Shot to the ribs... Just don't cough or sneeze.

[Billekrub]

Still have a scar from three broken ribs, blood in lung, black and blue entire side.  Raised arms took the brunt instead of the head.  Tail of the light carbon board was crushed.  Learned to avoid the board better.  Two months off the water, no airplane flights, no running downhill, lots of inhale drills using inspirometer--did pretty well considering.  Now use an impact vest, which has offered protection from windsurf boom, kite catapults on sand, etc., and a nerdy helmet.  And helmet has even prevented stitches while windsurfing and paddling.

[coldsup]

One of the benefits of surfing in cold water is my usual 6mm wettie....bit of protection there built in....and when it gets really cold or wee bit bigger out comes the impact vest....toasty and little bit of float too.

[surfshaver]

Tall Dude, I feel your pain.  A few years ago I was sup surfing The Ranch (Lucky, I know..) -- powerful overhead reefbreak and howling winds.  I went for a closeout section off the lip on a thick one, and a gust of wind caught my board as it went over the back of the wave, flipped it into my side, and the crashing lip pounded the rail of the board into my side as I went down over the falls.

It was so painful I almost vomited, and had to crawl out of the water.  At the hospital the diagnosis was three badly bruised/hairline fractured ribs.  Getting in and out of bed was almost impossible for the first couple weeks, and sneezing or coughing unleashed staggering amounts of pain.  It was several weekds before the pain was manageable, and 3-4 months before I felt even close to normal.

You are living in a nightmare right now, I know but it will end!  All the best, and stick to NSAIDs!

[StandinDan]

I picked up a lightweight life jacket at Big 5 for $35.  Since I started foiling I figured I needed all the protection I could get as it will protect my ribs, chest and back. It works great, does not interfere with paddling, and doesn't look too kooked out although I could care less about that at 53 years old.  Added bennie, I got caught in a big multi wave hold down that would have gassed me if I didn't have the vest on.  As it was, I just kept bobbing up like a big cork, not a problem.  I might cheat and wear the thing all the time on bigger days even when I ditch the foil for my standard sup.