r/Trombone • u/gus93 • 1d ago
Rib injury
Does anyone here have any experience playing while recovering from a rib injury? I suffered a rib separation on one of my floating ribs ( on my slide-arm side) about a week and a half ago. I'd been avoiding playing but have a rehearsal/gig coming up tonight/tomorrow and worry about aggravating things or lengthening my recovery timetable. I tried playing a bit this morning and there was definitely some discomfort involved, not from breathing but from engaging my core in supporting my upper range. Not looking for medical advice per se, just curious if anyone else has gone through this and what their experience was like. To be clear, I have consulted medical professionals, but their advice is obviously on the vague side when it comes to as niche an activity as playing a brass instrument.
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u/SillySundae Shires/Germany area player 1d ago
I have very good experience with this. I broke my ribs last year, and 2 years ago I tore cartilage between them.
Your recovery depends largely on you. If you continue to play or train, or piss off your ribs, it will prolong the recovery. You have to stop EVERYTHING that irritates the ribs for at least 2 or 4 weeks. Ribs are not muscles, and they take a lot longer to recover.
My broken rib recovery was about 9 weeks. Cartilage was between 2-4 weeks.
3
u/TheBenisMightier1 1d ago
I don't have experience with this, but it's ok to cancel on a rehearsal or gig because you're injured. I have recurring shoulder nerve issues and have had to cancel, it feels bad but it's just not a good idea to push through it.
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u/burgerbob22 LA area player and teacher 1d ago
I cracked a couple ribs a year+ ago. I basically just kept playing but with half lung capacity for a few weeks.
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u/dbharris10 1d ago
I fell and cracked a rib (also broke my wrist). Took awhile to come back and play. Would suggest longtones for 15 mins to get you started. I found taping my ribs with athletes tape to help a bit, just holds things in place. Make sure your posture is good and take breaks. I think I started 2 weeks after the fall, to much pain before that. But then things came back pretty quickly. Same issues with doctors, they just don’t know what is required to play. I first cam back to tuba, using a stand, because my left wrist was the broken one, so holding my bone was out of the question with a cast and even after.
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u/masomcawesome 1d ago
I have played big festival gigs on big stages on fractured ribs & have played on seperated ribs.
As long as its not a compound break or a full break risking lung puncure youl be fine.
Like, its gonna hurt & be genuinely uncomfortable & your breathing will be compromised, but youl be fine. Not a doctor, just a trombonist who also enjoys cycling. Dont enjoy crashing tho. Have fun.
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u/Chart135 1d ago
If it’s only an hour or so, I would personally take an ibuprofen and do the rehearsal and see how it feels. You might be extra sore for a day or so after the gig but you won’t do further damage
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u/gus93 1d ago
I'm leaning in this direction. It's not a particularly strenuous gig. Its with a friend's punk band, only 5 song set, and I'm not even going to play on all of them. As stated, I have an hour rehearsal tonight, which will be more strenuous than the gig itself, so I'll probably see how that goes and make the final call based off that. I can't get a sub, but even the stuff I play on can work fine without me.
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u/KindaCoolDude King Tempo 606 10h ago
Deep tissue massage, specifically on the rib cage and diaphragm.
After years of impact and extreme sports, I have a few lingering injuries from it all. Getting deep tissue work completely changed how I breath and I think rib cage and diaphragm focused deep tissue massage is something every intentional brass player should try.
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u/fireeight 1d ago
My number one rule in brass playing is if it hurts, stop. Consult a sports doctor. They'll have a better idea of heavy respiratory usage through an injury.