Recovering from pneumothorax/rib injury
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Hi folks. Last Tuesday had an off road mountain bike crash, thrown from bike onto my left side. Spent 2 nights in hospital as the x-ray showed up a small pneumothorax. Lots of pain in the left side, they could not find broken ribs. Sent home after a second x-ray showed nothing getting worse. Now have prescription for Naproxen anti-inflammatory, Omeprazole (to offset what the Naproxen does to your tummy), and paracetemol. My job is home and desk based so sitting up and keeping still works, and try to remember to do breathing exercises. The nights are very difficult, I can only sleep in one position, on the right side, opposite to where the injury is. Spoke to a pharmacist when Friday night was pretty bad. They told me I could take Cocodomol for 3 days on a night time. That night I tripped on my garden path and pitched over a little, did not fall onto the side, but even that jolt alone set me back, took a while to get to sleep that night, and then was shattered and slept in bits going back off an hour or so at a time from 1am until midday the next day. I don't recall the last time I ever stayed in bed til midday. So that was yesterday. Last night stayed in bed for 6-7 hours and it felt marginally better today, though I can't do much really, any movements are painful.
At this point nearly a week later, I am seeing the doctor tonight. So would be grateful for advice on what I should cover with him. I can now pinpoint where the pain is more, so can point him to that, maybe he can feel it and get a better idea if there really is a cracked rib. Also my rib cage when i look down at my torse, and my wife looks at it is noticeably still more pronounced than the other side, as if the whole thing is shifted. As far as the pneumothorax is concerned I am not getting shortness of breath and as the second x-ray saw no decline the hospital view was this would naturally right itself now. I wish there was a way to make this less painful but I realise with ribs its just tough and takes time.
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bronwyn97278 h9000
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h9000 bronwyn97278
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The only other thing I showed the GP last night he found strange was that my rib cage at the front on the side that had the impact is noticably more pronounced than the other side. He raised an eyebrow but did not say anything was needed.
So for now keeping going the same, go steady, keep taking the anti-inflams / paracet, I work from desk at home and this is keeping things reasonably still and allowing it to heal up a bit. Hoping this consolidates things over a few more days. I'll also aim to do a light 10-15 minute walk around my village each day to see how that feels, I know at the moment you can feel every step in the soreness on the side, but breathing is fine.
bronwyn97278 h9000
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h9000 bronwyn97278
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Was exhausted last night, probably slept at least 8 hours, surprising as I did not take Cocodomol last night and am still in some pain in bed.
Today sat at the desk its a constant dull pain today. But in general feels a bit more managable. GP wanted me to keep with the anti-inflams at least until the script runs out, so another week minimum. The Paracetemols are run out now but I am not convinced they make much difference so I will see how I am without them today.
bronwyn97278 h9000
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h9000 bronwyn97278
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Increasingly getting a very achy back towards end of a day now, and some minor tummy soreness on the side where the lung issue was. Feels sort of like your muscles have had a work out there if that makes sense. None of it feels like enough to go back to doctors, maybe just need to be watchful of it.
h9000
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bronwyn97278 h9000
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h9000 bronwyn97278
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Two main concerns would like to understand better but doc has not offered detail. Firstly, it would appear my rib cage on the left side is entirely shunted and now the left and right are not symmetrical as they were before. Not sure if that should be a cause for concern, and it now might always be like that? Secondly, I still get the bubbling/popping in the chest at about 8pm each night. No pain but a pretty loud noise, and so far no-one has explained what it might be, except my doctor nephew suggested could still be air between lung and wall of body that is being cleared in the recovery process.
bronwyn97278 h9000
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h9000 bronwyn97278
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bronwyn97278 h9000
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h9000 bronwyn97278
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