How to cure Cervical Rib problems

Hi,

I am Angelin. My age is 23. I have a cervical rib. Due to that i am getting neck,shoulder and hand pain for past two years. I consulted an orthopedic surgeon, he thought me some exercises to strengthen the muscles. I am doing that for two years, But still my pain is not reduced.I am getting this pain often. I am working in Software industry. All the time i need to use system, because of this pain i am not able to work. Is there any permanent solution for this problem? I also have another question I am sneezing badly daily. Even if i take tablets also i getting this problem. Is this related to the Cervical rib? Because this happens only in these two years before that i was good.

Please give me suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

Angelin.

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

I would want to convey to you that subclavian artery and brachial plexus are two important structures which get entrapped between your cervical rib and your scalene muscle in your neck region. Brachial plexus is the cervical plexus of nerves (C5, C6, C7 etc) which forms on either side to supply your hands and hence most of the symptoms. They are referred to as Thoracic outlet syndrome.

I would suggest you to follow up with an expert physiotherapist for proper exercises. Treatment begins with physical therapy and neck stretching exercises and also abdominal breathing, posture correction, and nerve glides, carried out on a daily basis. Gentle, slow movements and exercises are stressed as the primary treatment. Non surgical forms of treatment should always be tried first. Surgery is the last option and to take pressure off the nerves to the arm the surgeon removes the muscles that surround the nerves (scalene muscles), by removing the first rib, or by doing both (removing muscles and first rib).

Discuss all modalities with an orthopedician.

Take care!

[meave]

hi my name is tiffany (26) and i just found out that i have cervical ribs not one but two one on the left and one on the right the right bigger. and most my pain has been in the last year. but my whole life i felt i had more aches that any normal kid. its all new to me but glad to finelly feel like im not crazy with all this pain everywhere. anything anyone knows about it will help! thanks

[kemi3]

Hello,  I'm thirty one and I found out that I had a cervical rib in 2001, not knowing what having the extra bone meant, I went on with life.  Periodically I would experience neck pain but never linked the two.  In 2004 I was in a head on collision and had some serious injuries.  When i got a nerve test that the orthopedic ordered, it was determined that i had pinched nerves on the left side of my neck and carpel tunnel in my left wrist.  currently I am a cosmetologist which causes me to have my arms elevated, and at my other job I'm using the computer all day.  For the last 5 months I have been experiencing the worse pains ever in my neck. When I press on that side of my neck the pain runs all the way to my finger tips.  What should I do?  because Lyrica, pain pills, and therapy didn't cut it.  I just want it out.