Question
My bottom left rib has been popping for a few years now, and about eight months ago it became painful. I went to several doctors, and got x-rays and an MRI (which didn't show anything abnormal. Finally one of the doctors said the rib had separated from the cartilage and that's what was causing the popping. He gave me a steroid injection for the pain, but it came back after only a few days. The pain is not quite as intense as before, but it's still rather painful.

For the last few months I've been dealing with the pain using Ibuprofen and Lidocaine patches. Recently, however, the rib on the right started popping as well. Managing one was rather difficult, and I don't want to worry about two.

A doctor mentioned that surgically removing the ends from the ribs could stop the popping--which, at this point, I think I want to do, short of any other options.

Unfortunately, I leave to start college in less than a month...

Answer
Hi Brendon,

Lower ribs have poor blood supply and heal very slow. Costectomy is very radical, dangerous, expensive and unnecessary. Start taking 3000mg of glucosamine sulfate with MSM and therapeutic ultrasound to speed the healing process. Get a rib support to prevent separation, in a few months in should be pain free and healed. I broke all my ribs, all 14 and it worked for me. No way I would get the surgery when there are other superior methods of treatment.


Good Luck!
Dr. Timothy Durnin
drs.chiroweb.com