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Somatic Rib Dysfunction/Malalingment
Chronic Pain | Last Active: 6 days ago | Replies (15)Comment receiving replies
I had chronic costochondritis for decades. I had to be so careful with stretching, upper body exercise, sports, etc. to not cause a flair up. It’s soooo painful!
The only thing that ever made it better for me other than time was osteopathic manipulation — very hands on. That was the first time I’d been pain free in years and it lasted 2 years before the next flair up. A chiropractor with a very hands on technique might work, but the chiropractor I saw just did TENS, hot packs, neck cracking, etc. and I did not feel that worked at all. The osteopath also took away my two long years of whiplash pain that six months of chiropractic didn’t help. The osteopath fixed my whiplash in 10 visits and said it would have been 4 if I saw him when it first happened. He fixed my costochondritis in 4 visits. This was 36 years ago so maybe chiropractic techniques have changed.
I was 30 and so was my osteopath (my primary physician). He was still building his practice and said once an osteopath has a full practice they don’t have time to do osteopathic manipulation anymore. He was more expensive than chiropractor but priceless! It also helped that he had costochondritis in medical school so he could relate. I hope you find someone, maybe a young osteopath still building a practice? He told me costochondritis is not usually chronic. He only had it once due to stress. I have a rare nerve disorder that I believe is the trigger. My issues with it have greatly improved in the past 20 years but I’m 66 now — much less active and I’m careful with triggers. My heart goes out to you.
What were you doing when the pain started? If the ribs are loose, wouldn’t that show up on an xray? My bet is inflammation. Have you tried the 6 day prednisone or medrol pack to reduce inflammation? My doctor told me that would be overkill but nothing was too extreme for the pain I was in. He suggested NSAIDs to reduce inflammation but I’m allergic. I did try a single injection of cortisone once and that didn’t help.
Replies to "I had chronic costochondritis for decades. I had to be so careful with stretching, upper body..."
@californiazebra chiropractics have changed to some extent. Some still do neck cracks - really damaging-?some still do lumbar rolls. It is becoming easier to find those that know how to use their activator, rather than a very randomized approach, and also do acupuncture. The con artists still exist though as in most medical fields b
I have gotten an osteopath appt set up. Your story gives me hope. I have been rotting away in bed
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@californiazebra I am so thankful for your response. It makes me feel more hopeful.
I was smoking cigarettes and weed when it started. I would smoke and then it would hurt. I then quit smoking and the pain went away except when I would tap my ribs. I figured it would heal eventually and it didn't bug me day to day. However. a few years later I got a virus and all of a sudden the ribs started to hurt daily.
I have never tried prednisone or medrol. All I have used are tylenol, lidocaine, biofreeze, and muscle relaxers. I am given Nortriptyline daily and that did not help at all, and now that's yet another med I am on. I was just given tramadol due to my extreme flare I am going through. I ended up in the hospital last week from this. Today is my 2nd day taking Tramadol and it scares me especially because I already take a daily benzo. It feels like I am spiraling out of control.
I was referred to a chiropractor and it felt like he was useless despite him being highly respected and my amazing doctor could not recommend him enough. But he does the "activator" method which feels like it's not a fit for me. It doesn't go for my ribs, he just says my leg length is wrong and that my pelvis is misaligned.
However, I did just find someone who is a chiropractor and his website actually mentions helping with rib subluxation. I am hopeful but I have weeks to wait and cannot afford to take tramadol nightly for several weeks.
I take so many meds and I am only in my early 30s. It is scaring the shit out of me. I deal with many mental health disorders, gut disorders, pain, and breathing issues.
Anyways, I really relate to your story. I tried an injection, and it did nothing. Also issues with the chiropractor we share in common and just general frustration trying to figure this out.
Your story does give me hope though. I just hope I can find a proper osteopath through my insurance that knows what they're doing.
This feels so mysterious. My body always feels like it presents in weird ways doctors can't figure out!!!! I feel like this is something so small and random that itll take forever to figure out!!!!