I know every situation is different, but for those of you that have broken ribs (or for the docs on the forum), what is an estimated time table of getting back on the bike…and then being strong enough to race after breaking ribs? Just trying to put realistic ideas in my head. My doc doesn’t ride and really has no idea. Seems the ribs that are broken are on my lower side and the back of my rib cage.
If you mean cracked ribs, I did that skiing early this year and it only took 10 days before biking was fine. Earlier than that would probably have been ok. My docs only worry was contact sports. Crashing wouldn’t be recommended, either.
i don’t have any advice, but just wanted to wish you speedy healing.
I had a full fracture of a lower rib after a bike crash. You could see how the two pieces weren’t touching in the xray. For the first few days when I would breathe the two pieces would click against each other. It took about 4 weeks before I was comfortable on a trainer. At 6 weeks I was back on the road but still ginger and was also going real easy in the pool, mostly just kick sets. At 8 weeks I was good to go for all three sports. Good luck.
You are one bad ass mofo if you are thnking about getting back on the bike already. Suggestion even though it will kill you to think of it…get a few rides in on the trainer first just to make sure you don’t get 15 miles out and the pain is unbearable. You can get some technique drills in and such until you feel good enough to get back out there and not worry. Take care of yourself. Let me know how you are feeling. I may have to come to the Buckeye State and bring some beers to help you numb the pain!!!
Jeremy Horgan Kobelski just won the GC at the NORBA race this weekend after breaking several ribs and fracturing his sacrum in April. Here’s a picture of him racing on Sunday and you’ll notice he has quite a bit of stack on his steer-tube (which he normally doesn’t have). I’m assuming that’s because he still has some pain bending over. When I spoke to his fiancee he was riding his bike on the road two weeks after the accident and as you see here only about six weeks and he was back to racing mountain bikes. I guess it’s like any other break as far as healing time is concerned.
I am actually just daydreaming about getting back on the bike already. 9 days later and I just drove my stick shift for the first time and it was nearly unbearable. Don’t even think about making me laugh, hiccup or sneeze. I think there may be months involved here… what a bummer! Damn guardrail. I should probably easy off the pain killers before starting in on beer, huh?
hey girlie:-) You are tough… I guess you will have to take it one day at the time and see what your body will allow you to do. I like the trainer idea, it’s a safe place to start. It is nice to hear from people that have been there tough…
ok, he’s a bad ass. I can’t even bend over to tie my shoe.
ok, he’s a bad ass. I can’t even bend over to tie my shoe.
Yeah… she did admit he had a high tolerance for pain… I guess that’s the kind of stuff it takes to become a multiple national champion 
Beer + Pain killer = 30 minute ride on trainer Sounds like a good combination to me. Take it easy toughie. I know you are in great shape and riding well but no reason to go out and make something you enjoy so much a ‘pain’ to do for a lack of better terms. Get some things done that you have not had time or the energy to do (unless it is scrubbing floors) and be ready for when you are healed up. You are a bad ass though. I will sign your ‘rubber guardrail’ petition!!!
Just remember that what’s important is the time until you feel 100% confortable on the bike, not the time until you can be back on the bike again.
Getting back on the bike too soon might delay the time until you feel at 100%. So take your time and focus on recovering fully. As soon as you are totally pain-free, you can get back on the bike.
And that guy might be tough, but I’m pretty sure that he’s a professional and that his earnings depend heavily on prize-money. Those are two great motivators
that is funny b/c I orginally put in my post that I am going to petition for rubber guardrails…but then deleted it. Great minds think alike.
I had multiple breaks to just about every rib on my right side. Depending on how many you’ve broken, and how many are displaced, I’d say you’re about 12 weeks away from riding again. You might feel OK to get out a bit sooner, but keep in mind what your ribs are there for. If you come off your bike (again?) your internal organs won’t have the protection they should. I also punctured a lung in my accident, and I really can’t reccomend it…
Agreed.
I’d second the trainer notion. And perhaps a change of position. When I was a rower, we (unfortunately) often lost teammates to stress fractures in the ribs. To stay in shape, ALL of them rode stationary bikes (most of them within a week of the bad news), which was the recommended activity. Returning to rowing was usually a 6-8 week affair, since the ribs had to be FULLY healed before you could put the kind of stress on your rib-cage that you would rowing. But venturing outside on them is a different story, since as was mentioned, if you fell, could be bad news…
Good Lord I didn’t know you actually broke your ribs! Being hurt sucks, I wish you well. You will be back out there pretty soon. Just think of all the extra time you have to post on this forum…which is much more fun with a pain killer and a beer in your system by the way
If you can stay out of the drops and ride on a trainer it isn’t bad. Don’t try and hammer or get out on the road b/c the vibration will destroy you. Good luck and you should be ok after about two weeks.
Depends on the severity and number of ribs broken. My 2 experiences -
1-broke 3 ribs, lower left side playing bball. Took 7-10 days to be able to sleep thru the night. Doc and others said 6-10 weeks to heal. About 2 weeks out, I tried a yoga class - bad idea. Took me about 6 weeks to get back on the bike. I couldn’t go over bumps without slowing down considerably. Fitness was fine though. At 8 weeks, I was starting to forget about the ribs & by 10 weeks I considered my ribs fully healed.
2-1 year later, almost to the day, broke 1 rib on the other side playing bball . Seemed like a minor inconvenience compared to the year before. Maybe about 3-4 weeks out, I was forgetting about the rib already. Just realize that you can’t fully expand your lung for breathing until the bone is knit back together. At that point, there will still be some pain, though.
hi,
I broke 3 ribs last May 1st in a bike crash. They weren´t just cracked, but fully broken, as the ends no longer line up correctly.
I did my first post-break run on June 9th. When starting I wasn´t sure that I´d make it more than a few 100 meters, but it was OK. While running I didn´t notice much of a problem, but afterwards I could certainly feel that side of my ribcage.
Today everything feels as it was pre-accident, unless I try to lift or push something really heavy.
In my case then, 5-6 weeks was required. For cycling my best guess would be 1-2 weeks less. I like SAC´s advice, don´t push too hard too soon, give yourself time to heal.
From a fitness point of view, I´m slower than before, but not radically so. Another 2 weeks and I think I´ll have my old level of fitness back.
best wishes,
Jim