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Suggest Treatment For Dislocated Ribs
Question: I have a an 85 year old friend who dislocated four front ribs on the right side of her body (an exuberant hug from a young person). She went to a chiropractor and he relocated three of the ribs but could not do the top one. That was Sept. 9. The last couple of days she has been in a lot more pain, especially when she breathes or moves. She has been taking Aleve at night. She thinks she just has to tough it out but she is really miserable. What do you suggest?
Brief Answer:
I have a few suggestions, please do discuss them with her
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. The first thing that anyone with a rib location thinks of is an appointment with a chiropractor. But what most people fail to realise is that a chiropractor only has limited knowledge pertaining to the location and skeletal system (at the most).
The approach to a dislocated rib is:
+Manipulation: Which the chiropractor has tried, although not completely successfully
+Rehabilitation and immobilisation: Exercises, physiotherapy and wearing a cast, or splint or bandage to allow healing in a proper manner
+Medication to help deal with the pain
+Surgery: Is mainly considered when the above approaches do not work and also when there are chances of nerve injury, which is quite possibly with your older friend as well
I would thus suggest a visit to an orthopaedic specialist. Adequate x-ray examination and manipulation by a specialist as well as immobilisation has to be initiated at the earliest, and if at all surgery is required then you should discuss things in detail with the surgeon and consider it.
I hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help.
Best wishes.
I have a few suggestions, please do discuss them with her
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. The first thing that anyone with a rib location thinks of is an appointment with a chiropractor. But what most people fail to realise is that a chiropractor only has limited knowledge pertaining to the location and skeletal system (at the most).
The approach to a dislocated rib is:
+Manipulation: Which the chiropractor has tried, although not completely successfully
+Rehabilitation and immobilisation: Exercises, physiotherapy and wearing a cast, or splint or bandage to allow healing in a proper manner
+Medication to help deal with the pain
+Surgery: Is mainly considered when the above approaches do not work and also when there are chances of nerve injury, which is quite possibly with your older friend as well
I would thus suggest a visit to an orthopaedic specialist. Adequate x-ray examination and manipulation by a specialist as well as immobilisation has to be initiated at the earliest, and if at all surgery is required then you should discuss things in detail with the surgeon and consider it.
I hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help.
Best wishes.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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