Expert: Dr. Paul Newhart - 12/8/2008

Question
Can an chiropractor accidentally crack or fracture a rib from adjusting. I took my daughter to the chiroprator on Thursday and soon after she starting complaining about shooting pain on her left rib cage. It is almost constant. I thought I would give it a day or two to see if it got any better, but it is now Monday and still no relief. Should I have it x-rayed?

Answer
It is entirely possible that a fracture could have occurred, but it is very uncommon.  If the adjustment was very "heavy" or if there was an underlying problem causing a weakness, it could happen.  It is also quite possible that there is a rib misalignment causing the pain.  I would suggest an x ray to rule out a fracture.