"Popping a rib" - anything that can help?

[AstonZagato]

I have a recurring problem with a rib.

I cracked it in my 20's and now, when put in a stress position, it "goes" again. The latest one was water-skiing (a deep water start on a monoski - boat goes, I compress, rib goes pop - ouch). However, I seem to find a way to do it every couple of years, usually playing sport (probably my body telling me to start acting my age and stop trying to do stuff I used to do).

I think it might be a tear in the inter-costal cartilage rather than a break which keeps occurring. Either way, it is bloody painful, makes moving in certain ways agony and renders sleep difficult for a couple of weeks.

So, my question is: is there anything that can be done to prevent it?

Once its has happened, anything to do other than dosing on nurofen?

[goldblum]

Muscle and cartilage are two separate things.It's quite likely you have carried this injury,with it never quite healing,for many years.

First off you need to find out exactly what this is,so it's xray/scan time and maybe GP referral to specialist.

[AstonZagato]

Thanks. I haven't bothered the GP with it. I probably should.

[goldblum]

As the injury is chronic it has shown it is not going to heal without help so if you don't get it seen to it will plague you for years(more!)..

Go on get it sorted once and for all.

[E21_Ross]

it's probably more likely to be damaged ligaments or joint capsule for either your costovertebral or costotransverse joints rather than anything muscular. you "pop" a rib once, the ligaments and/or joint capsule(s) are stretched and are now lax and the joint is less stable and thus is more likely to go again.

it's the exact same principle with a sprained anke. sprain it once, you'll have chronic ankle instability for the rest of your days, short of undergoing a good rehab programme for it (even that doesn't "cure" the problem).

not really a great deal you can do as far as i'm aware to be honest.

[MudSkipper]

I popped a rib out last summer (but didn't know I'd even done it). I saw my GP who put it back in place, but woke up the following morning in pain again and realised it had popped back out so went to see the work chiropractor. I had around 6 sessions with him to put the rib back into place and to help sort out the muscles and ligaments in my back.

All was well until around 5 weeks ago when I went to too many Bon Jovi concerts in 1 weekend and ended up with a painful back. After a few days thinking 'ohh I've just pulled a few muscles' I noticed the pain was very similar to when I popped a rib so went back to the Chiropractor, who told me I'd pulled the ligaments holding my ribs in place hence the familiar pain.
I'm now on my 7th session this time, as he's also treating a compressed nerve in my back (all from the same weekend). I am pretty much back to normal now, I just need to act my age a bit more so that I don't do it again