PROLOTHERAPY TREATMENT FOR SLIPPING RIB SYNDROME
Ross Hauser, M.D.

"Doctor, I have a dull pain between my shoulder blades." The patient gets discouraged as she knows this is just another doctor that is clueless as to what to do. Another person states "I get this sharp pain that cuts threw my chest like a knife." She is also fearful that this physician is going to put her through a bunch of tests that will be negative again. "I have trouble catching my breath. It is like my lungs can’t expand like they should. No it’s not panic attacks!" The last patient finally just can’t take it anymore. Something is wrong with all these people but no one seems to be able to diagnose the problem.
 

SLIPPING RIB SYNDROME IS COMMON
The ribs are in constant movement because of our necessity to breathe. Twelve to sixteen times per minute the ribs move up and down. This from the very first breath until our last. Is it any wonder that the rib joints in the front and back eventually get worn down? The ribs attach to the sternum in the front (called the sternal-costal junction) and in the back to the vertebrae (costovertebral joints). Each of this joints can become weak. They can become weak just because of use over a lifetime but more commonly because stretched or torn after a trauma. The trauma can be violent coughing as when a person has the flu, food poisoning, vomiting, or asthma. It can also occur because of excessive violent breathing during sporting activities like sprinting. The joints can, of course, be injured with blunt trauma as in a fall from a bicycle, falling down stairs, or a car accident.
 

SLIPPING RIB SYMPTOMS
The most common symptom of slipping rib syndrome is a dull pain in between the shoulder blades or in the chest area. The pain is increased with direct palpation over the injured area. The person can have referral pain also. Injury to the sterno-costal area refers pain to between the shoulder blades. Injury to the costovertebral junction refers pain to the chest. Shortness of breath can also be a symptom when either of these areas are injured. The pain though usually dull can lead to intermittent sharp pains sometimes simulating a heart attack. Any young person who has a negative cardiac work up after having severe sharp chest pain with shortness of breath, has slipping rib syndrome until proven otherwise.
 

SLIPPING RIB SYNDROME DIAGNOSIS
There is no test that can definitively diagnose slipping rib syndrome. The best test is palpation and the reproduction of the person’s symptoms by a practitioner familiar with the condition.
 

Prolotherapy
The rib attachments become stretched, injured or torn because of long term use or trauma. The area that gets injured is typically the ligament attachments in the rib-sternal junction or the vertebral-rib junction in the back. The joint then moves excessively. The surrounding muscles then contact thus causing the stiffness of slipping rib syndrome.
 

The treatment of choice in my experience is Prolotherapy. Since the condition is one of instability of the joint, Prolotherapy to strengthen the ligament attachments makes sense. Sometimes chiropractic manipulation will relieve the symptoms of slipping rib syndrome temporarily but rarely permanently. In contrast, Prolotherapy usually will resolve not only the symptoms of slipping rib syndrome temporarility but permanently!
 

Prolotherapy induces a mild inflammatory healing reaction in the area of injury in slipping rib syndrome. This causes the area to tighten thus eliminating the instability in the area. The rib stays in place and so do the symptoms.
 

Since Prolotherapy for slipping rib syndrome involves the rib area, the number of sessions is typically more than the usual 3-6 visits. Since the ribs are in constant movement, it may take up to 15 sessions of Prolotherapy to resolve the symptoms of slipping rib syndrome.
 

DON’T FRET HELP IS NEARBY

People with unresolved thoracic spine stiffness and pain, can get discouraged because nothing seems to help permanently. Just like those with unresolved chest pain.
 

Prolotherapy is a very good treatment for slipping rib syndrome. If you or someone you love has slipping rib syndrome, find them a good Prolotherapist. A lifetime of happiness and smiles could be only a few shots away!
 

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As with any medical technique, Prolotherapy may not be effective for every individual and there are risks involved, these risks should be discussed with your physician. Results achieved with some may not be typical of all. Please consult a physician. Please read Prolotherapy Risks

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