few minor hiccups

Finally went back to training on Wednesday, and it was fine, aside from a few hiccups.  Ok, lots of hiccups.  It started towards the end of class, and I couldn't stop.  It was problematic on a number of levels, and by the time I got home and could relax, that spastic valve in my throat somewhere was getting really sore. 

It was still sore the next day, which can cause the hiccups to start again, so I took aggressive measures of prevention at the first sign of that.  A variety of tricks I know, because I've always been hiccup prone.  I've never gotten them during a martial arts class, which was particularly inopportune, and it's been years since I've gotten them at all.  I had to use every trick I know.  These were persistent.

So, upon googling it, I learn that it's not an uncommon effect of rib injury.  There's a nerve that runs right through base of the rib cage, which has the odd function of stimulating hiccups.  That must be torturous when you've got broken ribs.  I find myself wondering when this has ever been useful to our survival as a species.

I'm mostly recovered, but it must still be sensitive.