Expert: John Quackenbush DC - 10/28/2010

Question
I am 53, basically healthy and active female that has been seeing the same
chiropractor for approximately 15 years. I have have minor back ailments
ongoing,lower back, neck etc., and usually after adjustments feel better.
I have had MRI's & X-rays with some findings of spinal degeneration and bulging
disc that that at times I have had to visit my health care provider and
chiropractor 3x's per week. Since earlier this year, I have started to have rib
cage/back pain during my sleeping hours only to go away about an hour after
getting up in the morning. The pain is so intense that I have to get up. I have
rule out my sleep number bed since I have tried everything from 15 to 100 and
also tried sleeping on other beds couch, recliner, etc. Since February of this
year my chiropractor whom is up on all the latest spinal info out there
purchased a new adjustment table, the type with drop sections that can move and
tilt to accommodate the mirror image effect. Well I started noticing about a
month or so after using this table for adjustments I started having this pain. I
have expressed this problem to him but to no avail. I am clueless to what this
is. Hope you can shed some light on this.  

Answer
Sandra,

Could you supply me with more info on the rib pain? Where is the rib pain? Does it stay in one spot or radiate around the ribcage? Is it all where the ribs meet the back or spine? or does it radiate to the entire rib cage to the chest? have you been in any accidents or injuries? Have you had a bone density test ? if so when? what meds if any are you taking? When you spoke to the chiropractor and told him about the increase of pain what was his reply? Have you told him/her a second time? What was the reply? Is there a time of day or night whereas it is
worse/better?

I am assuming that you changed the levels in your bed and there was no change or did it make it worse?

Anything else you can tell me about your rib pain is important. Do you have pain in your spine? What part how is it different ? How is it the same? Was there any other changes in your lifestyle at the same time your Chiropractor got the new table? Has the chiropractor tried opposite mirror image.Have you requested chiropractic care w/o the mirror image technique?

Where the degenerative changes in your spine a new diagnosis or where you already aware of the degeneration? Same question for the disc issues.

What solutions did your family MD give you or suggest? Meds PT etc.

I will be watching for your reply. Right now I really don't know what is possibly wrong therefore all the questions.

Dr John Q Quackenbush