Surfing Accident and Plating of Rib Fractures
Hi all, just telling my story. Went body surfing (thats where you dont use a board, its just you and swimming down the front of the wave) and wound up being dumped in very shallow water (ive only been doing this for 45 years!). Could barely breathe with stabbing pain through shoulder and chest. Someone helped me to beach and they to lifesaving tower. After catching my breath managed to walk 3 blocks home. Worried that shoulder was dislocated, went to hospital. ER found out I had 10 fractured ribs in 13 places all on one side, deflated lung and probable dislocated shoulder as well. Lung was re-inflated and after about 10 days had metal plating done to ribs that were multi fractured and a mangled. One was the rib under the shoulder blade. It’s three weeks out from operation and at home now for last 2.5 weeks. Im down to an opioid 3 times a day to get through pain. Wonder if anyone else has had rib plating and what to expect in terms of pain and time. Some days it’s not so bad. Some days it’s like a throbbing giant metal claw on my chest, probably because it’s actually a giant meta claw on my chest! Also as they killed nerves with cryo as part of operation, theres weird numb sensations and pain comes from below rib cage sometimes (dont know if just referred pain). If anyone has had a vaguely similar experience and recovery, would love to hear from you. Reading what some people have gone through on here actually made me realise how lucky I am. In reality if I had come down on my head rather than right shoulder, I probably would not be typing this. Best wishes and a speedy recovery to all.
