Rib Injury

Hey guys...

I am a wrestler/grappler and last week I kind of tweaked my ribs. I had a little pain, nothing really to cry over so i took 3-4 days off from any training and rested my injury.

Last night I went back to training and while I was in a top position on the ground and with my opponents arms wrapped around over my back I tried twisting and heard a popping noise. Of course the pain set in, i stopped training got changed and had little to no problems getting dressed and driving myself home. I feel the same pain today but came into work. The pain isn't that bad to be staying home.

The pain is located under the scapula and more towards the outside of the middle of my back. Right around the lat area. When I touch the area it is sore but there are no bumps, bruising or swelling. The ribs feel the same as the other side. I can breath properly and take in big breaths without pain yet it does hurt when i cough, sneeze or laugh. I feel no pain near the spine nor the front of the rib cage.

Can you guys diagnose this? Is it a fractured rib? dislocated? muscle strain? and of course the worst cartilage damage? I stopped all training permanently and have been icing it since last night. I have also been taking some ibuprofen whenever needed.

If you guys need more info just let me know

Thanks!

hi, there are a few possibilities. might be a rib fracture or only a minor crack. it could also be a muscle strain of the serratus anterior or latissimus dorsi muscle. that often happens in rowers (serratus ant. also might crack a rib during stroke). but anyhow, its sounds like nothing really bad. but if its not improving after a couple of days you should visit a physio to check the problem. good luck

It is better to have a X-Ray Chest PA View to rule out the possibility of rib fracture. If the fracture of rib is excluded, then it might be the muscle contusion or bruising as mentioned above and you may start the principle of RICE or PRICE for the first 72 hours.

R-Rest
I- Ice
C- Compression
E- Elevation


P- Protection
R-Rest
I-Ice
C-Compression
E-Elevation

a little update

I iced it for a good 3-4 days and took some ibrupofen then started to apply heat twice to three times daily. I did absolutely NOTHING for one and half weeks yet kept my diet clean and started to take some extra vitamin C, alpha lipoic acid and fish oils. I didn't even stretch the area.

After about a week and a half i started to do some light walking and jogging on the treadmill. I am use to running 5kms in one shot but a small light jog of 15 minutes I really had me laboring. So i tried the treadmill for 2 days then took it outside. As the days passed i got better and better even though after the first couple of times I was sore in the oblique area. My pain goes from just under the scapula all the way to my obliques but when i do cardio it only affected my obliques.

I also started to slowly go back to the gym but only did lying and seated movements. I had little to no pain when doing pushing movements but alot of pain when doing pulling movements especially when contracting my lats (right lat). So i stopped doing any back exercises.

It has been a little over 2 weeks and there is still some pain (not really pain but just an uncomfortable feeling) when lying down in certain positions and when i push or touch on certain spots (lower right scapula area and on my right side lower right part of my ribs but more towards the side then the middle). When working, walking around, bending, even stretching and doing every day things i feel fine, no pain but i am still so scared and sudden movements do cause discomfort. I do not feel any pain the next day or hours after a run or gym workout.

Does this mean things are getting better? Should I still go see a doctor? I am not planning to wrestler until i am 100% because we really push it hard at practice and i don't want this injury to linger but do you think my current activities are worsening the injury? I just can't seem to keep myself sitting at home doing nothing.

Thanks guys

It sounds like things are on the mend which is good and the timing seems about right for a "popped" rib cartilage combined with perhaps a ligament strain or tear. The main problem going forward is that, like a sprained ankle, the weakness is likely to remain in some form and it will from time to time get provoked. Strengthening slowly but surely into and through the movement that causes pain is something you should consider as you move to a more preventative strategy. I did what sounds like a similar injury when I was 20 years on. Now almost 20 years later I can still find the pain if I look for it, mainly with rotation, but I have been careful not to 'hide' from those movements that provoke it. I have gently worked over the years to strengthen those areas so that I can maintain that freedom. This would be very important if you are going to continue with wrestling.

Thanks again for the post. You gave a nice amount of information which is always refreshing. As others have said it is one thing for people to give an opinion online but really you would be best at some stage to see your local sports physio at least for a thorough assessment and treatment advice.

best of luck :)