Guest guest Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 , In addition to what Mike said, great advice! You might want to consider asking the Dr. for a gizmo called Incentive Spirometer. It's a device to utilize to help one take a deep breath! It's a hand held thingy that you use to take slow deep breaths and gives you feed back as to whether you are doing the breathing exercises correctly. It is used in order to prevent pneumonia, which can happen after broken ribs or any kind of surgery. Due to the pain, people naturally do not want to take a deep breath because it hurts. This can lead to atalectasis and pneumonia. The Dr. can write out a script for this or they could of at least given you one at the urgent care center. It's not a plug in machine.Just a hand held device that looks like a toy. If you don't want to get this just have her take 10 deep breaths each hour as best as she can, while she is awake. Use a pillow next to the broken ribs for her to hold tightly against the chest if she needs to cough or sneeze. Ask some of the other nurses on the board too. Best of luck. Sincerely, S. Broken ribs > I tried to post this earlier, but it hasn't shown up. > > I was asking if you could break a rib from coughing or sneezing, > cause has a very sore spot around her ribs. And, she's been > so sick with bronchitis - coughing, and alleriges and sneezing. > > Well, I took her to the urgent care this morning, and sure enough, > she has 3 broken ribs!!!! > > I can't beleive it! I've never heard of anyone breaking ribs from > coughing and sneezing. Actually, she said they started hurting > right when she had a big sneeze yesterday. > > She always gets the wierdest things that I've never heard of before! > > She also has a sinus infection now. So, more meds, and lost more > rest for her. > > My poor daughter just can't seem to get a break! My whole family > for that matter. Now my husband is home sick with this > cold/bronchitis/allergy thing. I know he's feeling real bad, cause > he NEVER stays home sick! > > Good thing I've got lots of chicken noodle soup!!!! > > Hugs, > > > > > 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 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 Yikes! Poor ! That sounds awful :-( I hope taking it easy, icing, and keeping up with meds keeps her pain under control and that she heals soon! (((HUGS))) hang in there ! -Rhea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 Ummm.... I think it is the 3 ribs above the floating rib. And, it's on the side. Can't remember the numbers, and is sleeping so I can't ask her now. It was very obvious to me and when we looked at the xray. At least I know now that it can be done. A friend told me on the phone that she has heard of people blowing out their backs from a sneeze. It makes me feel a little better knowing this. But, It still sucks, cause I've never known anyone whose done it - especially a kid. Oh well. Just chalk it up to another thing that happens to us, I guess. I didn't know anyone could collapse a lung without a trauma before did that either. Oh, and the dr sadi they don't bind ribs anymore - said it hastens healing. He said to just be very careful, take pain meds and cough syrup, and hold on tight if she has to cough or sneeze. She's not really coughing anymore anyway. She did throw up though from the antibiotics for her sinus infection. But, she held on tight, and was ok. Dr said if she gets through a week without re-breaking them, she should be ok. But, they will hurt for a few weeks. Hugs, 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 didn't answer all your questions. They are on the right side. It happened yesterday. She knows when it happened. She says she had an enormous sneeze. And, she had a chest xray a week ago because of her bronchitis (they were checking for an infection) cause she's had it so long, and the breaks wern't there then. He did palpate them, but not till after we got the xray. He was touching her rib, then showed us that spot on the xray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 Hey ! She has 2 of those! Got them when she collapsed her lung and after the surgery!. I'll get it out. Thanks for the advise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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