TMBRA - Rider Board

[Anonymous]

Doc:

This my first post in this forum.

Last sunday I fell off my bike while running through a bumpy section on the trial I was ridding. It was not anything highly technical, but I guess I wasn't paying much attention. My front wheel hit the ground first and you can imagine the consecuence, I jumped from the bike and landed like a sack of sand hitting one of the trail bumps with my left side ribs (between my armpit and chest).

First I was out of air and with a little pain because of the hit. Luckily there was no one around to laugh at such idiot I am. I rode for a couple of hours after that.

It has been almost two days now, and my ribs hurt mostly when a take a deep breathe, or when twisting my upperbody. I sneezed twice in the past days and there I felt a big pain.

Would this mean my ribs could be bruised or broken? I was told for more than one people that it doesn't worth it to go to the doctor, as there is nothing that can be done for a broken rib other than rest and some pain killers.

What's your advice Doc?

Thanks
AT

[Murkona]

I posted the exact same question a few months ago and here's what the Doc had to say:

Murkona:

It is likely you have some fracture (broken) ribs. Treatment is tincture of time. Unfortunately, it will take 6-8 weeks for the ribs to heal up before they will stop aching. X-rays will let you know if they are broken, the benefit of knowing they are broken is in planning your recovery time. If they are not broken, and only bruised you should be feeling better in 1-2 weeks. If they are broken, it will be 6-8 weeks before you should partake in any activities in which they could be easily reinjured. Have your physician check you out and get the rib films.

Thanks,
_________________
Paul K. Nolan, MD
AKA: The Bike Doc

[The Bike Doc]

atamariz

Yeah, what Murkona said! Thanks, Murkona.

(I have been off line for the last two weeks and still plowing through the paper load that continues to build when off on vacation so please pardon my delay in getting back to you.)
_________________
Paul K. Nolan, MD
AKA: The Bike Doc