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?

[maureen44]

Hi. I'm 44 and  I'm going thru the same thing you are with ribs popping out of place.  I go about twice monthly and it's always 2-5 ribs popped out of place.  I don't know what causes it either.  If you ever find out please post it so you can help MANY others.  I actually never hears of this phrase "popping out"  until about 6 months.  It seems like this is a new thing.  My chiro doesn't know what causes it, but she sure fixes it every time!  It has become a frustrating pain in the (you know what).

I hope there is a solution out there some day.  Keep your chin up!

[Xrayliss]

I have the same issue. My doctor is a D.O and has no trouble putting the rib back in (it's always one of the first 3ribs on the left) but who can run to the doctor constantly? I use a tennis ball or one of my kids play ball to lay on and hold the rib back in place. The pain goes away almost immediately and I can tell its in place. I follow with ice and more ice to reduce inflammation and help the rib stay. Ibuprofen also.

[jess4202]

i popped one of my ribs out a few days ago and my dad popped it back in but i have to go to school in a day and i need to make the pain stop can someone please tell me what i can do to staop the pain before monday morning. im 16 and in highschool

[apache_ben]

I have chronic rib problems as well. Luckily for me, my dad and two of my uncles are chiropractors, so fixes are usually right at hand. They use a technique where you sit against their knee on a bench, and as you clasp your hands behind your neck, they reach under your arms to hold your wrists and then with a metered pull, use the knee to set the rib. I am 38, in the military, very active and fit, so it is almost constantly popping out. As this is an extremely common problem, all three have had ribs "pop out" of socket. The only one to have beaten it semi-permanently does prolotherapy (http://www.getprolo.com/), rather expensive (3-400 per) injections shown to actually rebuild tendons and ligaments. My uncle had 5 shots totaling about $1800, and says it's the best money he ever spent. That is my next step.

[cat0422]

I am 19 years old and i play college volleyball, i dove for a ball and got pain in my side, it hurt to move, breath and i went to my trainer and he said that i popped a rib out and he popped back in but the next day it came out again, is there anything i can do to keep it from happening again???

[UTswmr]

I am a competitive swimmer and since last spring I have had problems with my ribs popping out of place. The first time it happened, it eventually caused the entire left side of my body to shift...my hips, collar bone, chest and ribs, all moved out of place on the left side of my body. My trainers gave me muscle relaxants and i rested for about 4 days and it didn't happen again for the rest of the summer. Now, my ribs started popping out again. I already saw a doctor to pop the lower ones back into place and have my trainer frequently pop the upper ones back into place. And once again, the whole left side of my body shifted. There are days when I absolutely cannot swim through the pain and there are other days that are a little more bearable.

I don't know what to do to keep this from coming back. I can't be out of the water too long because our meets start this week. I need some advice on what to do because my trainers and doctors have no idea. Please help