Can't catch a break: I was in the process of... - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

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Can't catch a break

rocketman42 profile image
27 Replies

I was in the process of reducing my prednisone down to 9mg and started instituting an exercise regimen that includes biking.

This past Wednesday I went out for a ride and disaster struck almost immediately. About 5 minutes into my ride, at a nice pace, I hit a pothole and was thrown from my bike. When I hit the blacktop I heard some crunches and knew it was bad evidenced by the fact that I couldn't move. Some neighbors ran out and called an ambulance that took me to the nearest hospital that was also a trauma center.

To make a long story short, after multiple tests and CAT scans I was diagnosed with SEVEN fractured ribs with some having double fractures. I was admitted to the hospital for supportive care and pain management and, although the pain is excruciating, I hope to be back home soon.

I hope this doesn't screw up my prednisone taper too badly but I'm currently focused on recovering from this unexpected and challenging accident. Never a dull moment.

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rocketman42
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27 Replies
SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

That sounds so painful, you poor soul. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS

Oh dear, what a disaster. Best wishes for a speedy and uneventful recovery. The last thing on your mind should be tapering pred until the healing is espablished - you'll need the adrenal support.

alvertta profile image
alvertta

Yes. Focus on healing. Number 1 priority. All the best.

Oh the best laid plans of mice and PMR sufferers! I am sorry to hear about your set back but I think you need to be stable before tapering further. Otherwise you risk having to go back up potentially even higher than you are now.

Constance13 profile image
Constance13

You should have taken Winston Churchill's advice re exercise.

Sorry to hear of your pain. You will need a lot of TLC for quite a while.

Maisie1958 profile image
Maisie1958

Fractured ribs so painful. It’s doubly upsetting when we are trying to do everything we can to improve our lot by exercising etc and it still goes wrong. Wishing you a rapid recovery.

Kendrew profile image
Kendrew

Sending you a very gentle hug and wishing you a steady and successful recovery. ❤

Smokygirl profile image
Smokygirl

This is absolutely awful—- so so sorry this has happened to you. I certainly wouldn’t taper whilst you are recovering , put that on hold and get better soon! Every good wish .

Coffeebeans profile image
Coffeebeans

Oh no, I remember the pain from 1 rib never mind 7!

This is not the time for getting a cough or even sneezing at all. Speedy recovery and take it steady!

Oh no, poor you. It must be miserable. I do hope they have found you a really good physiotherapist who can help you recover strongly and keep your lungs healthy.

SnazzyD profile image
SnazzyD

Ouch and double ouch. I’ve done one rib during a dive playing table tennis and that was bad enough, but having a bunch of them feeling like loose french fries must be grim. Back to the one day at a time thing and hope soon you’ll get that wind back in the hair. Sounds silly but don’t stop breathing, do your very best to keep those lungs inflated as best you can.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

OUCH! Ribs really are awfully painful! Do hope they get the pain relief right. Are the double fractures forming a flail segment or are they at least not next to one another?

Beware - even a relatively simple fall can trigger a flare. I just toppled off a bike and it left me struggling for a week or so.

Get well soon.

Pixix profile image
Pixix

Sending hugs, but very very gentle ones! S x

Sophiestree profile image
Sophiestree

I am wincing just reading your story. Huge huge sympathy. I can crack a rib just by leaning over the sofa to get something from the floor so can't begin to imagine what it must feel like with seven 😱 you poor thing. Do you have help when you go home? It's a waiting game for ribs. I hope you have good pain management sorted. Horrendous. You poor thing.

Summerrental profile image
Summerrental

So sorry to hear of your accident, hope you have a speedy recovery!

Flosy profile image
Flosy

Sorry to hear about your accident.hope you get well soon.take.

CarolF1312 profile image
CarolF1312

Sending you best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Croft9232 profile image
Croft9232

Thinking of you, get well soonest.

Oh, so sorry. I’ve heard how painful rib fractures are. I will say, after my fractures I halted any plans of pred tapering for a good while. My best to you.

S4ndy profile image
S4ndy

Sorry to hear of your accident. Hope you make a speedy recovery. Suggest you report the pothole and your injury to the local council.

rocketman42 profile image
rocketman42

thanks all. appreciate the good wishes and the encouragement. it's going to be a rough 4-6 weeks but i'll do what i have to. thanks again !! (typing with one hand so no caps..lol)

Lochy profile image
Lochy

Thinking of you, that sounds seriously painful. You don’t happen to live in Edinburgh do you? Potholes here are like minny craters. Puts me off getting back on my bike. Take care.

Oumaof2 profile image
Oumaof2

Oh dear that's not good.... Wishing you all the best... Hope you feel more comfortable soon and for a speedy recovery... 🌻

nuigini profile image
nuigini

OMG, how terrible. I had a single cracked rib many years ago and the pain was something else. Wishing you speedy mending and lots of TLC.

Carver63 profile image
Carver63

sorry to hear about the setback. i have learned from my cuts and bruises to slow down a notch. Pred is a slow process and like you i want to get up and do stuff. It is a reminder to focus on our health and i know i want to go ride my bike and go sailing but being down to 7 has really been an awakening to my body energy. So i live with the side affects and try to occupy my day with a little safe exercise and mind challenges. hope those ribs heal quicker than mine. thanks to all for posting it is encouraging to the psychy .

Ouch! I hope that you feel better very soon.

JanetRosslyn profile image
JanetRosslyn

Ouch! Hope you have a speedy recovery.

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