Advice please - Smart exercising around a broken rib...?

WeaselbeanzMum

Hey, you clever lot

Ok, so I came off worst after a socks+wooden stairs+hungry cat incident on Thursday night last week. I'm 116lb so no mega injuries (fortunately) and most of the aches are just moving on...

My biggest issue is that, and I am by no means and exercise freak, I am struggling without my HIT metabolism and strength training wallop in the morning - I can't just 'do nothing', it doesn't feel right!!!

TBH, I did do my usual 'carry on regardless' and try to just get on with my normal routine the next morning, but it was pretty instantly evident that that was a very bad idea.... so over the last few days I have take out most of the weights and just added shedloads of gentle cardio which my body is telling me is ok.

The (bad pun alert!) insult to injury is that my better half last night located a sticking out end of a back rib... so apparently I didn't get off quite as lightly as I'd assumed.

Irritation factor a million!

C'mon guys, please can I ask for your steer on this? Am I being a moron by doing anything at all? Does anyone have any experience of this kinda thing? What is 'ok' exercise? How long until I'm fixed .....?

Any thoughts (or 'constructive criticism' ) gratefully received!!!

Thank you

meritage4

Rest. Get your rib taped as you don't want it to puncture a lung.
My guess is you are at or close to a healthy weight.

The only "safe" exercise I can think of would be riding a stationary recumbent bike.
It has good support for ribs and no danger of further injury.

But get that rib taped.

ElizabethOakes2

Having survived a broken rib a couple summers ago- Plan on some good hard power-walking on smooth even ground. Strength training, I really have no idea. I had serious pain whenever I lifted anything or bent over at all. If you're using machines, lower body is probably okay, but depending on how messed up your rib is, probably shouldn't be doing much in the way of lifting.
As always, if you're having shortness of breath, coughing up blood, or trouble breathing, get thee to the Emergency Room. Even a decent cracked rib can break and pierce the lung if it's not allowed to heal right. Also, ribs take forever to heal! I still get twinges of pain if I have a coughing fit.

pebble4321

My first reaction would be: REST!

And my second: you really need to ask your doctor or health professional about this. I'm pretty sure they don't strap broken ribs any more, but I'm thinking that you won't want to be jiggling it around too much.
Definitely ask the doc.

WeaselbeanzMum

Thank you to both - great advice! It is a mid back rib so I think I've got away relatively lightly tbh.

I don't have trouble breathing etc, it just hurts if I cough or bend wrong.. or anything to do with laying down and trying to get up..

I'll monitor for the ER room, but I suspect it won't be necessary so long as I don't do anything really stupid

WeaselbeanzMum

And thank you to @pebble4321 too - I was considering whether I should go get it checked out. I don't like bothering the GP and I really don't think they can do anything, was more.. I guess in case I've missed something