DR. RUSSELL SCHIERLING
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6/15/2014

RIB SUBLUXATION -VS- RIB TISSUE PAIN

15 Comments

Read Now
 

SUBLUXATED RIB
OR RIB TISSUE PROBLEMS?

Rib Tissue Pain
Massagenerds - Ryan Hoyme - Pixabay
No matter how you slice it, things that go wrong with ribs can cause some serious pain.  It almost doesn't matter whether they are bruised, cracked, broken, out of place (SUBLUXATED), or their tissues are stretched / torn (HERE); the pain associated with these sorts of rib problems can make a person think they are dying (HERE is an example of this phenomenon that I see several times a month).  As you might imagine, we help lots of people with these sorts of problems.  As is typically the case, successfully treating rib problems means that an accurate diagnosis must be made. 

The first thing that must happen is that the really bad things must be ruled out.  Heart and Cardiovascular Problems are at the top of this list, but there can be others.  Be aware that a Heart Attack can mimic muculoskeletal pain of various sorts.  Also be aware that ischemia (lack of oxygen) from chronically clogged arteries can cause similar symptoms as well.  Secondly, understand that while X-rays are a valuable diagnostic tool, unless you suspect a fracture, they are probably not going to provide pertinent information as far as short term pain relief is concerned. 

Most of the time, a rib problem is going to manifest as pain in the area of the rib cage (all 360 degrees are potential places for pain to show its ugly head).  This pain is typically sharp / severe, and is aggravated by coughing, sneezing, laughing, breathing, and other similar things.  Interestingly enough, as severe as rib pain can be, it is not dangerous like a HERNIATED DISC can be.  Another interesting fact about Subluxated Ribs is that as severe as their pain can be, when they are adjusted correctly, the pain relief is often instantaneous.  If you are seeing someone for rib pain and getting adjusted over and over and over with no discernible decrease of your pain, something is being overlooked.   Most of the time, this is either because the adjustment is not being done correctly, or more likely because there is a problem with the tissues around the rib.

Think about it this way.  If you've ever eaten a rack of ribs before (and who hasn't?), you realize how much meat there is on the ribs.  There is also a lot of Connective Tissue as well --- particularly Fascia.  Anytime FASCIA is a primary player, the potential for pain is there (HERE are several articles to help you understand why).  Sometimes it can be difficult to determine whether or not a problem is Rib Subluxation or Rib Tissue.  Here are a few "rules" to keep in mind (bear in mind that none of these rules would be considered 'hard' or 'fast'. 


  • Have you been adjusted?  If you have been adjusted several times and still have the pain, odds are that your rib is not simply "out of place".  There is probably more to it, and one of the first things to think about is SCAR TISSUE.

  • Does it hurt to move?  Although a Rib Subluxations can hurt to move, in my experience, movement is more likely to bother someone with a Rib Tissue problem than a Rib Subluxation.

  • Where does it hurt?  If the pain is closer to the spine, there is a greater chance of it being a Rib Subluxation.   The further away from the spine or breastbone that the pain is, the greater the chance it is Rib Tissue and not Rib Subluxation.

  • Does the pain move or travel?  With Rib Tissue issues, the pain is more likely to stay put, while Rib Subluxations can (and often do) create an irritation in the nerve than can travel all the way around the rib to the front. 

As you can see, none of this is what I would call an exact science.  Typically, the potentially severe pain of a Rib Subluxation will resolve rapidly with a proper adjustment.  If I cannot get a relatively rapid improvement or resolution in my clinic, I may start checking to see if it is a Rib Tissue problem.  In fact, I will sometimes check for a Rib Tissue problem immediately after adjustment if a person does not get the relief I think they should.  HERE is a recent article I wrote on Rib Tissue Pain, complete with a couple of VIDEO TESTIMONIALS. 

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15 Comments
Michele
12/20/2015 05:15:52 am

Thank you for taking the time to write this article. It has been helpful.

Reply
Jessica wynne
8/10/2017 01:28:20 am

I have been having bad lower rib pain all the way around very sharp pain making it hard to breathe almost. Im wondering if this could be caused from sleeping on the ground and in akward positions due to being homeless.

Reply
Dr. Russell Schierling
8/19/2017 03:12:40 am

It certainly could be Jessica.

Reply
Brandi
3/30/2018 11:13:54 am

I have had issues with mid back pain and have thought it was just ribs out since I have had issues with that a lot anyhow. I have a 5 mth period of terrible back pain around my ribs and side and was adusted a ton. It didn't really seem to help me. It finally went away for about 4 mths. It is now back. I am getting adjusted again. I had a mri and there doesn't seem to be any issues with my back. What else can I do? What is tissue remodeling really and where can I find someone that doe it? I am in Texas. I have also been through physical therapy for it as well. Some of the exercises I am doing for posture seem to make it worse. I have kyphosis. So trying to improve my posture. I also wen through core strengthening pt as well.

Reply
kerie
9/29/2018 03:23:21 pm

Glad to have come across your website.
I had a sports related traumatic blow to front rib cage circa 10 years ago. over the last 8 or so years, i have seen every sort of therapist, specialists etc. with no improvement in pain which stems from where 5th rib attaches to spine at the back. have had plenty of chiro adjustments/rib sublaxations which only provides temporary relief on the day. muscloskeletal specialist advised that 3 ribs dont sit correctly and to use a squash ball to keep forcing them down and given a cortisone injection for possible nerve sticking out of the surrounding tissue? also been told to "meditate' more and that pain signals that havent turned off could be a problem. i struggle to sleep some nights because of the pain.
wondering what i can do. im located in new zealand. thanks!

Reply
Dr. Russ
10/10/2018 02:50:34 pm

Hello Kerie,
Find someone who will really get in there and churn that tissue up a bit.

Reply
Fiona
11/20/2018 03:56:56 am

Hi Russell,

I've had my rib problem fixed by manipulation, get immediate relief from the pain, then it goes 'out' again within a day or two. Is there a muscled set I should be strengthening or stretching to help prevent it?

Thanks.

Reply
Mario
2/28/2019 09:36:49 am

Same here, I am being told that ribs Subluxation could be caused by anything, even during my sleep. I keep getting it manipulated which fixes the pain straight away but is usually back soonish. Sometimes its a different rib but around the same area. I am thinking that my rib Subluxation is just a symptom caused from another issue going on and that I need to find the root cause of why it is happening in order to get this sorted. I can't afford to keep paying for joint manipulation. Any advice will be appreciated, I have seen a number of different osteopaths which only do the manipulation and seem to think this is all is necessary.

Reply
Dr. Russ
3/2/2019 03:53:01 am

That's what this article is about Mario, dealing with the underlying rib tissue adhesions that cause recurring subluxation and pain.

Garry
2/12/2019 10:14:55 am

I may have an rib tissue problem based on your description of the differences between it and a subluxation. Local tenderness at the rib joints but not constant pain, whereas I have considerable tightness/pain/tenderness at my sides in the lower ribs. Since I'm in Canada and won't be able to see you in person about this, what should I recommend to my massage therapist/osteopath in terms of potential treatments? Everything that's been tried so far hasn't worked.

Thanks

Reply
Keely
3/21/2019 08:54:22 pm

I don't know how abnormal this is, but I can't seem to find anything about it anywhere. I have had pain in my right upper back (next to the shoulder blade) and ribs for years, but recently noticed that the bottom of my right rib cage appears to go down farther than the other side -- and of course, this wasn't always the case! Everything looks completely weird and out of alignment. Does this seem like rib subluxation?

Reply
Elle
4/19/2019 10:50:31 pm

I am very concerned about pain that I have had for two years after my car was hit from the back. I felt instant pain and heard a cracking sound directly in the middle of my back the moment I was hit. MRI showed only degenerative neck discs that I knew I had but nothing in that area of the back .It is a burning and sometimes throbbing pain from mid back to front of my chest and under ribs in front. Moist heat and ibuprofen seem to work .Any suggestions as to what this nagging pain could actually be? It would be life changing if you knew.

Reply
Sandrine
5/20/2019 04:56:26 pm

I recently damaged my rib at the top if the sternum or the very top rib, I'm not sure. I was pulling upward on a jammed rope while on my knees and something there snapped. I also felt something in my back high up near the top of my shoulder blades. I am 58 and recovering from a shoulder impingement 6 months old, on the same size (I know, stupid!) so the stretching exercises have been a challenge.
There is of course a lot of pain about 2" from the sternum.
I would like to know if this is a subluxation, or dislocation?

Reply
Christy
6/12/2019 01:58:13 pm

My daughter's ribs have been dislocating for about a year. She has had chronic undiagnosed back pain for 3 years that we now contribute to the rib problem. We are sure her upper back ribs are dislocating, she can feel where they are out, her chiro can look and tell where they are out and the adjustment puts them back in. The problem is they will not stay in. She has them put back in 5 times a week, sometimes more. We have seen every kind of doctor looking for a long term fix, from accupuncture to orthopedic surgeons, and everyone in between. Any ideas?

Reply
Stefanie Horton
7/8/2019 06:21:11 pm

I have had a chronic problem with several ribs on both sides of my spine not staying in place after adjustments. 19 years of pain and inflammation. I can get adjusted and they will be back out within a few hours. I just want the knives out of my back and to take a deep breath without pain.

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    Russell Schierling

    Dr. Schierling completed four years of Kansas State University's five-year Nutrition / Exercise Physiology Program before deciding on a career in Chiropractic.  He graduated from Logan Chiropractic College in 1991, and has run a busy clinic in Mountain View, Missouri ever since.  He and his wife Amy have four children (three daughters and a son).

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  • BLOG
  • WE HELP...
    • CHRONIC NECK & BACK PAIN
    • HEADACHES
    • TENDINITIS / TENDINOSIS
    • SHOULDER PROBLEMS / ROTATOR CUFF
    • OSGOOD SCHLATTER'S SYNDROME
    • PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME / CHRONIC BUTT PAIN
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    • PULLED MUSCLES / TORN MUSCLES / MUSCLE STRAINS
    • DEGENERATIVE OSTEOARTHRITIS / PROPRIOCEPTIVE LOSS
    • PLANTAR FASCIITIS
    • SHIN SPLINTS
    • MYSTERY PAIN
    • T.M.J. / T.M.D.
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    • POST-SURGICAL PAIN
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    • PATELLAR TRACKING SYNDROME / PATTELO-FEMORAL PAIN SYNDROME
    • CHRONIC ANKLE SPRAINS
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    • WHIPLASH TYPE INJURIES
    • CHRONIC TRIGGER POINTS
    • MIGRAINE HEADACHES
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    • WHAT IS CHIROPRACTIC?
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      • PHARMACEUTICAL GRADE FISH OIL
      • HSO PROBIOTICS
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    • SCAR TISSUE REMODELING >
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