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Posts Tagged ‘Rib Pain’

Among the many causes of rib pain is a condition doctors call osteochondritis dissecans (sometimes simply called osteochondritis).

Osteochondritis dissecans can actually happen anywhere there’s a joint in the body, especially the hips, knees and ankles.

Osteochondritis dissecans is the result of a piece of cartilage, breaking loose from the end of a bone. When this happens, a thin layer of bone also separates from the rest.

Unlike most other types of joint pain which occur with advancing age (arthritis is a good example), osteochondritis dissecans typically happens to older children and teenagers - especially if they’re actively engaged in athletics.

Anyone who has developed osteochondritis dissecans will feel some pain and discomfort near the end of a bone. Osteochondritis dissecans typically causes rib pain or ribcage pain in the front near the sternum or in the back near the backbone. The exact reason why osteochondritis dissecans occurs remains somewhat uncertain. But when it happens, one or more of the following circumstances are usually present.

1. One of the most common causes is an injury or some type of repetitive stress damage to a joint. This makes it easier to understand why osteochondritis dissecans occurs in younger people more than older ones. The younger people are more likely to be active in contact sports or vigorous exercise.

Another common cause of rib pain from osteochondritis dissecans is a blow to the chest or back as the result of an accident (especially an auto accident).

But, osteochondritis dissecans isn’t always caused by a single blow. If you sustain a series of repeated blows over the course of time, minute damage caused by each one will eventually become recognizable damage, leading to pain from osteochondritis dissecans.

2. Blocked or obstructed blood flow is a second common reason for osteochondritis dissecans. This results in a condition called avascular necrosis, which basically means the bone and the cartilage around it deteriorate and die.

3. Lastly, genetics may play a part. There’s evidence that certain people are predisposed to developing osteochondritis dissecans.

Rib pain is the most common symptom of osteochondritis dissecans when the affected area is in the chest or back. Once again, the pain is likely to appear where the ribs meet the breastbone or the spine.

You’re most likely to notice the pain when you’re exercising or playing sports - times when you’re called upon to breathe deeply and rapidly.

Once again, osteochondritis dissecans often affects larger joints, causing knee pain, ankle pain, or hip pain. These joints will not have the full range of motion and may even feel as if they’re “sticking” slightly when you try to use them. There may be a sensation of weakness in joints where osteochondritis dissecans has developed, along with some swelling and tenderness. When there’s pain in the front of the torso from osteochondritis dissecans, it’s located in the same area that you typically feel angina - the chest pain you feel when you’re having a heart attack. So it can sometimes be frightening. Meanwhile, pain in the upper back might lead someone to believe they have gallbladder trouble.

Early diagnosis of osteochondritis dissecans is important because if it isn’t treated, it can result in long-term disability in the affected joint. The desired outcome of treatment is to restore the joint to it’s normal functioning state and of course, eliminate pain. Treatment choices vary from one patient to another, but happily, there are a number of options. Your doctor is likely to recommend one or more of the following.

Rest, relaxation and avoidance of activities that may make the condition worse.

In most cases, it’s a good idea to immobilize the affected joint. This won’t work, of course, if osteochondritis dissecans affects your ribs, because they move every time you breathe in and out. But you can definitely refrain from activities that require deep, rapid breathing like sports or enthusiastic exercise.

Medications like Advil, Motrin, Aleve, and Naprosyn can help relieve rib pain from osteochondritis dissecans. These are brand names for a category of pain relievers known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs. They are also commonly known by the names aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium.

Your doctor is likely to recommend physical therapy. By stretching and doing range-of-motion exercises, you can relieve the pain in joints and restore normal movement. Be mindful, however, that rib pain is somewhat different that pain in other joints, so you’ll need to carefully follow the instructions of your therapist or doctor.

Surgery for rib pain from osteochondritis dissecans is usually the last option. Most doctors will exhaust non-surgical possibilities over the course of three months or so before recommending an operation.

Once again, early diagnosis of osteochondritis dissecans as the source of your rib pain is important. By talking to your doctor and following his or her recommendations for treatment, you can return to normal activities - without pain - as quickly as possible.[/body]

[resource]To learn more, click on osteochondritis dissecans causes and causes of rib pain. Neal Kennedy is a former radio and television talk show host. To read more of his articles, click on pain in the ribs.