broken rib

[nelly052]

i was in an acident five years ago where i fell from a tree and boke both my arms.at the time i was to focused on the pain in my arms to notice that my back was acting up. About a year ago i went to a back doctor and he told me i had broken my rib in the accident and it healed over out of place. I still suffer pain in my back but im worried theres no way to fix it. any ideas?

[nelly052]

**no chest x-ray was done on me**

[nelly052]

thanx for the advice- no chest injury was done on me-we had a hard enough time getting both of my arms put in plaster-they were only going to fix 1 arm. I have a strangly bent back-after the accidnt a chiropracter pointed out to me that something was wrong but my mother is sceptic about back doctors so nothing was done. Until last year it was up to me to go to the back doctor but could only afford one treatment. he said it was already healed over incorrectly and nothing could be done- i will go to another back doctor when i can afford 1. Its definately on my list of things to do. THanx again and i will keep you updated on my progress.

[kittyluv1]

Welcome to the Back and Neck Community.  Members are here to provide assistance and support to individuals experiencing symptoms related to possible abnormal conditions of the spine.  Advice given is non-professional and is primarily based on personal experiences.

Post traumatic rib fractures usually heal over a period of 6-8 wks. At the time of your fall, the focus was on your broken arms and there were apparently no major symptoms pointing to the possibility of a rib fracture such as difficulty breathing, pain with respiratory efforts etc.  Was a chest x-ray done during your medical treatment following the accident?
The rib cage functions to protect our internal organs  There are blood vessels and nerve endings that are located under the rib cage that supply these organs.  A fracture which has healed in a displaced position has created a structural change in your skeleton and can be causing some form of nerve injury.  What recommendations did the spine doctor have after informing you of his diagnosis?
It could be helpful to obtain another consultation and exam with an orthopedic specialist who will review your history and evaluate your current symptoms.  Long term pain in the back could also be related to other degenerative problems and should be evaluated to assess the problems and determine appropriate treatment modalities.
Please post again with an update and any additional questions/concerns you may have.
Best wishes ------