Dysfunctional Rib Syndrome

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Jema X

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It does sound like you need a thoracic surgeon or a neurosurgeon that specialises in the thoracic area. I have a 'loose' rib since my thoracic surgery in 2006 and it's excruciating, I feel for you. Luckily mine doesn't move unless I rotate my thoracic which is thankfully limited in movement. The more you twist the more the rib moves out of place. When I had my surgery they cut my rib to get in and it never reconnected. My surgeon has told me that they can put in a mesh (or it might have been a plate?) to attach it back to my thoracic if it keeps up. If you're anything like me (mine's on the right though) it hurts like hell to breathe. I also have nerve damage there but the pain is a bit different. Things like reaching around to the back seat from the drivers seat or twisting in bed are things that exacerbate my pain. I think that a lady here called TTLC (you could pm her or find her on the spinal disorders board) has her surgeon in Utah. It would be worth contacting her.
Good luck! Let us know how you go
 
I'm in dire need of a Doctor that can help with Dysfunctional Rib Syndrom. This has been going on for 3 years and has been misdiagnosed several times, this time they are sure it's the rib. So for 3 years, 4-5 nights a week I wake up with stabbing chest pains that radiate into my left shoulder and down my arm. No, it's not cardiac, that was the first thing tested for.

What happens is, at least to my understanding, when I sleep at night my rib actually slips out of place. This causes such intense pain (ribcage and diaphram spasm) and makes it hard to breathe, as soon as it starts I'm done sleeping for the night.

I've called Osteo's, they won't touch it because the rib is attached to the vertebrae which has nerves in it. The Neuro's won't touch it because it's a bone. Thoracic surgeons won't touch it because it's not heart related. I've been to Physical Therapy, a Chiropractor, I was on a month-long stint on muscle relaxants, I've even tried wearing a rib brace.

Who can help me?? I can't keep this up, I hurt so bad and I'm so tired. I have an autistic daughter that tries my patience and it's even more difficult when I'm constantly tired.

Any help would be appreciated.
 
Sorry my dear I feel so badly for you. I had never heard of this condition before. I don't even know whether this is the board you should be posting on as it is primarily back problems. Good Luck hope you find someone to help you.
 
Thank you! I'll give her a PM. I contacted a cardiovascular/thoracic surgeon in SLC that wants to talk to me but has never had experience with ribs, so we'll see how that goes. My next step is to go to a plastic surgeon and have the sucker removed... course that rules out insurance help.:dizzy:
 
Ummm why in the world would you go to a plastic surgeon! This is not a common surgery and it would seem you would want someone that works on the thoracic all the time. *cardiothoracic surgeon. Some focus on the heart and others focus on the general issues of thoracic surgeries, like lung, chest anomolies, etc.

I did a simple search and found that Utah has at least 34 practicing cardiothoracic surgeons. You should be able to find one to help you.
 
Cardiothoracic surgeons won't help me, I've called 12 of them and they only deal with the cardiac part of things, not the actual bones/vertebrae. A plastic surgeon can remove the bottom 2 ribs and does it often enough they are good at it. Usually it's a cosmetic thing to make the waist smaller but mine would be to stop the pain.
 
I am no bone exspert but It could have something to do with the thoracic part of your spine since the thoracic is at the area were your rib cage are too, just a suggestion
 
I found a cardiovascular surgeon who agreed to see me. He felt the area and said he could feel something slightly different with the painful rib and could feel a "mass". He sent me over for a contrast CT, bumped a few patients to do it ASAP he said. I worried all weekend and then bam, got a call from his nurse that everything looked good.

No idea on a follow up, no idea what the mass was or why the rib was different, nada. I have another call in but I'm about to lose it entirely, no one will help me.
 
Ouch I know that hurts! You need to find an excellent thoracic surgeon. What part of the country do you live in?
 
I live in Utah and so far I've tried a general surgeon, orthopedic surgeon, neuro surgeon, back specialist... so far all I'm getting is a "That's not my area".
 
Well thankfully it wasn't bad news. While you wait you could call the imaging center and get a copy of the written report and read it to put your mind at more ease. Hopefully you will hear soon. Sometimes the assistants take so long to call back.
 
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