Five weeks ago I broke three ribs in a mountain bike crash. Doc told me it’s a six week recovery. So I was hoping to go to the kart track next week which would be right at six weeks. However I still have some pain, not crazy but still a little restricting on certain things. Probably should give it a few more weeks to be safe.
Anyone else have experience with recovery time from broken ribs?
Frankly the longer you heal the better off you will be long run. 3x injured. Easy to re-screw up. If you can let it heal do so.
Ribs are a bit sensitive especially when it comes to recovery so its best to wait for the pain to go away before going to kart, one t bone and you’ve screwed your ribs over again, I’m pretty sure I’ve almost broke my ribs from a Sws race alone
Lots of topics on this and I’ve weighed in a bunch, but I separated my ribs in 2014 and then continued to struggle through the year driving on them and ended up breaking the other side.
A break isn’t as bad; healing is pretty straightforward. The separation was hell. And it never really healed fully as it’s all scar tissue there now.
If you still have pain, I would recommend against jumping back in right away. Ribs are easy to re-injure and it’s very possible you make about two laps before you’re in pain again. Make sure you are pretty pain free, build up to it slowly doing short runs, and if it hurts, stop and go rest for a few days again. Alternate icing and heat to reduce swelling and relieve pain. Make sure you have a good rib protector. I also tested a bunch of padding and found surgical gel pads to be the best padding for energy absorption. Have a few different types of padding in your toolbox and test them out.
And of course bring plenty of Tylenol or your painkiller of choice. Beer works great too, conveniently.
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I took most of last year off after separating one side and breaking the other. Then the first race back in the shifter this year I hurt them again, possibly just bruised but hurt like a break. That’s when I got the deepseat and P1 and have been good since.
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+1 on the deepseat. That solved it for me.
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I agree with TJ.
Breaking ribs sucks temporarily, but once healed, you’re generally pretty good to go racing again without worry. As he says, test them out and if they feel alright, go ahead… if there’s any pain, just wait another week before trying again.
I’ve hurt my ribs so bad from kart racing, that I’ve been told that the cartilage is destroyed. I literally can’t race without a GOOD rib vest anymore, or I’ll be in agony for weeks on end, and the wait period to get back in the seat becomes months, not weeks.
For me, the Bengio has been a game changer. Some also love the Tillett P1. Realistically, pick either one of those, and your rib problems will go away.
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Thanks TJ.
I’ve damaged my ribs several times before but from motorcycle racing not karting. It is much easier to get back on the motorcycle and go 10/10ths than in the kart I am sure.
I’ll take your advice and give it more time, I’m not racing anyway just out having fun on practice days.
I like the beer option as a pain killer 
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I have the Ribtect protector which has worked great for me but I guess this will be the true test now!
Exactly what TJ said. I also separated mine a while ago (torn intercostal muscles) it knocked me out of the seat for four months after the season ended. Last two races that season I was eating ibuprofen like smarties on race day. Not smart 
Changed my rib vest from AS to Bengio, like going from night to day it was.
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Took close to six months for me. Use caution.
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I’m not saying the Ribtect won’t be great for you, but…
I went through many of the “cheaper” rib vests trying to find one that wouldn’t destroy my ribs… thought I was taking a big step up with the Ribtect… and my ribs still got destroyed.
As a last ditch effort to not quit karting, I finally went to the Bengio - and I’ve never had any problems again.
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Hey, I just came across this which I thought seems interesting. Perhaps not as a singular solution but as paired with an actual protector.
I’ve had issues with the rib protector moving around and causing bruises/chafing as have we all. Perhaps as an under-the-bengio item it would add protection and stability. It might be too thick, unsure.
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Well I went out in the kart yesterday I did three sessions in the Rotax max wearing the Ribtect protector for the first time since my broken ribs and had no issues at all 
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Last year i broke 6 of my ribs and collar bons fracture due to motorcycle crash. Doctor put plates on it on the ribs. It took about 3months to recover. Not able to drive a normal car and around 6 months i got back drove a kart. and the plates stays in my body forever.
Have no issues whatsoever for with a standart seat. My old free-m rib hold it well for my ribs.
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