I am trying to get some sort of diagnosis.
We have ruled out fractures through
x-rays, ct scan, and bone scans. The pain
never stops, only dulls with pain killers,
lidocaine patches do not help at all. 4cc
injection of lidocaine helped for a few
hours after taking about 3 hours to take
effect. I believe it to be a
costochondral separation but my PA does
not believe me. I do not have access to a
specialist as I am deployed to Korea right
now. Any help you can give would be
greatly appreciated.
Current medical status: 1 year 5 months
ago I injured myself doing Army combatives
(fighting/wrestling). My ribs were hurting
afterwards and I had noticed my 8th rib
was 1/2 - 1 inch inward of it's normal
position. It is now slightly further in at
the anterior than the 7th rib and about 1
inch inward of the 9th. I still have
constant pain and any movement or strain
that puts pressure or pulls on the ribs
causes more pain. At times it is so bad
that I can't move. If I put my fingers on
the inside of the rib and pull outward
slightly, there is a feeling of crepitus
and a popping feeling, much like cracking
your knuckles. When released, the rib goes
back and makes another pop. The ends of
the ribs feel bony and rigid as opposed to
my left side which the ends feel smoother
from the cartilage. I believe the
cartilage separated on my right side and
now I feel the ends of the ribs
themselves. When relaxing my abdominal
muscles, I can reach behind the ribs and
grab a hard tissue that I believe to be
the cartilage. I can move it forward to
where it is on the ends of the ribs and
that actually reduces the pain when it I
am having the sharp pains (not the average
constant pain). The tissue goes from the
bottom of the 7th rib down to the 9th.
Current medical treatment: 800mg ibuprofin
as needed, 700mg lidocaine pathces worn
for 12 hours at a time.
Only a specialist-orthopedist can help you
to diagnose and treat your health problem
with your rib cage. I am sure there are
orthopedists in Korea you can appeal to.
For now, there is nothing you can do but
to take painkillers.
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