Is it possible to break a rib without realising?

[nuyorican]

Went on a long cycle ride yesterday. Also did some exercises in the park, including hanging upside down off a climbing frame and doing sit-ups.

Nothing unusual about this, I do the same multiple times a week through the summer months. But last night and today I have a stitch-like pain on my left side under my lower ribs. I could only sleep on my right side last night. Waking up this morning I felt considerably better but after going shopping and having something to eat the pain is back. Kind of worse when you breathe in kind of thing.

So after worrying myself about busted spleens and acute appendicitis etc I figured I must’ve done myself an injury yesterday without realising. Is that possible?

[blue_haddock]

Every time i've broken a rib (many times!) it has always been obvious at the time of actually doing it so just based on my personal experience i would say no it isnt possible.

[nuyorican]

Oh, ok.

Thanks. Still hoping I’ve just maybe torn or damaged a ligament or something rather than impending doom.

[Nexus Icon]

I would have thought it's an intercostal muscle tear. They're bloody awful but don't come with the noise and lung-puncturing danger of a broken rib. I went through a phase of tearing, healing and re-tearing the same one a couple of years ago. It was 6 months of misery.

[nuyorican]

Yeah. Sounds like a candidate.

I’ve never broken a rib knowingly so I’m sure that would be a lot worse really.

I was pretty hungover whilst exercising so probably wasn’t warmed up or concentrating on form…

[Nexus Icon]

My only advice is let it heal right up before exercising again. It'll take a couple of weeks to be sure. If you do what I did and get back on it the first day it feels right, it will likely let go again and I'm sure each tear took longer to heal - it certainly felt like it.

[nuyorican]

Thank you.

[White-Noise]

I'm no doctor but that sounds more like a muscle or similar sort of thing if there was no impact. I've done my ribs a couple of times in karts, it came on later and lasted 1 to 2 months hard to breathe etc which tallies with the guidance. I didn't get scanned as I don't think the usually do it as the solution is the same cracked or not. So i dont know specifically if they were fractured or bruised. At the time of the injuries I didn't realise anything was wrong.

I would think it's sensible to keep moving but you don't want to be exercising and straining too much. Keep moving like don't lay in bed afraid to move...!

Eta...

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/broken-or-bruised-ri...

[mcelliott]

Do a couple of sneezes, that will leave you in no doubt.

[rallye101]

Yes, after 9pints and tripping over a patio door....knew the whole of the next week

[HTP99]

If you've a broken rib you will definately know it, I've done it twice, it is agony and you are in constant discomfort, having to sit, stand and lie down in odd positions to try and minimise the discomfort and/or pain, sleep is awful as it is constantly being aggrivated when you drift off in not your usual position and then roll over!

[Slagathore]

nuyorican said:

So after worrying myself about busted spleens and acute appendicitis etc I figured I must’ve done myself an injury yesterday without realising. Is that possible?

As said, sounds like an intercostal strain/tear.

Had similar to what you describe, but with no incident/accident, so to speak. Possibly the hanging upside down that did it.

Really bloody annoying and does need rest.

[GliderRider]

I went on a surfing course in Australia over a few days. Afterwards I had stabbing pains every so often. Upon seeing a doctor, he reckoned I had broken a rib. I couldn't pinpoint any particular event that initiated it, just the continual pounding of the breaking waves making my way out through surf, plus some less than dignified 'arrivals' on the return leg.

[595Heaven]

I tripped over walking the dog just before Christmas and the right side of my upper chest landed on her retractable lead, which had a dog poo bag holder attached (at right angles). Pretty sure it broke a rib as I was in proper pain for several weeks.

[d_a_n1979]

I'd say you've twinged something; however, it is possible to pop a rib head too without realising...

Broken many ribs in my lifetime through rugby over the best parts of 14 years; 6 at once was the worst. But you know about it too as it affects breathing etc

You can tweak ribs easy enough; damage the intercostal muscles around them easily too and, as above, you can pop rib heads slightly, which is bloody uncomfortable but easily fixed

Hopefully you'll be sorted soon enough

[nuyorican]

I’ve done something that’s for sure.

Just hobbled to the local shop. It was agony every time I tried to breathe in. Had to keep stopping and leaning on the wall.

It hurts like fk!

[Mabbs9]

Another vote for intercostal muscle. Really not fun, impossible to get comfy and easy to set back the recovery. Take it easy and get advice. Good luck.

[BoRED S2upid]

I did exactly the same. Turned out it was a pulled muscle I too was googling appendicitis I even went to the docs after a week. 2 weeks later I’m fine.

I’ve also broken a rib you would know if you had done that extremely painful for weeks.

[d_a_n1979]

nuyorican said:

I’ve done something that’s for sure.

Just hobbled to the local shop. It was agony every time I tried to breathe in. Had to keep stopping and leaning on the wall.

It hurts like fk!

Yup; you've tweaked something (as I've said and others, intercostal etc) or popped a rib head - you're breathing in and out stretches the already swollen area, so it's going to hurt...

Rest up if you can; take ibuprofen, if you can as well as paracetamol or Paramol if you've a chemist near by and it'll sort itself in a week or so

[nuyorican]

Cheers chaps.

Off work this week so I’ll rest up.