Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I am wondering if there are any guys here who bind to the extreme actually ended up damaging their body in any way?  If so, which areas got injured and what tests did you need to have done to determine it? 

Nothing permanent, but I've bruised ribs a couple of times actually. I know what bruising feels like and I went  to the hospital and ended up having to do only sports bras for a little while. It was from binding too long in situations where I couldn't take off my binder, and from exercising in a binder stupidly once.

I know my binding was getting bad when I had trouble breathing even ten minutes after putting it on. But thankfully I have a good quality one, so I haven't had problems since.

I'm not entirely sure how, but I did break a lower rib binding once.

I bruised some ribs a couple years ago. I also got an upper respiratory infection at the same time, most likely because I was wearing my binder too tight and too long. What happened was that I had gained a lot of weight and the binder I was wearing was too small for my increased girth. I stayed indoors for a couple days to heal and took antibiotics for the infection. I didn't completely heal, but it was enough where putting the binder on didn't hurt like hell and I could breathe. Afterwards I finally caved and bought a bigger binder so that didn't happen again. Then I decided to lose weight so I didn't slowly kill myself by either obesity related problems or binder related problems.

So yeah, don't wear a binder that's too small and make sure the ones you have still fit.

After binding for years i finally got my first injury last week and i'm still unable to bind  from it for the moment but i had something called Peri- ductal Mastitis, its really painful!!

Sorry I missed this post. It sucks that you guys also injured yourselves. At the moment I am still trying to find what the problem is with my ongoing pain but x-ray and ultrasound came normal.  I was told it could be musculoskeletal as well and I am just wondering how I can have my pain healed so it doesn't happen again. AlexW ; how did you know that your rib was broken? It's hard to explain the pain in words but I am just wondering what mine is. Campenella, I am also curious about your bruising; could you please elaborate the feeling?

Makipu: I didn't at first. I was sore and my side was sort of puffy so my mom made me go to the doctor. He felt my ribs and told me that I'd broken or cracked at least one, but he wasn't going to try to bandage it and to take some advil if it hurt. He also said not to lean to either side too much and that it would probably heal fine.

I fractured 5 ribs. I have this problem where I don't notice something is painful until I can't move or something else dramatic. They didn't bother to xray me because greenstick fractures on ribs are generally really hard to see. Here's what happened: My whole core hurt. I was constantly at a 4 out of 10 pain-wise, but unfortunately that's a level of pain I often don't notice. I didn't go to the doctor until one day when I was trying to figure out what was causing my pain by palpating my muscles firmly. Well, I pressed very hard directly on a fracture.  I found 5 spots just like that scattered across my torso. I had been complaining of discomfort around my ribs for about a month, so that's how much of an idiot I am. The doctor told me no binding for 3 months, no sports bras or anything unless absolutely necessary for at least 2 weeks. No heavy lifting for a month. She gave me a script for Naprosyn (500 mg), which I took twice a day for the swelling (which I also didn't notice until it was gone...oops). She also gave me a few vicodin, which I took mostly during the first 3 days during the day. The rest I used at night so that I could sleep. My right side was worse. I ended up sleeping by kind of hugging a pillow on that side. It helped me not roll over and kept my arm from putting pressure on my ribs. If they don't see anything but you're hurting, you probably have bruises or fractures. I also get cramps in my intercostal muscles (the ones between my ribs) sometimes, particularly around the fractures, so you might also have that. Aleve is the over-the-counter format of naprosyn. That drug is great for swelling and is also used as a muscle relaxer, which it does okay.

MrSeahorse: Wow that sucks. Mine didn't really hurt, that I remember. It's healed a bit wonky, and it's uncomfortable to lean to the right now, because my flesh sort of rolls/folds weirdly. As you can see, the right ribs 'end' higher than the left side. I usually sit/stand leaning a bit left to avoid the weird sensation.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx28%2Flizzy171002%2FMIE-HP%2FPictures%2FLifeCam%2520Files%2Fd69de1e4-11bf-44d2-a57a-7b00a4987001_zpsckwecu0b.jpg&hash=fdec5ac6aeb6246ba923d00bb1a353e599917d44)

I already had mild scoliosis, but binding for 2+ years caused some pretty bad back pain to the point where I could no longer sleep at night. A chiropractor told me I had bent my spine even more out of shape, causing my sacrum to be uneven. I got better over time from working with the chiro, but was in pretty uncomfortable pain for a week or two, and the pain during that time was super unsettling because I could literally feel my bones shifting in and out of place.

i've never had any issues... probably because i use a binder that zips. when i'm in the car i unzip it, or in a restroom if i need a break. at home i just go without :)

nothing really extreme, i don't really know if i've ever bruised or broken my ribs or something like that - but i used to bind with ace bandages, and they made my ribs and shoulderblades hurt like a mother->-bleeped-<-er (i got a proper binder the day before yesterday, but they still hurt like hell so i'm laying off binding untill sunday)
they hurt a lot tho', so if the pain doesn't go away soon, i'll probably visit my doctor and make them do some sort of wicked magic trick to make the pain go away

I know what you mean with ace bandages. That's what I used for years before buying an actual binder and the pain was so horrible that even my upper arms were consumed with the pain.  I say for all the damage we took, this is a legitimate reason and an obvious proof that insurances should cover top surgery by considering that it is in fact "medically necessary".

Quote from: mooncab on January 23, 2015, 10:04:38 PM
I already had mild scoliosis, but binding for 2+ years caused some pretty bad back pain to the point where I could no longer sleep at night. A chiropractor told me I had bent my spine even more out of shape, causing my sacrum to be uneven. I got better over time from working with the chiro, but was in pretty uncomfortable pain for a week or two, and the pain during that time was super unsettling because I could literally feel my bones shifting in and out of place.

congrats on top surgery bro :)

I've had a few issues depending on the binder, but nothing too serious. I think the worst was when I almost passed out because it was too tight. That was back when I was using Ace bandages though. I do have some trouble with bruising around my right shoulder (close to the neck) and under my right arm both because of the pressure it puts on my skin.
I've also gotten cuts from the velcro binders. I like those kinds since it's easier to control the tightness, but the manufacturers always put the sharp and scratchy side on top so if I don't get it on exactly right it touches my skin and hurts me a little.

I've used double front compression shirts for over 7 years because I can't afford top surgery. I have back and neck pain to a certain extent, but have never broken ribs or messed up my organs, and I use a size smaller than recomended for my build. Never use ace bandage again! It is far too dangerous, and you'll be willing to wait for top surgery vrs. dealing with the health problems long term. Invest in 2 binders for 60$ and it will probably last you 6 months to a year

Haven't broken or cracked anything, or had a respiratory infection but I did get cut pretty badly by a binder. It was a brand new Underworks, which requires some time to break in and I knew that but my job wouldn't let me go home. As a result, for hours I was in extreme pain because it had cut into my under arm skin badly enough to leave a scar. I really hope I can get surgery before I have to buy another godforsaken binder.

My ribs and back are always some level of sore, I hope there's no permanent damage.

Palexander, are you referring to the binders from T-Kingdom?I was considering their binders but I don't know if I want to spend that much if the size/fit isn't ideal. 
  I basically damaged almost my entire torso as well as my leg because of binding.

Quote from: makipu on February 05, 2015, 11:31:14 AM
Palexander, are you referring to the binders from T-Kingdom?I was considering their binders but I don't know if I want to spend that much if the size/fit isn't ideal. 
  I basically damaged almost my entire torso as well as my leg because of binding.

that i am! i hated underworks tritops. i've only ever used the zip one... i'm a d/dd (40-42") and i wear a large. it works really well! they last around half of a year; maybe less or more.

they're very easy on your ribs and back. i always unzip it in the car and if i go to the restroom, so it's very comfortable. sometimes i forget i'm wearing it.

Lots of bruising and scarring(mainly around shoulders, underarm and hip area) but nothing else too substantial.

If I can't have top surgery on time I am thinking of purchasing from T-Kingdom. Do they also maintain a flat chest look just as they are comfortable?

Quote from: makipu on February 09, 2015, 09:10:01 AM
If I can't have top surgery on time I am thinking of purchasing from T-Kingdom. Do they also maintain a flat chest look just as they are comfortable?

yes. it doesn't look abnormally flat, so there is a little that shows, but if you get the right size it works great.

I personally think that the zip one looks very cool but is it the best one they have? In the comparison chart it shows that one also has the highest level of binding effect so maybe I will go with that. I never wore anything mid length before.
By the way, when you don't bind (at home) do you have no troubles mentally?

Quote from: makipu on February 09, 2015, 03:34:49 PM
I personally think that the zip one looks very cool but is it the best one they have? In the comparison chart it shows that one also has the highest level of binding effect so maybe I will go with that. I never wore anything mid length before.
By the way, when you don't bind (at home) do you have no troubles mentally?

i do not. i always go without a binder, unless people are over. my chest doesn't really bother me around immediate family (mom, sister) but beyond that it does.

Quote from: makipu on February 09, 2015, 09:10:01 AM
If I can't have top surgery on time I am thinking of purchasing from T-Kingdom. Do they also maintain a flat chest look just as they are comfortable?

I wore nothing but T-Kingdom binders. I had a few Velcro ones, a zip one and a standard over the shoulder one. They were pretty comfortable for me. They do flatten well, though I had the best luck with the Velcro ones due to my rib cage shape. If you are heavy in the chest they may not work as well, but I was maybe a b-c cup and I had no problems.