Rib Pain Relief
Costochondritis is a long word for rib pain. This condition can be debilitating, with pain at a 10/10 level for many patients. Most of the time, people don’t realize that the problem is with a rib; they think it’s a spinal issue or even a heart attack.
At Town Center Chiropractic, Dr. Nicolas has over twenty years of experience diagnosing and correcting costochondritis—naturally, and without the need for drugs or surgery.
What Are the Symptoms?
The symptoms can be misleading, which is why this condition is often misdiagnosed when you visit your primary care doctor or the ER. In addition to sharp, debilitating pain, symptoms often include:
- Chest or back pain
- Pain radiating down the arm, even into the pinky or middle fingers
- Shortness of breath or increased pain when you inhale
- Sleep disturbance
Costochondritis is caused by inflammation of the cartilage in the rib area. But what causes the inflammation? Often, it’s caused when a rib has moved out of its proper position. This misalignment is painful and irritates the surrounding area, resulting in pain.
You may have minimal pain for days or even weeks and then notice a sudden increase in pain level as the weather gets cooler (or when you sleep in an air conditioned room). That’s because the cooler weather causes muscles to contract around the misaligned rib, pulling it further out of place and increasing the irritation of the surrounding tissues.
We begin with a consultation. Dr. Nicolas will talk with you about your symptoms and health history and will then conduct a thorough examination. During this exam, he’ll be able to feel if a rib bone is out of place.
When he locates the misalignment, he’ll apply heat for a few minutes to help relax and loosen up the area, then he’ll use a chiropractic adjustment to restore proper alignment.
Depending on how long you’ve had the condition, it may take up to 10-12 visits for you to experience full relief.
What Makes Us Different
Many chiropractors focus on the vertebrae in the area of rib dislocation, rather than on the rib head itself. It’s a very specific adjustment that Dr. Nicolas specializes in, and he’s passionate about helping people who have been dealing with this issue medically to no avail.
In addition, Dr. Nicolas takes the time to educate our patients about the underlying cause of their problem and how our approach can help. While there is nothing specific you can do to prevent costochondritis, understanding what it is will help prevent the panic that often comes from severe, unexplained pain. And when you know what to do to correct it, you can book your appointment with us right away, rather than visiting the ER or doctor’s office searching for answers.
Schedule Today
Don’t wait to find relief from your rib pain.
Contact us today to book your first appointment.
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