Guest guest Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 My grandmother has, on several occasions! > > I was asking if you could break a rib from coughing or sneezing, > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 If someone has brittle bones, a rib that is subluxed and under tension, or if there is already a hairline fracture in place, then the answer is most definitely YES. My first bout of broken ribs started by sneezing and separating at least three right at the spine. Chiropractic adjustments to get them back in place hairlined them. But the actual full fractures occured from either a hard cough or sneeze - repeatedly. I say repeatedly because I kept rebreaking them over about four months. Every time they would start to feel half way decent - cough, sneeze, whatever, and there they went again. As far as that goes, you can actually break your back from a hard, snapping, jerking sneeze. How was the diagnosis made about them being broken? By xray or palpation? Also, are they clean, displaced fractures or hairlines? I ask for a reason because a hairline fracture generally won't show up on xrays until it starts to knit, and that usually takes at least a week or longer. Which ribs are they and where did they break? You probably already know that there isn't much that " they " are going to do for broken ribs other than pain meds and a rib brace to hold them in place. If you haven't already picked one up for her, you need to. They do a good job of stablizing and holding them in place until they knit back together and help prevent rebreaking. The other thing, particularly with the bronchitis right now, is that it is really important that she physically brace herself if she feels a cough or sneeze coming on. Hold onto the arms or back of a chair, brace with hands against the wall - something, but lock the arms and shoulders and tense up. A hard, unbraced sneeze or cough can cause them to sublux or rebreak because they are already unstable. Trust me on this point - I know from very painful personal experience. As info, that rib-head release, two-pointing technique can also be used to reset broken ribs (did it repeatedly for both of my broken ribs episodes). A side benefit of it is that running energy into the fracture point like that also helps knock the pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 If someone has brittle bones, a rib that is subluxed and under tension, or if there is already a hairline fracture in place, then the answer is most definitely YES. My first bout of broken ribs started by sneezing and separating at least three right at the spine. Chiropractic adjustments to get them back in place hairlined them. But the actual full fractures occured from either a hard cough or sneeze - repeatedly. I say repeatedly because I kept rebreaking them over about four months. Every time they would start to feel half way decent - cough, sneeze, whatever, and there they went again. As far as that goes, you can actually break your back from a hard, snapping, jerking sneeze. How was the diagnosis made about them being broken? By xray or palpation? Also, are they clean, displaced fractures or hairlines? I ask for a reason because a hairline fracture generally won't show up on xrays until it starts to knit, and that usually takes at least a week or longer. Which ribs are they and where did they break? You probably already know that there isn't much that " they " are going to do for broken ribs other than pain meds and a rib brace to hold them in place. If you haven't already picked one up for her, you need to. They do a good job of stablizing and holding them in place until they knit back together and help prevent rebreaking. The other thing, particularly with the bronchitis right now, is that it is really important that she physically brace herself if she feels a cough or sneeze coming on. Hold onto the arms or back of a chair, brace with hands against the wall - something, but lock the arms and shoulders and tense up. A hard, unbraced sneeze or cough can cause them to sublux or rebreak because they are already unstable. Trust me on this point - I know from very painful personal experience. As info, that rib-head release, two-pointing technique can also be used to reset broken ribs (did it repeatedly for both of my broken ribs episodes). A side benefit of it is that running energy into the fracture point like that also helps knock the pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 Well, honestly, It's one thing for an elderly woman to break ribs coughing or sneezing, and completely different when it's a 17 year old girl! The first thing my husband said was " What, does she have osteoporosis or something? " I think it's just really strange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 Well, honestly, It's one thing for an elderly woman to break ribs coughing or sneezing, and completely different when it's a 17 year old girl! The first thing my husband said was " What, does she have osteoporosis or something? " I think it's just really strange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 Well, honestly, It's one thing for an elderly woman to break ribs coughing or sneezing, and completely different when it's a 17 year old girl! The first thing my husband said was " What, does she have osteoporosis or something? " I think it's just really strange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 Wow , this is something she did not need! Has this happened before, or does she break bones easily? Jill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 I will try again. I posted a longer reply earlier that still hasn't come in yet so you might end up getting two answer posts on this from me before the day is over. Or maybe just this one if the other just disappears someplace. At any rate, as you have already been told, yes, you can break ribs from coughing or sneezing. You can also break your back that way. I am also curious about how they diagnosed the fractures - palpation or xray? In addition, were they displaced fractures or hairlines? I ask because a hairline fracture won't show up on an xray until the bone starts to knit and that usually takes about a week. Also, which ribs were they, which side, and where were the breaks - front, back or side of the rib cage? You probably already know that the only treatment she is going to get will be a prescription for pain pills and rib brace. Speaking of which, if you have not already picked a brace up for her, you need to. It helps keep them stable and in place. You can also use an ice bag to help bring the pain level down. The other thing with the coughing right now is that she needs to physically brace herself by grabbing the back of a chair, the arms of a chair or putting her hands against the wall or a table, locking her arms and shoulders and tensing her muscles if she feels a cough or sneeze coming on. A sudden, jerking cough or sneeze can cause the ribs to sublux, fracture if they are already under tension from being subluxed, or rebreak if they have just started to knit. Advice courtesy of multiple painful personal experience. As info, that bone two-pointing technique can also be used to help reset them if they rebreak. I lost count of the number of times I used it myself when mine were broken. Exact hand placement depends on where the fractures are and how many. The first time, I had at least three ribs broken in at least two places each, possibly three. Besides using it to help reset, you can also use it to just run energy into the break points for pain management. This last go-round, a month or two back, the sole extent of treatment for mine was an ice bag when they really flared and running energy. I never even took so much as an aspirin for them. My wife kept trying to foist some pain pills and muscle relaxers of hers on me but I wouldn't take them. Part of my reason for not taking the muscle relaxers was that I didn't want the muscles to relax - I wanted them to stay tensed to help hold the ribs in place. Let me know if I can help further. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 Oh , I'm sorry to hear about s ribs - ouch. I dislicated several of mine during my bad infection and that was painful enough! Please give her my love and tell her I'm sending very gentle hugs her way! Love....Jo xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 Well, honestly, It's one thing for an elderly woman to break ribs coughing or sneezing ... ------------------ Hey! Watch it with the " elderly " crap. You are right if you are just thinking in terms of osteoporosis and the general population, elderly woman versus teenage girl. In reality, age need have nothing to do with it in this case. EDS and subluxations put ALL of us at risk if the conditions are right. Remember what I said earlier about seven of the twelve ribs passing underneath the scapula. If any of them are even partially subluxed, they can end up under tension and somewhat locked in place. A good solid cough or sneeze can them apply a breaking force on them because they don't have their normal ability to move or flex with it. I don't remember off the top of my head what the measured force is of a sneeze, but it is tremendous. I have had more than a couple of chiros or osteos over the years tell me about patients of theirs who have fractured vertebrae in their spines or necks from nothing but a hard sneeze. Giving yourself a whiplash from a good sneeze is also possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 Re: Re: Broken ribs Well, honestly, It's one thing for an elderly woman to break ribs coughing or sneezing, and completely different when it's a 17 year old girl! The first thing my husband said was " What, does she have osteoporosis or something? " I think it's just really strange. ~~~~~~ monica - I've heard of other people breaking their ribs with just coughing or sneezing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 says they are the 7th 8th and 9th ribs broken, and possibly the 10th. I think that's right. Can't really remember. It's starting to hurt more now, and it's swelling some more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 says they are the 7th 8th and 9th ribs broken, and possibly the 10th. I think that's right. Can't really remember. It's starting to hurt more now, and it's swelling some more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 In a message dated 4/7/04 1:25:21 AM Eastern Daylight Time, monica-jb@... writes: << says they are the 7th 8th and 9th ribs broken, and possibly the 10th. I think that's right. >> That poor girl! And she wanted to go to a friends last night? True EDSer, she is! LOL!!!! Hugs, Sue G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 In a message dated 4/7/04 1:25:21 AM Eastern Daylight Time, monica-jb@... writes: << says they are the 7th 8th and 9th ribs broken, and possibly the 10th. I think that's right. >> That poor girl! And she wanted to go to a friends last night? True EDSer, she is! LOL!!!! Hugs, Sue G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 Ah, -- I am so sorry has broken ribs ---- ouch!!!!! I hope she heals fast and is better soon. Love, Patti Broken ribs on-text portions of this message have been removed] To learn more about EDS, visit our website: http://members.rogers.com/ceda2/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 Ah, -- I am so sorry has broken ribs ---- ouch!!!!! I hope she heals fast and is better soon. Love, Patti Broken ribs on-text portions of this message have been removed] To learn more about EDS, visit our website: http://members.rogers.com/ceda2/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 Ah, -- I am so sorry has broken ribs ---- ouch!!!!! I hope she heals fast and is better soon. Love, Patti Broken ribs on-text portions of this message have been removed] To learn more about EDS, visit our website: http://members.rogers.com/ceda2/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 Hi, Sounds like how my mom used to be... I'll never forget one time. She tripped over something and fell in the bedroom while she was going to bed. She had this sewing accessory kit (workbox?), you know the old fashioned kind that had lots of boxes that folded out when you opened it? This one was a really big one with legs, stood on the floor. It had a big, tall wooden handle on top of it. She fell on top of that, she got the handle straight into her ribs. But she just went to bed and slept all night, and went to work as usual in the morning... But she got a bit of trouble while at work the next day, that was when the company doctor told her she had broken three ribs... I could tell a lot of such stories about her, she sure had some pain tolerance... Aase Marit >In a message dated 4/7/04 1:25:21 AM Eastern Daylight Time, >monica-jb@... writes: > ><< says they are the 7th 8th and 9th ribs broken, and possibly the >10th. > I think that's right. >> > >That poor girl! And she wanted to go to a friends last night? True EDSer, >she is! LOL!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 Hi, Sounds like how my mom used to be... I'll never forget one time. She tripped over something and fell in the bedroom while she was going to bed. She had this sewing accessory kit (workbox?), you know the old fashioned kind that had lots of boxes that folded out when you opened it? This one was a really big one with legs, stood on the floor. It had a big, tall wooden handle on top of it. She fell on top of that, she got the handle straight into her ribs. But she just went to bed and slept all night, and went to work as usual in the morning... But she got a bit of trouble while at work the next day, that was when the company doctor told her she had broken three ribs... I could tell a lot of such stories about her, she sure had some pain tolerance... Aase Marit >In a message dated 4/7/04 1:25:21 AM Eastern Daylight Time, >monica-jb@... writes: > ><< says they are the 7th 8th and 9th ribs broken, and possibly the >10th. > I think that's right. >> > >That poor girl! And she wanted to go to a friends last night? True EDSer, >she is! LOL!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 I sublux and dislocate my ribs all the time and coughing is a shocker as is sneezing and being an allergic person with HEAPS of allergies I sneeze a LOT. I am also prone to chest infections and when I get these I am put on antibiotics (and asodophilous (sp?) tablets to protect my tummy and such) but my doc also puts me on a cough suppressent (usually something codiene based as it works best to supress coughs) as I dislocate so easily in the ribs and end up in SO MUCH pain. I am SURE that I have broken or cracked my ribs before but have never really worried about getting them looked at by x-ray and I have only once had the ER believe me that I had dislcaoted htme and that was a YOUNG doc in the ER when I came in by ambulance and he believed me and I told him about the EDS and that I do it a lot, he asked me where and felt about and found it but didn't know how to relocate them. My Osteopath is the ONLY person I allow to put them back in as he is VERY gentle and does no further damage to me and ANY of my dislocations (even his colleges are unsure how to deal with me or aren't as good or do things differently in a way that my body doesn't like). I too say strap them up, buy a rib brace (i have some web sites with these on them if you need them and also have a design that my Osteopath and I designed for me as my ribs that are the worse are higher up (rib 3 and 4 on the left side) that you can easily make using 2 thin elastic rib belts or bandages (they must be the strong elastic ones with the velcro closures). I find this makes breathing easier and helps with sneezing and coughing as does pushing gently but firmly on the injured area when I need to cough or sneeze etc. Good Luck with her (poor kid) she has had such a rough time of it and here is hoping that you are ALL on the mend soon and feeling better. SHaron Canberra, Australia HEDS > If someone has brittle bones, a rib that is subluxed and under > tension, or if there is already a hairline fracture in place, then > the answer is most definitely YES. > > My first bout of broken ribs started by sneezing and separating at > least three right at the spine. Chiropractic adjustments to get > them back in place hairlined them. But the actual full fractures > occured from either a hard cough or sneeze - repeatedly. I say > repeatedly because I kept rebreaking them over about four months. > Every time they would start to feel half way decent - cough, sneeze, > whatever, and there they went again. > > As far as that goes, you can actually break your back from a hard, > snapping, jerking sneeze. > > How was the diagnosis made about them being broken? By xray or > palpation? Also, are they clean, displaced fractures or hairlines? > I ask for a reason because a hairline fracture generally won't show > up on xrays until it starts to knit, and that usually takes at least > a week or longer. Which ribs are they and where did they break? > > You probably already know that there isn't much that " they " are > going to do for broken ribs other than pain meds and a rib brace to > hold them in place. If you haven't already picked one up for her, > you need to. They do a good job of stablizing and holding them in > place until they knit back together and help prevent rebreaking. > > The other thing, particularly with the bronchitis right now, is that > it is really important that she physically brace herself if she > feels a cough or sneeze coming on. Hold onto the arms or back of a > chair, brace with hands against the wall - something, but lock the > arms and shoulders and tense up. A hard, unbraced sneeze or cough > can cause them to sublux or rebreak because they are already > unstable. Trust me on this point - I know from very painful > personal experience. > > As info, that rib-head release, two-pointing technique can also be > used to reset broken ribs (did it repeatedly for both of my broken > ribs episodes). A side benefit of it is that running energy into > the fracture point like that also helps knock the pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 I sublux and dislocate my ribs all the time and coughing is a shocker as is sneezing and being an allergic person with HEAPS of allergies I sneeze a LOT. I am also prone to chest infections and when I get these I am put on antibiotics (and asodophilous (sp?) tablets to protect my tummy and such) but my doc also puts me on a cough suppressent (usually something codiene based as it works best to supress coughs) as I dislocate so easily in the ribs and end up in SO MUCH pain. I am SURE that I have broken or cracked my ribs before but have never really worried about getting them looked at by x-ray and I have only once had the ER believe me that I had dislcaoted htme and that was a YOUNG doc in the ER when I came in by ambulance and he believed me and I told him about the EDS and that I do it a lot, he asked me where and felt about and found it but didn't know how to relocate them. My Osteopath is the ONLY person I allow to put them back in as he is VERY gentle and does no further damage to me and ANY of my dislocations (even his colleges are unsure how to deal with me or aren't as good or do things differently in a way that my body doesn't like). I too say strap them up, buy a rib brace (i have some web sites with these on them if you need them and also have a design that my Osteopath and I designed for me as my ribs that are the worse are higher up (rib 3 and 4 on the left side) that you can easily make using 2 thin elastic rib belts or bandages (they must be the strong elastic ones with the velcro closures). I find this makes breathing easier and helps with sneezing and coughing as does pushing gently but firmly on the injured area when I need to cough or sneeze etc. Good Luck with her (poor kid) she has had such a rough time of it and here is hoping that you are ALL on the mend soon and feeling better. SHaron Canberra, Australia HEDS > If someone has brittle bones, a rib that is subluxed and under > tension, or if there is already a hairline fracture in place, then > the answer is most definitely YES. > > My first bout of broken ribs started by sneezing and separating at > least three right at the spine. Chiropractic adjustments to get > them back in place hairlined them. But the actual full fractures > occured from either a hard cough or sneeze - repeatedly. I say > repeatedly because I kept rebreaking them over about four months. > Every time they would start to feel half way decent - cough, sneeze, > whatever, and there they went again. > > As far as that goes, you can actually break your back from a hard, > snapping, jerking sneeze. > > How was the diagnosis made about them being broken? By xray or > palpation? Also, are they clean, displaced fractures or hairlines? > I ask for a reason because a hairline fracture generally won't show > up on xrays until it starts to knit, and that usually takes at least > a week or longer. Which ribs are they and where did they break? > > You probably already know that there isn't much that " they " are > going to do for broken ribs other than pain meds and a rib brace to > hold them in place. If you haven't already picked one up for her, > you need to. They do a good job of stablizing and holding them in > place until they knit back together and help prevent rebreaking. > > The other thing, particularly with the bronchitis right now, is that > it is really important that she physically brace herself if she > feels a cough or sneeze coming on. Hold onto the arms or back of a > chair, brace with hands against the wall - something, but lock the > arms and shoulders and tense up. A hard, unbraced sneeze or cough > can cause them to sublux or rebreak because they are already > unstable. Trust me on this point - I know from very painful > personal experience. > > As info, that rib-head release, two-pointing technique can also be > used to reset broken ribs (did it repeatedly for both of my broken > ribs episodes). A side benefit of it is that running energy into > the fracture point like that also helps knock the pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 I sublux and dislocate my ribs all the time and coughing is a shocker as is sneezing and being an allergic person with HEAPS of allergies I sneeze a LOT. I am also prone to chest infections and when I get these I am put on antibiotics (and asodophilous (sp?) tablets to protect my tummy and such) but my doc also puts me on a cough suppressent (usually something codiene based as it works best to supress coughs) as I dislocate so easily in the ribs and end up in SO MUCH pain. I am SURE that I have broken or cracked my ribs before but have never really worried about getting them looked at by x-ray and I have only once had the ER believe me that I had dislcaoted htme and that was a YOUNG doc in the ER when I came in by ambulance and he believed me and I told him about the EDS and that I do it a lot, he asked me where and felt about and found it but didn't know how to relocate them. My Osteopath is the ONLY person I allow to put them back in as he is VERY gentle and does no further damage to me and ANY of my dislocations (even his colleges are unsure how to deal with me or aren't as good or do things differently in a way that my body doesn't like). I too say strap them up, buy a rib brace (i have some web sites with these on them if you need them and also have a design that my Osteopath and I designed for me as my ribs that are the worse are higher up (rib 3 and 4 on the left side) that you can easily make using 2 thin elastic rib belts or bandages (they must be the strong elastic ones with the velcro closures). I find this makes breathing easier and helps with sneezing and coughing as does pushing gently but firmly on the injured area when I need to cough or sneeze etc. Good Luck with her (poor kid) she has had such a rough time of it and here is hoping that you are ALL on the mend soon and feeling better. SHaron Canberra, Australia HEDS > If someone has brittle bones, a rib that is subluxed and under > tension, or if there is already a hairline fracture in place, then > the answer is most definitely YES. > > My first bout of broken ribs started by sneezing and separating at > least three right at the spine. Chiropractic adjustments to get > them back in place hairlined them. But the actual full fractures > occured from either a hard cough or sneeze - repeatedly. I say > repeatedly because I kept rebreaking them over about four months. > Every time they would start to feel half way decent - cough, sneeze, > whatever, and there they went again. > > As far as that goes, you can actually break your back from a hard, > snapping, jerking sneeze. > > How was the diagnosis made about them being broken? By xray or > palpation? Also, are they clean, displaced fractures or hairlines? > I ask for a reason because a hairline fracture generally won't show > up on xrays until it starts to knit, and that usually takes at least > a week or longer. Which ribs are they and where did they break? > > You probably already know that there isn't much that " they " are > going to do for broken ribs other than pain meds and a rib brace to > hold them in place. If you haven't already picked one up for her, > you need to. They do a good job of stablizing and holding them in > place until they knit back together and help prevent rebreaking. > > The other thing, particularly with the bronchitis right now, is that > it is really important that she physically brace herself if she > feels a cough or sneeze coming on. Hold onto the arms or back of a > chair, brace with hands against the wall - something, but lock the > arms and shoulders and tense up. A hard, unbraced sneeze or cough > can cause them to sublux or rebreak because they are already > unstable. Trust me on this point - I know from very painful > personal experience. > > As info, that rib-head release, two-pointing technique can also be > used to reset broken ribs (did it repeatedly for both of my broken > ribs episodes). A side benefit of it is that running energy into > the fracture point like that also helps knock the pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2004 Report Share Posted April 8, 2004 Thanks Sharon. I suppose you saw my last post. Turns out they aren't broken. But, I'm thinking I should take her to her GP, cause there is a definete " lump " like thing that is very tender. Maybe I should get her to an osteopath or chiropractor. Maybe a chiropractor is the wrong choice. I don't know. Oh, I'm so sick of drs! She's got vicodin cough syrup, antibiotics, and inbuprophen. And, she has to take phenergan cause the vicoding makes her nauseous. That really knocks her out. Hopefully, she'll be feeling a bit better today so she won't have to take all the meds. She slept just about all day yesterday. She thought she was feeling better, but the other night after I told her she couldn't go out, she said she was glad I said that, cause she started to hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2004 Report Share Posted April 8, 2004 Thanks Sharon. I suppose you saw my last post. Turns out they aren't broken. But, I'm thinking I should take her to her GP, cause there is a definete " lump " like thing that is very tender. Maybe I should get her to an osteopath or chiropractor. Maybe a chiropractor is the wrong choice. I don't know. Oh, I'm so sick of drs! She's got vicodin cough syrup, antibiotics, and inbuprophen. And, she has to take phenergan cause the vicoding makes her nauseous. That really knocks her out. Hopefully, she'll be feeling a bit better today so she won't have to take all the meds. She slept just about all day yesterday. She thought she was feeling better, but the other night after I told her she couldn't go out, she said she was glad I said that, cause she started to hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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