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Post by spindrift1 on Aug 22, 2017 15:05:48 GMT
My dear friend who lives in Switzerland was walking her dog four weeks ago and for reasons unknown she was pulled off the path and fell into a metal bicycle stand thereby crushing ALL the ribs on her left side. She has had two operations which seemed to be unusual but a rib had torn into her diaphragm which had to be stitched.
She is back home now trying to manage the usual chores but she is still unwell. Her husband is nearly 94 so a carer has come from Slovenia. All in all it's a bad situation. She lives in a large house that is rather isolated. I would go over and help her but I am not well enough.
Can anyone offer advice about broken ribs?
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Post by rikita on Aug 29, 2017 22:45:31 GMT
no advice unfortunately ... mr. r. broke a rib once while climbing, because he fell into protection he had badly, because he only placed it only to appease me, so the pro did not hold when he fell ... but it was by far not as bad as your friend's situation ... i hope it heals soon!
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Post by spindrift1 on Aug 30, 2017 17:47:18 GMT
Thanks Rikita. I know that my friend is still having problems with pain. Luckily she has a helper who has come from Slovakia and who speaks German (luckily). At least she's having her meals cooked for her although she can't eat much.
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Post by questa on Aug 31, 2017 1:02:14 GMT
Hi Spindrift, how awful for you and your friend. fractured ribs are extremely painful because they have to move with each breath and can be dangerous when many ribs are broken.
I guess your friend is over 60 years old so has probably got some osteoporosis. Is her doctor treating this? It would help her recover better if so.
The main treatment is to control the pain so she can take deeper breaths and avoid lung complications. Controlling pain means taking the painkillers BEFORE the pain starts up. If she is feeling OK still take them as prescribed. It is important that she does slow gentle deep breathing and coughing exercises. If she gets pain suddenly, or pain in the front of her shoulder or a new place, or gets breathless call the doctor.
Naturally she should not try lifting anything heavier than a magazine and reaching above her head should be avoided. Is it possible to have a trained physiotherapist attend her?
Supervised exercise may lessen the chance of infection in her lungs. If she gets a temperature, coughing, trouble breathing and new pains call the doctor quickly.
Take care of yourself, remember 'worry' is a useless emotion...achieves nothing and debilitates the worrier
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Post by spindrift1 on Sept 2, 2017 15:59:37 GMT
Thanks for your advice, questa. Yes we are over 60! A physiotherapist hasn't come into the equation yet. I shall suggest this to her. Although some of her gym classmates have asked her to return to gym lessons I imagine these are out of the question. She is still taking drugs for pain but since someone gave her sleeping tablets she is coping better and has stopped crying (with despair). I guess it will take some time for her bones to mend. She has lost a lot of weight (opiates kill the appetite) so it's a task for her to eat a meal. Both she and I are in a similar boat.
I would go over to Switzerland to help her if only I felt well enough. In the meantime the carer from Slovakia is proving difficult and moody!
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Oct 30, 2017 16:11:58 GMT
Not as bad as spindrift's friend...but I have now pulled an intercostal muscle whilst sneezing. Painful but slowly easing....Ok so long as I don't cough or sneeze!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2017 16:24:15 GMT
I have suffered through both, cracked, pulled muscles and it is really painful as any movement from laughing to coughing, sneezing etc. flares it up.
Trying to sleep in particular positions is probably the most uncomfortable part. I have never been able to sleep on my back and favor sleeping on my side, both left and right.Many a sleepless night...
Naproxyn does really help as does Arnica cream or gel.
The other really helpful thing is to buy one of those body wraps from the pharmacy. Don't get the large/wider one but get the narrower one and adjust it with the velcro until it feels snug but not too tight.
I know dancers that have had many rib injuries and they use them all the time.
It allowed me to sleep and move about with much more ease.
Mend soon dearie!!
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Post by mickthecactus on Oct 30, 2017 16:49:52 GMT
I pulled an intercostal muscle in my cricket playing days. I could hardly breathe it was so painful.
Get well soon!
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Oct 30, 2017 17:18:34 GMT
I have been using arnica cream. I agree that getting comfortable is difficult Casimara.... I have a warm lavender bean bag and that's helping. It will soon be better  |
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Post by kerouac2 on Oct 30, 2017 17:18:39 GMT
There have been a few times when I have had a violent cold that made my ribs hurt when I coughed, but the only time I had what I consider to be rather extreme rib pain was my last bout of intestinal flu. I vomited so hard that my ribs hurt for at least 3 days. It made me even wonder if it was possible to crack ribs from the INSIDE.
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