Fractured Ribs? Need to see a doctor?

So, as fate would have it, after skiing injury free for 111 consecutive days, the first day I DIDN'T ski this year, I had a bad fall. Cartoon-like fall, actually.

Slipped on some black ice in a parking lot covered with about 1/2 inch of snow and feet shot out from under me. Landed hard on my left side.

Left arm and leg are pretty bruised up and I'm pretty sure I fractured several ribs, possibly in more than one spot. I've broken ribs before and know the feeling...and I've got the feeling. If I sneeze, I'm in a world of hurt for about 10 seconds. Extremely sore in two spots right under my arm and 1 spot on the front of the rib cage and 1 spot where a rib connects to the sternum.

So, the question is...do I need to see a doctor? It's been a week and the pain is not really subsiding, but from my past experience, a doctor won't do anything for fracture ribs anyway. Lungs seem fine. Thanks for any advice.

yeah, you should. they really can't do much for you other than the meds. but you never know what's really going on in their until a guy with an expensive diploma on his wall tells you. And the pain is usually from the soft tissue damage, rather than the broken ridbs.

and for the next few weeks you'll want to avoid the hiccups, sneezing, laughing, or pooping.

You're right...He can't do much. But you need to be certain the broken ribs aren't close to your lung or anything else that might be of significance.

Been there/done that. Ribs are no fun.

Thanks. If they're not improving in the next couple of days, I'll make the hike to the doctor.

Fuck that, you'll know if something major is going on (lungs/spleen/liver etc). Yeah, you broke some ribs, it sucks, I just did it 3 weeks ago too...only reason to go is for meds.

So yeah, maybe you should go ;)

I called a buddy who is a doc and he prescribed 9 of these.

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/l...15/Kokanee.jpg

Seems to be working great so far.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DictatorShooter

I called a buddy who is a doc and he prescribed 9 of these.

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/l...15/Kokanee.jpg

Seems to be working great so far.

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i think your doc buddy has a problem and been steppin' on your prescirption because those usually come in units of 12.

I saw doctors at Squaw Valley Medical after falling extremely hard on my side. I couldn't sit still for more then 2 seconds and knew something was wrong.

They had me lay down and pushed on my ribs, noticed my pain and prescribed me Vicodin and told me to get rest.

They said it is for sure broken or cracked, but even if I did get an x ray it wouldn't matter cause its the same healing process.

which is

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/152/3...3cc691.jpg?v=0

And

http://www.pongalong.com/beerblog/wp...rPongGirls.jpg

It took over 3 weeks to heal and I feel fine now