on the shelf - hating it!

[ronbo25]

I have been playing my best golf ever and I went out and bruised my ribs playing in a softball tournament this past week. I tried swinging the club, but the pain is unbearable. I fear if I try to play through it, I will just set myself back even more. Tried playing today and almost collapsed in pain on the 2nd hole.

Bruised ribs can take 3 - 4 weeks to heal, or longer. I am dedicating the next several weeks to work on my putting and VERY short game. Trying to make the best of it and come back a better putter.

Ugh!!!

[Slammin' Sam]

I feel your pain. I underwent hip replacement surgery last year and that ended the 2009 golf season for me. Now my swing is better than it was before and I emjoy playing much more than I did before.

Work on that putting and get well soon!

[AceDunk]

I injured a back muscle pretty bad a few years ago just warming up on the range before a round. Just mid swing felt like I got struck by lighting and I collapsed. Very bizarre. Couldn't bend over for about 3 weeks much less play golf. Extremely frustrating and I hated being out that long so I feel your pain. Bummer you're out from a freak injury like that. My injury could have easily been prevented so I learned my lesson, and now before I do ANY swinging I stretch extensively.

[Stretch]

I feel your pain, literally. Hurt myself in the same area a month ago and am only now beginning to be able to very gently swing a club again. Think mine was an intercostal strain/tear, for which the textbook recovery is six to eight weeks. You've just got to reconcile yourself to taking it very easy while you recover. If you try and go too fast, you'll reinjure and be out even longer.

I've spent the last few frustrating weeks working on my chipping and pitching and if anything good comes out of this it'll be that I'm more confident around the practice green right now than I've ever been. We'll see how that translates out on the course. Eventually. Sigh.

Good luck!

[johnny_14424]

I think I may have an intercostal strain too. I been having crazy pain in my right rib area for the past week. The pain hit as I was coming thru on one of my shots during a round last Monday. The funny thing is the pain got worse as the week wore on. It hurts when I take deep breaths, cough, hiccup, sneeze, and move certain ways. The pain shoots through my chest and into my back. I can't even do any sit ups or use my eliptical machine without excruciating pain. I have not been able to swing a clubs for a week now. I don't know what hurts more; the pain in my ribs or not being able to play any golf.

I been researching and the best treatment seems to be rest, ice, and ibuprofen.

[Sowbug2000]

I hurt my rib last year...heard a "pop" on my second shot on the 10th hole....tried playing a couple of more holes, but I was giving up on the downswing. Only time I've ever quit a round.

I think I sat out 4 or 5 weeks. Unfortunately, like you, I was playing my best golf at the time....still haven't gotten back there, but its from a lack of time to play - not injury-related.

Speedy recovery!

[jallen100]

Ribs are awful. I cracked one of my ribs last year and I could barely sit up out of bed or make any quick movements for like 3 weeks.