Arguably one of the most excruciating pains you may ever feel is that of a rib out of place. It hurts to breathe, much less move. But you use your torso, and therefore the muscles connected to that area, to sit, stand, and lay down! What’s a person to do to fix a dislocated rib?
The answer is to head over to an expert chiropractor, like those of us at phyxMe Physical Therapy & Chiropractic. Chiropractic treatment as a safe, effective way to help you get back to breathing and moving normally fast.
Sometimes, a dislocated rib can have the same symptoms as heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux. If you’re not sure if you have a dislocated rib or need to watch what you eat better and see your family physician, this information may help you decide.
Causes and Signs of a Dislocated Rib
You might be surprised at how easy it is to put a rib out of place without severe trauma to your body. Rib dislocations are frequently caused by actions like:
- Too much coughing or vomiting – If you’ve recently had a bout of pneumonia, bronchitis, or pleuritis, and are now feeling severe rib pain, it’s possible you’ve put a rib out of place. These conditions, and anything that results in significant coughing or vomiting, are often associated with dislocated ribs.
- Physical injuries – Trauma to the body as a result of a physical injury can cause a dislocated rib. This is especially common in sports-related injuries and car accidents.
- Slouching – Yes, your poor posture can be bad for more than your manners! Chronic bad posture puts a stress on the back of your ribcage. Eventually, the rib may not be able to compensate any longer and dislocates from its home.
- Pregnancy – As your baby grows in your body, all your organs shift around to adjust. Part of that shifting causes your ribs to push and pull, which can result in dislocation.
The signs of a dislocated rib can vary depending on the reason for the problem, so it’s not always easy to pinpoint an out of place bone as the cause of your pain. However, if any of those actions apply to you, these symptoms might mean a visit to the chiropractor should be in your future for a potential displaced rib treatment:
- It hurts in your torso or back when you sneeze or cough, sometimes causing extreme pain
- You have severe pain when you’re breathing and/or find it difficult to take a breath
- There is pain in your chest or back area for no apparent reason
- You notice that your torso area has bruising, either visibly or to the touch, or is swollen
- You have an unusual lump over the rib area
- The surrounding ribs around the lump are numb
Any of these signs may indicated an out of place rib. Before you head to the emergency room, read these benefits to see if chiropractic and physical therapy should be your next option.
Treating Dislocated Ribs Through Chiropractic Care
Your ribcage serves a variety of important functions. The structure of the bones is set up to protect your crucial organs, like your heart and lungs. But although it’s made out of rigid bones, the ribcage itself is flexible.
As you inhale and exhale, your lungs expand and retract. By design, the surrounding cage must be able to handle those movements.
To do this, each rib is attached to the spine and the breastbone in a way that allows minor flexing to prevent limiting your breathing. They are attached to joints that move every time you breathe, and these joints can become inflamed from trauma and overuse.
Chiropractic care and physical therapy are natural ways to treat subluxation of joints and dislocated ribs. Through safe, professional techniques that are designed to relax your muscles and make them more flexible, the rib can be carefully put back in place.
The entire treatment is designed to make you feel better, and if your rib was dislocated, you’ll instantly experience relief once it’s fixed.
Schedule Your Treatment at PhyxMe Chiropractic and Physical Therapy
If you live in or are visiting Chicago, a chiropractic treatment is always a smart preventative way to keep your spine in shape! Our offices serve thousands of patients in the Greater Chicago area and are always ready to take care of your spine, joint, and muscular needs.
Call today or schedule an appointment for prevention or pain alleviation. Let our office know if you think you have a dislocated rib so we can take care of it for you as soon as possible!