Are you suffering pain in your chest? Does it spread down your arm, around your ribs or and into the front of your chest?
Rib misalignment is often the culprit.
Rib pain occurs as the result of restrictions associated with the costosternal and costovertebral joints. In the upper to mid back region, each rib forms two joints with the thoracic spine, as well as an additional joint in front where they connect with the sternum or breastbone. If any these joints becomes restricted and inflamed you may experience severe pain in the chest or back. Often radiating pain along the rib cage in a specific distribution is experienced. This may occur as the result of injury (athletic injury, a fall or whiplash from a car accident), prolonged positioning (such as sitting in front of a computer, television, reading, etc.), or may come on without warning.
It will usually feel like a severe muscular ‘knot’ to the left or right of the spine, close to the shoulder blade. The muscles of the back spasm and tighten to protect the misalignment.
This pain can be severe and often people will end up rushing to hospital emergency rooms because they are convinced they are having a heart attack or other cardiac event. As rib inflammation and restriction can be experienced by difficulty breathing, pain into the neck, and radiating pain/tingling/numbness down the arm or into the hand.
Patients with fever, severe cough or breathing difficulties with frontal chest pain should consult their medical practitioner.
Rib pain may be called costo-transverse sprain, intercostal neuralgia or costochondritis and is often due to years of poor rounded (kyphotic) posture. Typically sloughing postures at desks, over laptops, ipads or on sofas are common causes.
Mid back pain can result following spinal misalignment of the mid back or misalignment of the neck or low back .The spine itself can become misaligned exactly where it hurts, irritating nerves, muscles and ligaments in that area. Pain in the mid back can occur from misalignment of the low back and pelvis, or in the neck. Underlying mechanical problems elsewhere in the spine need to be addressed in order to gain long term relief and prevent reoccurrence.
At Springwood Chiropractic we will obtain a full case history and carefully examine the musculoskeletal system and assess particularly the movement of individual ribs. We are able to detect mechanical sources of pain and thus the cause(s) of your presenting symptoms. We then create a treatment plan to reduce inflammation and restore normal joint motion as well as improving strength and stability .This is accomplished through a comprehensive treatment consisting of chiropractic care, physical rehabilitation, postural and lifestyle advice.