Well, today marks 5 weeks since I had my accident and I am still struggling with considerable pain and discomfort. While I admit that recovery time for someone of my age is bound to be longer than someone who is younger, I am still perplexed as to why it is taking so long. So, on Friday, I asked the doctor if he could get my ribs x-rayed again. Apparently, for some bizzarre reason, he can not have access to the x-rays that were taken at A&E at Wollongong Hospital on the day I had the spill.
So, on Monday I fronted down to the X-ray place and had my ribs photographed again and today I attended the doctor’s to get the results.
Instead of having 3 fractured ribs which was what I was told on the basis of the hospital x-ray, I have SIX fractured ribs. Yes, you read right. Now I checked it up and you only HAVE 9 ribs per side so 2/3 of the ribs on my l/h side are damaged. No wonder I’m still in pain and not sleeping for any more than about an hour or 2 at a time.
Now the recovery is going well and they are healing well, and the recovery time shouldn’t be extended any more than what it would have been, but the impact upon me in terms of pain and comfort (dis) levels looks set to continue for some time to come.
I guess it’s good to know, but…
sanoptic says
Have a look at this site…..http://www.ehow.com/how_10228_treat-rib-fracture.html
Worth a try if your interested.
I had one busted rib years ago & it took many months to get back to normal, all i know is the more you move the longer it takes.
I also used to put a hot water bottle on the rib & that seemed to take away the pain. [for a while]
Hope you don’t suffer to much longer mate.
cya
Phil Hall says
I’ll give it a bash, thanks.
Phil Hall says
Interesting article. Funny that, just by intuition, I have discovered and put into effect some of the suggestions there.