Question
About 17 years ago I injured my cartlidge in the sterium area in a ranching accident. I have gone to numerous doctors over the years with discomfort and difficulty breathing.  At times it is severe. There are times when I sneeze or stretch and the cartlidge pops, which gives me some relief. I have had limited success with anti inflammatory drugs.  We live in a very humid area which makes my condition worse. Is there any treatment or medication that would heal or improve my condition?

Answer
Dear Bill,

Chronic injury concerning cartilagenous structures is a very common problem.  The reason is cartilage has a poor blood supply which limits its ability to receive proper oxygenation and nutrient delivery for repair.  In relation to your injury you most likely have alignment problems with the sternum and the head of the ribs that articulate with it.  

The reason I say that is because you mentioned that it may pop from time to time which gives you a measure of relief.  When this happens it is due to a fixation of the rib head against the sternum and it restricts the normal movement of the ribcage.

Many times this restriction problem can be corrected with spinal manipulation or rib manipulation and many times both. This is due to the fact that a rib has two heads, one which connects to the stenum and one that connects to the associated vertebra.  Therefore it has two seperate and distinct areas that can be involved making the restriction compounded in the front of the ribcage and the back.  Chiropractic care can definitely help this condition.  I have personally seen patients with rib articulation problems that result in breathing difficulties as well as pain.  They always respond favorably with care, and many improve with only a few adjustments.

The reason humidity can make the problem worse is because atmospheric pressure changes with the levels of moisture staturation in the air.  This is called a rise or fall in barometric pressure.  This changes the pressure on your already compromised rib cage capacity and is how pain and symptoms can be increased.

My advise to you is seek out a good Chiropractic physician in your area, and schedule a consultation with he or she to discuss your problem.  Ask peolpe you trust for a referral. Explain to the doctor what I have described and if they treat ribs...most chiropractors do, but some shy away from rib adjusting.  Ask them to expain their treatment and make an informed decision on following through with treatment.  

Respectfully, Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman