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Ribs fractures are usually caused by blows or compression, as in a fall which squashes the ribs against a wall, a blow in sport, or a car crash.. Pain is immediate and felt to the side or front of the chest on ine side. It is made worse by breathing and spinal and arm movements.
Suspected rib fractures are not usually x-rayed or treated except with painkillers. Immmobilising the rib in a cast would be neither practical or wise as this would hinder breathing. Nature is allowed to take its course and healing occurs in six to eight weeks. Those with osteoporo are more likely to have rib fractures.
Possible causes of similar pain include shingles (but there is not trauma and a rash comes up in a few days), strain or bruising of the intercostal muscles between the ribs, or mechanical problems affecting the joints where the ribs attach to the spine or the joints of the spine itself.
Osteopaths are used to diagnosing these sorts of symptoms. In examination, for example, tests such as pressing on the ribs but at a site well away from the site of pain can elucidate whether there is a rib fracture or not. If not, the osteopath will go on to determine what the problem is and in many cases treat. Once a rib fracture has healed, the lack of mobility in the area due to muscular splinting can lead to secondary problems in the ribs or spine that need osteopathic attention. Also, the trauma that caused the rib fracture may have also damaged other musculo-skeletal structures that should be attended to. Osteopaths often see patients with old rib fractures that have caused alterations to rib or spinal joint mobility that at the time have given no overt symptoms or disability but that over time have led to problems that present with symptoms years later.
See also : chest pain
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