Recovering From a Broken Rib

If you do break a rib, the doctors will tell you there's not much they can do except give you pain medication and caution you to be careful, and remember to "breathe through the pain." If you don't remember to breathe deeply enough, the consequences can be pneumonia, which will certainly multiply your problems. When I broke my rib, I planned on three weeks of recovery. That's what they told me to expect.

It's been three weeks since the doctor told me that, and I'm finding that there is a slower recovery for people who get chest colds. Every time I would cough, it seems the rib would say, "Okay, let's start the three weeks over." I finally stopped coughing, and figure there might be light at the end of the tunnel. I haven't spent so much time sleeping since I was a teenager.

I'm also wondering if age is a factor in this long healing process. I know it's a factor in asking for more pain medication. I don't want to ask, and I'm down to a couple of little pills left, and that's just because I rationed them the last few days. I guess I should call tomorrow. I could use another few days. I'm thinking about it.