Health Concern regarding a slipped rib

[confused _one]

Does anyone know anything about your health concerning a floating rib ive had it for as long as I can remember but its just gotten worse and now I have pains where the rib has slipped and it cracks back and forth i can literally take my hand and it moves and cracks back and forth. Its been months since ive done this and tried today and it has become looser. Does anyone know if thats normal? Its slipped up under my rib cage and it kinda hurt now and again. Should I be heading to a doctor or is it nothing to worry about. Help!

[WoWaddict]

 

yes... a doctor would be the smartest thing to do at this point. I wouldnt wait on setting up an appointment, and i dont think your doctor would want you to either.... because you could puncture a lung, and then be in a boatload more trouble than you were to begin with.

[bluechocolate]

I've cracked several ribs on different occasions & suffered from a slipped rib & my left side for yonks! Sometimes all it took was an enthusiastic hug & I'd be uncomfortable with it for weeks.

 

Ask your doctor about it, but there isn't much that can be done. Unless it's very bad & it's the last rib (which it usually is) then they can remove it. I don't think they would fuse it back, but I could be wrong there.

 

If you are in a lot of pain, like pain when you draw breath, then they'll give you pain killers because you run the risk of collapsing the lower part of your lung if you breath in a very shallow manner over a long period of time.

[loony]

Ask your doctor about it, but there isn't much that can be done. Unless it's very bad & it's the last rib (which it usually is) then they can remove it. I don't think they would fuse it back, but I could be wrong there.

:eek: They remove ribs if they don't grow back together??? Or did I misunderstand this?

 

And what is a "floating rib"?

[bluechocolate]

:eek: They remove ribs if they don't grow back together??? Or did I misunderstand this?

 

And what is a "floating rib"?

A floating rib is usually the last two pairs of ribs on each side. They are only attached 'loosely' - ie. not fused to the vertebrae like your other ribs. For some people they can be easily 'dislodged' (I'm just using whatever words come to mind here - I'm not sure of the precise medical terms) and can be painful.

 

I have cracked several of my ribs on many occasions & had problems with a floating rib on my left side for ages (its been fine for a long time now). You could actually feel it moving around if you pushed on it! If it is severe enough & won't get back in place, then yes they can remove it as a last resort.

 

Cracked or broken ribs are a real pain in the arse 'cause you can't exert yourself, you can't sleep on your side or your stomach, it's painful getting up from a prone position & about the only thing they can do for you is provide pain killers & let them heal by themselves.