Pain Management Community

Your first mistake is going to a chiropractor. Ask your doctor for a referral to a specialist. Maybe an orthopedic surgeon. Chiropractors are not medical doctors and often do more harm than good. All he is going to do is take your money forever while doing nothing for you.

I agree with Swank. NO on CHIROPRACTORS!!! They can do more damage.

Lori

I've said it too many times on this board and everybody, including myself, are probably getting tired of hearing it, but NO CHIROPRACTORS!

I had one break my neck!

I was lucky that it was just two cracked vertebrae in my cervical spine and it healed. It was noticed on an MRI about a year later. But I'd walk out of his office every week with a stinger(I thought!) and he always just said "You'll feel a lot of things before you are straightened out." His partner who worked on me one week told me I should never feel worse when I leave than when I come in so I just stopped it. Straightened out?

Well, that was the problem. My neck was/is fused (by itself) and there is no curvature at all.

They take two X-rays, which tell them almost nothing, and start cracking. Is twelve hours worth the money? I never advise surgery. But I'd try pain management and see if that's good enough, and if it's not, then maybe think about having the rib removed.

Good Luck!

Rick

Dear Sonya,

I realize it's been 4 years since you posted this question, and I am very curious to know if you've received any physical relief or found a treatment/cure for your rib pain since then.

I am suffering from symptoms that are very similar to (if not the same as) the ones you described here, and I am desperate for help. In fact, I am actually in anguish as I type this because I injured/dislocated my rib about an hour ago. This happens on a regular basis, and the simplest thing triggers it. (In this particular instance, all I did was bend over to pick up a cat toy. Ridiculous!)

At any rate, please respond if you see this message. Thanks so much!

God bless,

Jeremy

I also am in misery from this. Mine isn't only one rib, though, it's almost all of them. I started working as a food runner at a local restaurant and noticed it became difficult to breath after around a week or so. My doctor told me it was from lifting the trays at work (we are required to carry them at shoulder level). He touched where my ribs should be connected to my spine and I screamed. When he had me bend my upper body towards m feet he handed me a mirror and it seriously looks like I have three spines! He popped them back in place it said I should be good. But, nooooo, I went into work that night and they popped out with the first tray I lifted. He told me to see a chiropractor but the chiropractor's wants me to go every day for almost 3 weeks. I have an 18 month old and a job, as well as my regular appointments..... no way am I adding every day for 3 weeks, It's been three months now since mine popped. I am in a constant aching state. I can't even pick up my daughter without tears starting. All I can think is I'm only twenty and my ribs are going in and out, I have an extra vertebra, horrible circles under my eyes, my knees start aching after only 15 minutes of standing, and i'm already graying >.< The worst to me is the ribs though. They affect EVERY aspect of my life from my boyfriends and my relationship, to mine and my baby girl's play time, to driving because sitting hurts my back too, to my job because it slows me down,ESPECIALLY since it's hard to run up and down stairs with 20 lbs. of food weighing on you when you can't get a decent breath because your lungs are being compressed.

Hi,
It's very important you try and find an answer to get some relief. You are very young and if you can't get this under control aging will make it much worse.

Try going to a bone specialist and also to get some time off from liftling at the job. Hopefully with a doctors note, your boss may let you change your job with someone else working there, at least for 2-3 weeks.

Also see if the bone doctor will recommend you to a pain management doctor.

Try to find out if any kind of tight fitting wrap, you can wear under your clothes, may help you. But you definitely need a specialist.

I have lived with chronic pain for 10 years, so I know how you feel. That old saying is so true "without your health you have nothing". As the pain goes on year after year with no relief, you start to have nothing in your life that brings you joy or that you look forward to. It's not a way to live. I still have a couple of things to try. I may try hypnotism and I would like to try marijuana. But I have tried everything else and every kind of pain med.

keep looking for an answer and let me know how you are doing. God bless.

Hi Anon_250962,

I am only repeating what others have said: NO chiropractor!

Your problem will not be resolved and may be worsened. Additionally, you'll have spent un_Godly amounts of money on quackery.

Please, please, please get to see an orthopedist! If you require a referral, the MD who "popped them into place" and referred yo to a charlatan should be willing to refer you to a real MD- an orthopedic surgeon.

You're far-too young for this horror show.

Please stay in touch with us, ok?

CTB

I recently found that I had one hip that was 2 inches higher than the other due to my pelvis being twisted (pelvic shear) from a past fall in which I landed very hard on one knee. I just thought I had a twisted knee and a big scrap (wounded ego was the worst!). My back began hurting and my spine burned from my neck to my tail bone. After seeing my pain mgmt doc and tests, she sent me to Dr. William Welches, Cleveland Clinic. He's an Osteopathic Doctor. HE IS NOT A CHIROPRACTOR NOR A MASSEUSE. He told me that most Osteopathic docs get insulted if you ask if they are like a Chiropractor or a Masseuse.
Anyway, saw him once a week for 8 weeks and I am fixed of my problems that I went to see him for. My bones are in their proper places. He's now working with me on my migraines to see if he can help. He was able to rid me of a migraine completely - to my shock, surprise, amazement & joy - but it was short lived - only 20 minutes. He surmises that there may be a vessel which is kinked or not allowing blood to flow properly to the right side of my head/neck. When he worked it, it initially worsened, but suddenly was gone. I felt heat/warmth into my face, head and ear. Nothing, not infusions, not imitrex, not shots, have ever made the headache and the nausea (and the other associated migraine effects) go away that immediately. I was just shocked. I hugged him and asked if he could live at my husband and my house. After 40 years of migraines, I might actually have hope that they can be made to go away.

MY POINT TO YOU -- GO SEE AN OSTEOPATHIC DOCTOR. They really do wonders.