Diving after Cracking Ribs

[craigwarren]

Hi everyone,

I had an incident recently in a martial arts class where I cracked a couple of ribs, It's pretty sore and I know I can't dive like this.

My question is, has anyone returned to diving after broken ribs and if so when did you start diving again?

My main worries are the weight and the pressure of an inflated BC pushing on my ribs.

Thanks

[Ed Howarth]

One of my relatives cracked a couple of ribs and she is still in pain after a couple of years.
She has had to say that she will never go diving.

Oh, it's my aunt and she's 93. :D

No other advice, I'm afraid. But someone will have some in a minute.

Ed

[Vic]

My question is, has anyone returned to diving after broken ribs

Yes, I did. Karting hurts.

and if so when did you start diving again?

When my ribs stopped hurting...

My main worries are the weight and the pressure of an inflated BC pushing on my ribs.

When I had my injury, every movement I made gave me a stabbing pain in the side; I wouldn't even have got a suit on without pain, let alone the rest of my kit.

It took a few weeks to get better, but as soon as I felt fit enough to handle my kit, I had no further problems...

Vic.

[richard scarsbrook]

See this thread (http://www.bsacforum.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=11399). I dived again 2 months after my broken rib with no pain or problems.

[ChristianG]

Actually a cracked rib (or two) does not hurt anywhere near as long (or much for that matter) as a damaged rib cartilage (or two). I know, I've had both playing rugby as a callow youth.

Vic's advice sounds about spot on to me, although you never really know with cartilage, rather than break, damage.

[davebarber]

It takes longer than you expect. Mine was pretty minor.

I thought I was Ok, but when you start exercise and you're breathing heavy it hurts.

Also a couple of hours being bounced around on a boat in a lively sea put me right out of action. Luckily it was a hard boat so I could lie down in the cabin (still suited up). I was wrecked. Just about managed the second dive.

Take it easy mate its only January you aren't missing much.