For my sins (buying online) I got catapulted a few days ago and I think i have broken a rib. The wettie was great, kept me warm as toast, my rib is crap, hard to breath and it wakes me at night its so sore.
That will teach me.
It is unlikely you have broken a rib unless you have impacted with an object or hard surface but likely you have strained intercostal muscles. Either way it is a painful injury.
The last time I injured my ribs (by way of a surfboard smashing into me) I couldn't sleep on that side for 2 weeks and couldn't sit up without rolling to the side. It is quite debilitating.
Ice/rest/heat/rest/ice. It's uncomfortable but will ease slowly.
Sail when you can, pain permitting.
Ive done that twice 
The only way you'll know for sure is to go visit the doc and get it x-rayed If its not endangering any organs though thats about all theyll do for you....
Was it the good ole hooked in sideways smack into the mast? The last time i did it I thought id just been winded and got up and kept going. It wasnt till after a couple more runs that things started to get painful, and I decided it'd be a good idea to head in. 4 or 5 weeks later it was still painful
I wear an impact vest now.
Did some damage to my ribs and associated muscles almost 10 days ago now. Crashed at 38 knots and felt I was only winded at the time, but by the time I got home I had a black eye (from my helmet hitting my cheek bone) and my ribs on one side became more sore daily for about 5 days and are still sore now. Could only sleep on my back and simply couldn't roll-over as it not only pulled on the muscles, but put pressure on them as well. Been windy, but just cant' bring myself to go sailing again yet. Don't think I've fractured anything, but very sore still. Pain is now centralised to a single spot rather than my whole side. Hope I'll be OK for Green Island in about six weeks!!
Know the feeling well l went over the bars last season l thick l hit a sandbar pretty fast landed heavily. Sailed back got out of the water & relised thats me done for the day .bruised ribs I thick it lasted six weeks.very painful injury! Allgood now hope all well!
sufferd many hours of pain from ribs broken and bruised,,,i would reccomend some prescribed pain killer,, it works ,but dont take the fkers for anything other than severe pain.
Smashed 2 of mine up nicely a couple of years ago. Ribs vs. Carbon fibre, carbon wins!!!
Not much you can do but treat the pain, don't sneeze, or laugh and avoid constipation.
I was heading down thew face of some big swell and knew I wasn't putting enough pressure on the back foot, dug the nose in and got flung, hooked in and sideways. I think I hit the nose of the board or at least the rail, but it was contact with the board. At the time I shook it off after I got composure, but the next day it was sore. And then even more sore the next.
Haven't bothered with the doc because an x-ray might show me something, but there's nothing they can do. I played with the idea of getting a prescription for the pain because it keeps waking me.
I had a few sneezes yesterday. Felt like I was being stabbed in the ribs with a rusty screwdriver.
Yep, lots of different breaks. Cracked, broken, greenstick fracture, each as painful as the next. They also prescribe antibiotics on occasion. But I wouldn't put off seeing the quack just to make sure.
I have done this one twice. Once sailing and once on the drink. Super painfull! I got x-rayed for one of them and was told it was the cartilage/muscle in between the rib bones and nothing could be done. I was told however to take a really deep painful breath every hour to clear the stagnant air from the bottom of your lungs out due to just taking short shallow breaths. Pnuemonia was a possibility from bad breathing. Putting on a seat belt hurts too doesn't it, you got about 6 weeks.
Select to expand quoteDibbsy23 said...
I have done this one twice. Once sailing and once on the drink. Super painfull! I got x-rayed for one of them and was told it was the cartilage/muscle in between the rib bones and nothing could be done. I was told however to take a really deep painful breath every hour to clear the stagnant air from the bottom of your lungs out due to just taking short shallow breaths. Pnuemonia was a possibility from bad breathing. Putting on a seat belt hurts too doesn't it, you got about 6 weeks.
having a go at the deep breathing, just got to make sure a i'm not on a work call . . . . . .
Select to expand quotelotofwind said...
I dare you to sneeze.[}:)]
or laugh..( Sorry it isn't funny..)
Select to expand quotegavnwend said..
Know the feeling well l went over the bars last season l thick l hit a sandbar pretty fast landed heavily. Sailed back got out of the water & relised thats me done for the day .bruised ribs I thick it lasted six weeks.very painful injury! Allgood now hope all well!
I got bucked off a horse and popped a few ribs out of place..the chiro put them back in.I did land on my head so maybe that's not your problem but might be worth a check.
Select to expand quotemr love said..
Smashed 2 of mine up nicely a couple of years ago. Ribs vs. Carbon fibre, carbon wins!!! Not much you can do but treat the pain, don't sneeze, or laugh and avoid constipation.
Bit hard if you're on painkillers..
( sorry I just realised pardon the pun..
).
Select to expand quoteSputnik11 said...
I had a few sneezes yesterday. Felt like I was being stabbed in the ribs with a rusty screwdriver.
If you go to the doctor don't mention the rusty screwdriver, they will want to give you a Tetanus shot
I've done the same injury. I came of a speed, bounced a few times, then my waist harness caught water twisted up and banged my rib. The rib must have been hanging on by a thread. That night at home had a little cough and then herd a distinctive snap...man that hurt.
I found I managed to get back on the water quicker by using a vest harness, it spreads the load more evenly and gives some protection as well.
Good luck with recovery
First time in years without (sticky) booties. Cracking along on the 5.4. Hit smooooth water for a gybe. Slingshot into the gybe and unhook. Place (slippery) foot on inside rail and ...geasdna;shdb;ahl;eurb!!!!!!!
I have to wonder what the force is when you hit the boom at 20-25 knots. What the equivalent is if dropped from a height straight onto it.
Couldn't sneeeze or laugh for weeks.
Select to expand quoteevlPanda said..
First time in years without (sticky) booties. Cracking along on the 5.4. Hit smooooth water for a gybe. Slingshot into the gybe and unhook. Place (slippery) foot on inside rail and ...geasdna;shdb;ahl;eurb!!!!!!! I have to wonder what the force is when you hit the boom at 20-25 knots. What the equivalent is if dropped from a height straight onto it. Couldn't sneeeze or laugh for weeks.
Oh I can frickin' sneeze still, just like getting stabbed in the chest every time I do.
Good news is it feels a little better today. Myabe 10% better.
Select to expand quoteevlPanda said..
First time in years without (sticky) booties. Cracking along on the 5.4. Hit smooooth water for a gybe. Slingshot into the gybe and unhook. Place (slippery) foot on inside rail and ...geasdna;shdb;ahl;eurb!!!!!!! I have to wonder what the force is when you hit the boom at 20-25 knots. What the equivalent is if dropped from a height straight onto it. Couldn't sneeeze or laugh for weeks.
+ 1 for booties.. ( except when you gybe and leave the foot change too late and your foot won't come out of the old strap when needed..
)
Select to expand quoteevlPanda said..
First time in years without (sticky) booties. Cracking along on the 5.4. Hit smooooth water for a gybe. Slingshot into the gybe and unhook. Place (slippery) foot on inside rail and ...geasdna;shdb;ahl;eurb!!!!!!! I have to wonder what the force is when you hit the boom at 20-25 knots. What the equivalent is if dropped from a height straight onto it. Couldn't sneeeze or laugh for weeks.
5-8 metres, assuming the boom is stationary.
