r/SlippingRibSyndrome

Back in February I woke up one morning and had pain in my left rib area. I ignored it and went on with my day and then the next day I woke up it felt like I was hit by a truck. I woke up and my shoulder, armpit, and entire left side from the waist up was sore. It took a few days to go away and the only thing that relieved it mildly was Motrin. I have gone to countless doctors, the rheumatologist, ER, urologist, you name it I’ve been there. The pain also would spread to my chest and when driving/sitting down, I would feel like someone was sitting on my chest and couldn’t breathe. I had a kidney stone back in 2022 in my left kidney and ever since then I’ve had persistent lower back pain. The doctors cannot seem to figure out what is wrong and I am unsure of what else to do. My body feels heavy all of the time, I have random bruising, if I take a nap I wake up extremely dizzy. Sometimes it spreads to my right side but I primarily always feel it on my left side as a dull ache that flares up consistently. Sometimes the pain also is by my belly button or next to it. Any insight is appreciated because I am really struggling not know what could be wrong. It’s August now, obviously and I feel that it’s been going on for awhile and wanted to see if anyone had anything similar/can recommend my next steps to take because I’m at a total loss.

Back in February I woke up one morning and had pain in my left rib area. I ignored it and went on with my day and then the next day I woke up it felt like I was hit by a truck. I woke up and my shoulder, armpit, and entire left side from the waist up was sore. It took a few days to go away and the only thing that relieved it mildly was Motrin. I have gone to countless doctors, the rheumatologist, ER, urologist, you name it I’ve been there. The pain also would spread to my chest and when driving/sitting down, I would feel like someone was sitting on my chest and couldn’t breathe. I had a kidney stone back in 2022 in my left kidney and ever since then I’ve had persistent lower back pain. The doctors cannot seem to figure out what is wrong and I am unsure of what else to do. My body feels heavy all of the time, I have random bruising, if I take a nap I wake up extremely dizzy. Sometimes it spreads to my right side but I primarily always feel it on my left side as a dull ache that flares up consistently. Sometimes the pain also is by my belly button or next to it. Any insight is appreciated because I am really struggling not know what could be wrong. It’s August now, obviously and I feel that it’s been going on for awhile and wanted to see if anyone had anything similar/can recommend my next steps to take because I’m at a total loss.

I just read a really interesting article about a potential link between painful sex, pelvic floor dysfunction in general, and slipping ribs syndrome. I’m wondering if anyone has gotten diagnosed with pelvic floor dysfunction, I’ve always been suspicious that I may suffer from it, but never really attempted to get it all figured out.

I’ve heard there are pelvic-thoracic physical therapist who work on patients who have back and rib problem, so I’m wondering if this would leave some of my pain

thanks

Dealing with srs and costochondritis for a year.

I’ve noticed my chest and rib pains are significantly worse the week before and during my period. My periods aren’t quite terrible, usually just need Tylenol and a shit load of water. But today it felt like my entire ribcage was on fire
Anyone else relate?

I've had many situations when a rib slipped, I was hit with the symptoms, but then after a few hours of gentle movement it would go back in place. Well... not this time. About a month ago a rib slipped and stayed that way for weeks. I couldn't breathe or move without pain FOR WEEKS! Eventually it resolved (I think so) and symptoms are gone.

Can this even happen? Till this time I've only had short episodes and didn't expect this at all... Does this happened to anyone else here?

Hi everyone, I’m hoping to hear from people who have had something similar because I’m getting really frustrated with this.

About a week ago, on a Sunday, I was lying on my left side when I suddenly got a really sharp pain in the lower front left corner of my ribcage. It actually felt a bit like what I’ve read about precordial catch syndrome, except it lasted for around 12 hours, rather than a few seconds/minutes.

I ended up getting checked at A&E. They did an ECG, chest X-ray, oxygen checks and examination, and everything was apparently fine. I was told there was nothing obvious going on with my lungs/heart.
On the Monday and Tuesday I basically stayed in bed because I was scared to move it. It was actually pretty okay when I was resting and I only really got up to use the toilet.

Then on Wednesday I felt much better, so I went into town and walked around for about 2 hours. While I was out it was mostly fine, but when I got home the pain came back and flared up again.

I’ve since been given naproxen 500mg, but honestly it hasn’t really done much for the pain. I went back to my GP and she properly examined the area and found a very localised painful spot right around the bottom/front corner of my left rib. She thinks it is likely musculoskeletal and I’ve now been given co-codamol for the pain.

The weird thing is that most of the time I’m actually fairly okay. Then I’ll move awkwardly, reach behind me, twist or do something that seems completely insignificant and suddenly it really bloody hurts. Sometimes the pain spreads across that lower left rib area, and I’ve also had weird little bubbling/popping/spasm/twitching sensations around the painful spot.

When it hurts, it REALLY hurts, especially when breathing in because obviously the ribcage moves. But then it can settle again and I’m left thinking, “maybe it’s finally going away,” only for another movement to trigger it.

I’m basically trying to figure out what the hell this thing is and how long I’m likely to be dealing with it.
I’d really love to hear from anyone who’s had something similar:
Did you have pain specifically around the lower/front corner of the ribs?
Did yours come on suddenly?
Did it hurt when breathing in?
Did you get weird spasms, twitching, bubbling or popping sensations?
Did it keep getting better and then flaring up again after certain movements?
What did your doctor think it was? Intercostal muscle strain, costochondritis, chest-wall pain, something else?
What actually helped you? Heat, ice, medication, stretching, physio, rest, movement, anything?
How long did it take before you could move completely normally again?
And if yours was a relatively mild MSK problem, how quickly did you recover completely?

I’m especially interested in hearing from people who were back to normal within days or a couple of weeks, because I keep finding stories from people who’ve had it for months and it’s making me panic that I’m going to be stuck with this forever 😭
I’m not looking for a diagnosis from Reddit, just people’s experiences because I really want to know whether this pattern sounds familiar to anyone and what helped them get back to normal.

Ich habe Ribflare, und es beeinflusst mein Selbstbewusstsein in verschiedene Szenarien wie z.B. im Schwimmbad. Es ist links mehr ausgeprägt als rechts. Es liegt weder an meiner Rückenposition, noch an meiner Becken Position. Von der seite sieht es so aus, als wärde mein Brustkorb auf der Vorderseite nach hinten gekippt (so dass die rippen unten rauskommen). Was kann ich machen um es loszuwerden?

There are times when my ribs pop and I have an intense feeling of pain. There is a moment when it feels like I can’t breathe. It subsides after a minute or two. Sometimes it feels like an intense pressure being released.

I met with Dr. Hansen and he confirmed that I had slipped ribs 8, 9 and 10 on both sides and recommended surgery. I would like to have my CT images converted into a 3D reconstruction before I make any decisions about surgery. Where does everyone get these done? None of the imaging centers near me seem to have the software to do this. TIA

Hey there!

I've been wondering whether or not I should post all of this but there's no better place to vent ig.

I'm just really tired of all this.

I first started showing symptoms when I was around 9yo, visits to the ER with unbearable pain and a very frightened mother became a norm but no one could find what it was.

Some doctors believed it was costochondritis while others thought it was my appendix, don't really know why.

I was a sick kid from the very moment I was born so soon after they started brushing it off as an attempt to get attention on my part, not surprising for me in my teens.

Thing is, I even made peace with never getting answers, I deal with my fair share of illnesses and I somehow got really good at managing my symptoms without even knowing what it was about.

I owe my life to heat pads mostly.

But last year I moved into a new city and found this incredible doctor that went down my medical history, checked every exam and specialist that ever saw me for this condition and it's thanks to her and a really young physician that I was able to get at least a name for what has been happening to me for almost twenty years.

My physical therapist got me an appointment with one of the best thoracic surgeons in the country, really promising ig.

I saw him in April. Shook my hand right at the door. Welcomed me saying this exact words:

"weird diagnosis you have here, I had to study your case all week, I've never seen this one before"

Long story short, this man explained to me how surgery is not even an option in his opinion, how after this long living with pain, even if he could cure the cause, I would still be left feeling pain.

My 'diagnosis' somewhat came only from the hooking maneuver (i got lots of scans but it only helped discard other pathologies), as there's seemingly no way of getting a dynamic ultrasound for this reason in this forking country (Spain).

My thoracic surgeon ordered an MRI to make sure I don't have any intercostal tumors (i had this done when I was around 17 too as i have bad history with these kind of lesions) and will check up on me next year, meanwhile I'll be sent to some pain management clinic, which I hope it helps because i don't think i can do this much longer.

He didn't seem too keen to believe me, that much I could tell. I'm used to doctors treating me like that but I'm just too tired at only 27 (almost 28 if i'm able to make it to the ends of September).

That's all, I guess. Just wanted to put my story up there in somewhere, maybe to feel like someone cares when even my closest ones seem to be uninterested in my health nowadays

Broke 5 ribs and clavicle 8 days ago. Was in the hospital from last Monday to yesterday. The latter repaired with a plate and screws 4 days ago. Occupational therapist saw me yesterday and helped me put on the shirt (pullover) I came in with and showed me how to take it of at home. Well that didn't go as expected. Took me 10 minutes and probably undid a week of healing as it hurts more than it ever did in the hospital. I take 1000mg Tylenol every 5-6 hours and 5mg oxy every 4 but not very effective and makes me nauseous even with some med for that. Reading up on Intercostal Nerve Block and seems to be taylor made for this. Anybody tried it?

Hello group.

I hope everyone is doing well (as well as can be).

I wanted to let you guys know if you do need help converting your CT scans into 3D feel free to msg me.

I do want to clarify l am NOT a medical professional, l have out of my own will study SRS and anatomy/biomechanics for years due to dealing with SRS and other complex issues. I have had to learn to advocate for myself and have (gladly) helped many around the world be heard or even get the proper help/diagnosis and even recovery that we ALL deserve. I do this gladly and out of my own pocket and heart because l know how messed up it is to not be heard, to be treated like "it's all in our heads" just because the majority of medical professionals don't know of this condition. So l will always urge you to seek a professional with the right knowledge and experience but if l can help give you the right imaging and maybe even talking points or questions to ask l will do so.

Another point l want to clarify, Dynamic Ultrasounds can be good for SRS, if the clinic doing it knows how to do it and the radiologists know what to look for it can be a helpful tool. However, when it comes to imaging, CT (chest and abdomen) still remains the most complete, as it shows not just the broken cartilage, but it can show a lot of other issues that can speak to the ribcage/spine (in certain aspects) as a whole, such as calcification, alignment, interchondral bridges, etc which does show a bigger picture (and with contrast certain specialists can even see other issues that may have been missed by other specialists such as Mals, smas, etc). Can you get both? Sure. But if you only can get 1 for whatever reason, a CT will be the most complete and "bigger picture" imaging.

Also, no true knowledgeable specialist should be doing a "hooking maneuver" it has already been proven is archaic, painful, and unnecessary as is not even accurate. So if this is how your Dr wants to diagnose, say no and look for another. It can if anything cause more issues than not.

I have been through a lot due to SRS and other complex issues and my intention has ALWAYS to help others as l have and will continue to do so. If you need the help, or want to talk feel free to reach out. Regardless wishing everyone that they get help, and feel seen and heard, and get better

Does anyone have experience with dr. Adam Kaye in PA? I have my first appt with an SRS specialist tomorrow and it’s quite the drive for me. I’m just looking for what to expect at the initial consult/appt. I’m not officially diagnosed but have all my scans to bring with me.

I recently lost a significant amount of weight over 40kg in 5 months, and I'm experiencing pain in my lower ribs. It only happens when I touch the area or sleep on one side.

Many people have said that this frequently happens because you have less body fat and muscle padding to cushion your chest wall. This reduction in natural soft tissue can make the bones and cartilage of your rib cage feel more prominent, sensitive, or bruised when lying down, wearing tight clothes, or pressing against surfaces.

Is this very common, or am I experiencing something unusual?

Hello!

After five years of constant mild to severe pain I finally have a date for chest wall stabilisation surgery with Mr. Naveed Alam in Melbourne, Australia for late October.

I was wondering if anyone has experience with the recovery for this or a similar procedure?

Title

I've been dealing with costo for about 2 years now coming up in december (it started after a horrible anxiety attack). Does anyone tense up one singular side of their abdomen and lower ribs when heart anxious. Im just wondering if me constantly tensing will create this rib flare

Im a 36F mom of 2
I never had health anxiety until I became a mom 8 years ago

Now I spiral alot everytime I have something that I think is serious

I Dont smoke or drink and im overweight

Last summer while in vacation in fact last day as we are packing to go to the airport I had what I feel fits gallbladder attack … sharp pain from abdominal area to the back and shoulders i was on my knees but we had few hours before our flight and I really really wanted to go home so I braced throught it and went ahead and went back home and did not ser a doctor

But I talked to my gp about it later one and we did full abominal ultrasound which was normal

Now 2 months ago I was getting ready to go to a wedding (I rarely go) so I drank a triple shot coffee as i was getting ready to stay alert and awake as im not used to going out now … well a second similar attack happened I was not able to stand this time I did go to the ER

Even pain meds there after the second bag i started feeling relief
They did ultrasound again it was normal
Doctor did blood test to check on gallbladder and pancreas it came back normal

He suggest I go to a GItrack dr and do a CT scan

The mention of CT scan makes me spirial and im loosing sleep over this thinking of my kids and what if I have something serious😭

Since that last “attack” I have right rib pain/pressure/discomfort … when I was pregnant 8 years ago my baby’s head was always on my ribs and I had pressure there all the time … this feels VERY similar