Expert: Gerald Anzalone, D.C. - 7/22/2008

Question
  Last week I went to a local Chiropractor for an adjustment to my back-ribs. I had pain in my back only when I was laying down, pain on my right side stretching around to my sternum. He said that it was my rib joints and adjusted my ribs. The next day I began to get sharp pains at the connection of my ribs and sternum on the left side and continuing back pain when lying down. My Chiropractor has 15 years experience and I trust his judgement, also he said that I need at least 3 sessions, I may be premature in asking a question, since the ribs spine and sternum are all connected, but do you think that I am experiencing anything out of the ordinary?

Thanks

Answer
Richard,

It is unclear to me if you are experiencing pain in your spine that is radiating toward the ribs or the sternum, pain in the sternum and ribs that is radiating to the spine, or pain in the spine that is independent from pain in the ribs and sternum.

Rib subluxation/dislocation typically causes a sharp, stabbing pain that is worse upon breathing in, not when laying down. The alternating right/left nature of the pain you are experiencing is unusual, as a subluxated/dislocated rib typically causes pain in the same region.

Without having the benefit of your medical history and your physical examination findings, it is difficult to offer you precise advice. Because of the alternating nature of the pain you are feeling in the sternal region, I recommend also seeing your family physician immediately for further evaluation to rule out an underlying medical pathology. If your sternal/chest/back pain is markedly severe upon laying down, I recommend having someone take you to the nearest hospital emergency department immediately.

If in fact the nature of your problem is mechanical in nature, your chiropractor should be able to help.

I hope that this answers your question.