Torn Rib Cartilage

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to see if anyone had any experience with this injury and any advice?

I was training for an upcoming grappling tourney this weekend and felt soreness from my upper right rib area. It was not a big pain, I figured it was from working and rolling a lot. Wednesday night in class I went to take someone's back off an arm drag and *POP*, I couldn't move. I was not able to get up or lay down, was a sharp pain coming from that upper right rib area. I was able to ice it and left to the E.R. The X-rays did not show any breaks and the doctors basically said to take pain meds and rest. They said it looks like I did some damage to the rib cartilage. I've been at work for the past two days in extreme pain.

I'm definitely not competing and I am frustrated because I am sure I'll be out for a while from grappling. Let me know if anyone has any experience or advice on this. Thanks

Took me 3 weeks to heal and I'm still a little tender to the touch. Just gotta let it heal.

I had the exact same thing dude. Someone went for an underneath pass on me and out of nowhere POP! Similarly to yourself, I couldn't move and it hurt to even turn over in bed.

I was rubbing voltarol cream into it twice a day, taking a hot bath every other day and doing my best to rest it, but with my job being physical it was difficult. I could drill lightly after 4 weeks and spar properly after 6. It really is a case of just letting it heal my brother, as frustrating as it is.

4-6 weeks for full recovery. Chill out for a while and arnica gel for circulation and inflamation. Depending on how bad it is, you might have a ptotrusion. I call it cauliflower rib. Anytime cartilage gets damaged it gets deformed. This happened to me twice and almost every jj guy I know.

I find it is a core issue. Either your core isn't strong enough to support your structural integrity or you weren't engaging it properly at the time. Keeping your core engaged is crucial. Flexibility can also be an issue, but it happens to them too.

Had the same thing happen. Took about 6 weeks to really be able to move again. Rib injuries are difficult to deal with because, unlike other bones and cartilage, there is no way to immobilize it. It moves every time you breathe. That is why taking the time off is so important. Take care of yourself. Jiu Jitsu is a marathon, not a sprint.

I seperated a rib/tore cartilage in practice last year (had xrays). You will probably have 2-4 weeks recovery and then it will be bothersome for a good 4-6 month depending on how bad it is. I have a big lump where the cartilage tore and the rib separated but no pain now. Enjoy the Hydrocodone!

I agree with everyone above. You can probably do really light drilling , depending on your pain tolerance, after 2 weeks, but it's gotta be really controlled. I tore mine while turning the wrong way putting on a triangle and getting stacked. My core was very weak AND I'd had a chiropractic adjustment the day before. Found out that your ribs are very vulnerable after that for a few days until they settle. Wish I had known! Like a dumbass I did a tourney 3 days later and every mofo wanted to play knee on belly. Was a bad day!LOL!

Thanks everyone

From reading this thread and others on the internet, it seems that all I can really do is rest and get through it. Got some anti inflammatory meds and a pillow :cool: Its been hell so far and I'm only on day 2. I had to sleep sitting up last night and work has been horrible to move around.

6-8 weeks is going to seem like a century

Anybody use a bandage or anything? I heard thats not too good to do but I've had numerous co-workers ask me if I was wrapped up

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Originally Posted by Matt Wallace

I agree with everyone above. You can probably do really light drilling , depending on your pain tolerance, after 2 weeks, but it's gotta be really controlled. I tore mine while turning the wrong way putting on a triangle and getting stacked. My core was very weak AND I'd had a chiropractic adjustment the day before. Found out that your ribs are very vulnerable after that for a few days until they settle. Wish I had known! Like a dumbass I did a tourney 3 days later and every mofo wanted to play knee on belly. Was a bad day!LOL!

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Getting stacked is how I tore mine too

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Originally Posted by Samir Portillo Jr

Anybody use a bandage or anything? I heard thats not too good to do but I've had numerous co-workers ask me if I was wrapped up

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I did not bandage.

Just wait until you sneeze! Ouch!

Put some tiger balm on it, wrap it up with an ace bandage and go back to training

Is anybody gonna give tha remedy, or do I have to again?

took my three weeks and then I got slammed and it added another three. Breathing deep now though.

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Originally Posted by bobby rivers

Is anybody gonna give tha remedy, or do I have to again?

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Attachment 1915

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Originally Posted by Aaron Gustaveson

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I now present you with the honorary phd in 10p. Gustaveson M.D.

Did something similar while at HQ the first time. It’s awful. I recommend not messing it up over and over again like I did.

Mine took 6 weeks, but it was the interior oblique, where it joined under the rib cage. I was off all during the Christmas and new-years, and all through January. Sucked.
But take the time off and LET IT HEAL PROPERLY.

Bobby Rivers, present the remedy please. I missed it last time.

Thankfully it hasn't happened to me but did happen to a training partner. He took a couple of weeks off and then came back without giving it the proper time to heal. He then re injured it pretty much constantly over the next few months until he took about a month off and let it heal.

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Originally Posted by bobby rivers

4-6 weeks for full recovery. Chill out for a while and arnica gel for circulation and inflamation. Depending on how bad it is, you might have a ptotrusion. I call it cauliflower rib. Anytime cartilage gets damaged it gets deformed. This happened to me twice and almost every jj guy I know.

I find it is a core issue. Either your core isn't strong enough to support your structural integrity or you weren't engaging it properly at the time. Keeping your core engaged is crucial. Flexibility can also be an issue, but it happens to them too.

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Arnica Gel...is that pretty much like Artic ease? I'm going to get some today and see how it works. So far the worst pain has been getting up and out of bed and sometimes when it randomly pops in and out of place.

How long did it take before you could do some light workouts? Jogging, core exercises, etc.

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Originally Posted by Rachael Kaulig

I did not bandage.

Just wait until you sneeze! Ouch!

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felt like death bro, I think I was stuck in the position I was sitting in for a good 10 minutes after I sneezed

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Originally Posted by Matt Wallace

I agree with everyone above. You can probably do really light drilling , depending on your pain tolerance, after 2 weeks, but it's gotta be really controlled. I tore mine while turning the wrong way putting on a triangle and getting stacked. My core was very weak AND I'd had a chiropractic adjustment the day before. Found out that your ribs are very vulnerable after that for a few days until they settle. Wish I had known! Like a dumbass I did a tourney 3 days later and every mofo wanted to play knee on belly. Was a bad day!LOL!

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Yea I'm hoping to at least get some light workouts out in after a week or so. From everything I have been reading, probably gotta lay off rolling for a bit which sucks. We have 4 local tournaments in the next 8 weeks that I'm going to miss

I was out 6 weeks from this a few years ago. Its the hardest injury to overcome because you can't do hardly anything to speed up the recovery except get in a therapy pool that jets water against you. I wish you the best recover man.

I have been out 4 weeks already with same thing, it sucks....

I had this exact thing happen to me about a year ago when doing a swim move drill. Please learn from my mistake: I took a month off and it completely healed, but when I came back I immediately started rolling and it popped again. I decided to tough it out and a year later I still have pain from it. Because I tried to roll through it I got muscle knots in my back and had terrible pain for a long time. Its tolerable to roll, but it is torture in every day life. Heal enough!

How you feelin man?

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Originally Posted by Kevin Reed

How you feelin man?

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Getting better bro. I started lifting and drilling last week, I plan on being back officially tomorrow night for class w/ 10th Planet Allentown. It feels better, I only feel the ribs a bit in the mornings but thats all. Left a mark though. Looks like I have a mini tennis ball coming out at the end of ribs :(

When you coming down to Allentown?

Thanks for all the good wishes, everyone! Its been a little over 6 weeks now since the injury. Hoping to be back tomorrow night with 10th Planet Allentown and pick up where I left off

Mine took 6 weeks, but it was more a tear where the muscle joined onto the ribcage. It sucks, but you have to give it the time it requires. Good luck this week with it, protect it and take it easy!

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Originally Posted by Kurzy

Mine took 6 weeks, but it was more a tear where the muscle joined onto the ribcage. It sucks, but you have to give it the time it requires. Good luck this week with it, protect it and take it easy!

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thanks man. it definitely sucks. It was a long 6 weeks, but I think it'll be worse now since I'm so paranoid when someone tries to stack me or pass my guard to the right side

When being stacked, always keep your core engaged. It reinforces all structural integrity of nonmuscular tissue.

During warm up, stack yourself. Try to hug your head with your knees. Then try to put both knees on one sid of your head, then the other. Bridges too. From the shoulders and head. Granby rolls in every direction fom knees and sitting are awesome too.

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Originally Posted by Samir Portillo Jr

Getting better bro. I started lifting and drilling last week, I plan on being back officially tomorrow night for class w/ 10th Planet Allentown. It feels better, I only feel the ribs a bit in the mornings but thats all. Left a mark though. Looks like I have a mini tennis ball coming out at the end of ribs :(

When you coming down to Allentown?

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Shitttt who knows man. I'm working like 900 hours a week its ridiculous. Hopefully soon, I'll definitely be at the next tourney for sure! Glad to hear that you're feeling better man! Keep pushing through it. You're one tough dude.

I feel you bro, let me know if when you'll be coming next time so I can come through. Get a light roll in