At 4 weeks out from IMLT I crashed and have just found out I have a minimally displaced rib fracture. While most of my longest training days are done I am concerned about 1. Getting kicked in the swim and 2. Having some complication from lung capacity decline in addition to racing at altitude (I live in Tx.) Doc did NOT recommend I do this race but as many know, it’s a goal I’ve been working towards all year. I now have 3 weeks to heal and try not to make matters worse. Any suggestions for quick healing or should I get my head on straight and pull out?
It’s not exactly the same thing, but I just ran through the same injury. It was pretty painful for the first few weeks, but got better quickly. Of course like most answers here it depends on a lot of things. If you are just trying to complete the race, go for it.
Quick healing: lots of rest and sleep.
Leave it until the very last minute to decide what to do. You will kick yourself if you pull out now and then find yourself to be fine come race day.
Be patient, don’t do anything crazy over the next three weeks.
I’m not saying the medical advice is wrong, but you should bear in mind that any doctor will have insurance cover, and so no doc will say “yeah, looks sort of ok to me. Have a go. What’s the worst that can happen”. If you want to twist you doc’s arm, tell them you’ve heard their advice, but are going to do the race anyway, so what do they advise you should do between now and race day to maximise your chances of doing as well as you want to. Or find a Physio who will answer that question for you.
If you can get through my IMC RR, you’ll see I faced a similar conundrum.
I have one word for you “ultrasonicbonestimulator”.
Well that might have been three words.
You can buy these guys off of ebay, they are fda aproved devices that speed the healing of fractures. Try to buy one through your Dr. and the device rep who he likes the most - it would cost eleventy thousand dollars. But buying one from ebay - 200 or so.
The one on ebay is usually one from a guy who used it for his own fracture.
In 2009 I crashed 3.5 weeks before IMWI and was left with 2 broken ribs. I was also set on racing, so I started as far to the outside as I could in order to avoid being kicked in the ribs during the swim. I also could not use my right arm very well, so kept it streamline for the majority of the swim. It is possible-just have to change your expectations for the race. I also couldn’t run-it was a 26.2 mile power walk because the pounding hurt so badly. Again, I finished-it was just slowwww. In addition-mine were not broken so the ribs would have a possibility of puncturing a lung. My doctor also highly suggested I do not participate in the event-but who listens to doctors anyway? 
Brian,
Did you wait to swim until you felt no pain/ little pain? Was it a displaced fracture?
Thanks for the help!!!
That’s what I was thinking… wait until the last minute. Where do I find your RR?
Thanks so much for your reply!
Kevin,
Thanks for the 1-3 words! Do you think there would be any concern with being close to the heart? My fracture is on the left side.
I appreciate your response!
-Linda
Trigirl,
It is so inspiring to hear this. I am concerned about a punctured lung or even a collapsed lung from breathing shallow at altitude. I guess Ill just focus on each day (just like each mile of IM) and see where it gets me.
Thanks a ton for your response!!
That is by far, with out a doubt, the BEST RR ever written. I felt as if I were there. Your descriptions are spot on! Truly, you painted the picture so well, so eloquently.
In addition, I am truly inspired by your perseverance and appreciate knowing how you handled your stress fracture and Ironman.
Thank you for your posts!!
That’s very kind (though I’m a sucker for a gal who uses the subjunctive)! But remember - you must listen to your body. And rest. If you’ve done your training you can afford to relax now. I did little swimming in the last three weeks (I was on the beach for 9 days and hate saltwater); I had to send my crankset back to Quarq for a repair so didn’t have a bike for a week in that period; and (obviously) didn’t run. Worked for me.
Good luck!
I fell hard in a trail run 3 weeks ago and smashed my intercostals; no rib break but major muscle pain when breathing. After 10 days I was running again, but the problem is sub-100% lung capacity (in my case owing to muscles in upper back tightening to compensate). I started swimming 4 days ago; will try with wetsuit tomorrow. Raced a du today and though suboptimal breathing, it was ‘doable’. I have Muskoka 70.3 next wknd but will only do it if I am confident I won’t get myself in trouble with breathing during the swim. I suggest the same for you - make sure you can swim SAFELY, given your breathing constrictions, the likelihood of trashing and clobbering in the water, and the general stress on your heart that comes with the swim part of the race. And then I suppose endure the pain on the run (it will set you back but if you want to race, go for it).
I ran a marathon 2 days after breaking a rib playing rugby. It was very painful due to constant vibration. I really don’t think it affected by breathing, it was just very painful. I actually didn’t know it was broken until after the marathon as I was a college student at the time and just assumed I was bruised.
From a medical standpoint, as long as it is non-displaced and there are no sharp edges up against the lungs, extremely unlikely you would endanger yourself. As I don’t know your specific case, I can’t say if this would apply to you or not. My advice would be don’t do anything that hurts it now as that indicates you are doing something that is impairing the healing. Biking on a trainer should be fine, easy swimming possibly OK, running unlikely OK. Rest it and hope for the best on race day. By four weeks, in many cases it will be sufficiently healed that you may be comfortable running. PR is probably out of the question, but finishing should be possible.
Good luck
Do these really work? I just got one from Exogen as a courtesy from a rep at my Doc’s office. Have a couple of stress fractures in my 5th metatarsal.
Wiped out 6 weeks ago pretty hard. Doctor said I most likely cracked a couple ribs. Asked how bad I wanted to know for sure and that would decide if he’d order X-rays or not. I asked if the result would change anything or not, he said treatment would be the same either way, rest and let pain be my guide, and if 4-6 weeks later there was still some pain I probably cracked a couple. I took 10 days completely off then eased back into things, but it was 3 weeks before I could swim.
Well 4-6 weeks later and certain things still hurt like swimming, flip turns and pulling up socks. I did IMMT 2 weeks ago anyway. Swim went ok, 1:02, but pre-crash I was shooting for 56-57 minutes. Bike went good until about mile 80 then it became painful to stay in te aero bars so I rode last bit on the horns. The run sucked. Legs felt good but after 5 minutes or so the pain would force me to walk 5 minutes then I’d run until pain went alway. Also I think I took 5-6 ibuprofen during the run.
Overall it wasn’t a fun race, but I pretty much knew I wasn’t going to be able to go the full distance without rib pain kicking in so I had zero expectations and zero pressure or anxiety going in.
I am currently 8 weeks out from B2B and took a header this week while working on a boat and bruised/cracked ribs on my left side. I did not get x rays done as I was breathing fine and wont change treatment. 5 days later I am riding but have not run or even thought about swimming. The aero position is actually comfortable. I starting using some KT tape on my chest and while I am not saying its the greatest thing since sliced bread it does help with the discomfort. I hope to be able to run next week and then swim. Good luck. Make sure you are eating enough to heal.
Irondoc,
This sounds like sound advice! My fractured is minimally displaced, Ill just keep taking one day at a time. I knew a PR would be out with the altitude factor so Ill have to prepare for it to be even slower. Thank you for your objective opinion! It may still be a rewarding event… I have hope.
-Linda
PeterK,
I have not put my finger on why exactly 70.3 & IM swims have become so aggressive. Why would you want to start a long day with punches? I think you are so right about trying to maintain safety during the swim leg given our condition. Sigh, Ill have to stay away from the fray which means few feet to follow! But being there in my opinion is better than not. Good luck at Muskoka!! If you get a chance afterwards, Id love to know how it went. Ill be sending healing, pain free thoughts!
baxnelly,
Im sure zero anxiety and expectations will often lead to greater sucess. Thanks for pointing that out!