Conference 7.286::golf

    Wow, sounds really painful!! I would think that a few days rest
    for starters is a plan. If you want to keep playing, maybe your
    partners would let you tee the ball up where it lies so that you
    could avoid hitting the turf so hard (just for the sake of practice
    of course). I did that last year for a few weeks after I hurt my
    back and it worked very well. If the pain is very severe though,
    you should probably see a doctor just to make sure you didn't break
    a rib! DON'T HIT ANY FAT ONES!!!!!
    
    
    THE MAD HACKER

    
    I broke a rib a couple of years back, but luckily it was during
    the winter and didn't interupt golf. The thing I want to mention
    is that I did go to the doctor and was informed that the cure
    is the same for a broken rib or a badly bruised rib and that is
    to refrane from ANY activety that causes any stress to the area.
    Usually it is several weeks...
    

    tour rib cage cartaledge about 2 years ago and advice was same as
    Gene said in .2...took about two months before it was right again..
    this all depends on your age = older takes longer to heal ...
    
    the time off did wounders for my short game though....only golf
    I could do without hurting...

    Back in 85 I was in a motorcycle accident and bruised my back. It
    was so bad that when I had to sneeze I would start up and put my
    back against the wall. This helped support my back. It was two weeks
    before I could swing a club and two months before I didn't feel
    any discomfort. I'd suggest you lay off completely for one month.
    The season is young. I quess to say that a month layoff could allow
    you to play all summer without any discomfort. If not you may have
    discomfort all summer. Realize also that playing hurt will alter
    your swing. If you continue to play withthis altered swing it may
    become your new perminent swing.
    
    
    Tom

    	I'd been in a car accident and suffered a bruise to my ribcage.
    It seemingly had healed, but reared its ugly head on the course
    one day. Couldn't finish the round, it just hurt to swing. Took
    a couple of weeks to finally disappear, never to return again.
    (KNOCK ON WOOD)
    
    					Keith

    look at the big picture. don't push it you could make things alot
    worse. your body will tell you when things are okay so listen. take the
    time to improve your putting and short game. don't stay away from the
    course watch others play and even walk the course with your friends and
    keep the feel for the game. the only way to heal an injured muscle is
    not to use it. i am not a qualified to give advice in this situation,
    as a matter of fact i can't think of any situation i am qualified to
    give advice on, but if it were me i would wrap it with an ace bandage
    to keep it stationary. you know the line " doc it hurts when i do
    this"and the doc says "don't do that". good luck you will be out there
    before you know it.
    
    take care
    
    pete

    	Some practical advice, the ribs are joined by "intercostal
    muscles", when you stretch (as in the back swing) you are causing
    those muscles to stretch and as a result, putting tension on those
    ribs that are trying to mend and as a result may be impeading the
    healing process. Upon a break the body will start its healing process
    immediately, but it  should be done without added stress. See a
    Doc to find out just how far you are in the healing process and
    to make sure the ribs have mended in the right position. (now let
    me scare you into seeing one). If the ribs have not mended correctly,
    your next swing release, causing the intercostals to contract, and
    subsequent divot, resulting in impact being transmitted to the ribs,
    could cause a pneuthorax (lung puncture with air collection outside
    the lung). End result, deep s**t!!!
    
    Cam, Hacker & Emergency Medical Technician

      I went to the Doc folks... just a deep bruise... whew!!!  Two
    weeks and I can return to the links.  I'll only miss one tourney.
    Thanks for all the replies and concerns!!
    
    Rick