Question
I'm 52 and last summer I was dancing a with my permission and experienced partner flipped me over his head and broke a couple of ribs in the left front/side area. It has been over a year and it is just a little tender; almost pain free. I decided to see a chiropractor for general health and to adjust my spine on a regular basis. He knew about my past injury...during the second adjustment I felt something pop and pain right above the area previouly injured. It is the following day and I know at least one rib is broken. He at the time said my rib popped from the muscle and I would be sore just for the day. Why do you think a rib could break during an adjustment? Ann

Answer
Hello Ann,

   Rib adjustments can be painful.  The "popping" sound is the rib head being placed back in proper alignment.  Some patients may experience pain for 2-3 days then great relief.

 However, if you feel the adjustment was to hard and felt the rib break, you may want to have a x-ray of the rib to just make sure.  Fractures of the ribs can be seen only 50% of the time on x-ray.

  Ice the area of pain for the next day or two, if the pain persists then have a x-ray over the location of pain.

Have a great day,
Dr. Brendon O'Brien D.C.