[nhmtns]

I fractured a rib in a hard DH crash. I'll be staying off my DH bike for a few weeks but plan on riding XC and road while I'm healing. It hurts like hell but it's summer and I'm not gonna sit around doing nothing.

Has anyone done much riding with this injury? Besides loading up on the painkillers my doctor gave me and trying not to crash (duh), is there anything else I should do? I can't exactly wear my DH armor but maybe I could could somehow pad my ribs. (?)

 

[trailville]

they take a long time to heal. I injured my ribs about a year ago and it took almost 6 months before all the pain was gone. Surprisingly, they felt fine when I rode the bike so I was back riding within a week. I just had to keep reminding myself that another crash would be a real bad idea.

 

[jisozaki]

Be careful!

I broke my ribs on the first day of a 4 day mtn biking vacation. I didn't know they were broken but they hurt like hell any time I coughed, sneezed, laughed, yawned, or got jarred. I did some cross country riding the next day but the bouncing and jarring was so painful I cut my ride short and went to a doctor. Needless to say, I skipped riding the rest of the vacation.

The doctor recommended I wait at least 2-3 months before riding again. His concern was a 2nd fall that might break the ribs in a way that would puncture my spleen. A punctured spleen would probably result in death by internal bleeding. I asked him if it was okay to do some easy riding within a month and he agreed and said let the pain be my guide.

Anyway, if you chose to ride, make sure you DON'T FALL or if you do, fall on the other side!

 

[nhmtns]

death by internal bleeding

Yeah, that would kind of suck to die.

 

[roaddog]

It took about 9 weeks or so for me before I was feeling any better, but was still careful for some time. I did no off road riding- easy road stuff. It was hard to not go hard.

 

[norm]

I broke my ribs playing hockey and just could not ride. I took about 2-3 weeks off the bike and slowly eased into it. Best to rest it for abit....

 

[pahearn]

I've injured my ribs quite a few times and I've found that sometimes depending on where the fracture/bruise/break is, wrapping the area of your chest with an ace bandage can soften the jarring. Doesn't always work but it helped me out once.

 

[Trouble Maker]

I'd say the 'let the pain be your guide' is a good way to do it.

I'm all for staying off of it. I broke a rib this last winter skiing on a trip. I couldn't move very well for about a week. A little over a week later was the last weekend of the season around here, so I decided to see how I felt skiing. It was fine, but I was still very careful, and didn't ski anything like I normally do. I still didn't do a whole lot of anything for the next month or so.

 

[burtronix]

The biggest problem is the risk of another fall. You could puncture a lung & risk drowning in your own blood. I crackedy my rib in April & started riding hard again after 2 months. But then my injury might not have been as severe. I did a lot of swimming (especially kick-boarding) for the 1st month, then started riding fire roads & trails with no obstacles. Concentrated on hills to get the cardio back.

 

[Trouble Maker]

Oh, my friend who's got a violent streak 'accidentally' punched me right where it happened two weeks after (it was on St. Patrick's day, we were really drunk). He was apologetic, didn't make it hurt any less.

 

[CHUM]

i broke 2 a little while back (beginning of May)......took a week off....was verrrry scared of sneezing......got on the road bike and had no issues....since then i've done a couple of hard MTB races.....just remember to take deeeeep breath every once in a while (so ya don't get pneumonia)....no need to wrap'em......if it hurts while riding, don't ride (as others have stated).....also it helps to sleep on them - for some reason it hurt me less and was easier to breath.

and dude...totally don't crash on them.....OW!

 

[Treybiker]

Quit whining and nut up. :smallviolin:








j/k

I've been hit by a car 3 times, and have had 7 surgerys from sports injuries, and nothing was worse than having broken ribs. I whined like a baby every time I had to breath. :cryin:

 

[DMoreau]

I broke one during the middle of a wrestling camp, everyone told me to suck it up, it hurt like hell. Took a month for it to get back to normal. I couldn't laugh cough or sneeze for a long time.

 

[jonny290]

Broke my bottom right floater about mid-June. Gingerly rolled around parking lots for 3 weeks, and I'm almost back to 100%. Careful on weight transfers and pulling up on the bars, but I'm back to jumping dirt this week. Every injury is different, though. This sounds kind of roadie, but you may want to consider a stationary trainer for a bit - it'd let you spin and keep in shape but is virtually 100% impact free and should keep your rib safe.

 

[nhmtns]

Thanks for the advice.

As others have stated, one of the most painful things is sneezing. It sends a debilitating shock of pain that is extremely unpleasant.

I went for a road ride yesterday morning and was fine. Then, mostly out of boredom, I went for an XC ride in the evening. Everything was fine until the end of the ride when I was riding across a narrow bridge (30' long and about 10" wide) built to cross a swampy area. Right near the end I had to wheelie drop off because I was getting too close to the edge. Pulling up caused a really sharp pain that still hasn't gone away after a night's sleep.

Unfortunately, I think I'm going to have to stay away from trails for a while and stick to the road.

 

[miSSionary]

I had to wheelie drop off because I was getting too close to the edge. Pulling up caused a really sharp pain that still hasn't gone away after a night's sleep.

Unfortunately, I think I'm going to have to stay away from trails for a while and stick to the road.

Yeah, stay off the MTB and hit the roadie for a while. I too went through this in May and if you try to get back too fast there is no time for the rib to heal. Good luck!

 

[johnbomc]

I too am riding with an injured rib...

I don't know if its broken but it is definitely damaged. I have an event this weekend I have been looking forward to (leadville silver rush 50) so I have been on the 10 day healing plan. ouch hope i don't fall on that side. I know I should let it heal up but I can't stay off the bike. It doesn't hurt when I ride moderate trails...I just can't pull up real hard or crash :skep:

 

[miSSionary]

I have been looking forward to (leadville silver rush 50) so I have been on the 10 day healing plan. ouch hope i don't fall on that side. I know I should let it heal up but I can't stay off the bike. It doesn't hurt when I ride moderate trails...I just can't pull up real hard or crash :skep:

We'll see ya up there johnbomc, I'll be on one of the many Black Sheep up there that day, Good Luck!!:thumbsup:

 

[johnbomc]

cool sounds good, i'll be on a gary fisher caliber 29er a very tasteful lime green color lol with spankin' new maxxis ignitors... this is my first year riding consistently so I expect to get schooled but it should be fun I live in salida so at least I'm used to thin air ... see ya up there!

 

[Jayem]

Sounds like a good idea, I'd just avoid 10 feet to flat drops.