Question
3 1/2 months ago, I had surgery on my lower ribs. I had "bilateral slipping rib syndrome": On my right side, my 10th rib tip was slipping up underneath my 9th rib, and my 11th rib tip was slipping up underneath my 10th rib. On my left side, my 11th rib tip was slipping up underneath my 10th rib. I was in pain for almost one year before the surgery. During surgery, the surgeon went through my abdomen on my right side and shaved off a few cetimeters of both of the slipping rib tips and removed some broken off cartilage. He then went through the left side and removed a few centimeters of the one slipping rib tip and took out the broken off cartilage.  I have two 3.5 inch cuts on both sides of my abdomen. It is very slowly getting better, but I experience back pain on my right side, along the right side of my spine. (Before my surgery, I was in the most pain on my right side. My left side didn't bother me nearly as much as my right.) I'm right handed, so I do more with my right side, which may contribute to the pain. But, whenever I increase my activity, like doing housework, laundry, cooking, etc, the muscles on my right side of my back really get sore and ache. And then when I sit for a bit to calm it down, it just throbs. Here is my question: Could it be that considering my operation, perhaps my ribs moved a little bit and have settled and my muscles are just getting used to that? I ask this because whenever I've gone to a chiropractor in the past, I would get adjusted and my muscles in my back would spasm for weeks! It's like my body just didn't agree with it or something. I realize that the ribs are connected to the spine, so is this why my back hurts? I am wondering what is going on inside my body to make it act this way, I would appreciate hearing your ideas. Also, 3 1/2 months seems like a long time to heal, sometimes I feel as though the pain will never go away. But, other people have assured me that ribs take a very long time to heal. Is this correct? Thank you! I look forward to hearing from you.

Answer
Kristy:

It seems to me that I have answered this question before.

The short answer: quite focusing on fighting disease and start to focus on building your health. Nutrition, water intake, chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, massage, exercise are all parts of building health.

As to the muscle spasms. Magnesium citrate would be a good point to start. It is widely available in health food stores, under the brand name Natural Calm. Try it, per the instructions on the container.

Dr. Rozeboom