Rib bruises...

**DarkXacreD** · Posted On: 8/28/2008 9:53am

I got kicked in the ribs during a throwdown on August 10th, and it's still bothering me when I stretch in certain ways, and when I use my lats. Can someone tell me what the best way is to take care of and/or get rid of a bruise in the ribs?

**money** · Posted On: 8/28/2008 11:27am

1 - Have a Dr. check it out to make sure you didn't fracture anything
2 - I used a heating pad and muscle relaxers

It sucks, you don't realize how much that area moves around till you hurt it.

**pauli** · Posted On: 8/28/2008 11:40am

squats and milk. mostly milk.

**TheRuss** · Posted On: 8/28/2008 11:49am

Eighteen days later... it's probably not just a bruise. Could be a sprained or fractured rib, or a pulled/torn intercostal. If it is a bruise, and you still have it two and a half weeks later, you'll want to make sure it hasn't calcified.

Incidentally, for anyone with a bruise that's bugging them... ice it. Not to the point of frostbite, but keep it cold until it's no longer warm to the touch. I guess that if you wanted to get experimental, you could try dimethylsulfoxide, but there's something about a skin-permeable solvent that creeps the Hell out of me.

**muddy** · Posted On: 8/28/2008 2:42pm

the problem with rib fractures is that they often dont show up on the xray. In my experience doctors will sometimes make the fractured rib diagnosis based on it being sore to the touch even if nothing showed up on the xray ... leading to a recomendation of extended time off training (5 to 10 weeks if i remember correctly)

Ive called BS on fractured rib diagnosis made on me when nothing showed up on the xray (meaning I kept on training). Of course if it showed up on the xray as fractured that would be a different story. I probably would have reassesed my BS call if the pain would have worsened or persisted for more than a couple of weeks.

Thats just me though ... Id never recommend anyone disregard doctors advice ...

**Bahuyuddha** · Posted On: 8/28/2008 5:00pm

Originally Posted by Money

1 - Have a Dr. check it out to make sure you didn't fracture anything
2 - I used a heating pad and muscle relaxers

It sucks, you don't realize how much that area moves around till you hurt it.

I'll re-iterate what Money said here. I had similar rib pain, also after a throwdown (hmm, pattern?) and thought it was just a bruise also. It lasted for several months (I think about 5 months until it was completely healed). I went in to the doctor's office for unrelated chest pain, and they X-rayed me for that. The new pain was not caused by a fracture, but they noticed a dense area of bone on the rib where I had previously been injured. They said it was most likely a minor fracture that had just healed on its own (it probably took so long because I didn't stop training).

So, as Money said, get that **** X-rayed, and if it's a fracture, rest it!

**Snake Plissken** · Posted On: 8/28/2008 5:07pm

And to add:

remember there are muscles connecting to other muscles and bone.

While you may not be taking shots to the ribs, you might be engaging in other activities which are putting a strain on your ribs.

Get it checked.