Strained rib (Intercostal) muscle

il_principe
il_principe Posts: 9,155
edited January 2010 in Commuting chat
Anyone got any experience of straining muscles around their rib area? I had a little off on Saturday and my ribs have been sore ever since (landed on my right side). This morning I was putting on my overshoes and I think I tweaked the same area. Now its really sore, just lifting my right arm is painful, as is taking a deep breath or coughing. Pulling away from lights wasn't much fun on the commute either and I had the slowest ride in yet, nearly 3 minutes slower than the average. So anyone know how long this sort of thing takes to heal? I've got no intention of not riding and will self medicate with ibuprofen and perhaps some beer this evening :wink:
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  • mcj78
    mcj78 Posts: 634
    Hi mate - i've done something similar a couple of times (fell off bike, and a stray elbow playing footy), when I fell off my bike the symptoms sound similar to what you're experiencing - try not to aggravate it by doing anything really crazy like sneezing :shock: and it should start to ease in a couple of weeks. It's difficult not to aggravate it at times, but the easier you take it just now the quicker it'll heal. The time I got elbowed in the ribs playing footy I woke up the next morning (after an evening of prolonged self-medication) certain I had broken at least half of my ribs as I physically couldn't find a way to get out of bed that didn't reduce me to tears - quick trip to a&e later and I was sent home with some ibuprofen and told to take it easy, that didn't ease off for a month at least and I didn't even have a bruise... So yeah, avoid breathing too deeply, laughing, coughing and especially sneezing!
    J
    Moda Issimo
    Genesis Volare 853
    Charge Filter Apex
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    Il Principe wrote:
    Anyone got any experience of straining muscles around their rib area? I had a little off on Saturday and my ribs have been sore ever since (landed on my right side). This morning I was putting on my overshoes and I think I tweaked the same area. Now its really sore, just lifting my right arm is painful, as is taking a deep breath or coughing. Pulling away from lights wasn't much fun on the commute either and I had the slowest ride in yet, nearly 3 minutes slower than the average. So anyone know how long this sort of thing takes to heal? I've got no intention of not riding and will self medicate with ibuprofen and perhaps some beer this evening :wink:


    As far as I remember (from, I think, tweaking one underneath my shoulder blade, rowing) they are annoying, but heal relatively quickly because merely being awake has the effect of gently manipulating the area throughout the day. I imagine its a tad worse of it is in your ribcage at the front because it moves more when you breathe and so on.

    But really, MTFU?
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    mcj78 wrote:
    Hi mate - i've done something similar a couple of times (fell off bike, and a stray elbow playing footy), when I fell off my bike the symptoms sound similar to what you're experiencing - try not to aggravate it by doing anything really crazy like sneezing :shock: and it should start to ease in a couple of weeks. It's difficult not to aggravate it at times, but the easier you take it just now the quicker it'll heal. The time I got elbowed in the ribs playing footy I woke up the next morning (after an evening of prolonged self-medication) certain I had broken at least half of my ribs as I physically couldn't find a way to get out of bed that didn't reduce me to tears - quick trip to a&e later and I was sent home with some ibuprofen and told to take it easy, that didn't ease off for a month at least and I didn't even have a bruise... So yeah, avoid breathing too deeply, laughing, coughing and especially sneezing!
    J

    Cheers. It seems to be the same really, no bruise that I can see but yeah coughing etc is not fun, and I really don't want to sneeze. However I have realised that I have 2 high strength ibuprofens left over from the fracture so will take one now and one pre-pub tonight!

    @ Tyred - I have MTFU'd road in today after all!
  • oscarbudgie
    oscarbudgie Posts: 850
    Yes I think so, after a car crash years ago - if its an absolute b@stard that makes a slight cough or sneeze or any movement at all feel like you've been stabbed through the ribs - that'd be the one. Industrial quantities of codeine (for the weird dreams) and time.
    Cannondale Supersix / CAAD9 / Boardman 9.0 / Benotto 3000
  • Sewinman
    Sewinman Posts: 2,131
    Very annoying injury as it is very easy to aggravate. It takes about 1-2 weeks for the intense pain to go away, then there is the niggle for another month. I sneezed after 3 weeks and it started all up again and was back to square one.

    I reckon I have been in some form of discomfort for the last 4 months but it seems to more or less have gone now.

    Take it easy otherwise it will never heal.
  • greg66_tri_v2.0
    greg66_tri_v2.0 Posts: 7,172
    Very painful stuff - only hurts when you move. Or breathe. Or lie still. No fun.

    You sure it's the muscle and not the rib itself? A fracture will put the surrounding tissue into contraction to protect the damage.
    Swim. Bike. Run. Yeah. That's what I used to do.

    Bike 1
    Bike 2-A
  • jonginge
    jonginge Posts: 5,945
    Could be a fracture, but unlikely. A&E would most likely send you away with painkillers and tell you to take it easy... same as for the muscle damage.

    I've done the broken rib thing (stupid MTB). Not fun.

    Liquid formulated painkillers later :D
    FCN 2-4 "Shut up legs", Jens Voigt
    Planet-x Scott
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  • tgotb
    tgotb Posts: 4,714
    A few years back I bruised/cracked a couple of ribs skiing; a GP mate told me it's very important to take painkillers if it hurts to breathe, especially at night. If you don't, you may not breathe deeply enough to 'ventilate' your lungs properly and there's a risk of developing pneumonia...

    He prescribed me some *very* powerful painkillers, but that's another story :-)
    Pannier, 120rpm.
  • cee
    cee Posts: 4,553
    yip.

    any injuries in the ribs is much more sore than it really should be....

    my experience is that the pain drops to a frenzy after the first week, then again after the second week.

    but....reality is...5-6 weeks until you stop noticing it all together.
    Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.

    H.G. Wells.
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    So fcuking annoying, 3 months off the bike and I injure myself on the first damn ride! :roll: At least this one won't keep me out of the saddle. I think it was CP who referred to me as 'Mr. Bump' the other day, he was right.... :D
  • greg66_tri_v2.0
    greg66_tri_v2.0 Posts: 7,172
    That guy on the Brompton wrote:
    you may not breathe deeply enough to 'ventilate' your lungs properly and there's a risk of developing pneumonia...

    A mate who cracked a rib skiing was told this too, except that the risk was of a collapsed lung.

    I don't think that's good. Lungs are supposed to stay standing up.
    Swim. Bike. Run. Yeah. That's what I used to do.

    Bike 1
    Bike 2-A
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    Greg66 wrote:
    That guy on the Brompton wrote:
    you may not breathe deeply enough to 'ventilate' your lungs properly and there's a risk of developing pneumonia...

    A mate who cracked a rib skiing was told this too, except that the risk was of a collapsed lung.

    I don't think that's good. Lungs are supposed to stay standing up.

    It's not that bad... bloody doom-merchants. :lol:
  • greg66_tri_v2.0
    greg66_tri_v2.0 Posts: 7,172
    Il Principe wrote:
    It's not that bad... bloody doom-merchants. :lol:

    Famous last words, if ever I heard them :D:D:D
    Swim. Bike. Run. Yeah. That's what I used to do.

    Bike 1
    Bike 2-A
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    Greg66 wrote:
    Il Principe wrote:
    It's not that bad... bloody doom-merchants. :lol:

    Famous last words, if ever I heard them :D:D:D

    We're not all as decrepit as you. :lol:
  • greg66_tri_v2.0
    greg66_tri_v2.0 Posts: 7,172
    Il Principe wrote:
    Greg66 wrote:
    Il Principe wrote:
    It's not that bad... bloody doom-merchants. :lol:

    Famous last words, if ever I heard them :D:D:D

    We're not all as decrepit as you. :lol:

    Ah, but on my ward, I'm the last man standing. So not *that* decrepit ... :P
    Swim. Bike. Run. Yeah. That's what I used to do.

    Bike 1
    Bike 2-A
  • UndercoverElephant
    UndercoverElephant Posts: 5,796
    I've had the full set. Broken rib, pulled muscle around there and a "popped" rib.

    Broken rib, couple of weeks.
    Muscle, few days.
    Popped rib, until the magic physio put it back in.
    Sun - Rain - Snow
  • Clever Pun
    Clever Pun Posts: 6,778
    A hug from the barmaid will make you feel better tonight
    Purveyor of sonic doom

    Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
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    Beared Bromptonite - FCN 14
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    Clever Pun wrote:
    A hug from the barmaid will make you feel better tonight

    I'm a little scared... :shock:

    It's all so fcuking awkward. WTF is her name anyway?
  • Clever Pun
    Clever Pun Posts: 6,778
    Il Principe wrote:
    Clever Pun wrote:
    A hug from the barmaid will make you feel better tonight

    I'm a little scared... :shock:

    It's all so fcuking awkward. WTF is her name anyway?

    :lol:
    Purveyor of sonic doom

    Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
    Fixed Pista- FCN 5
    Beared Bromptonite - FCN 14
  • Clever Pun
    Clever Pun Posts: 6,778
    Did she actually make a move?
    Purveyor of sonic doom

    Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
    Fixed Pista- FCN 5
    Beared Bromptonite - FCN 14
  • greg66_tri_v2.0
    greg66_tri_v2.0 Posts: 7,172
    Il Principe wrote:
    Clever Pun wrote:
    A hug from the barmaid will make you feel better tonight

    I'm a little scared... :shock:

    It's all so fcuking awkward. WTF is her name anyway?

    Il Principessa? :mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:
    Swim. Bike. Run. Yeah. That's what I used to do.

    Bike 1
    Bike 2-A
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    Clever Pun wrote:
    Did she actually make a move?

    Pretty much - invited me to their staff party as her guest, I demurred, but let's face it, that's never a fun conversation.

    It's tricky, cos clearly I like getting free beer!
  • biondino
    biondino Posts: 5,990
    La Principessa - unless you're insinuating she may not be as womanly as she appears...

    It took nine weeks for my broken rib to heal last winter, though that was twice as long as the other two times. It might have been because I was so annoyed at having broken it on the way to RP for a ride that I went and rode 20 miles anyway. Oops.
    My Focus / My Bob Jackson
    Blog (incl. bikes)
  • Oddjob62
    Oddjob62 Posts: 1,056
    Il Principe wrote:
    It's tricky, cos clearly I like getting free beer!

    And she knows your weakness.

    Back on topic, i pulled my intercostal last year. Takes fooking ages to heal as you are tuggin' on it every time you breathe.
    As yet unnamed (Dolan Seta)
    Joelle (Focus Expert SRAM)
  • Coriander
    Coriander Posts: 1,326
    Il Principe wrote:
    Clever Pun wrote:
    Did she actually make a move?

    Pretty much - invited me to their staff party as her guest, I demurred, but let's face it, that's never a fun conversation.

    It's tricky, cos clearly I like getting free beer!

    Which barmaid is it?
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    Oddjob62 wrote:
    Il Principe wrote:
    It's tricky, cos clearly I like getting free beer!

    And she knows your weakness.

    Back on topic, i pulled my intercostal last year. Takes fooking ages to heal as you are tuggin' on it every time you breathe.

    Wunderbar.

    :roll:
  • Greg T
    Greg T Posts: 3,266
    Coriander wrote:
    Which barmaid is it?

    The wang eyed desperate one.
    Fixed gear for wet weather / hairy roadie for posing in the sun.

    What would Thora Hurd do?
  • Clever Pun
    Clever Pun Posts: 6,778
    Greg T wrote:
    Coriander wrote:
    Which barmaid is it?

    The wang eyed desperate one.

    :lol: oh GT I'm glad you popped in for that
    Purveyor of sonic doom

    Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
    Fixed Pista- FCN 5
    Beared Bromptonite - FCN 14
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    Clever Pun wrote:
    Greg T wrote:
    Coriander wrote:
    Which barmaid is it?

    The wang eyed desperate one.

    :lol: oh GT I'm glad you popped in for that

    Sad thing is he's right... oh and she's a bit toothy. Could eat an apple through a tennis racquet... if you know what l mean.
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • greg66_tri_v2.0
    greg66_tri_v2.0 Posts: 7,172
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    Clever Pun wrote:
    Greg T wrote:
    Coriander wrote:
    Which barmaid is it?

    The wang eyed desperate one.

    :lol: oh GT I'm glad you popped in for that

    Sad thing is he's right... oh and she's a bit toothy. Could eat an apple through a tennis racquet... if you know what l mean.

    Oh dear.

    La Principessa brutta. :(

    ETA: is she the one with the twin airbags out front?
    Swim. Bike. Run. Yeah. That's what I used to do.

    Bike 1
    Bike 2-A

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