Expert: Gerald Anzalone, D.C. - 5/10/2008

Question
Hi, I'm 21 years old, relatively fit and rarely ever injured even though i have been playing a lot of rough sports since i was 8.
i woke up 2 days ago with a slightly uncomfortable feeling in my back, i thought i just needed my back to be popped so i asked a friend to help me out. i put my hands behind the opposite shoulders and he stood behind me, grabbed my elbows and lifted me up, it worked a charm, everything popped(very loudly) and felt great for as few hours when it returned again, i took no action this time, i just slept on it.
next day i still felt uncomfortable around my upper back region just about an inch to the left of my spine. also i found a pain to the left of my chest that was sore when i touched it, still not too sore but annoying.
later that day before soccer, i got my brother to pop my back again as it was feeling worse and i wanted to play soccer! i felt great again and played for an hour solid. after the soccer the chest pain had increased dramatically, i could barely breath in with the pain, the pain i felt when touching the sore area of my chest was multiplied, plus i could barely move my upper body.
i went home to rest and later the pain slowly shifted to my back again, making my back very sore. i think its my rib. could it be out of place or something from popping my back? ( both times i cracked it it was very loud and maybe 4-5 pops each time).also if i bend over fully i can breath in fully with no pain.
i would greatly appreciate a reply as the medical system is terrible here and expensive.
Thanks
Blaine


Answer
Blaine,

I'm not sure from where you are writing, but regardless of the state of your local health care system, it's not a good idea to have an untrained individual perform manipulation. It might look easy to do, but untrained people can do more harm than good when performing unskilled manipulation (you probably wouldn't want your brother attempting surgery or dentistry on you, either).

Based on the symptoms you've described, it sounds like you've displaced a rib head, but it requires an examination from a qualified health care practitioner to evaluate your condition and confirm my suspicion. I'd recommend seeing a chiropractor, since chiropractors perform the vast majority of skilled manipulation, and one could appropriately evaluate your condition. It's also possible that you might have torn some rib cartilage.