diving with broken rib

[DiverRtNY]

Just as an update... returned from my trip and the most discomfort was from a couple jelly fish and some fire coral on St. George. Any discomfort felt on the rib was equal to, if not less than, being on the surface. It actually felt good being underwater. Sleeping was the most discomfort, but that was on my extended surface interval.

 

[bowlofpetunias]

Glad to hear that everything went well for you

 

[Scubadude]

You are obviously suffering from what they call in general aviation "go fever." You are planning to do something under marginal conditions (see JFK Jr.) and you know you should just stay home, but you really, really want to go. You have asked the correct question, but despite what almost everyone is telling you, you're still saying "but it's only a broken rib."

Here are some good questions for you:

Do you have trip insurance? Most people get it these days and injury or illness is covered under most plans. If you have insurance, use it and go another time.

Is the possibility of a pulmonary contusion or pneumothorax an acceptable risk for you and or your family to take while on vacation?

The Dominican Republic is a place where proper medical personnel and facilities may be many miles/hours away. How far away is the nearest chamber? Do you have DAN insurance?

Have you called the DAN medline to ask a dive medicine expert if they think this is a good idea? I like SCUBAboard, but the right people to ask about this is your physician or at least DAN.

Look, we wouldn't be in this forum if we weren't all crazy about diving. But diving with a serious injury, especially an injury that could threaten the lungs is just plain crazy. Do yourself and your loved ones a favor and postpone your trip. Don't turn an annoying injury into a life threatening one.

Happy Diving!

 

[Scubadude]

So, I've been reading all about broken ribs & diving. I had a motorcycle accident this past May. It has now been 3 months since the accident. September 6 I am going for a Spiral CT scan in Chicago w/ Dr. Zanetti. I know it has not been very long but I need to know in what shape my lung is in. I have multiple rib fractures that are underlying. From what gather is that these fractures take longer to heal. It actually is in the Flail Chest category. Hopefully I will have no blebe & by next spring I will be able to dive again. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

[tracydr]

1. 
   TSandMMissed and loved by many.
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   If you have bruised a rib or pulled your intercostal muscles, and if you are able to handle your gear and swimming doesn't hurt, you're probably okay. If the rib is actually broken, and you can hear it crunching when you breathe, you are at risk for injury to the underlying lung as a result -- and that injury could be a pneumothorax. Having one of those occur at depth could be fatal. I would not dive with a known rib fracture, even if I could stand the pain.
   
   It does take a fair amount of trauma to break a rib, though -- if your pain is due to coughing, or turning or lifting or straining, it's most likely not a fracture, and then I would allow pain to be my guide.
   
   Philippines this fall!
   A journal of my open water class (from 2005) can be read here.
   Okay, you've heard all our opinions. Want to know what the science is? http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/
   About GUE Fundamentals versus Intro to Tech: "ITT informed me that I was expected to donate my long hose whereas Fundies beat me into actually doing it, thirty times, halfway through shooting an SMB, upside down while swimming backwards in sulphuric acid."
   TSandM, May 16, 2011Report
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   Belce likes this.
   
   
   THIS! TSandM was always thought and well researched in her answers,especially when it came to medical questions. She was an Emergency Room physician and a cave/tech/GUE diver.

 

[Scubadude]

1. 
   TSandMMissed and loved by many.
   # of Dives:
   Location: Woodinville, WA
   36,350
   13,530
   0
   If you have bruised a rib or pulled your intercostal muscles, and if you are able to handle your gear and swimming doesn't hurt, you're probably okay. If the rib is actually broken, and you can hear it crunching when you breathe, you are at risk for injury to the underlying lung as a result -- and that injury could be a pneumothorax. Having one of those occur at depth could be fatal. I would not dive with a known rib fracture, even if I could stand the pain.
   
   It does take a fair amount of trauma to break a rib, though -- if your pain is due to coughing, or turning or lifting or straining, it's most likely not a fracture, and then I would allow pain to be my guide.
   
   Philippines this fall!
   A journal of my open water class (from 2005) can be read here.
   Okay, you've heard all our opinions. Want to know what the science is? http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/
   About GUE Fundamentals versus Intro to Tech: "ITT informed me that I was expected to donate my long hose whereas Fundies beat me into actually doing it, thirty times, halfway through shooting an SMB, upside down while swimming backwards in sulphuric acid."
   TSandM, May 16, 2011Report
   #6Like+ QuoteReplyQuote in Conversation
   Belce likes this.
   
   
   THIS! TSandM was always thought and well researched in her answers,especially when it came to medical questions. She was an Emergency Room physician and a cave/tech/GUE diver.

Thank you for your response. Don't get me wrong. I have no intention of diving any time soon with my ribs in the condition that they are in. I have underlying fractures and that takes longer to heal than a normal fracture. I do not want to risk having the lung punctured again. My main concern is my lung. Also, being that there were multiple fractures its going to take a while for my entire rib cage to heal properly.

At the moment I feel very little pain when I cough or sneeze, that tells me that there is progress. I can't sleep on my left side because that's where the multiple fractures are, along with the fractured Clavicle & Scapula. In time I will heal. Just wanted some feedback on the lung and the capability to dive again. Thank again.

Keep Divin !

 

[Neilwood]

Thank you for your response. Don't get me wrong. I have no intention of diving any time soon with my ribs in the condition that they are in. I have underlying fractures and that takes longer to heal than a normal fracture. I do not want to risk having the lung punctured again. My main concern is my lung. Also, being that there were multiple fractures its going to take a while for my entire rib cage to heal properly.

At the moment I feel very little pain when I cough or sneeze, that tells me that there is progress. I can't sleep on my left side because that's where the multiple fractures are, along with the fractured Clavicle & Scapula. In time I will heal. Just wanted some feedback on the lung and the capability to dive again. Thank again.

Keep Divin !

I would imagine that, in your circumstance, the lung is probably more serious from the point of view of diving as there will be scar tissue from the punctured lung that needs to heal properly. That might take longer than the rib.

 

[Scubadude]

I would imagine that, in your circumstance, the lung is probably more serious from the point of view of diving as there will be scar tissue from the punctured lung that needs to heal properly. That might take longer than the rib.

I agree, Think by March or April ? It wasn' t a large puncture

 

[Neilwood]

I agree, Think by March or April ? It wasn' t a large puncture

Speaking as an ex first aid trainer, I would suggest getting proper medical advice from DAN or your own specialist but my guess would be that that would be sufficient.

 

[Scubadude]

I have already done that. DAN recommended 2 doctors in Chicago. I am going for a CT Spiral scan September 6 w/ a doctor that specializes in Pulmonary Hyperbaric Medicine to see where my progress is with my lung. Dr. Claude Zanetti.