QuestionHello Dr. Dolan,
Three years ago, the right side of my ribs got hit with a metal door. At the beginning, I had a big pain and perhaps a bruise inside. A few weeks after, I visited my Family Doctor and said there was no broken rib and the organs inside were going to adapt to the new space. I noticed that the lower ribs were a little bit bent. Time passed and so far has been 3 years but now I am getting aware that when I sneeze it hurts that side. It is difficult to lay on the right side as the next morning my back hurts and something inside. I also cannot bend properly. The left side is ok. I am planning to go to my new family Doctor next week and see if he can take an X-ray. Also, a Collegue advice me to go to a Chiropractor with a certification in Sports Injuries. My question is, what a Chiropractor can do in this matter? Can he/she realigned the bent rib without surgery?
Thanks a lot your help is greatly appreciated.
Mia
Answerback pain , rib pain ,
Hello Mia,
Sorry to hear that THREE years after an injury you are still suffering ("Three years ago, the right side of my ribs got hit with a metal door").
I do not understand; "...A few weeks after, I visited my Family Doctor and said there was no broken rib and the organs inside were going to adapt to the new space. ...";
so the ribs were Xrayed, and the Xrays showed no fracture (?).
Did the Xray show any mal-alignment (poor positioning, bones or joints out of proper place)- any dislocation(luxation)?
"The organs were going to adapt"- huh? what? new space?- WAS THERE A MALALIGNMENT? if there was a dislocation the MD should have sent you somewhere to have the dislocation re-set in the proper location.
"....I noticed that the lower ribs were a little bit bent.....", obviously, something is wrong here, either there was a fracture and it did not puncture a lung, lacerate a liver or cause organ damage; or there was a dislocation of some sort- with some type of manipulation to correct the problem required.
I certainly recommend you go to a new Family MD. If this was me,,, When visiting, I would NOT blame the prior MD as to my current condition. I would give a history- getting hit with the door, having a change in the symmetry of the ribs, having pain and various symptoms, I would ask for new Xrays: Chest P to A, Rib film of the point of pain, lateral ribs- we always need at least two Xray films, taken at 90degrees to each other to evaluate an area, I would recommend three or four films to evaluate your case, and have it reviewed by a RADIOLOGIST. Chest P- A, lateral chest, point of pain, would be films to take. After three years of pain, perhaps a chest MRI could be performed (usually Insurance has to authorize these tests).
What can a Doctor of Chiropractic do?
The Chiropractor would also recommend Xrays and/or an MRI of the involved area. If there is an old healed fracture, or if there is a fracture that did not heal- the Doctor of Chiropractic would send you to a Doctor of Medicine to address that fracture. If there is some type of malalignment- a dislocation, the DC would probably send you to an orthopedist for correction. If there is malalignment- a subluxation- the DC would probably attempt correction through Chiropractic adjustment.
"Bent Rib...", poorly healed fracture?= a visit to an Orthopedic MD, and I really do not know what would be done.
This problem is three years old.
Time for new eyes to look at it.
Time for a new MD, and/or a new DC. Time for new Xrays and/or MRI of the involved area.
Many people are aware of dislocations, sprains, strains, contusions.
Many people are not aware of the misalignment, the mal-alignment known as a subluxation. The Doctor of Chiropractic works on subluxation all day, every day.
In my Staten Island Chiropractic office I often hand out informational sheets to my patients, perhaps these will be helpful to you:
P.R.I.C.E. =
P protection. R rest. I ice. C compression. E elevation.
Hurt yourself ?? injury/ trauma/ bruise/ not even sure - - a broken bone ??
You should certainly get to the Doctor or trained health professional to be examined if you think it is bad enough. BUT in the meantime, some simple steps may help.
PRICE.
The PRICE protocol will usually help just about any musculoskeletal injury.
P = Protection; protect the area from further injury- stop what you are doing, can you pad or bandage the area ? Tape the area? Do something to protect the area !
R = Rest; rest the area as much as possible, if a part is damaged, give the body time to repair the area
I = Ice; ice is a potent anti-inflammatory; it will slow swelling, help with pain control (ice is analgesic), place ice over cloth over the injured area for 5, 10 minutes, off the injured area for 30 minutes; then back on again
C = Compression; to help prevent swelling compression may be helpful- for example if it is an ankle, wrap the ankle with an ace bandage and ice the area. Many body parts may not be applicable to compression.
E = Elevation; again to fight swelling and pain, raising the injured body part above the heart may be helpful- ie raise an ankle or knee, you lay down, raise the injured part
PRICE may help : Sprains, Strains, musculo-skeletal injury, bruise, contusion
Sometimes a slip, trip, fall, heavy lift, athletic injury, or a motor vehicle accident can cause a bump or bruise, sprain or strain. Sometimes also involved with the injury is a vertebral subluxation (or other joint subluxation) (subluxation is a mechanical problem- of any joint- and requires a mechanical correction). In the spine, a sprain/strain is a misalignment, a 慿ink?in the joint, a stretch of the muscles, tendons and/ or ligaments:- more properly termed a Vertebral Subluxation. Sometimes symptoms can come immediately, sometimes days, weeks or even months later!- Well after the actual trauma !!!
Spinal = Vertebral Subluxation Complex (a.k.a. 憇ubluxation? ; ( subluxation COULD be any joint )
The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.
This is a serious condition identified by its five parts:
Spinal Kinesiopathology:
This is fancy way of saying the bones of the spine have lost their normal motion and position. It restricts your ability to turn and bend. It sets in motion the other four components.
Neuropathophysiology:
Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate nerve tissue. The resulting nerve system dysfunction can cause symptoms elsewhere in the body.
Myopathology:
Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and go into spasm. The resulting scar tissue changes muscle tone, requiring repeated spinal adjustments.
Histopathology:
A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supplies result in swelling and inflammation. Discs can bulge, herniate, tear, or degenerate. Other soft tissues may suffer permanent damage.
Pathophysiology:
Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse malfunctioning spinal joints. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term nerve dysfunction can cause other systems of the body to malfunction.
The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position.
Automobile accidents, improper lifting, improper posture, alcohol, emotional stress, chemical imbalances, and long periods of sitting can cause the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Vertebral Subluxation cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone. Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction- - - a manipulation, best performed with the chiropractic adjustment. For good health- Treat the Cause, not just the Symptoms. Sprain/ strain/ bump/ bruise?= may result in subluxation of the nearby joint. CORRECT the subluxation !!!!
Dr. Victor E. Dolan, Doctor of Chiropractic; Diplomat, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomat, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST Chief of Chiropractic in a Hospital in New York State (DHSI); As Seen in PREVENTION Magazine
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Sprains, Strains, musculo-skeletal injury
Sometimes a slip, trip, fall, heavy lift, or a motor vehicle accident can cause a 慡prain/ Strain Injury? This can result in ligament sprain, muscle strain, and 憄inched nerves?
Ultimately- the true c a u s e of the tenderness, stiffness and pain; is a misalignment, a 慿ink?in the joint, a stretch of the muscles, tendons and/ or ligaments:-- when in the spine -- more properly termed a Vertebral Subluxation.
Sometimes symptoms can come immediately, sometimes days, weeks or even months later!- Well after the actual trauma !!!
(Subluxation can happen to ANY joint)
Vertebral Subluxation Complex (a.k.a. 憇ubluxation?
The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.
ONLY a Doctor of Chiropractic evaluates for Subluxation along with other pathologies.
This is a serious condition identified by its five parts:
Spinal Kinesiopathology:
This is fancy way of saying the bones of the spine have lost their normal motion and position. It restricts your ability to turn and bend. It sets in motion the other four components.
Neuropathophysiology:
Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate nerve tissue. The resulting nerve system dysfunction can cause symptoms elsewhere in the body.
Myopathology:
Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and go into spasm. The resulting scar tissue changes muscle tone, requiring repeated spinal adjustments.
Histopathology:
A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supplies result in swelling and inflammation. Discs can bulge, herniate, tear, or degenerate. Other soft tissues may suffer permanent damage.
Pathophysiology:
Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse malfunctioning spinal joints. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term nerve dysfunction can cause other systems of the body to malfunction.
The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position.
Automobile accidents, improper lifting, improper posture, alcohol, emotional stress, chemical imbalances, and long periods of sitting can cause the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Vertebral Subluxation cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone. Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction- - - a manipulation, best performed with the chiropractic adjustment. For good health- Treat the Cause, not just the Symptoms.
Dr. Victor E. Dolan, Doctor of Chiropractic; Diplomat, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomat, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST Chief of Chiropractic in a Hospital in New York State (DHSI); As Seen in PREVENTION Magazine
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Pain medications:
PAIN
Pain is a 憆ed light on the dashboard?
Pain is your body telling you that something is wrong.
That RED LIGHT on the dashboard of your car- -- do you ignore it until the car breaks down, or do you get it checked and correct the problem?
Pain,
pain in your body-
-- do you ignore it until your body breaks down, or do you get it checked and correct the problem?
Pain, do you cover up the pain by taking a painkiller? Take a painkiller, mask the pain, and allow a problem to progress in your body?
NOTICE ON PAIN RELIEVERS:
Label changes ORDERED by FDA; the FDA announced proposed label changes for OTC over-the-counter pain relievers to include the potential for stomach bleeding and liver damage (FDA news 206- 207; 12-9-06) ;
The American Heart Association issued a scientific statement recommending medical doctors change the way they prescribe OTC pain relievers from a first choice to an alternate of recommending non-pharmacologic treatment (AHA statement 2-26-07).
NSAID Acceleration of ARTHRITIS; an important side effect of Aspirin and other NSAIDS is that it will inhibit cartilage repair and accelerate cartilage destruction ( Journal of Rheumatology, 1982; 9: 3- 5 ). Many times people take NSAIDS for the pain of Arthritis, not realizing these drugs may make the underlying condition worse. These medications cover up the pain, and cause the problem to worsen.
Pain can often be the result of the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Vertebral Subluxation ( 慥SC?, 憇ubluxation? )
Vertebral Subluxation is actually a quite common condition. Doctors of Chiropractic look for pathological conditions which may require referral to other specialties, and also look for 慡ubluxation? Other disciplines look for pathology, but overlook the importance of alignment and movement in the spine which affects our nervous system (the master control system- ALL health disciplines learn this). VSC- 慡ubluxation??can be the cause of many symptoms and conditions.
Only a Doctor of Chiropractic will evaluate and treat for VSC, as well as other pathology.
The course of VSC is highly variable. Some patients with VSC literally cannot walk, yet other patients with similar test findings may be able to run marathons or lift heavy weights. Some patients immediately develop symptoms related to the VSC, some patients take years to develop symptoms. Some people suffer for only a few days with pain and symptoms, some people suffer for months. Some people recover in days, some take months or years, depending upon severity of the condition.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.
The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position. When subluxated, joints are in a stressed, vulnerable, compromised condition. Subluxation may cause Arthritis, Disk Herniation, or aggravate such conditions.
Vertebral Subluxation cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone. Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction- - - a manipulation, best performed with the chiropractic adjustment.
Dr. Victor E. Dolan, Doctor of Chiropractic; Diplomat, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomat, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST Chief of Chiropractic in a Hospital in New York State (DHSI); As Seen in PREVENTION Magazine
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I am sorry to hear that you have been hurting for three years.
It is certainly time for new eyes to look at your problem.
Xrays are a must, an MRI may also be helpful.
A family MD is a good place to start, so would a family DC. Being a sports chiropractor myself, I am partial to sport DCs.
I wish you good luck and Good Health Naturally.
I hope this information helps.
If further info is needed, do not hesitate to re-contact me here at ALLEXPERTS.com @ http://allexperts.com/ep/965-100794/Chiropractors/Victor-Dolan-DC-DACBSP.htm
Bye,
Dr. Victor Dolan, DC, DACBSP
http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com
