Popped rib

[kellystuff164]

In August, I didn't realise it, but I popped a rib, which the doctor and physio failed to diagnose. After 7 weeks I went to a chiropractor who found it and put it back into place. Since then it has 'popped ' out again 16 times with ever increasing frequency. I am now averaging every 3 days.... I have to go to the chiropractor every time to have it put back again. I am getting increasingly depressed, broke! and in constant pain. Is there any surgery that can be done to hold the rib in place?

[drose64]

I have ribs that pop out occasionally both in the front and back. I saw advice in a comment to not use a rib brace or support because of possible ill effects. I'm glad I didn't see that comment before I went and bought a wrap around back support last week because it is the best thing I have ever found to help once the rib is back in place to keep it back in while the ligaments are healing and prevent from re-occurence. It's ike an elastic corset with velcro that wraps around and comes together in the front. It sits above my abdomen, but is longer than most rib braces I've seen pictures of. It also has additional elasticized velcro adjusters that can make the support even tighter. I tried about five different supports on in the medical supply store and they were all too weak in the support they offered, and said "mild support" on the box. Only when I found medium support with the extra adjustment straps did I find something I felt would prevent my rib from popping out when I got up from the bed or sofa, bent over etc. I wore it for two days straight, and it felt amazingly good--you can breathe easily because it's made of firm elastic. And I'm surprised it wasn't hot as I was expecting--it's summer in Texas. After my husband popped my ribs back in for the umpteenth time, I carefully put it on, and wore it, and then the third day wore if for half a day, and so far, a week later my rib hasn't come out again. It was coming out every day, multiple times per day before that. Hope that helps. By the way, I think the type of rib belt that there might be warnings about could be the old style rib belts that were not made of elastic, just regular fabric and were very restrictive.

[SiennaSydney]

Did you ever get this resolved? I'm dealing with this now.

[DaleRC]

Ben,

I loved your analogy concerning let an injury like this rest and 'reglue'.  I feel this is very good advice.  I just dislocated my right floating rib 5 days ago.  I didn't know this had happened.  I thought it was pulling my lower lat and intercostal.  It was a strange pain I had never had in decades of lifting weights.  It was not the weight lifting that caused it.  It was breaking up soil in the vegetable garden, which I hadn't done in a number years.  The impact with the shovel caused it.

I went and had a massage yesterday and it felt better.  This morning while Foam Rolling my back I was letting the force of foam rolling sit on the spot for 20 seconds there was a huge pop.  That is when the light came on in my head.

I am icing it, it now really hurts.  I am also wearing an large ACE bandage around my lower chest area to prevent it from popping out of place again.  It also lowers the pain when moving during regular activities of daily living.

Thanks to all for your experiences.

[DaleRC]

Hi,

All I can say is Amen to your post. :)

[BadB_rad]

Damn BJJ, popped my rib out for the 3rd time now. Trying to get ready for a tournament in Feb too. Totally jones'n to roll.....This *****!

[Rx8]

Hey everyone

I've had ribs popping out time and time again and the only thing that has helped me is swimming. Not long at the start 10 laps in a 25m pool I started with. I would do 2 laps the rest 30 sec. I found breaststroke to be the best and swimming got the muscles moving and exercising. It also helped with the pain. I got up to 50 laps, then decided to go back to martial arts and what do I do, I popped  3 ribs out and had to start again.

Resting I found didn't help me at all.

Good luck