Rib fracture

[DrvFrShow]

Yeah, and for a while when you come back I'd play preferred lies regardless of what "the rules" say. Just play fun rounds for a while.

[Emtee]

For those of you interested, went to the doctor yesterday and he wanted me to start getting back into golf. Went to the range today hit about 30 balls started by chipping/pitching and went all the way to a 7i with a full swing. No pain, just minor discomfort so I called it a day, went home and iced it. Feel fine right now, so I think I'm going to continue building up this way until I can hit a small bucket or so without pain and hopefully play a full round in the next few weeks. So for those who will see this in the future with a broken rib, I'm sorry, it sucks, but you will heal. I'm a little beyond 7 weeks I believe and am almost "there." I don't even think there was any pain today, I was just being cautious and called it a day.

[Buckeyebowman]

Good for you, Emtee! Glad to hear it.

[UKGolfer1]

Glad to hear you are recovering well. Thought I'd share my experience as it may help people in similar situation.

I broke a rib (4th anterior) last year (and just broke the opposite side same rib last week)!  

Last year it took 8 weeks before I played first round of golf.

At that point was only swinging 70% as more than that would hurt. No more than a rescue club.

Build up slowly and if it's sore dial the power back. It was probably another month after that  (12 weeks total) before I was swinging almost full power and not worrying about the break.  

In terms of rehab I started stationary cycling and lower body machines after a few weeks, and after 4-5 weeks tested the healing gently with an on-knees press-up.  Ouch, only managed 2 but was sore so stopped, gradually built this up along with gentle stretching and bands work to help the supporting intercostals.

Main thing is to listen to your body and if it hurts back off. If not then go for it! 

Time for me to start the recovery process again!

Best of luck!

 

Edited April 20, 2016 by UKGolfer1
Typo

[Emtee]

  On 4/20/2016 at 11:55 AM, UKGolfer1 said:

Glad to hear you are recovering well. Thought I'd share my experience as it may help people in similar situation.

I broke a rib (4th anterior) last year (and just broke the opposite side same rib last week)!  

Last year it took 8 weeks before I played first round of golf.

At that point was only swinging 70% as more than that would hurt. No more than a rescue club.

Build up slowly and if it's sore dial the power back. It was probably another month after that  (12 weeks total) before I was swinging almost full power and not worrying about the break.  

In terms of rehab I started stationary cycling and lower body machines after a few weeks, and after 4-5 weeks tested the healing gently with an on-knees press-up.  Ouch, only managed 2 but was sore so stopped, gradually built this up along with gentle stretching and bands work to help the supporting intercostals.

Main thing is to listen to your body and if it hurts back off. If not then go for it! 

Time for me to start the recovery process again!

Best of luck!

 

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Thanks for the response. I'm sorry to hear about your recent injury on the other side, how did that happen if you don't mind me asking? Right now activity doesn't really hurt, it'll just randomly ache a little throughout the day. This Friday will be 8 weeks I believe, I think I want to wait for 12 to play a full round. I really don't want to have to think about it at all that's why I want to be conservative about playing again. I go back and forth though, part of me thinks I should be playing how you described, but I'm not sure how fun that would be for me, I wanna be at 100%.

[UKGolfer1]

Randomly it just snapped when I was at the gym doing ab roll outs, won't be trying those again for a while!! (Ever!) Was surprised the old break didnt give way but Doc reckons that break is now fully healed and probably stronger than it was before.

If you don't feel right then just give it some more time.  You'll prob have a bit of lingering soreness for a while still even if the fracture has healed, I think new bone does take a few months more to become properly strong.

maybe just gradually build it up at the range like you've tried already. Good luck.

 

[Emtee]

  On 4/20/2016 at 1:57 PM, UKGolfer1 said:

Randomly it just snapped when I was at the gym doing ab roll outs, won't be trying those again for a while!! (Ever!) Was surprised the old break didnt give way but Doc reckons that break is now fully healed and probably stronger than it was before.

If you don't feel right then just give it some more time.  You'll prob have a bit of lingering soreness for a while still even if the fracture has healed, I think new bone does take a few months more to become properly strong.

maybe just gradually build it up at the range like you've tried already. Good luck.

 

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That really sucks I'm sorry to hear that. I'm not sure if you're up for it, but maybe it's worth finding out why this happened. I feel like there must be a million people who do ab rollouts everyday without breaking a rib (I feel the same way about my rib and golf). So more or less at this point your other fracture is 100%? You play golf and do whatever without really feeling it?

[UKGolfer1]

Yea Doc is sending me for some further tests to see if there's an underlying condition to cause my breaks, as you say an ab rollout shouldn't cause it to break .fingers crossed it was just a freak occurrence.

Yes, broke other rib last July 2015 and It was pretty much 100% by Dec.  It's fine now too and prior to the break last week could do all sorts of activities, golf, all gym work, chopping trees, swimming etc.

obviously you need to trust your instinct and your doctors opinion.  I too was very cautious first time round at the 8/9 week mark but my doc said it was healed and not to worry too much as long as wasn't doing dangerous activities.

If you have health insurance or can afford it get an ultrasound scan which will show how the fracture looks it should be a smooth line (or possibly have a bump from extra healing callus).. 

Not sure if you hurt your rib on the right or left but if it's on the side of you bottom hand (golf grip) you'll have some compression in your down swing which might make it a little sore for a while.

 

[Tim Arnold]

Sorry you have to wait to golf again, don't aggravate the cartilage or those ribs will really hurt.  At 58 I  just discovered the fountain of youth by using those massage foam & hard rollers.  They loosen up those muscle knots and tightness, flush toxins and waste out, so fresh blood can get in there to heal and help recover you faster. Can't afford pro massages, but at $30 a roller recovery kit from Dick's was my ticket to feeling good again. Oh, golf game is much better now that the muscles are more supple and flexible. I like feeling great again and injury free, a lot of things improved.

[Howling Coyote]

  On 4/13/2016 at 10:27 PM, Emtee said:

Hi all,

I've been lurking on this forum for a while and have read the posts regarding the issue, but I'd like to hear some personal experiences about rib fractures and your return to golf. 

 

Some background info:

-strained intercostal last year, took some weeks off and returned fine

-this year felt a sharper pain in late Feb, was diagnosed with a rib fracture in my 7th rib

-I'm about 7 weeks out from that injury and am dying to play, I may have hit 10,000 putts in the last 7 weeks

-does anyone have any advice for returning to golf? When/how?

-my friends are playing at one of my favorite CC's on the 23rd and I'd really love to play, I just don't want to rush it and ruin my summer

 

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Sorry about your injury.

For me, I fell off a ladder and hyper-extended left leg.  Actually my leg bent sideways at the knee.  Nothing broken and no dislocations.  Just had an MRI.  My problem is now I can't full extend the left leg.  I have gone out to a driving range.  I can make the ball fade and slice or go straight.  But when I tried to do a draw, instead I got a fade.  I tried over and over again.  I can't do it.  This tells me that I am not getting my weight sufficiently forward or am getting it forward after impact.  Basically it means I am not trusting my left leg at this time.

 

[Emtee]

  On 4/20/2016 at 4:41 PM, Tim Arnold said:

Sorry you have to wait to golf again, don't aggravate the cartilage or those ribs will really hurt.  At 58 I  just discovered the fountain of youth by using those massage foam & hard rollers.  They loosen up those muscle knots and tightness, flush toxins and waste out, so fresh blood can get in there to heal and help recover you faster. Can't afford pro massages, but at $30 a roller recovery kit from Dick's was my ticket to feeling good again. Oh, golf game is much better now that the muscles are more supple and flexible. I like feeling great again and injury free, a lot of things improved.

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Way ahead of you on the foam roller, I've been using them for years! Also I have ART (Active Release Therapy) done at physical therapy to help with the soft tissue damage, I really think it works. It helps to get rid of excess scar tissue. I am being very conservative about playing again since I've been cleared to play, but am still taking it very slow. Since I've been cleared to play I've been to the range once, pain free basically but just using my wedges- 7i.

  On 4/20/2016 at 4:53 PM, Howling Coyote said:

Sorry about your injury.

For me, I fell off a ladder and hyper-extended left leg.  Actually my leg bent sideways at the knee.  Nothing broken and no dislocations.  Just had an MRI.  My problem is now I can't full extend the left leg.  I have gone out to a driving range.  I can make the ball fade and slice or go straight.  But when I tried to do a draw, instead I got a fade.  I tried over and over again.  I can't do it.  This tells me that I am not getting my weight sufficiently forward or am getting it forward after impact.  Basically it means I am not trusting my left leg at this time.

 

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The mental part of injuries are huge. I'm not sure if your leg still hurts, but my side doesn't really hurt anymore and I'm still afraid to really play golf. I'll chip and pitch, but am afraid to use a wood etc. I am trying to get my mind right to be able to play the game again, I think a lot of it has to do with actually playing pain free. If you're at the range and feeling your leg it's just going to make you apprehensive in the future. Good luck with everything, I hope you feel better.

[ppine]

i have had a lot of rib injures mostly from coming off horses and mules.  Let pain be your guide.

Work your way back into it.  If you can hit a 7i, you are most of the way there.  Just don't over do it. 

Yesterday I played for the second time in 10 years.  My injured hip started to lock up, so I cut out two holes and played back to the club house.

[Emtee]

  On 4/20/2016 at 10:19 PM, ppine said:

i have had a lot of rib injures mostly from coming off horses and mules.  Let pain be your guide.

Work your way back into it.  If you can hit a 7i, you are most of the way there.  Just don't over do it. 

Yesterday I played for the second time in 10 years.  My injured hip started to lock up, so I cut out two holes and played back to the club house.

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Part of me feels that I shouldn't be playing any golf until I get to the point where this feels like it never happened. I have a mental hurdle right now where I feel like it's going to hurt but it doesn't and I feel like I'm not really accomplishing anything by practing like that. Im at 8 weeks now so I'm hoping another 4 will put this to rest. I took the last week off PT because I was busy but I think we were going to start doing some golf related stuff there and they were going to analyze my swing to see if we can prevent this going forward. I think what happened was that I had a stress fracture from overuse that turned into a more distinct fracture this year cuz I jumped right back into my routine after winter and ignored my body which was dumb because the area was sore, I could have prevented it. Based on where I'm at right now (generally pain free, random aching, back in the gym) do you think another 4 weeks (12 total) should do it? Also I noticed you said to ease into it so I guess I should play a little at PT, part of me was planning on not even analyzing my swing until I'm 100% because of the mental aspect of not wanting to hit down on the ball.

Edited April 21, 2016 by Emtee

[ppine]

Emtee,

I have had lots of other injuries, the most recent was a broken femur that took several years to completely heal.  It is normal to be protective of your body when you have chronic and long lasting injury.  It is telling that your doctor is encouraging you to play golf.  Don't hit woods yet, and be careful in heavy rough.  You have to force yourself at times to try the next step. You are lucky with golf in that you have a whole bag full of clubs with different numbers on them.  It is easy to gradually increase your level of exertion.  I would go hit a 5 iron and see what that feels like.  Hit a small bucket.  Don't over swing.  Swing in the backyard every day.  Put some weight on an old club.  Build up to everything by working at it at least several days a week.  The hard part is over and what is left is more mental than physical. Soon you should be out on a par 3 course.  Best of luck.  The way to get lucky is to get busier.

[Emtee]

  On 4/21/2016 at 3:15 PM, ppine said:

Emtee,

I have had lots of other injuries, the most recent was a broken femur that took several years to completely heal.  It is normal to be protective of your body when you have chronic and long lasting injury.  It is telling that your doctor is encouraging you to play golf.  Don't hit woods yet, and be careful in heavy rough.  You have to force yourself at times to try the next step. You are lucky with golf in that you have a whole bag full of clubs with different numbers on them.  It is easy to gradually increase your level of exertion.  I would go hit a 5 iron and see what that feels like.  Hit a small bucket.  Don't over swing.  Swing in the backyard every day.  Put some weight on an old club.  Build up to everything by working at it at least several days a week.  The hard part is over and what is left is more mental than physical. Soon you should be out on a par 3 course.  Best of luck.  The way to get lucky is to get busier.

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Hit ~50 balls today, started at my 60* and worked up to my 6i, very pure. I felt some tightness there and discomfort when I took a deep breath so I pitched a few more and left. Funny thing is right now I feel nothing which I would imagine is a good sign. It takes a little while for it to get tight there, probably 30 balls or so and then I usually shut it down (today I went to 50). I feel like I'm getting close to being able to play again, I would think another 3 or so weeks should take care of it. I hope that another month or so will do the trick because even though it doesn't hurt after I'm done at the range, I'm weary of "playing through" pain. I don't think that I really need to be spending a lot of time on the range, I just want to get back on the course.

Edited April 22, 2016 by Emtee

[UKGolfer1]

Sounds like good progress, you're doing it the right way and backing off when it gets sore. 

Hopefully you make the 5 or 4i next week. Best of luck!

[Emtee]

  On 4/22/2016 at 9:38 PM, UKGolfer1 said:

Sounds like good progress, you're doing it the right way and backing off when it gets sore. 

Hopefully you make the 5 or 4i next week. Best of luck!

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I could have hit both today, I just back off when I get sore. As soon as I'm done I don't feel it anymore so it's definitely possible to hit those clubs because the result is the same anyway. I swung my driver and 3w in the backyard today at my normal tempo and felt fine. Right now I'm really just trying to get back into golf shape since I play at least 36 a week plus range time. This year I think I'm going to cut down on range time, I feel like I get the same amount of work done in front of a mirror anyway. 

[natureboy]

 

  On 4/21/2016 at 3:15 PM, ppine said:

Don't hit woods yet, and be careful in heavy rough.

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That is really excellent advice. Applies to wrist injuries too.