On July 3, 2006, I went to my PMS and advised him, also, of SRS and everything I’d been through until now. He also said he’d never heard of SRS and ordered a Thoracic MRI. I was called by his office a few days later and advised the results were normal (as expected).
On July 18, 2006 I saw the Thoracic Surgeon. He physically examined me and was able to make my rib slip, i.e. he had me sit straight up and, from my left side, manipulated my lower, left ribs, making them move. He also pushed on them from the side and was able to reproduce the flank/abdominal pain. He also, surprise, surprise, conceded that he has never seen this before and has never heard of SRS. He advised the only thing he could do, and would be more than willing, is refer me to his mentor at Ocschner. He did, however, assume that my PMS did a nerve block on me prior to now. I advised him that one had not been done and that, I would have one then get back with him for the Ochsner appointment.
On July 25, 2006 my PMS conducted the Intercostal Nerve Block procedure. As expected, the block did not relieve my symptoms. I contacted the Thoracic Surgeon and his staff made an appointment at Ochsner for me, to see a Thoracic Surgeon there.
So, I continue to see my PMS (who has me on Vicodin and Ultram ER, because the Vicodin alone is not enough to resolve my pain). I also tried to reach out to the authors of the Case Report and actually was successfull in contacting Dr. Brian Udermann, via email:
I wrote:
Mr. Udermann:
I’ve had rib pain for almost one year now and came across Slipping Rib Syndrome in a Collegiate Swimmer: A Case Report while researching online. I was stunned when I read the report, as I have been through almost the exact same thing as the swimmer. My problem, and why I write you for your help, is that every doctor I’ve been to has not heard of Slipping Rib Syndrome. I had an appointment with a thoracic surgeon today and, although he agreed that my symptoms are the same as the swimmer in your case report, he has never seen or heard of my situation or Slipping Rib Syndrome.
Can you please direct me to any resources or anything that would help me get a diagnosis to my problem? I live in Louisiana.
He responded:
Sorry to hear about your rib pain. I’m afraid I don’t know any surgeons in your part of the country. Dr. Daniel G. Cavanaugh (one of the authors on the paper) was the surgeon who performed the surgery on our patient. At the time the paper was written he was practicing at the Marshfield Clinic – Eau Claire Center in Eau Claire, WI. I haven’t spoken with Dr. Cavanaugh in a year or so but I think he is still practicing at the Marshfield Clinic. Not sure if you would be able to travel to see him . . . but he might know of a thoracic surgeon in the south a bit closer to you if you are not. The believe the phone # for the Clinic is 1-800-924-8515. I just received an e-mail from a young lady earlier this week from New Hampshire who has been dealing with rib pain for nearly two years and who just made an appointment to see Dr. Cavanaugh.
I wish I could have been of more help . . . and best of luck in having your pain resolved.
Have a good day.
Dr. Udermann
What a nice man…I then followed up with:
Dr. Udermann:
Thank you for your prompt response. Can you tell me why this syndrome is such a mystery to other doctors and why they have never heard of it?
To which he responded:
Not sure I have a good answer for your question. I have been working in athletic training and sports medicine for the past 15 years or so and had never heard of slipping rib syndrome until our athlete saw Dr. Cavanaugh. It is not a condition that is currently discussed in our (i.e., athletic training) literature or textbooks. Maybe it is covered in medical school curricula and textbooks . . . but I don’t think it gets a lot of attention there either.
Have a good day.
On September 28, 2006 at 9:00 AM, I went to Ochsner and saw four different Thoracic Surgeons. They all huddled around me like I was an alien and poked and prodded me, etc. They concurred that I do have SRS, but used a synonymous term, Floating Rib Syndrome. They advised me that, as far as resolving my pain, they wanted to start conservative, as surgery is not exactly the desired option here. They suggested I see a good Chiropractor; one familiar with SRS, etc. and, if that doesn’t work, try Physical Therapy. In the event the first two options don’t work (and they should), then we’ll consider surgery.
I have had a rib tip that slipped out as of March, 2006. I have gone through all kinds of tests. A few months ago I also saw the article on the internet by Dr. Cavanaugh. I, in fact, am going up to see Dr. Cavanaugh tomorrow for a consultation. I have gone to numerous doctors and no one seems to know now to treat my rib tip that is slipped out. I had numerous MRIs, CT scans, etc., which all show normal. However, you can literally feel and see that my rib tip is out of the socket, and I am also experiencing back pain and upper abdomen pain. This has been an exhausting experience and very frustrating. I’ve been to a chiropractor, and he did not know what to do. Good luck to you. Let me know how you are doing.
I have spent many hours on the internet trying to figure out what I have. All of my symptoms and experiences with doctors are identical to the ones I have read about with regards to Slipped rib syndrome sufferers. I have had physical exams, x-rays, blood test, urine test, the lists goes on and on. I have been diagnosed with Costocondritis (which is a basic form of SRS). Because my doctor and physiotherapist aren’t familiar with SRS. I have had no choice, but to take matters into my own hands. My plan of action is to try chiropractic treatment with a Chiro Dr. I found, not familiar with SRS, but is very intreged and has now resarched it for me. If that doesn’t work then I will try a theropy called Prolotheropy (with a good back strengthing program). It is a natural injection treatment that is suppose to work wonders on people with SRS.
Good luck to all of you. I can’t belive Doctors don’t know about this disorder and, from my experience, don’t really seem interested in researching it to learn more for the well being of their patient.
having suffered a great deal from the lower rib pain to the degree I even could not work, and keeping the anatomical reason for this pain in mind I was surprised that keeping the area relatively immobile with support was not a recommendation from medical practitioners
I discussed it with my wife and she had the marvellous idea of using a lumbar support these are available from pharmacies in different sizes with velcro to make adjustments and we just applied it around the upper abdomen-lower ribs area to give support to the hypermobile painful rib and the benefit has been remarkable I only wear it during the day and i am relatively pain free,and even though I initially wore it at night also,I can now take it off at night but the benefit continues at night because I can now sleep through the night, without the pain I suffered before whenever I moved or changed position at night
I hope others can get the same benefit from this treatment without having to resort to more expensive and invasive treatments
It took me two years, 4 different hospitals, and a barrage of testing (everything imaginable) some tests were duplicated just to make sure they didn’t miss anything. I finally was referred to a pain specialist. God Bless Her! She diagnosed my problem in a matter of 10 minutes. I am now in search of a surgeon, as the steriod shots and meds only relieve the pain on a temporary basis. Yes, it is incredibly hard to believe that out of all the hospitals I’ve gone to, no one diagnosed my ailment. What I would like to know is - if there is anyone out there has had surgery to correct SRS. My pain is in the lower left quadrant, more specifically my 11th and 12th rib. I’d love to hear from anyone who has the same problem. Email me at karenseb@verizon.net - Thanks and the best of luck.
I too have been going through the same chronic pain, due to what I believe is slipping rib syndrome. I have had steroid injections (which relieve my pain for about 9 days), but was told by my pain specialist that this is only a temporary solution and cannot be continued in the long term. I just met with a thoracic surgeon, and he is against surgery (as surgery would involve the removal of part of a rib or an entire rib). He says surgery is too risky, and experimental. I live in Canada, and most of the stuff I’ve come across on the internet is based in the US. I too would like to know if anyone has had surgery to correct SRS, as I am curious how it turned out. The thoracic surgeon stated that I may end up worse off after such a surgery. Thanks to anyone who can provide me with any answers….I can be reached at undercover24@hotmail.com
For the last 2 years I have been experiencing left flank and left abdominal pain; occasionally the pain also radiates up my back and through my sternum. I have undergone all the imaginable scans and bloodwork and everything came back normal. One evening I was rubbing the area that was painful and I felt my rib actually slip back and forth. I started doing internet research and discovered information on “slipping rib syndrome”. I provided the information to my doctor who was able to reproduce the ’slipping’ and agree that the symptoms were similar but also conceded she had no idea how to treat it. I have tried a number of analgesics which provide minimal relief. My question is has anyone gotten any improvement in their symptoms by seeking treatment from a chiropractor or prolotherapy? Also does anyone else get pain that radiates through the sternum and shoulder? I would appreciate any input.