UKC

NYE my mrs fractured / broke a couple of ribs. She's clicking a lot, and has struggled to sleep since...

Anyway, today she's feeling a little better and wants to go hiking Saturday. Weather forecast is wintery showers. I'm convinced this is a bad idea, given the pain she's been in...

Am I being overly cautious? Any first hand accounts out there, when did you start getting active again?

Thanks

I tw*ted my ribs coming off a Motocrosser many years ago. Took a week off and went back to work (self Employed), for a day. Then went off sick for a month.

Ribs take a long time to heal. Hurts every time that you breath. I'd only suggest something simple like a canal or railway track. No specific objective so that you can turn back at any time.

Save the hiking untilthe better weather comes and the ribs have had a chance to heal.

Good luck

this is my feeling, nice flat walk with plenty of cafes on route, and ideally public transport or taxi to bail out with!

I've broken mine before falling down a flight of stairs but it was a hedonistic bit of life and I can't remember much about it!

I remember a lecture by Paul Nunn - he'd taken a fall, broken a rib or two, so the doctor signed him off work for a week. Excellent - off to Scotland for some ice climbing...

Isn't this really up to your wife - or do you make decisions for her?

My thoughts too, she will know if she’s up to it or not !

You aren't new to the UKC, don't be a fool . 

I have cracked my ribs and worked in the restaurant at the time (as a student). Told my supervisor at the time, he said "you'll be fine". Yeah, it's doable with codeine, but not fun! Long story short, I regained my supervisor position (I was out for few months and got rehired) and that guy got demoted as people didn't last long under his supervision. I wonder why... 

Personally I'd rest till the ribs heal.  But then I'm a wuss.

However there is a possibility that while doing lots of aerobic exercise bits of a broken rib could puncture a lung.  Now that really would bugger her day on the hill.

Just a cheery thought.

Edit

Get your other half to google pneumothorax.  That should make for an interesting read.

when I'm driving, navigating, carrying most of the cold weather kit and the responsibility to keep us safe, yes

I did a rib in - very embarrassing - I was getting out of a saloon car parked on a muddy slope, I forgot I had my smart shoes on, slid and planted the top of the door in a rib.  That only cracked it I think but a failure to avoid certain strenuous activity then led to a horrid unforgettable sound and a lot more pain, presumed then broken, especially given the graunching sensations.

Walking was a blessed relief compared to the pain of trying to sleep - which I ended up doing sat bolt upright in bed.  I was happy to stick to familiar and easy ground reachable without a car, as I didn’t want to risk belting up over it and didn’t want to risk a slip/trip/fall.  I’m not prone to them but it’s one of those probability * consequences calculations.