Rib Injury Question

[tone capone]

So, a few weeks ago, I injured my lower rib cage in, lets just say one of the stupidest moments of my life. One of those things that reminds you of how bad things could go with the velocity of skis or wheels involved... Had nothing to do with skiing or biking, but I basically swan dove into a pile of rocks at a dead run.

Landed on my right side lower ribcage and knocked the wind out of myself, laying on ground in immense pain for several minutes, luckily no sucking chest wound resulted.

Had all the usual horrible pain associated with breathing, coughing, sneezing etc. immediately following the injury, but no visible bruising or bumps, everything seems intact but lots of pain for sure and a couple loud "pops". Pain began radiating into my back below the shoulder blade and, down into my upper arm a bit. Luckily breathing pain only lasted a few days, but sneezing and coughing still extremely painful.

But to get to the point, now it has been two weeks, and in the last couple days, along with the referred pain down my upper arm, I have experienced waves of tingling down my whole arm. No weakness or prolonged numbness, just a minute or two of tingling about every 15 to 30 mins. I did not injure my neck, back, shoulder or arm in the fall, only my lower ribs were impacted.

So this is freaking me out a little honestly, I have never experienced anything like this. Could this amount of nerve impingement be a reason to immediately see a doctor? Or should I only worry if it gets worse with weakness and persistent numbness? I did a bunch of research on the internet, and there is absolutely nothing that says this happens with injuries this far down the ribcage, only the first rib seems to affect the nerves in the arm from what I have read. Anyone have any experience with this? Just wait it out or see someone?

[old goat]

See a doctor asap. It's possible you have a herniated disc or other problem in your cervical (neck) spine. May or may not have anything to do with the ribs. If you have any trouble using your hand or if you touch your fingers lightly with an object (not the other hand) you can't feel it go to the ER. BTW it's a good idea to have a chest xray if you break your ribs--to make sure there is no bleeding in the chest or a punctured, collapsed lung. You don't need the xray to diagnose the rib fractures, and sometimes you can't even see them on XR, but to rule out other internal injuries.

[Norseman]

Tone... fuck!

Nothing much to add but condolences, and to second the rec for chest X-ray. When I broke a rib last year (oh yeah, I saw you that day!) I had a fair amount of pain way up high in my chest, far from the injury... which was the collapsed lung and air bubble. Not suggesting that you have the same, but I think you should play it safe and check the systems.

[tone capone]

Thanks guys...fuck. Skiing was fun today, but the arm is doin weird things. No total numbness yet but waves of pain and tingling.

[Rideski]

I'm not saying don't get checked out. But some optimism from a rib injury. I crashed a bike and bruised some ribs. Ridiculously painful for a solid month. I did not have any of the other symptoms you are talking about, so I was just going to wait for the pain to go away. I was about to throw in the towel and go to doc cause it was getting no better at all, and the next day it was like flipping a switch, pain 90% gone. But with your other symptoms, maybe playing it safer is the better bet, I don't know.

[old goat]

I'm not saying don't get checked out. But some optimism from a rib injury. I crashed a bike and bruised some ribs. Ridiculously painful for a solid month. I did not have any of the other symptoms you are talking about, so I was just going to wait for the pain to go away. I was about to throw in the towel and go to doc cause it was getting no better at all, and the next day it was like flipping a switch, pain 90% gone. But with your other symptoms, maybe playing it safer is the better bet, I don't know.

The arm symptoms have nothing to do with rib fractures. They are likely the symptoms of some kind of nerve injury, which could be due to the same crash that caused the rib fractures but the timing suggests otherwise. One possibility would be a stretch injury to the brachial plexus--the bundle of nerves to the arm located coming out of the neck and above the collarbone. With the delayed onset a more likely possibility would be a herniated disc compressing the spinal cord or nerve roots in the neck. There are other less dire possibilities as well--a lot depends on a good neurological exam to test the various nerves to the arm and hand as well as trying to localize where in the arm and hand the tingling and pain is. None of these things necessarily mean surgery or a permanent problem.
Rib fractures usually hurt about 6 weeks, more or less. I managed to break three ribs last winter, no idea how, didn't crash, but at my age there doesn't have to be a cause for some part of the body to break. Took me 2 weeks to get around to having xrays because I thought I had just strained the muscles--doctors are terrible patients. They seemed to heal fine with me skiing most days, heavy poling traverses and climbs were tough though.

Please us know what the doc says.

[tone capone]

Thank you so much...I am totally uninformed on these issues as I have never experienced anything like this. I really appreciate you paying as careful attention to what I posted as you did. I have an appointment with a spine specialist on Wednesday afternoon, which I scheduled immediately after your first post. Kind of scared right now, especially when the word "dire" is used in conjunction with possible neck or nerve injuries, but thank you for explaining to me the possible seriousness of the situation, as well as giving me some hope I'm not completely fucked for sure yet.

[old goat]

Dire overstates it. Poor choice of words. My apologies. I don't think you're completely fucked at all. I was trying to make sure you saw the doc. The fact that the problem is not bad enough to keep you from skiing is certainly hopeful.

[tone capone]

I still actually think, however misinformed, that the problem is originating from my chest injury...

Today I wake up, neck feels completely fine...Still lots of weird migrating pain in my ribs, front, side and back.

It seems I have a pocket of swelling under my armpit. It seems that the one movement that really triggers the tingles without it being totally random is when I bend over at the waist. It seems that the pocket of swelling while in that position presses on a nerve going into my arm...I don't know, it could just be wishful thinking. It just doesn't seem neck related. I hope I'm right against all odds. Still will definetly be going to the sport and spine doc. Thank you again old goat...And thank you Norseman, hopefully I'll see you around Bridger over the holidays.

[Mofro261]

Tone, probably go get that shit looked at, I don't think you should still have swelling a few weeks out after a rib injury. Pain yes, but the swelling should have subsided. You likely had some internal bleeding and may have edema/blood pooling internally.

I've broken ribs before, and separated them a full week later after a bad ski crash just by sneezing (holy fuck that hurt), 6 week recovery is very accurate. I've also had impingement in my left shoulder that sent radial tingling down the arm and sent me to the ER at 35 because it matched the symptoms of heart problems (was actually brought on by too much touring/hiking with too much high arm position poling), had a couple of odd test results come back and next thing I know I'm getting an angiogram. Heart was completely healthy, went to pt and a simple stretch while sitting down grabbing the chair seat and gently pulling upward fixed it in less than a week.

It's likely benign, but certainly worth the peace of mind to get it checked out.

[tone capone]

Thanks Mofro, can't tell you how much I appreciate feedback like this. I know I troll you guys a lil bit at times but it's all in good fun. I love this community with all my heart, I receive so much inspiration from it, and I know how important being in it for a lifetime as a skier is to you guys too. Thank you and never hesitate to ask for a place to crash if you ever make it to Bozeman, or someone to show you around here or anything like that, anytime no question. I will update tomorrow after my appointment. Aside from this little hiccup, I am more stoked on skiing than I've ever been, and couldn't be more positive or optimistic about the season to come. The joy skiing brings to me just grows deeper and more fulfilling every year and I don't intend for anything to bring me down any time soon. May you all have the opportunity to have the best season ever this year.

[old goat]

I still actually think, however misinformed, that the problem is originating from my chest injury...

Today I wake up, neck feels completely fine...Still lots of weird migrating pain in my ribs, front, side and back.

It seems I have a pocket of swelling under my armpit. It seems that the one movement that really triggers the tingles without it being totally random is when I bend over at the waist. It seems that the pocket of swelling while in that position presses on a nerve going into my arm...I don't know, it could just be wishful thinking. It just doesn't seem neck related. I hope I'm right against all odds. Still will definetly be going to the sport and spine doc. Thank you again old goat...And thank you Norseman, hopefully I'll see you around Bridger over the holidays.

Actually--that sounds quite possible. The swelling would most likely be a hematoma (lump of blood) from the rib fractures, and in your armpit it certainly could press on nerves to your arm. You don't sound misinformed at all. The other migrating pains sound normal for rib fractures. One thing anyone with similar symptoms should be aware of--you can have a herniated disc in the neck without neck pain. Only symptoms might be pain, numbness, tingling, and/or weakness in the hand or arm.

[detrusor]

I would echo old goat. You can have a cervical disc issue without neck pain. Also, a hematoma pressing on the brachial plexus as it leaves the neck and travels through the armpit may seem like no big deal but....persistent pressure on any nerve can lead to long standing problems. Go have it looked at.

[old goat]

I would echo old goat. You can have a cervical disc issue without neck pain. Also, a hematoma pressing on the brachial plexus as it leaves the neck and travels through the armpit may seem like no big deal but....persistent pressure on any nerve can lead to long standing problems. Go have it looked at.

Rereading the original post--a minute of a wave of tingling down the whole arm every 15-30 minutes. Odd. I'm anxious to hear what the doc says.

[tone capone]

Doc seems to think it is likely an irritated disc in my neck. Neuro test is fine he says. No bulging disc or anything like that. He says it's not terrible. He says don't ski for a week, and come back and see him in 3. Didn't think an MRI is necessary at this point but to call him right away if anything changes. Overall he didn't seem too concerned. I'm trying to take it in stride and not freak out. Will work on my posture and some upper back strengthening.

Thank you guys again for your concern and information, the more the better, even though some of it is kind of frightening.

[GeezerSteve]

Good news. Best o' luck healing up and getting back on the skis.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

Doc seems to think it is likely an irritated disc in my neck. Neuro test is fine he says. No bulging disc or anything like that. He says it's not terrible. He says don't ski for a week, and come back and see him in 3. Didn't think an MRI is necessary at this point but to call him right away if anything changes. Overall he didn't seem too concerned. I'm trying to take it in stride and not freak out. Will work on my posture and some upper back strengthening.

Thank you guys again for your concern and information, the more the better, even though some of it is kind of frightening.

Did the doc give you any prescriptions? I've had rib injuries and I've found that Robaxin/methocarbamol works wonders for comfort. Depending on the severity of your injury the muscles in your chest, back and shoulder can spasm and getting the muscles to relax really helps when it comes to being comfortable.

If your fractures are simple cracks you will probably start feeling 'normal' after six weeks. Last rib injury I had was 5 displaced fractures and separation from the sternum, basically a flail chest with hemo/pneumo thorax. I also had a fractured scapula and separated my clavicle from the sternum and dislocated the AC joint. That was almost 3 years ago and I still feel it everyday.

Hope you feel better soon.

[old goat]

Doc seems to think it is likely an irritated disc in my neck. Neuro test is fine he says. No bulging disc or anything like that. He says it's not terrible. He says don't ski for a week, and come back and see him in 3. Didn't think an MRI is necessary at this point but to call him right away if anything changes. Overall he didn't seem too concerned. I'm trying to take it in stride and not freak out. Will work on my posture and some upper back strengthening.

Thank you guys again for your concern and information, the more the better, even though some of it is kind of frightening.

Thanks for the followup. Your doc's advice certainly seems reasonable.

[tone capone]

Holy shit, that sounds downright horrific! I feel like a complete pussy now, which is helpful as well. I guess it could be muscle spasms pulling on my neck, definetly seems plausible with what I have felt going on. Still fucked up shit going on tonight in my arm for sure, but I will wait till the 6 week point now before getting really dramatic about it.

Wishing for you all that the best turns of your life are yet to come. Today was my Mom's first turns of her 70th yr, and I can honestly swear up and down that they were the best yet of hers. It was a beautiful sight, let me tell you.

[Norseman]

^ Awesome.

[byates1]

i walked out of some new bindings skiing fast in chop last week, 2 times. this will be the 4th time at last in 2 years i have smashed my ribs. 2 times skiing, 2 times hammered drunk. fun times.

best wishes on recovery, i'm sort of getting used to it by now.

[tone capone]

I have a great update to report today! I saw a chiropractor that was highly recommended to me by two people, one guy who is an ex bull rider who has really jacked himself up over the years so I figure I'd give it a shot.

I went today and through an extensive evaluation of my movements and feeling my ribs while I breathed, he quickly pinpointed the problem as being my injured ribs that were "stuck down" and not really moving properly yet, which was in turn affecting my shoulder blade which was pulling on my C-7 vertebra. He did a quick adjustment and popped two of my ribs back into place through my back and things are already better! No tingling or pain since then! He gave me some stretches and stuff to do to ensure things stay and heal in place, so I wouldn't have to see him again. Pretty stoked!

[yeahman]

That's cool man. My chiro regularly adjusts my ribs. Does wonders and gets rid of all kinds of funky aches and pains. Hope it sticks.

[GeezerSteve]

Good news Tone. Upward and onward

[Shredhead]

I saw a chiropractor

He gave me some stretches and stuff to do to ensure things stay and heal in place, so I wouldn't have to see him again.

Pretty sure they don't teach that at Palmer.



I crashed on a hidden rock band this weekend and my ribs are sore as shit. Every time I sneeze, I think I'm going to die.