my latest problem can anyone relate?

[mcclos10]

About 3 1/2 months ago I injured my left ribs.  They were badly dislocated.  I am 35 (for 2 more weeks) and weigh 125lbs.  My husband who weighs 240lbs fell on my rib cage full force. I was seen in ER and the followed up with my regular team of docs.  I have really bad bones from osteoporosis caused from years of hormone suppression to treat my female problems.  Anyway I have been sent from discipline to discipline in the medical community.  Everyone is passing the buck so to say because they don't know what to do or simply don't treat ribs.  The first hope from doctors was that over time my ribs would go back into place on their own but things never happen the way they "should" or do "in most cases" for me.  I am sure many of you with chronic issues can relate to that.  Anyway just one more cause of pain for me to add to my list.  Like any chronic pain it really wears on you after awhile.  I am happy with my doctors and the ones that treat me for everything else are managing the pain fairly well.  I really want answers though and to somehow get this problem resolved as I have enough other ones.

I had a bone scan done yesterday on my rib cage and my left arm for another reason.  In the mean time I just wondered if anyone in this community has ever had a rib injury.  If so did you have trouble healing and what was the process like for you.  I would appreciate any and all feedback.  This problem is really wearing on me.

[jmbirds]

Been there done that, I was standing on a chair and it collapsed and i smashed my ribs on the top of it , 160 lbs  at the time ended up with my gallbladder removed due to the nauseaus and i was dx with intercostal chrondritis which is a LONG time to heal its been 1 yr  2/ 2007  i popped motrin and finally decided i would go to my 2 chiros one is a homepathic type  energy work, reiki drop table technique etc this lasts for about 3 weeks  my other chiro uses an activator on my ribs i lay on my back and he starts on my collar bone and outlines my rib cage and i speak ITALIAN Momma mia !!! or I pray catholic HOLY MOTHER soo it keeps me from taking pills ,  so ask them if they will use an activator to adjust your ribs or  use the spring table technique  no twisting or popping although that helps for other areas  

[Tuckamore]

Sorry I missed your post till now. I am new to this site. I live in WI. Not all DO's do manipulations, most of the newer, younger ones still maintain that skill. I have been seeing a DO for 5 years. I would not function without her. She is 34 years old. I was one of her first patients when she joined the local medical clinic. Best of luck to you. And again, sorry I am late with this response.
Tuck

[mcclos10]

What state are you in and have you found a DO in recent times that still does manipulations?  I used to see DO's most of my life when I was younger but most of them stopped doing manipulations a few years back I am not sure why they stopped.  Are there still DO's that do them?  That would be great to find if there were even a possibility that someone would try to get them back in place I would really welcome it at this point I would just about try anything!!  Thanks for the feedback-

[Tuckamore]

DO's , Doctor of Osteopathy can and do manipulate ribs. They do not "snap or crack." I have found them to be extremely effective. I do not see Chiropractors because I have too many medical issues that could be made worse. I had five rib fx's (at once) but have not had a dislocation. I wish the the best. I undestand pain.
Tuck

[mcclos10]

Thanks for the input but those have already been tried to no avail.  Chiropractors can't touch dislocations legally from what they have told me in my area.  Thanks again.

[sandee1818]

1.Go see a physiologist...they can manipulate them back into place.  
2.Go see a chiropractor for manipulation.
Your doctor may suggest vitamin and mineral supplements to promote healing.

Hope this gives you some insight as to where to go next.

[Toomanyadvil]

Feel free to chat away! we are happy to get to know you:)

[mcclos10]

Thanks for the response and hopefully I will get more over the next couple of days from other memebrs as well.  I "speak" pretty loudly to my doctors because over the years I have learned the hard way that you have to.  I hope the bone scan will say more because where I stand now is not even having a timeline.  I have even said to my doctors if my Fibia for example looked and felt like this someone would definately be doing something about it.  They seem to understand (i think) but just don't have anything to say.  I have even tried a chiropractor  based on my doctors suggestion and they can't touch them (legally) either they did confirm that they were very badly displaced though.  Anyway sorry to carry on and thanks for responding!!

[Toomanyadvil]

Hi Mcclos

    CP can certainly wear you out physically and mentally. Even a moderate amount of pain over time becomes severe as our bodies wear out and arent ment to cope with pain on a daily basis.

   I'm sorry you keep getting the run around and no answers that are seeming to be accurate. I dont know too much about injuries to the ribs but I do know they can take a long time to heal because you cant completely isolate the area and stop using it. You have to use your ribs every time you breath and move.
I'm not a DR so could not say whether it is just taking this long to pop back into place or heal or if there is another problem that needs to be treated.
But do tell your DR's that it doesnt seem to be getting any better and your concerned about it. Keep telling them until you get the attention it desreves and until your satisfied with the answer. Maybe they can give you some sort of time line. Like these kinds of unjuries can take as long as "blank" amount of time. Or of it's not anybetter by "this amount of time" then we will look into what else may be happening.

I hope you can get the problem fixed and the pain goes away so it's one less thing you have to deal with.
I'm sure there will be others here who know more about injuries to the ribs.

TMA