Understanding Slipping Rib Syndrome
My girlfriend, who is 16 years old, has been dealing with slipping ribs for an extended period. Despite visiting numerous healthcare professionals, she has encountered a series of responses ranging from ineffective treatments to uncertainty about her condition, with some suggesting surgical intervention. Is there anyone out there who could offer practical advice? Today, she consulted a pediatric specialist, a Thoracic Surgeon, who indicated that surgery might be a possibility. However, he could not determine whether the issue lies with the right side of her ribs due to her experiencing pain in multiple areas. She has also seen several chiropractors, who have manipulated her ribs back into position, but they inevitably dislocate again over time. I'm at a loss for how else to provide support for her situation.
Answers (1)
7/28/2025, 9:50:43 PM
OpenHealth AI
I'm sorry to hear about your girlfriend's struggles with slipping rib syndrome; it can be a frustrating and painful condition. Here’s a concise overview and practical advice to help manage her situation.
Main Points:
- Understanding Slipping Rib Syndrome: Slipping rib syndrome occurs when the lower ribs become unstable and can move out of position, leading to pain. It's not uncommon, especially in younger individuals.
- Current Challenges: The variable responses from different healthcare providers and the consideration of surgical options highlight the complexity of her condition.
Explanation:
Slipping rib syndrome can cause pain in different areas due to nerve irritation or muscle spasms linked to the displacement of the ribs. It's essential to find a management strategy that minimizes her pain and maintains rib stability without resorting to surgery unless absolutely necessary.
Prioritized Next Steps:
- Pain Management: Consider over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help manage discomfort. Always follow the advised dosage according to her age and weight.
- Focus on Core Stability: Strengthening the core muscles can help provide support to the rib cage. Gentle exercises like pelvic tilts, bridges, and low-impact activities such as yoga or pilates can improve stability without putting undue stress on her ribs.
- Physical Therapy: If her pain persists, working with a physical therapist who specializes in rib dysfunction or chronic pain might be beneficial. They can offer targeted exercises and techniques to help stabilize her ribs.
- Avoiding Triggers: Identify and avoid activities that seem to exacerbate her pain, such as certain sports or movements that strain her ribcage. Keeping a log of her activities and pain levels can help pinpoint these triggers.
- Frequent Check-ins with a Specialist: Since her condition is complex, regular follow-ups with a pediatric specialist or a rheumatologist (to rule out any underlying issues) may be essential. Consider discussing alternative treatment options together, such as injections or other non-surgical interventions.
Support:
Continue to be supportive, as emotional and social support plays a significant role in managing chronic pain. Your involvement and understanding will help her feel less alone during this challenging time.
If more severe symptoms arise, like difficulty breathing or sharp, worsening pain, seek immediate medical attention. Please let me know if you have further questions or need elaboration on any point.
Related Questions
Inability to Sneeze: Potential Neural Communication Issues
Hello. I’m seeking assistance to comprehend my situation and explore possible remedies. I’m a 25-year-old male working as a software engineer and currently not taking any medications. For the last two years, I have experienced an inability to sneeze. This issue first arose following two significant incidents involving exposure to neurotoxic substances, which led to a variety of neurological symptoms. 1) **Vitamin B6 Toxicity**: Over a span of 4-6 weeks, I received seven intramuscular injections of a B-complex vitamin, each containing 100mg of Vitamin B6 in the pyridoxine form. Shortly after beginning these injections, my health rapidly declined, and numerous symptoms emerged. Research has identified pyridoxine as potentially neurotoxic, with recent documentaries and studies — particularly from the Australian community — raising awareness about this condition. In response, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has taken steps to restrict the sale of B6 supplements and to lower their permissible amounts. For more insight into the seriousness of this issue, you can find several informative short documentaries on the ABC News YouTube channel. 2) **Insecticide Exposure**: While undergoing the B6 treatment, I also encountered a concerning situation where I inhaled toxic insecticide fumes. Not realizing the danger due to nasal congestion from a minor illness, I sprayed a considerable amount of insecticide in my room. It was only after I started coughing that I realized I had been breathing in these harmful fumes. It occurred late at night when I was already feeling unwell, and I opted to go to sleep shortly afterward. Both incidents occurred in September to October of 2021, after which I began to experience an alarming array of around twenty symptoms affecting my sensory, motor, and autonomic nervous systems. I developed severe numbness and tingling in various parts of my body, involuntary muscle movements, ataxia, facial numbness accompanied by a loss of muscle volume in my face due to nerve damage, and symptoms that resembled diabetes such as excessive thirst and fatigue post-meals. Other issues included rapid heart rate, skin lesions, an inability to sweat, extreme muscle weakness, and significant psychological symptoms, including emotional numbness and anhedonia. Virtually every area involving nerves seemed to be impacted. Now, 18 months later, I’ve made considerable progress, with most of the symptoms easing, but I still struggle with the inability to sneeze. Recently, after experiencing a flu, I noticed that my body failed to sneeze about 90% of the time. I feel the urge to sneeze starting deep in my lungs, traveling to the tip of my nose, yet it rarely culminates in an actual sneeze. Instead, I feel pressure released in alternative ways, sometimes sensed as pressure in my head, and occasionally, I experience tears running from my eyes and nose when the sneezing sensation arises, yet no sneeze follows. Despite waiting a year and a half for recovery and seeing improvements in my larger nerves, these specific bodily functions remain unresolved. A recent electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction study (NCS) conducted two weeks ago returned normal results, which aligned with my awareness of the recovery in my larger nerves and muscles during this period. Through my research, I’ve discovered that the trigeminal and cranial nerves play a crucial role in initiating a sneeze, suggesting the presence of a signaling issue. I would greatly appreciate guidance on this matter.
Lower Lip Abscess in a Young Child
My four-year-old is dealing with a lower lip abscess. What began as a small crater on his lip last Sunday rapidly progressed to a pus-filled lesion by Monday night. By Wednesday evening, we managed to see a pediatrician who admitted him for intravenous antibiotic therapy. Since being hospitalized on Wednesday night, he has been receiving Sulvacil through an IV. A general surgeon evaluated him yesterday but chose not to perform an incision for drainage, stating that managing a lip wound would be quite challenging at his age. Currently, I'm feeling uncertain about the progress of his condition, as the abscess appears to still contain pus. It seems to swell and then reduce in size only to fill up again. Despite this, my child remains lively and has a good appetite, though he does experience discomfort when trying to chew. I’m left wondering if we are observing any tangible improvement, or if it might still be too soon to judge the situation?
Calf Muscle Spasms After Protests
Recently, I took part in a school protest that lasted around four hours. Afterward, on my way home, I experienced a leg cramp that lasted for about ten minutes. Initially, I brushed it off, thinking it was just muscle soreness, which I figured was a normal response. Fast forward to two days later, my calf muscle feels completely stiff, making it almost impossible for me to bend my leg properly. I can barely walk without having to stand on my toes. My calf seems unusually hot, quite hard, and has been twitching frequently. Should I be concerned, or is this something that could resolve on its own? I'm feeling anxious about it. Just for context, I'm a 17-year-old female, and I don't take any medications. I doubt hydration is an issue since I drink plenty of water. While I'm not the most athletic individual, I do walk around quite a bit in my city.
Persistent Vomiting and Confounding Endoscopy Findings
I'm struggling to articulate my situation adequately, but I'll share everything and hope not to overlook any details. I'm 16 years old, standing at 5 feet 7 inches tall, and weighing 140 pounds. My blood tests have returned normal results, although I do have slightly low vitamin D levels, and my stool samples have come back clear. My current medication regimen includes 30 mg of Vyvanse, 20 mg of propranolol taken twice daily, 300 mg of gabapentin at night and 150 mg in the morning, and I recently began taking 25 mg of amitriptyline a week ago. Since I was about four or five, I’ve experienced unusual digestive issues, such as diarrhea, stomach cramps, constipation, and acid reflux, with the most alarming symptom being unexplained vomiting. Daily abdominal cramps and constipation are common for me, and surprisingly, these symptoms don’t seem to be influenced by my diet or activities. Around the age of five, I started to vomit inexplicably, particularly during times of excitement like the Super Bowl, birthday celebrations, or, most notably, vacations. When I turned 12, my condition worsened significantly after contracting COVID-19. I started experiencing dry heaves or vomiting almost every morning, which led to frequent school absences, severe migraines concentrated mostly on the left side of my forehead, and worsening stomach troubles. Living in Washington, I consulted numerous specialists at Swedish, including both an allergist and a gastroenterologist. The allergist suspected mast cell disease and prescribed Cromolyn, which unfortunately did not provide any relief. The gastroenterologist suggested that I had an issue related to my "lizard brain" and advised me to “find a hobby.” I also visited a cardiologist due to low blood pressure, where I was diagnosed with neurocardiogenic syncope. Recently, I convinced my general practitioner to refer me to a children’s hospital, where I underwent an endoscopy. To my surprise, the procedure revealed food remnants in my stomach despite having fasted for over 11 hours beforehand. Both the anesthesiologist and gastroenterologist expressed some skepticism regarding my fasting claim. I'm reaching out in search of any recommendations or insights. This ongoing illness has reached a point of frustration for me, and I desperately want to uncover its cause. The gastroenterologist who performed the endoscopy mentioned a possible gut-brain disorder, but this diagnosis is still quite vague. I am preparing for my next consultation and would appreciate any feedback. We have suspect cyclic vomiting syndrome for a while, but now I’m starting to wonder about gastroparesis as well. Honestly, I feel like this situation may have turned me into somewhat of a hypochondriac.
Dealing with Esophageal Cramping and Heartburn while on Oral Minoxidil
Hello everyone. I’m a 37-year-old male who frequently experiences alopecia areata, particularly during stressful periods at work. Recently, my dermatologist recommended oral minoxidil in 2.5mg capsules to speed up my hair restoration process. Since I began this treatment, I’ve encountered several side effects, including elevated heart rate, dizziness, shortness of breath, heartburn, and esophageal cramps, albeit not all at once. Most of these issues have subsided, but the cramps and intermittent heartburn persist. I find the cramps tend to occur after meals, accompanied by a sensation as if I can feel the food moving through my esophagus; this uncomfortable feeling can linger for hours before fading, only to return with my next meal. The discomfort isn’t severe enough to incapacitate me, but it can be quite bothersome, with some days being better than others. Should I consider halting the medication, or should I wait until my next scheduled appointment to discuss this? I live in a rural area, making it difficult to find sooner availability, as the next appointment isn’t for another month. I appreciate any advice you might have!