Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Can We Play Doctor?–Update

Remember when I told you I fell while trail running this weekend?  It hurt when I hit the ground and Ken says it was a crazy, loud THUD, but I got up right away and finished the run. BAMF, I know. I was kind of sore, yet nothing to write home about. Saturday and Sunday were fine.

But, starting yesterday I’ve had a lot of pain in the ribs behind my left boob. Yes, it hurts when I breathe in. Yes, it is hard to get comfortable when sleeping. No, there is no bruising.

I figured maybe I just had some soreness from the fall, and have been taking Motrin and using a heating pad. Today I went for a 5 mile run and it was bad. My breath was shallow and the impact on my body when my feet hit the ground sent some pain to the sore area. I stopped halfway and had trouble catching my breath. I tried to take it deep breaths, but got stabbing pain.

What the hell? I’ve never experienced this before. Why did it take a few days to hurt? It sounds pretty classic for a cracked rib, no? If you are a doctor, can you come over with your x-ray machine and check things out?

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Have you ever had this happen? If so, did you seek treatment? From what I’ve read, there is nothing they can do for you anyway. You just need to rest. Story of my life.

Any tips on how to get more comfortable?

***Update: Just got back from xrays and urgent care. Good news: no crack. Just a strain. Valium. Bad news: mild scoliosis and a crack in my ass.

SUAR

55 comments:

  1. Before I even saw you said, my first thought was...Cracked Rib. And am I correct that there ain't a damn thing you can do about it? (I'm totally not a doctor, but have watched many on TV.)

    Feel better soon. That has to really suck.

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  2. I've cracked a rib and the pain was the worst about 4 days later. There isn't anything you can do about it. I had to take ambien to sleep. Good luck.. That sucks.

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  3. Yep cracked rib is my webMD diagnosis. A friend just had this happen - 1 cracked rib due to a flip on a bike. He kept pushing himelf and ended up with 3 more cracked ones...
    be careful!!

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  4. I am going to say cracked rib too.

    If you were Pa Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie, Doc Baker would wrap you from navel to armpits in white tape... you would lay in bed for a couple of hours and then you would be magically better. Unfortunately I think for you it will just take some time to heal. Feel better soon!

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  5. Cracked ribs are not fun, its the breathing part, when laughing or coughing. Have a feeling you will be down in out for a couple of weeks. Nope nothing you can do about them, but take the time to let them heal.

    Maybe this time off will get the rest of your body healed up - from the abuse this season = blessing in disguise

    Good luck :-)

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  6. I am NOT a doctor, but it sounds like a cracked rib to me or torn cartilage within the rib. I had this happen to me twice and it hurts like crazy!!! Unfortunately, there's not much you can do for it except rest! I'm sorry! I hope it heals quickly!

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  7. Alcohol. Copious amounts of alcohol. At least that's what I hear. I don't drink :)

    I'm obviously not a doctor but I have had a cracked rib before and this actually sounds a lot like how I felt. You could try some kind of compression wrap, like this: http://www.braceshop.com/productcart/pc/FLA-Two-Panel-Rib-Belts-For-Men-Women-25p109.htm

    It won't aid the healing process, but it will provide some stability that might help.

    Hope it gets better soon!

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  8. Comfort? There are some fine breweries in Colorado and they are likely introducing their higher alcohol offerings right about now. You know what to do.

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  9. I would guess cracked rib, too. It has never happened to me, but playing rugby in college I used to get bruised ribs that affected my breathing for days. Rest on up!

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  10. Likely a bruised or cracked rib; it hurts, and not much else you can do. Being speared by a hockey stick will do the same thing . . .hate that.

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  11. Cracked rib or intercostal (not interCOASTAL seeing as how you're in CO) issue would be my guess. It also sounds like a collapsed lung. Those hurt similarly…but your chest starts feeling really tight and your lips turn blue. Get checked, woman. That's what Dolvett would say.

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  12. um youre pregnant? jk, wish i could help, but i got nothing for you. wishing you speedy recovery though!

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  13. Hopefully it's just some internal bruising. I would think a cracked rib would have started hurting immediately after the THUD. I'd do some biking or swimming so you can still get a workout in without the pounding! Get better soon!

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  14. How bad is the "can't breathe" part? Broken ribs can puncture lungs, which may need intervention. If the breathing gets worrisome, report to a facility with xray capability. Otherwise, self-medicate & rest.
    Also not a doc, so take with a grain of salt.

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  15. I'd say rib fracture too. Although, there isn't much you can do, I still think you need a chest x-ray. To see how many are involved and whether or not you have a pnueothorax(collasped lung).
    I'd rest and soak in hot shower or tub with lots of advil too.

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  16. I had a cracked rib once and I had never experience pain like that in my life! :(
    It probably wouldn't hurt getting it checked out just to be sure. They could see if there was any contusion of the lung tissue too.
    Hope you feel better!

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  17. Is this one of these moments where you need to remind yourself NOT to be a DAFA.

    I believe that's your acronym. :)

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  18. a. thanks for point out which one your left breast is :)

    b. I think you see your Dr. they may not be able to do anything but you will have peace of mind.

    Here's hoping for a quick recovery!

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  19. I'm going to have to agree with the majority and say cracked rib too, but if there is any difficulty in breathing, you really DO need to get it checked out, if for no other reason than confirming the self-diagnosis. Any fall hard enough to crack a rib could have bruised your lung too ... or worse.

    In short, suck it up and go get it checked by a real doctor.

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  20. I strained my intercostal muscle not too long ago and I was having the same symptoms. I've never had a cracked rib, so I can't compare.

    Definitely go get it checked out though girl.

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  21. here's what you need to do
    1. get dress
    2. get car keys
    3. get in car
    4. drive to urgent care
    5 get x ray

    it could be collapsed lung
    not because 90% say cracked rib here and 100% of them are not dr that it means it is a cracked rib.
    dont play with this
    get it checked
    better safe than sorry trust me.
    after my last half in Long Beach I ended up in the ER and admitted to the cardiac unit. not fun.
    now Go.

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  22. Gotta go with Caroline. I've done the torn cartilage thing, and have broken a couple of ribs (motorcycle accident).

    Go to the doctor and get a real diagnoses, not an internet poll.

    Then drink heavily for, umm...probably the next month. Or two. But I'm not a physician.

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  23. I agree with Caroline. Go to the doctor.

    I ran a marathon back in a fast days with a "cold." I knew it was something more from experince but didn't want to admit it. Yep it was pneumonia and I ended up having a long time recovering from it. Most likely from racing a marathon with lungs that could only half breath.

    Have fun at the doctor! ;-)

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  24. Sounds like a cracked rib to me. I had one and it hurt like crazy for a long time. Good luck.

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  25. I broke two ribs last winter running outside...after an ice storm. Stupid yes. While it was nice to see the x-ray and confirm the breaks, there was nothing they could do except tell me to rest and give me some higher pain killers. And when I say rest, I mean I wasn't allowed to run for 1 1/2 months, lots of walking happened. Definitely not a fun experience.

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  26. A lot of cracked rib diagnoses...BUT I had inflamed cartilidge in my ribs (happened twice) and the second time it had to do with doing too many push-ups (Costochondritis - not even related to eating too many samples at Costco! I know!). If you've been cross training differently or doing something repetitively that's a consideration.

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  27. Glad you are going to get it checked out! Hope all is well and you are back out and running in no time.

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  28. You need a tat where you are pointing: "BAMF"

    Be careful Beth! I think the ReFuel team needs to send you more chocolate milk to heal!

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  29. I cracked a rib during track season. Most miserable thing ever! What you described sounds just like how mine felt. Running just jarred it and made it worse!

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  30. Glad the ribs aren't cracked but I'm not sure that the crack in your ass should be considered bad news! After all, no crack no poop and what would SUAR be without poop? :)

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  31. Glad you went to the doc... now heed the medical advice which is always the hardest part for me.
    You are very in tune with your body and now can rest perhaps a little easier.Good luck. Keep us updated.

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  32. Everyone is going to tell you to go to get an xray. I've had a few cracked ribs, they suck, you spit and piss blood and it hurts to breath and even worse to laugh.

    The truth is even if it is cracked they can't do a damn thing for you. You just got to drug up and wait for it to heal. They can wrap it up for you for protection but that sucks too. Alcohol is the best thing for injuries like this.

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  33. Well, I'm chiming in late because I had to go to work today, but I strained a muscle in that vicinity a while back and thought for sure it was a cracked rib. It's crazy uncomfortable, but mine was much improved within about 4 days. I stuck ice packs in my bra band. Hang in there!

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  34. Were you wearing a helmet? It could be Brain Damage or a concussion. LOL, glad to hear it's just a strain and good luck with that crack!

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  35. Last! Just kidding.

    I'm here to wish you well. Sounds sucky.

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  36. YOU HAVE A CRACK IN YOUR A$$?! Oh, so many jokes, so little time ...

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  37. Dude…thankfully you DO have that crack! Otherwise you'd either explode or everyone who saw you naked (like at your gym!) could see your hole…and THAT would be unfortunate…but it might solve that 'naked talking/unsolicited advice' thing ;-)

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  38. Is there a fix for the ass crack?
    Sorry to hear it...lounge a few days!

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  39. I saw on FB that you did go to urgent care. Peace of mind that is a good thing right?

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  40. This happened to me just last week! I had somehow, through ab work tore my lat muscle around my side rib. I heard a loud pop when bending over at the gym. Went to the doc, they gave me anti inflammatories and from there I have been icing like crazy and light streaching. I am not running right now anyways, so I continued to swim and cycle, no ab work. It has been about a week and I can say I am 99% pain free!!

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  41. This happened to me just last week! I had somehow, through ab work tore my lat muscle around my side rib. I heard a loud pop when bending over at the gym. Went to the doc, they gave me anti inflammatories and from there I have been icing like crazy and light streaching. I am not running right now anyways, so I continued to swim and cycle, no ab work. It has been about a week and I can say I am 99% pain free!!

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  42. I tripped over a jacked-up sidewalk a few months ago and completely tore up my left leg and arm. I, like you, picked myself and kept on running. And like you, a few days later experienced the SAME type of pain. I actually had trouble breathing while sitting on my ass. I didn't go to the doc b/c my husband (a medical writer ... no, not a medical professional. a writer. I obviously have a warped sense of medical care.) said I had a bruised rib cage or possibly a cracked rib. It lasted for a few weeks. I rested for a day or two and then got back out there. It was extremely uncomfortable, but not as uncomfortable as a sprained ankle or jacked-up Achilles tendon :-)

    Hope you feel better!

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  43. Not a crack. You'd see it. Usually it's muscle pull; feels like a crack though because the muscles are attached so closely to the ribs.

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  44. So glad it's not cracked, but if it had been, there would have been no delay. It sucks straightaway!!

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  45. Hum. I was going to suggest an intercostal rib muscle (remember?? Jume? I was flat on my back??) but mine was more towards my back. Still, I had the hardest time getting any air in my lungs...a minor detail for living.

    Hope it's better soon!!! (HUGS)

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  46. wow, that's rough. got a cracked rib from coughing so hard when i had pnemonia last winter. SOO freaking painful. i diagnosed myself and figured there was nothing they could do for me. so i did what i could do at the gym, but sleeping and doing chest --ie laying flat on a bench--were so excrutiating. Hope you can get some rest and heal up quickly. Mine was rough for a couple weeks but then jumped back to my normal routine

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  47. Ooooh, that totally sucks. I think that means you can just lie on the couch and ring a bell to get your family to serve you whatever you want :) Your last line in that post was good :D

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  48. May be torn intercostal muscle tissue and you should continue to take some deep breaths here and there if not you could end up with pneumonia and then you have to cough and you cant because it hurts so much and if you do you almost shit your pants..just saying,not a doctor but work with a lot of them. Cracked rib...time is all you got for it, sorry sistah!!

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  49. I'm sorry to hear you're hurt but what a great opportunity to rest up and get back to 100%.
    The crack is the one we all have right??? Or is there something else you need to tell us. LOL
    Get some R&R.
    Any advise for me on my last few days before my very first Rock-n-Roll 1/2 marathon in St. Louis?

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  50. Glad it's "just" a strain. Just think of it as extra time for leg rest (ie strengthening!), and how short that rest is gonna seem after last spring's injury.

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  51. I cracked a rib a couple years ago, and it was not a happy thing. I could breath normal after about a week, though, I just couldn't lay on my side.

    However... if you have insurance, you should go get it checked. It could be a number of other things that won't heal on their own... like the rib pulling away from the muscle or something really painful like that...

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  52. Just to be sure I see a doctor visit in your future. Cracked ribs are no fun, glad yours are not cracked. Hope you feel better soon

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  53. I got this while surfing one summer. The only thing for it is to do about six months in the pool. Hello posse!! Send us another photo of the area but we need to see more to properly diagnose.

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