to help pull everything together and heal oh and lots of rest. Good Luck
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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The thought has entered my head to cancel. If i take it easy, if i go slow etc etc. It's a private booking and not through a tour operator so i might chance it. When it goes tits up i will be back on here when i get back saying. You guy's were right. What we do for our pleasure hey.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Not clever, big or funny but I skied three weeks after breaking my collar bone (having broken said bone whilst skiing). I was just ridiculously cautious and, whilst pootling around like a middle-aged woman (no offence intended though I know it's caused) wasn't quite as much fun as the usual shredding, it was just nice to be out on the mountain. Defo better than sitting at home wishing I was out there. That said, I don't think I was in danger of popping a lung.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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smoking and drinking are also bad for bone healing
rayscoops - i misread your post as saying you went skiing 10 days after your spinal surgery 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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chect2000, you asked if there are any doctors here, but have completely ignored the only one to reply! Just an observation, as it is really up to you. Just thought it was worth a mention .......
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Lorenzo,
 He seemed to reply straight away to the post.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| T Bar wrote: |
Lorenzo,
He seemed to reply straight away to the post. |
Ah yes. I meant "completely ignored the advice of the only one to reply" - that a fall (fairly likely) could cause very serious problems and require emergency evac and 000s of pounds of uninsured expense.
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Tue 6-01-09 21:00; edited 1 time in total
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I'm not a doctor (not of medicine anyway), but have broken three ribs on two separate occasions in the last few years (once skiing, once playing baseball). My experience is four-to-five months before the pain completely goes away! Medical friends are surprised that it takes me this long. Managed to ski OK though within a day or two 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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chect2000, sorry to talk about you in the third person! I take it you have not asked your own doctor. I am guessing that is because you really want to go and are scared he will tell you not to. Or am I barking up the wrong tree?
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Lorenzo, sometimes we all know the answer, just do not want to hear it 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Sometimes the medical reality is hard to take. I remember my wife being on a drip in a hospital bed because she was so ill she had been unable to even drink a glass of water for 3 days and still she was asking the consultant if she would be able to make the trip to Canada that was planned for the end of the week! Fortunately we were able to transfer the booking and made the trip two months later after she had fully recovered. If I were in a situation like chect2000 then I think I'd rather delay the trip for a couple of months and ski at my 'normal' level than spend the holiday 'taking it easy'.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Patch, as GP and someone who broke a few ribs 3 years ago - I'd agree with that. Hurts like a bitch. I could ski a bit with them broken - but not much - and it was perhaps 2 months till I had an uninterrupted night's sleep.
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I did my ribs about 3 weeks back, x-ray doctors painkillers, carried on boarding until I couldnt breath anymore and was taking triple the painkillers I should have been. Now I still cant sleep on my left side and putting my left binding on hurts like hell. Havent tried falling yet as I dont want to go through all that again.
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You know it makes sense.
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Chect200
I broke 3ribs 2 years ago - I couldnt do anything for2 weeks, just catching my breath was hard - running upstairs was incredibly bad. Itd epends how bad they are - remember the altitude will effect your breathing, the unhealed ribs even more !! if you fall badly -you dont want to contemplate the damage you could do. In your position, use your insurance, rebook when you are feeling 100% - who knows you might even get a better exchange rate ! 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| Lorenzo wrote: |
| chect2000, you asked if there are any doctors here, but have completely ignored the only one to reply! Just an observation, as it is really up to you. Just thought it was worth a mention ....... |
I went to the Doctors New Years eve (Moorfield surgery, Moorfield street, Herefored). Explained i was skiing in 3 weeks. Yep did that. He said they would be well on there way to kniting together in 3 weeks and to be carefull for 6 weeks. I went to Doctors for pain killers and advise.
My original post was asking what is good and whats bad to help healing. And thanks to "what snow" i have taken on board what he/she said.
Then you get some Lorenzo coming on here saying i haven't done this or that and jumping to conclusions. Lorenzo read my post " quote me, Does anybody know what's good for broken ribs, whats bad etc."
If you know what is good or bad to help healing then your answer will be appreciated, If you have nothing constructive to add please feel free to post on other threads.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| stab wrote: |
| I did my ribs about 3 weeks back, x-ray doctors painkillers, carried on boarding until I couldnt breath anymore and was taking triple the painkillers I should have been. Now I still cant sleep on my left side and putting my left binding on hurts like hell. Havent tried falling yet as I dont want to go through all that again. |
Get some Flows 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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chect2000, to be fair to Lorenzo, he makes a valid point. Your thread asks for DOCTORS advice. The DOCTORS advice was:
"If you fall onto this weakened area, the 1st risk is: bone gets pushed through the lining of the lung (pleura) & lung deflates. Might take out 1 side completely or just a lobe (you have 5 lung lobes 3 on R, 2 on L). Needs hospital treatment immediately (you will be short of breath at rest with this - called pneumothorax). Up a mountain, you will probably need medical evacuation - horribly expensive, many 000's & doubt your insurance will pay. "
You may not like this advice, you may choose to ignore it, but you did ask for it.
FWIW - I'd go anyway and try VERY HARD not to fall. But then, I'm not a doctor. 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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have you definitely broken these ribs or is it just someone telling you that you probabaly have - big difference as a lot of the time i see folk who claim ribs are broken, get an x-ray and no evidence of the ribs being broken.
If x-ray shows broken ribs then i agree that risk of collapsed lung (pneumothorax) is one which is not worth risking
If no x-ray showing break then i recon that the bruising around the ribs giving the pain is one that you need to judge if its too much or not. Personally i would tend to just get on and ski/board
Have boarded for a week with a broken wrist needing mrs empinky to do up bindings!!
surgeon btw
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I tore my calf muscle 4 weeks ago and go boarding in 2 weeks so I can feel your pain.
It still aches like mad but I am going to double drop the painkillers, bandage it up and hope for the best!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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empinky, hmm... Xrays now routine in - for example - rib fractures in the lower ribs?
The European radiology guidelines (based on the UK ones) say do not do a CXR routinely in minor chest trauma. see here page 96.
In an ambulatory patient - not involved in a high energy/ multi-trauma scenario - if they have localised tenderness, and no signs of pneumothorax and/or surgical emphysema - and they come and see me as a GP - or if I were still in A&E - they ain't getting an X ray.
Tree-Surgeon I am guessing ?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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stoatsbrother, what's the reasoning behind that (I'm neither a GP nor a tree surgeon)? If there's a risk of pneumothorax resulting from a fall whilst, say, skiing, then surely it's better the patient is aware of the break and takes the proper precautions. From what you've said, it seems that broken ribs will only be diagnosed in people involved in high energy/ multi-trauma scenario or with signs of pneumothorax and/or surgical emphysema.
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Tommy4681, Sensible question - but I think the risk of pneumnothorax as a late complication may have been slightly overstated earlier. For me the key limiting issue on how soon someone could ski again would be pain.
And I think you say to patients that your rib may be/is probably cracked/broken, but since an X ray will not alter the treatment and may give you cancer - we don't do one.
But then I carried on skiing at high altitude after - I believe - breaking 1 or 2 ribs - (could feel nice clicking and grinding over the wound site when I took a breathe in) so who am I to say...
Bottom line is that a sensible radiology department - acting within current legal advice - would probably refuse to do the Xray in any case. And you don't get a great view of the lower ribs at the side in any case - and that is where many injuries are.
Kramer would be better qualified to speak on this one though.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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stoatsbrother, v interesting. Cheers for that.
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| chect2000 wrote: |
| If you have nothing constructive to add please feel free to post on other threads. |
I was trying to be constructive. My constructive advice was to listen to the experts and follow what they recommend.
You seem to have some advice now from a surgeon so maybe you should start up a dialogue with him/her to get to the bottom of things?
You are getting solid advice here from proper professionals, free of charge, and should be grateful for that and take it on board.
I am really sorry that this injury has happened to you right before a holiday, and hope that everything works out (whatever you decide to do).
L'enzo
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FAQ
most painful and I could not play rugby for maybe a couple of months 
