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Surgery needed for chronic rib pain?
joest23 posted:
I'm posting this on behalf of my girlfriend. I'm not sure how many actual doctors are on here, but I appreciate answers from any that are!
A few years ago she was involved in an accident that broke/fractured a few of her ribs on both sides. Ever since then she's been having chronic pain in her ribs — a sharp, shooting pain that sometimes causes her to lose her breath for a few moments to a few minutes.
Her doctor has recommended both a breast reduction surgery (She's 5'1'' with 36 D's and they want to go to a low C at the largest?) and some sort of "cleaning" of her ribs (as she describes it). The reason I'm asking this question is because she's fairly submissive and agrees with doctors, but she doesn't seem to trust her doctor or believe in this surgery.
Other than the obvious emotional issue of a woman 'having' to reduce the size of her breasts without really wanting to, she doesn't seem to believe it'll work 100%, and being a non-reversible surgery it's something that worries me.
I'm wondering if this makes any sense to doctors out there? I've heard that rib pain takes the longest to heal and is usually plagued by complications in the healing, which makes me think the whole reduction surgery isn't needed. I mean, I'm perfectly content with 36 D's but they're not exactly the size that comes to my mind when I think of "those are so big she must have back problems" big. Also, I've been thinking a mix of healing ribs with a possibly improper fitting bra could be causing that pain?
I just want to make sure she's making a choice she won't regret. I've also been thinking of getting her to book an appointment with a chiropractor or physical therapist before her booked surgery happens just to see if a non-surgical method could offer any help?
Thanks for any help you can offer!
A few years ago she was involved in an accident that broke/fractured a few of her ribs on both sides. Ever since then she's been having chronic pain in her ribs — a sharp, shooting pain that sometimes causes her to lose her breath for a few moments to a few minutes.
Her doctor has recommended both a breast reduction surgery (She's 5'1'' with 36 D's and they want to go to a low C at the largest?) and some sort of "cleaning" of her ribs (as she describes it). The reason I'm asking this question is because she's fairly submissive and agrees with doctors, but she doesn't seem to trust her doctor or believe in this surgery.
Other than the obvious emotional issue of a woman 'having' to reduce the size of her breasts without really wanting to, she doesn't seem to believe it'll work 100%, and being a non-reversible surgery it's something that worries me.
I'm wondering if this makes any sense to doctors out there? I've heard that rib pain takes the longest to heal and is usually plagued by complications in the healing, which makes me think the whole reduction surgery isn't needed. I mean, I'm perfectly content with 36 D's but they're not exactly the size that comes to my mind when I think of "those are so big she must have back problems" big. Also, I've been thinking a mix of healing ribs with a possibly improper fitting bra could be causing that pain?
I just want to make sure she's making a choice she won't regret. I've also been thinking of getting her to book an appointment with a chiropractor or physical therapist before her booked surgery happens just to see if a non-surgical method could offer any help?
Thanks for any help you can offer!
2 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Surgery needed for chronic rib pain?I'm posting this on behalf of my girlfriend. I'm not sure how many actual doctors are on here, but I appreciate answers from any that are!<br /><br />A few years ago she was involved in an accident that broke/fractured a few of her ribs on both sides. Ever since then she's been having chronic pain in her ribs — a sharp, shooting pain that sometimes causes her to lose her breath for a few moments to a few minutes. <br /><br />Her doctor has recommended both a breast reduction surgery (She's 5'1'' with 36 D's and they want to go to a low C at the largest?) and some sort of "cleaning" of her ribs (as she describes it). The reason I'm asking this question is because she's fairly submissive and agrees with doctors, but she doesn't seem to trust her doctor or believe in this surgery.<br /><br />Other than the obvious emotional issue of a woman 'having' to reduce the size of her breasts without really wanting to, she doesn't seem to believe it'll work 100%, and being a non-reversible surgery it's something that worries me.<br /><br />I'm wondering if this makes any sense to doctors out there? I've heard that rib pain takes the longest to heal and is usually plagued by complications in the healing, which makes me think the whole reduction surgery isn't needed. I mean, I'm perfectly content with 36 D's but they're not exactly the size that comes to my mind when I think of "those are so big she must have back problems" big. Also, I've been thinking a mix of healing ribs with a possibly improper fitting bra could be causing that pain?<br /><br />I just want to make sure she's making a choice she won't regret. I've also been thinking of getting her to book an appointment with a chiropractor or physical therapist before her booked surgery happens just to see if a non-surgical method could offer any help?<br /><br />Thanks for any help you can offer!
annette030 responded:
I had breast reduction surgery about 18 months ago, for pain reduction reasons. I am 61 years old, I wish I had done it years ago. My back, chest, shoulder pain is gone completely.
I agree with you that surgery should always be the last option as it is the most invasive.
Please remember that your opinion is not the point of this discussion. She has to decide, and there is no guarantee that this is the best choice. She should see several plastic surgeons for consults and then really think about it. In the end she must decide.
If her accident happened "a few years ago", any healing should have been complete by now.
Her expectations are very important in how she does with this kind of surgery. All I wanted was a reduction in pain, and I ended up with so much more. I have chronic pain in other areas of my body, but now I have pretty breasts too.
You don't mention her age by the way, or if she has kids or wants to breastfeed babies in the future. There are many things to consider, although surgical techniques have improved over the years.
Take care, Annette
I agree with you that surgery should always be the last option as it is the most invasive.
Please remember that your opinion is not the point of this discussion. She has to decide, and there is no guarantee that this is the best choice. She should see several plastic surgeons for consults and then really think about it. In the end she must decide.
If her accident happened "a few years ago", any healing should have been complete by now.
Her expectations are very important in how she does with this kind of surgery. All I wanted was a reduction in pain, and I ended up with so much more. I have chronic pain in other areas of my body, but now I have pretty breasts too.
You don't mention her age by the way, or if she has kids or wants to breastfeed babies in the future. There are many things to consider, although surgical techniques have improved over the years.
Take care, Annette
Report This| Share this:Surgery needed for chronic rib pain?I had breast reduction surgery about 18 months ago, for pain reduction reasons. I am 61 years old, I wish I had done it years ago. My back, chest, shoulder pain is gone completely.<br /><br />I agree with you that surgery should always be the last option as it is the most invasive.<br /><br />Please remember that your opinion is not the point of this discussion. She has to decide, and there is no guarantee that this is the best choice. She should see several plastic surgeons for consults and then really think about it. In the end she must decide.<br /><br />If her accident happened "a few years ago", any healing should have been complete by now.<br /><br />Her expectations are very important in how she does with this kind of surgery. All I wanted was a reduction in pain, and I ended up with so much more. I have chronic pain in other areas of my body, but now I have pretty breasts too. <br /><br />You don't mention her age by the way, or if she has kids or wants to breastfeed babies in the future. There are many things to consider, although surgical techniques have improved over the years.<br /><br />Take care, Annette
Peter Abaci, MD responded:
While I have seen patients over the years choose to have breast reduction surgery to help alleviate back surgery, your friend's situation sounds a bit different. Continued pain around the ribs due to past injury seems to be a very different set of circumstances.
I am not an advocate of patients in pain having surgeries with the hope that the pain will be relieved if there is not a clear indication for what is being done. I think it is reasonable for your friend to get a clear explanation from her doctor as to why the surgery is being recommended and what is the recommendation based on. For example, are there studies published to support breast reduction surgery for these particular circumstances?
I agree with you that this needs to be discussed further and to also consider non-surgical options.
I am not an advocate of patients in pain having surgeries with the hope that the pain will be relieved if there is not a clear indication for what is being done. I think it is reasonable for your friend to get a clear explanation from her doctor as to why the surgery is being recommended and what is the recommendation based on. For example, are there studies published to support breast reduction surgery for these particular circumstances?
I agree with you that this needs to be discussed further and to also consider non-surgical options.
Report This| Share this:Surgery needed for chronic rib pain?While I have seen patients over the years choose to have breast reduction surgery to help alleviate back surgery, your friend's situation sounds a bit different. Continued pain around the ribs due to past injury seems to be a very different set of circumstances. <br /><br />I am not an advocate of patients in pain having surgeries with the hope that the pain will be relieved if there is not a clear indication for what is being done. I think it is reasonable for your friend to get a clear explanation from her doctor as to why the surgery is being recommended and what is the recommendation based on. For example, are there studies published to support breast reduction surgery for these particular circumstances? <br /><br />I agree with you that this needs to be discussed further and to also consider non-surgical options.
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