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Broken Ribs Recovery

Original Post
Ron C · · Reno, NV · Joined Dec 2015 · Points: 36

Impacted hard during fall and broke 4 ribs with a collapsed lung.  Ribs were not displaced.  Anyone have experience with this and good recovery advice.  Doc indicates 6-8 weeks for ribs to heal up but nothing beyond "let pain be your guide".   I'm coming up on 4 weeks and improving mobility but lifting left arm above chest still a bit painful.  Going for easy walks / hikes which doesn't bother me and I'll be increasing distance & grade as things improve.  Along with my walks, I'm doing breathing exercises for lung and most curious about rib recovery & time frame.  Thanks.

Long Ranger · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 669

Just gotta wait things out. Laughing and sneezing sucks. Don't bandage them tight.

Nkane 1 · · East Bay, CA · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 465

https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/116180297/climbing-on-broken-rib#ForumMessage-116180337

https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/112153297/climbing-with-a-broken-rib#ForumMessage-112153742

A couple other threads on this. My experience was that it hurt and it hurt and it hurt and then I would push it and reinjure it and then it kept hurting and one day all of a sudden it was better. About 6 weeks total. Hang in there!

E MuuD · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2018 · Points: 160

Start easy. No dynos, no campusing... Take the opportunity to work on your footwork.  I broke 2 ribs a couple years ago, resumed climbing immediately. It took about 6 - 8 weeks to fully recover.

Pavel K · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 211

It took me about 7 weeks to be able to climb again after I cracked mine. Not 4 in my case only two or so.

Tristan P · · Boulder, CO · Joined May 2019 · Points: 0

Broke two ribs a couple years ago. I remember they were still really painful around week 6-7. Then they felt 100% by week 8. Recovery felt very steep in that last 1-2 weeks. Don't get discouraged

Chris Thai · · Denver, CO · Joined Nov 2017 · Points: 5

I broke 10 ribs in a bike/car crash.  By week 4 I was able to do low traverse boulder problems in a gym in my brace and well below my red point. Half of the doctors and PTs were ok with this.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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