when you hear a crunching noise - there is probably some damage -
let us know what's going on - please

A crunch and a lump is not good...needs a look for sure...and some of the good stuff to take...feel better soon

I've cracked ribs twice - once I went to sit on a chair that was no longer there (yes, I'd had a few drinks - misspent youth!) and the second time from a bear hug from a teenage boy I was pulling out of a lake. He'd fallen out of a boat and couldn't swim. Both times the docs said nothing to be done but pain killers. BUT you should get it checked out - hope you're there now - because a broken rib can pierce soft tissue (I think, Gai correct me if I'm wrong!) The bad news is cracked ribs take a while to heal. The second time it happened to me, I was working as a gardener and was off a few weeks - well, the heavy stuff at least! :? Let us know how you get on, K.

You are exactly right, K, and the soft tissue you're most concerned about is Lung.

Yeah, tincture of time and lots of pain meds is the only treatment. I had a cracked rib years ago, and although they don't bind you like they dild a long time ago, I went to the drugstore and bought a rib beld and wore it just under my breasts (not too tightly, but firm) and it did help the pain.

Also, whether or not you do have a rib injury, try holding something like a pillow to your side if you need to cough, or sneeze, or laugh.... I know I know; how can you just happen to be ready like that? I dunno. I just know from hospital patients who can always have their's handy.
Another thing... be sure to take deep breaths... your brain still wants oxygen!

You might want somebody else to do your cutting for quilting until you heal, from whatever injury you incurred. Just sit quietly and quilt or plan your next projects.
Cathy

I'm not even going to tell you what happened to me after falling like that, but a dr. needs to see you asap. Just know that I had a wrong diagnosis and now can barely walk.(My ribs were broke, which started a chain reaction.) All from a fall......I hate to see what happened to me, happen to anyone else.

Sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to hear the outcome. I sure do hope you are at the ER! I've broken ribs more than once (I used to show hunter/jumper horses...yeah, yeah...I know) It is very painful!

Cathy and Gaigai - thanks for the response. I don't want to hijack this thread. I'll start another one about the wonderful nurses, whatever their cert is, that my husband and I have met and gone through over the past 6 months and 4 hospital visits. Boy, you talk about angels!!!

Hi Everyone,

I couldn't stand it and woke up and tried calling kw again and she answered. Upshot of it is, she has NOT gone to the ER, and I think that she probably DOES have a cracked rib, but after speaking to (GRILLING) her at length, I am comfortable with her waiting to see her private doc on Monday (with all sorts of condtions implicit in the agreement). She has some good pain pills left over from a previous injury/surgery, is not having any difficulty breathing , and isn't in enough distress that we couldn't laugh together. I know, it's mean to make someone laugh when they're hurt, but hey, it's what I do best! LOL.

Anyhow, she's going to take another pain pill right now to recover from ME (I can't imagine why!) and will post for us later this evening. I did tell her to sleep with a pillow on top of her chest, because I just KNOW that Evil Kitty (Or Sweet Angel Kitty) is going to do "touch and go" on her chest.

Well, that update does make me feel better gai. Thanks so much for checking up on her and letting us know. :D