Cracked rib & torn muscle misery :(

[Ally T]

I have had a really nasty chest infection. It's almost at the end, but has been 2 weeks of coughing & wheezing Hell. I blame the icy weather here & the fact that we didn't get above freezing where I live for almost a week.

Last Wednesday night whilst lying in bed, I must have coughed & twisted - I actually don't recall anything other than sudden searing pain in my left lower back & ALL over my left lower flank, front, side & back & left shoulder. I couldn't get a breath in.

I bumbled on (as you do) because during the day when up & about, I am not in a great deal of discomfort. It only hurts to attempt a deep breath, sneeze, cough, hiccup etc. So I tried to take it easy. But night time is a COMPLETELY different story. I cannot lie on my back, left side or front, only on my right side. I cannot get my breath in properly without a sharp stabbing sensation in the bottom of my left lung. When I get out of bed it takes about 30 minutes for the intense pain to subside.

On Sunday I went to A&E. It was hideously busy & I was there for 6 hours before being seen. The Dr examined me & found the excruciating spot in my rear lower left ribcage. She poked & prodded more than I would have liked, my lungs were clear etc, then concluded I had at the very least severely pulled my intercostal muscles & flank, at worst had torn the muscles & most likely fractured a rib. It was very late & I was very tired, so she didn't order xrays as that would have been another 3 hour wait. I left with Co-codamol to use at night.

Has anybody every experienced this before? She told me to expect it not not clear very quickly, no exercise, no getting heavily out of breath, no heavy lifting etc. I can barely sit down, as the pressure of the chair against my lower left back makes me gasp - it's mostly a physical pressure thing.

I am good with pain, but this has knocked me bandy. I have been crying at night, felt nauseous & haven't slept for more than an hour at a time for the last week.

Any helpful tips?

 

[dk168]

No help here except to wish you a speedy recovery!

DK

 

[rainydaze]

Oh dear! That is utter misery. Not being able to sleep to escape it all for a bit is unbearable. If I find I do have anything to offer I will come back and post. All I can offer at this point is compassion and a helpless wish that something comes your way to ease your suffering.

 

[Tartansparkles]

Sorry to hear and hope you feel better soon...DH cracked a rib years ago (he then threw up with the pain, so I can sympathize with the level of 'discomfort'.). The hospital didn't do x-rays because they were fairly confident of the diagnosis and also because there was nothing the could do other than offer pain killers. The symptoms sound similar to what you are describing and although it did take a while to recover, it did get better.

 

[Tonks]

Oh my word, @Ally T , that sounds miserable. I am so very sorry.

My instinct would be to try a couple of things (you would need your husband’s help for the first). First, taping the area tightly to give you some support. I’m a big fan of KT tape (also called kinesiology tape or kinesio tape). If you Google “KT tape cracked ribs” you will see a list of results with instructional for how to do it. It’s a very elastic tape so you’re not going to hurt yourself. The idea would be that you can support the area as you move around. My physical therapist used this tape on me after a shoulder subluxation, and it is magical stuff. I’ve learned to use it on myself to manage a myriad of injuries, and cannot recommend it highly enough.

You can also google “KT Tape intercostal muscle strain” and get that technique. I haven’t watched the videos but I would suspect the technique is very similar to the cracked rib one. Regardless, you are not going to cause harm with this stuff.

Next recommendation would be a body pillow or a wedge pillow in bed so you can play around with how to support your body so you can rest and heal.

Finally, maybe a new and good show on Netflix for mental distraction? This is so not fun at any time, but especially the holidays. Best wishes for speedy healing.

 

[missy]

Oh no @Ally T I am so sorry. That’s terribly painful. You have received excellent advice. I would urge you to rest.

And if it’s not improving please get X-rays.

Sending you gentle hugs and bucketloads of healing vibes

 

[MeowMeow]

No tips just good wishes and hopes that you heal well and quickly! <3

 

[Tonks]

Oh, one more suggestion, @Ally T . Manage the cough aggressively if you are still coughing. If you can get your primary care physician to prescribe a cough syrup, it will help more than anything you can purchase over the counter. Telling them you have a cracked rib should be sufficient inducement for them to help you with this. If not, the old home remedy for cough is whiskey with honey and lemon, and it does work.

 

[danusia]

Been there! Holding a pillow against my chest when I cough helped. Heat and cold (I used to alternate, but after a couple of days heat seemed to work the best) Pillow behind that side should help too. My doctor told me they do not tape cracked ribs anymore and the intercostals are strained and need to heal. So yes rest is best! Hope you feel better soon. I am currently fighting the stye from "hell" since I had covid. Internal on lower lid and am on a 3rd liquid eye ointment called Maxitrol. Hope this one eliminates it.

 

[Arcadian]

Oh gosh, I'm sorry you're going through this @Ally T Its been a lot of years but unfortunately I had inflamed diaphragm anything in this area thats torn or inflamed especially in the area of the lungs is just not pleasant and let me tell you, I thought I was gonna die everytime I took a breath. I'm not sure how it even happened but its only been the once and hasn't happened again like that.

I did as little as possible for 3 weeks because otherwise I always got sick and light headed.


Rest, heat, cold. I couldn't do anti inflammatories because they didn't know the cause of the inflammation, and, allergies to the damn things. So Tylenol it was... I did lots of espon salt soaks though and that helped tons.

Its gonna take time. to heal and you've gotten some good advice.

 

[missy]

Been there! Holding a pillow against my chest when I cough helped. Heat and cold (I used to alternate, but after a couple of days heat seemed to work the best) Pillow behind that side should help too. My doctor told me they do not tape cracked ribs anymore and the intercostals are strained and need to heal. So yes rest is best! Hope you feel better soon. I am currently fighting the stye from "hell" since I had covid. Internal on lower lid and am on a 3rd liquid eye ointment called Maxitrol. Hope this one eliminates it.

Hope it’s ok to chime in here. For a resistant Stye have you tried heating a potato and holding it to your eye? That can help believe it or not. Warm up a potato and wrap it in a washcloth and apply to your eyelid. Do it as often as you can keeping the potato warm. Hope you find relief soon

 

[Tonks]

Hope it’s ok to chime in here. For a resistant Stye have you tried heating a potato and holding it to your eye? That can help believe it or not. Warm up a potato and wrap it in a washcloth and apply to your eyelid. Do it as often as you can keeping the potato warm. Hope you find relief soon

Can confirm this will do wonders. I have an autoimmune condition called Sjogren’s and due to poor quality tears at one point I had lots of styes. They had me use either the potato in the washcloth trick (clean washcloth every time) or, I finally got something called a Bruder mask that does the same thing.

 

[smitcompton]

Hi,
I truly hate pain. As I read your post it occurred to me that you might try sitting up in a chair to sleep. You won't have the same pressure. Get a foot rest amd try that. So many people fall asleep in a chair when watching Tv, I know it can be done.
I'm really sorry. true downer.
, Annette

 

[finerthings]

@Ally T, I feel your pain, and I'm so sorry you are going through this. Years ago I slipped down a flight of stairs and broke a rib, and bruised others - it was not fun, pain medication helped. But I didn't have to suffer with a cold and cough like you are right now. You have lots of great advice, and surely you can get a doctor to prescribe a strong cough suppressant especially after you tell them about the broken rib. Also I'd do the whiskey shot as @Tonks suggested if I couldn't get anything else to work! Sending gentle hughs and healing vibes!

 

[stracci2000]

Oh no! I know what you're going through.
I recently fell down the steps and broke a back rib on my left side.
This was last month, on Nov. 10.
It took a whole month before the pain finally stopped, till I could sneeze, cough or clear my throat without severe pain. It still feels weird when twisting a certain way.

I could only sleep propped up with several large, firm pillows. Laying flat or on my side was misery. Getting out of bed was the worst.
I worried that I was taking too much ibuprofen, but it helped with the pain. I took 2 ibuprofen every 6-8 hours for the first two weeks. I also used ice packs.
You might also consider stool softener, if you know what I mean....
Only time will heal you.
I hope you feel better soon!

 

[Ally T]

Thank you everyone for your amazing wisdom, advice & healing hugs.

It truly is rubbish. Unfortunately I cannot take any Ibruprofen products due to a clotting disorder which could be aggravated by it, so I have never used anti-inflammaroties at all. Just heat & ice.

Mr T has taken the girls out to an amazing Christnmas Luminaire display in the woodlands tonight, whilst I sit here & wallow. I have National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation on (not the best idea when laughing hurts!) candles lit & have poured Prosecco. Hoping it might help me sleep, too!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I have had a really nasty chest infection. It's almost at the end, but has been 2 weeks of coughing & wheezing Hell. I blame the icy weather here & the fact that we didn't get above freezing where I live for almost a week.

Last Wednesday night whilst lying in bed, I must have coughed & twisted - I actually don't recall anything other than sudden searing pain in my left lower back & ALL over my left lower flank, front, side & back & left shoulder. I couldn't get a breath in.

I bumbled on (as you do) because during the day when up & about, I am not in a great deal of discomfort. It only hurts to attempt a deep breath, sneeze, cough, hiccup etc. So I tried to take it easy. But night time is a COMPLETELY different story. I cannot lie on my back, left side or front, only on my right side. I cannot get my breath in properly without a sharp stabbing sensation in the bottom of my left lung. When I get out of bed it takes about 30 minutes for the intense pain to subside.

On Sunday I went to A&E. It was hideously busy & I was there for 6 hours before being seen. The Dr examined me & found the excruciating spot in my rear lower left ribcage. She poked & prodded more than I would have liked, my lungs were clear etc, then concluded I had at the very least severely pulled my intercostal muscles & flank, at worst had torn the muscles & most likely fractured a rib. It was very late & I was very tired, so she didn't order xrays as that would have been another 3 hour wait. I left with Co-codamol to use at night.

Has anybody every experienced this before? She told me to expect it not not clear very quickly, no exercise, no getting heavily out of breath, no heavy lifting etc. I can barely sit down, as the pressure of the chair against my lower left back makes me gasp - it's mostly a physical pressure thing.

I am good with pain, but this has knocked me bandy. I have been crying at night, felt nauseous & haven't slept for more than an hour at a time for the last week.

Any helpful tips?

oh Ally crying and feeling nauseous plus hardly any sleep it must be terrible
i hope the doc over estatimated the recovery time and the pain dulls soon or at least becomes more managable
i think just (somehow) get as much rest as you can

get well soon

honey lemon and ginger drinks to ease any coughing

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

I am sorry for your illness/injury. I would keep up with regularly scheduled pain meds. Strong ones. And sleeping in a recliner might help as well.

Hope you feel better soon!

kind regards--Sharon

 

[MamaBee]

You poor thing! It sounds so horrible..My mom had a few cracked ribs in her lifetime. She’s 97..She said a pillow firmly against your chest when you cough was very helpful. Taking pain medication round the clock without a time lapse kept the pain under control. If you take heavy duty pain meds..ask what you can take to alleviate the side effect of not being able to go to the bathroom. I say this because she said it was very important to mention. I hope it heals quickly.

 

[lala646]

So sorry to hear this, @Ally T. My dear aunt just fell and broke 3 ribs on Monday. She went back to the hospital this morning as the pain had become unbearable. I hope you are able to find some relief in time to enjoy the holidays with Mr T and the girls.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

kiwifruit is really good for regularity
if i have a codein i always double up on the kiwifruit

 

[MissGotRocks]

I am so sorry to hear this and hear of the pain and discomfort you are feeling. No advice but many good wishes for healing coming your way!

 

[SparklieBug]

Oh, no! So sorry to hear of your health travails, @Ally T! A good friend just recently broke several ribs in a snowboarding wreck. He's on a regular regimen of painkillers, and doing n.o.t.h.i.n.g. (difficult for him, as he's usually 135% on the go-go-go factor) at all. Just rest and keeping still.

There's plenty of great advice up-thread! Sending you oodles of "healing dust" and best wishes for a speedy recovery.

 

[Bron357]

Having tripped and broken ribs myself I understand. It’s an awful injury because you have to breathe. I found using one of those “sitting up” pillows helped and laying not on the sore side.
It does take a while to heal though, unfortunately. Sending healing vibes your way. Just a day at a time.

 

[Autumn in New England]

I've coughed so strenuously in the past, that I thought I'd lose a lung or crack a rib. I can't imagine how uncomfortable you must be, poor thing. My best wishes for a speedy recovery!!

 

[Sparkles88]

Wishing you a speedy recovery @Ally T
I am so sorry you’re feeling so sick, big hugs to you xx

 

[danusia]

Hope it’s ok to chime in here. For a resistant Stye have you tried heating a potato and holding it to your eye? That can help believe it or not. Warm up a potato and wrap it in a washcloth and apply to your eyelid. Do it as often as you can keeping the potato warm. Hope you find relief soon

Missy, This is the one thing the ophthalmologist told me not do do, along with rubbing 14kt gold on it. lol

 

[whitewave]

Oh, Ally, I hope you feel better soon!

 

[danusia]

Can confirm this will do wonders. I have an autoimmune condition called Sjogren’s and due to poor quality tears at one point I had lots of styes. They had me use either the potato in the washcloth trick (clean washcloth every time) or, I finally got something called a Bruder mask that does the same thing.

Tonks, Thanks! I do have the Bruder mask, but he told me to use washcloths so that I do not contaminate the Bruder mask (24 + hrs between washes to dry completely). So I am doing the warm washcloths and he warned me not to do the potato or 14 kt gold trick because I could do more damage if the potato was too hot and the gold too rough.

BTW, the name brand Bruder mask are expensive, but the manufacturer also sells under the name Thermalon for about half the price. I got mine at Walmart.

 

[lulu_ma]

Ally-so sorry to hear that you are going through this-especially during the holiday season. Sending healing vibes in the hope that you have a speedy recovery!