just completed 18 months recovery (40 years old) from bruised (separated ribs from a plastic bag stack) as a 25 year old I cracked some ribs (rugby) and only took me about 6 -8 months. Gybes were off the menu for a long time and still bug me on cold days but its important to warm up the cartilage'/muscle if you've been of the water for a while. Good luck .. everyone's different so hang in there 
If they've been hit to break you will have both ..
usually with breaks everything you do hurts ..
if it doesn't starting coming right in a week ..it's broken .
doctor?? Or physio. Might be the go .
no much they can do for ribs ..unless they are broken in half ..then pins .
try strapping it ..to hold your frame still when moving .
ribs hurt.
I've done both and they both really hurt. Healing time varies, but I was sailing within 8 to 10 weeks
Bruised normally take longer to heal. Torn rib muscles are the absolute worst (from experience).
I damaged the cartalidge and took 8 months to get to 100%. I found wearing a wetsuit helped a lot as it kept everything in place and provided a bit of padding.
Select to expand quoteSputnik11 said..
Is there a way to tell the difference, and what's the respective recovery time?
Why do you ask? What difference does it make?
Over the years I have cracked, dislocated and bruised ribs. The bruised ones were about 3 weeks ago. In all cases I just rested for a couple of days (if necessary), took some pain killers, got back into it. You modify your style and technique to avoid causing more pain, take some pain killers, and just get on with it.
With the recent stack I went to the hospital and got x-rayed and had an ultrasound to look for lung damage. There was no visible break or damage but the doctor said they can only detect 30% of breaks anyway.
BTW The woman doctor was impressed (not by me). Are you doing that amazing stuff out on the water!? Wow! I'd love to do that! How can I learn!
Do impact vests help prevent rib damage? I used to wear a Neil Pryde high-hook PFD, but stopped because I got sick of the bulk - would it help?
Select to expand quoteGorgo said..Sputnik11 said..
Is there a way to tell the difference, and what's the respective recovery time?
Why do you ask? What difference does it make?
Over the years I have cracked, dislocated and bruised ribs. The bruised ones were about 3 weeks ago. In all cases I just rested for a couple of days (if necessary), took some pain killers, got back into it. You modify your style and technique to avoid causing more pain, take some pain killers, and just get on with it.
With the recent stack I went to the hospital and got x-rayed and had an ultrasound to look for lung damage. There was no visible break or damage but the doctor said they can only detect 30% of breaks anyway.
BTW The woman doctor was impressed (not by me). Are you doing that amazing stuff out on the water!? Wow! I'd love to do that! How can I learn!
Gorgo is right, with the right pain killers you can get right back into it. I bruised my ribs in a catapult on my second day of a 3 week visit to Lake George in Feb last year. I went to the Chemist, he gave me some codeine and anti-inflamatory medication and I went sailing the next day. I used the medication for the rest of the trip.
Select to expand quoteMrCranky said..
Do impact vests help prevent rib damage? I used to wear a Neil Pryde high-hook PFD, but stopped because I got sick of the bulk - would it help?
Yes definitely helps. Especially with impact injuries and catapults. There are some good impact vests out there now that aren't too bulky.
I've torn inter-costal muscles in a 35knot Sandy Point bear away that went head over turkey. The real problem was that I was wearing 6kg of lead on my back that wanted to keep going 35knots and compressed my whole rib cage with a twist. Without an impact vest I'd imagine I'd have broken my ribs in addition to ripping muscle.
Select to expand quoteTardy said..
if it doesn't starting coming right in a week ..it's broken .
That's not necessarily true in all cases. Bruised mine landing on side of ribs and whilst painful could get by day to day activities without pain killers. Pain moderated over about 5-6 days then day 7 awoke with searing pain. Sneezed and almost fainted. Doc told me that the force is transferred along the rib into the spine and that causes symptoms to appears days after the fall and also said that slightly overweight 40 year olds shouldn't ride skateboards to impress their 6 year old children.
Select to expand quoteAdriano said..MrCranky said..
Do impact vests help prevent rib damage? I used to wear a Neil Pryde high-hook PFD, but stopped because I got sick of the bulk - would it help?
Yes definitely helps. Especially with impact injuries and catapults. There are some good impact vests out there now that aren't too bulky.
I've torn inter-costal muscles in a 35knot Sandy Point bear away that went head over turkey. The real problem was that I was wearing 6kg of lead on my back that wanted to keep going 35knots and compressed my whole rib cage with a twist. Without an impact vest I'd imagine I'd have broken my ribs in addition to ripping muscle.
The NP high hook should be OK, or should I get one of those dedicated impact ones? Because, AFAIR, the NP high hook does not have padding on the sides - the foam is all front and back.
Select to expand quoteMrCranky said..
Do impact vests help prevent rib damage? I used to wear a Neil Pryde high-hook PFD, but stopped because I got sick of the bulk - would it help?
I think they are a good idea- padding if you land on the mast. I always wear one.
I've had bruised ribs before but from being bucked off a horse- not fun.. 
Don't cough or laugh..
Actually.. mine were popped ribs and the chiro put them back in again...
If you are using a waist harness, switching to a seat harness for a while gets you back on the water sooner.
Broke 2 fairly decently a few years back, ribs vs carbon fibre, carbon won. If you cough, sneeze or laugh you will know if they are broken. Sailed after 6 weeks, probably should have left it another week or 2 but was doable. As long as you have not punctured a lung or the rib is severly displaced the doc will do nothing except pain releif. Don't cough , sneeze or laugh for 6 weeks!!!
I broke 2 ribs (xray confirmed) when I stacked it just over 6 weeks ago. Advice from physios and doctors was you'll just know with ribs when you can get back on it - apparently they'll let you know with very little uncertainty if you get it wrong :) Especially if you go wavesailing 5 days after the event - feck that hurt!
The doc reckoned 6 to 8 weeks off the water. I'll be back on it tomorrow!
I was wearing an impact vest, despite the breaks I'm glad I was - I suspect I'd have popped another rib or a lung without it ;)
As said previously - for the first couple of weeks laughing, coughing and sneezing were all a world of pain
While we're at it, if you've just hurt your rib and you're wondering, go to the doctor and get it checked out. We're just a bunch of nobodies on the internet. What do we know?
If you go to the doctor you will be referred for an x-ray to see if anything is broken (not finding something is inconclusive), and an ultrasound to see if there is any lung damage (they can see the bubbles in the image).
Having said that, the only treatment is rest and pain killers. If you had a bad fracture you might have to be more conservative due to the risk of more damage and resulting damage to your lung.
Every time I have hurt a rib I have re-started and ridden around for a while before deciding it hurt too much to have any fun. The previous injuries I looked after myself. The latest one I took myself to the hospital to get checked out. It hurt like f*ck at the time and the hospital is on the way home.
Banged the rib 11/12. Had a 10 minute session 23/12 (doable but a problem when things go wrong). Back in the waves 26/12 but no jumping. Been full on ever since, except if I jump too much I am an old crock that night. Have to sleep on my side. Definitely no sneezing in the first couple of weeks, and speed humps are bitch.
Broken, bruised, torn all of the above. Go see a good chiro and they should be able to settle them. It will feel like there fixed 
Select to expand quoteGorgo said..Sputnik11 said..
Is there a way to tell the difference, and what's the respective recovery time?
Why do you ask? What difference does it make?
Over the years I have cracked, dislocated and bruised ribs. The bruised ones were about 3 weeks ago. In all cases I just rested for a couple of days (if necessary), took some pain killers, got back into it. You modify your style and technique to avoid causing more pain, take some pain killers, and just get on with it.
With the recent stack I went to the hospital and got x-rayed and had an ultrasound to look for lung damage. There was no visible break or damage but the doctor said they can only detect 30% of breaks anyway.
BTW The woman doctor was impressed (not by me). Are you doing that amazing stuff out on the water!? Wow! I'd love to do that! How can I learn!
What difference does it make? Kind of why I asked the question. Will one heal faster than the other. Will they feel different? Get my drift?
A couple of days and some pain killers might be OK for some damage, but not for others. I went out again 3 days later, with pain killers and came in much worse for wear. Got a bit better a few days later, I went for a run, got a lot worse again.
I kind of feel like its muscular, but damn it hurts to cough or sneeze. Bad time to catch a cold.....
What is that you guys do to cop broken ribs? Can this only happen in the waves?
I know guys who've sailed for decades and claim to have never been seriously injured from windsurfing. One does freestyle stuff at a high level.
Select to expand quoteMrCranky said..
What is that you guys do to cop broken ribs? Can this only happen in the waves?
I know guys who've sailed for decades and claim to have never been seriously injured from windsurfing. One does freestyle stuff at a high level.
Seriously?!?
A friend of mine was carrying his rig towards the water, tripped over a branch on the ground, fell on top of his booms cracked a couple of ribs and couldn't go sailing for two months,,,,,, never got wet.
Select to expand quoteMastbender said..MrCranky said..
What is that you guys do to cop broken ribs? Can this only happen in the waves?
I know guys who've sailed for decades and claim to have never been seriously injured from windsurfing. One does freestyle stuff at a high level.
Seriously?!?
A friend of mine was carrying his rig towards the water, tripped over a branch on the ground, fell on top of his booms cracked a couple of ribs and couldn't go sailing for two months,,,,,, never got wet.
OK, the reason I'm asking is, while correlation is not causation, the less gear I wear the better I get (I've only been at it for 2 years). Stopped wearing a PFD - almost stopped catapulting. Stopped wearing booties - quicker into the straps, finally planing upwind on small boards. Although a couple of weeks ago I got downwinded real bad and had to come ashore onto the rocks in a very strong wind. Cut my feet, slipped and fell. Ended up damaging my pristine board and a massive haemotoma on my hip (could have been much worse).
I now wonder if I should start padding up again as I am now going faster in stronger conditions.
Believe me you'll soon be in for xray's if theyre broken - usually 48-72 hours after is the peak pain - ya wont sneeze or cough for 6 weeks and the most comfortable sleeping is lying on them - bruised playing footy - broken hitting a boom - xray slightly displaced - if they puncture ya lung thats where the big risk lies
Select to expand quoteMrCranky said..
What is that you guys do to cop broken ribs? Can this only happen in the waves?
I know guys who've sailed for decades and claim to have never been seriously injured from windsurfing. One does freestyle stuff at a high level.
First broken rib was a jump gone wrong. The board flicked under me and twisted sideways. I came down and landed on the edge of the board.
Dislocated rib was from the lip of a wave (ocean beach break) slamming into my chest. Felt the rib pop. Regained my breath and continued the session. Didn't really see the damage until I removed my wettie. I still have the lump in my chest where the cartilage was damaged.
The last is the most concerning. About to hit a pitching Bay wave. It crumbled so I cut up and over and caught an edge. I got slammed chest first into the water and felt immediate pain. Rested a bit in the water and on the beach. Had another go then went to hospital to get it checked out.
This one was concerning because I was certain I only hit water. The image is crystal clear in my head. Later I found a ding in the rail of my board in about the right place but I am still not convinced. What I think happened is the spreader bar rammed the edge of the harness pad into my rib and that caused the pain. It still hurts if I do the wrong thing and the pain lines up exactly with the edge of the harness pad. I tend to ride one handed and hold the harness down and away with the other if it's hurting.
Three dinged ribs in 30+ years is no real suprise. It more surprising how little we get smashed when we're doing stupid things at stupid speed in waves and stuff.
Select to expand quoteMrCranky said..Mastbender said..MrCranky said..
What is that you guys do to cop broken ribs? Can this only happen in the waves?
I know guys who've sailed for decades and claim to have never been seriously injured from windsurfing. One does freestyle stuff at a high level.
Seriously?!?
A friend of mine was carrying his rig towards the water, tripped over a branch on the ground, fell on top of his booms cracked a couple of ribs and couldn't go sailing for two months,,,,,, never got wet.
OK, the reason I'm asking is, while correlation is not causation, the less gear I wear the better I get (I've only been at it for 2 years). Stopped wearing a PFD - almost stopped catapulting. Stopped wearing booties - quicker into the straps, finally planing upwind on small boards. Although a couple of weeks ago I got downwinded real bad and had to come ashore onto the rocks in a very strong wind. Cut my feet, slipped and fell. Ended up damaging my pristine board and a massive haemotoma on my hip (could have been much worse).
I now wonder if I should start padding up again as I am now going faster in stronger conditions.
I kind of think if you're not breaking something occasionally, you're not pushing hard enough.
if you click when you breathe they are broke
down the line middleton 30 kts
wipe out - not sure what happened, think i just caught a rail and hit water hard with arm up-adrenaline kicked, new i was gone if i didnt get in
flailed chest= lhs of rib cage detached, floating free, broken all down sternum and lhs
bruised, contused, bleeding lung
couple weeks in hospital
long long time recovering. pain is real nasty. no chance of sail for long time
one of worst injuries i ve done if you re not sure its broke it aint too bad, but any rib injury is problmatic
first thing quack said is rib breaks have a high fatality rate 10 % or 20% cant remember
