Question
Hello
Dec 6/2010 I was playing floor hockey and got hit from behind, I didn't pay much attention to the slight discomfort under my right shoulder blade, till unfortunately I got hit again and my upper rib cage around the front Pec area went into complete muscle spasm.  I could hardly get off the floor and had zero movement of my upper right side including arm movement.  I proceeded to my chiro then next day and she gently released some of the pressure and said it was a blunt force trauma injury.  I did get relief from the adjustments and it has healed 80%.  I am able to go to the gym and work out at almost full capacity.  Although there are several exercises I still cannot do and the pain is still there mildly when I breath deeply.  How long does a rib head injury last and the pain is at the top of my pec that runs under/thru my underarm area?

Thanks

Answer
Dear Jody,
Sorry about the injury. Sounds to me like you got hit pretty hard.

The ribs attach to the body at two locations:

1) At the thoracic vertebra, the rib head articulates with the vertebral body, and part of the rib articulates with the transverse process of the vertebra.
2) In the front, at the sternum.

It sounds to me that maybe you injured both articulations. The first one caused you pain under the shoulder blade, and the second one at the sternum.

The junction of the rib to the sternum is primarily cartilage. Unfortunately, cartilage is very difficult and slow to heal. It is possible that you injured the cartilage at the joint between the rib and the sternum or breast bone.  If this is the case, it could take months to years. You would have been much better off to simply fracture a rib.

It sounds like you are healing, and that is good news. Give yourself more time. I know it is easy to get impatient, especially if you are trying to stay active with sports.

Sincerely,

Keith Biggs, DC
http://www.eastmesachiropractor.com