How do you like your ribs?

[ChuckMoto]

Tomorrow 4/29 will 14 days since I clipped a rock on my dual sport and in the process, took a handle bar to the rib cage. (no chest protector) Since the day after the crash, that rib hasn't really gotten any better. I'll go a couple days with less pain, feeling like I'm finally healing, then (like today), one funny move and I'm back to the amount of pain I had on day 1. I've read plenty that rib injuries are painful, and take a while to heal, and being that there is hardly even a bruise to show, I doubt I broke anything, except the peg on the bike. Is a two week old rib injury that still hurts a reason to contact my doctor? I could have already done that but I figure the ProRide group has more experience with ribs injuries than my doctor. 

[SLAPAHO]

It's probably either broken or cracked. I've broken ribs at least 3 times, never had a bruise. It used to take at least 6 to 8 weeks to heal fully when i was younger.. it would probably take 6 months now 
Get one of those inexpensive rib braces to wear at home, they seem to really help keep them in place until they heal..

[B-DUB#15]

Chuckmoto...14 days isn't much for ribs to start to heal up.   You should get them checked out as just a precaution but they do take a long time to properly heal like Lou said....especially as we get older.

[ChuckMoto]

Thanks for the replies guys. I ordered a rib brace. I have a 125 mile dual sport ride coming up in two weeks. (Palms to Pines) Hopefully I’m a little better by then.  Already paid for the ride. ( 

[Pokey]

I've broken plenty of ribs, the rib injury hands down was the most painful was having bars go between my ribs.   They were separated and not broke or fractured, just tore the meat in between, it didn't even break the skin, although I swore it felt like I had a flap of skin missing.   I had such discoloring of the skin, that section I looked like a corpse.  Plus I had to have my arm strapped down to limit movement.  The healing process was roughly 5 or 6 months.   

[ChuckMoto]

Turned out I had nothing broken, just tissue injury. Have been on light duty at work for two weeks and stopped all moto/mtb riding and am probably 90 percent healed. Lesson learned! Now I get to shop for a chest pro that'll work with my Atlas neck brace.

[crc245]

ChuckMoto: I wear this one with my Atlas, no clearance problems 

https://www.cyclegear.com/gear/bilt-rib-cage-roost-guard

[Dirty Sanchez]

Rub some Tussin on them and get back out there.

[Zeke27G]

Dry rubbed and smoked.

[B-DUB#15]

I like mine healed.