I Just Might Have the Weirdest Problem in the World

neverstray

On Friday, I went to the doctor to see what's going on with my side. I've been having pain there for a long time, like over a year. Its not really my side, kind of like my back, near where my kidney is. I'm scared it's another golf-ball sized kidney stone and I just don't want to deal with that again. Anyway, doing initial tests, the doctor really doesn't feel that it's a kidney stone. I've done a couple pee tests and blood work and an ultrasound, and nothing is indicating a kidney stone or kidney blockage of any kind. So, he comes up with this bizarre theory that he thinks it's my free floating rib that is poking me and causing pain. He pressed on it, and it really hurt. And he think it is bruised from knocking into my pelvis bone when I do certain types of exercise, and it also is stabbing into my meat and causing pain for me.

He has been on this theory since I visited about 4 months ago to first start looking into my side pain. He is somewhat convinced because he says right there where I am having pain, there's just nothing there. It can't really be too many things. If its not the kidney, then it's my stupid free-floating rib.

If it turns out to not be my kidney, he said he wants me to lay off exercise, sit up straight, and take Aleve or something for about 3 months and see if the pain goes away.

I asked him if my doctor is recommending no exercise. He said no. There might be some things I can do, like walking and elliptical. But, he said probably no running, and no yoga and no lifting and no crunching. I thought, WTF!

W E I R D E S T. P R O B L E M. E V E R!

I asked if I could just have the rib removed. He thought that was a weird question, I told him I think this problem is weirder than my question. He said is possible, but pretty major.

Anyone else have this issue?

annabellj

wow! no but im sorry that you do! i hope it gets resolved soon. no exercise would send me off the deep end.

palmerig88

Free floating rib? Huh?

neverstray

Free floating rib? Huh?

All the ribs are attached, except the very bottom one. On the back of it, it's not attached to anything and just sits there eating to stab your insides. He said its not super common, but that some people do have problems as a result.

palmerig88

Everyone has this and not many have problems? Or not many have the free rib?

neverstray

Everyone has this and not many have problems? Or not many have the free rib?

Everyone has floating ribs on the bottom, but it isn't a problem for most people. He said the bottom of my rib cage and my hip bone are really close together, like less than an inch, and that's probably the problem. Now, I'm looking at everyone's hips and rib cages at the beach. Lol.

Here's a little info on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floating_rib

jppd47

Free floating rib? Huh?

I bet he means the Floating ribs,. Could be the one grew in a funny way on is pressing on something when moved in a certain position. Or an injury earlier in life had an effect. You could always see another doctor or maybe even a PT to get another opinion.

SPNLuver83

I would get another doctor's opinion.

And if it is really a free floating rib, I would seriously consider getting it removed. It seems like an issue that would need to be addressed.

steph124ny

All of your ribs are attached in the back. The bottom ones sort of come out as a Y shape. They are not free floating. They only call them that because they are not attached in the FRONT. You only have a very few bones that are totally unattached...like your patella and the hyoid bone in your neck.

I think you need another doctor.

overfences

Two words: Second opinion.

Hope it turns out well for you and you get some relief STAT!

Phaedra2014

You may have trigger points between your ribs on that side. Look it up and self-treat.

SuperSexyDork

The "floating ribs" are the very bottom set of ribs but they are attached to your spine. Your rib bones aren't just hanging out there on their own.

However, it seems to me that if I were you I'd be looking into a specialist or getting a second opinion. All doctors are not created equal when it comes to certain problems.

bikinibeliever

I'm giving you the weirdest problem award, you win! Sounds like a a huge pain (no pun intended) and I hope it works out for you!

neverstray

All of your ribs are attached in the back. The bottom ones sort of come out as a Y shape. They are not free floating. They only call them that because they are not attached in the FRONT. You only have a very few bones that are totally unattached...like your patella and the hyoid bone in your neck.

I think you need another doctor.

Why would I need another doctor?

I'll look for another opinion if I need to, but there's been nothing to indicate he's wrong yet. And because when he push on it, it was really sore, he has a point.

BenderFitness

One of my best friends is a doctor and I am going to ask her about this. I just did some research online (because I have never heard of this and I am a total nerd so I needed to find more info). I thought this site was useful: http://www.isischiropractic.co.uk/chiropractic_rib_pain.html

From what I saw rest is important to healing it. However, it is also caused by weakness in the muscles that support the joint where this rib is attached. Instead of having not enough flexibility this joint has to much.

If my friend tells me anything useful I will let you know.

palmerig88

Aha get caught staring oh no! I was just getting a picture of your ribs in relation to your hip bone there...

SwimTheButterfly

Yeah, it is time for you to take your floating rib somewhere else to get another opinion. Your doctor sounds like an idiot. You should go to your gyno too. That sort of back pain could be a sign of an ovarian cyst, which is often overlooked by doctors but can be very deadly .

NGMama

Those ribs often move in women to accommodate pregnancy. I have a friend who had twins at 38 weeks. She's about 5'3" so her lower ribs really moved to make room for the babes. She has one side that sometimes "pops out" , for lack of a better expression, when she exercises. She said it's excruciating. She lays in a hot bath to relax the supporting muscle and pops it back in.

Maybe he will say you can wear a tensor bandage or something to stabilize it while you exercise?

Ely82010

The bottom rib is attached to the spine but not to the sternum like the others; so yes, we all have a "floating rib," However, I think that an X-ray can help to pinpoint the problem.

neverstray

Yeah, it is time for you to take your floating rib somewhere else to get another opinion. Your doctor sounds like an idiot. You should go to your gyno too. That sort of back pain could be a sign of an ovarian cyst, which is often overlooked by doctors but can be very deadly to a woman's health.

I'm a guy. Lol.

lauraniwa

Might be worth checking in with a physio for stabilization exercises. (IMO)
Good luck!

tishad58

Personally, I would request a referral to a PT with a sports specialty to gain some quality information and potential resolution to the problem, or even visit a chiropractor if you are so inclined. There may be other ways to address this without losing extensive workout time.

neverstray

I've been resistant to the floating rib theory, and more on the kidney stone the size of a golf ball theory, so I haven't and wouldn't yet do anything to look at it. The last stop will be my CT Scan. If that doesn't see a stone, or anything else, then I'll be on the floating rib theory and check it out more thouroughly.

It's my fault. Not my doctors, even if I'm dying, I just don't make appointments and when I do. Miss most of them. Takes me almost 6 months to a year for me to just call for an appointment. I'm not really a very good patient and I despise the bills that come later. I'd rather die most times.

First step is to completely rule out kidney stones. If that checks out, then I'll ask for more extensive info on the rib deal, including a specialist that can help with movements and such.

I was posting this to see if anyone else had heard of this problem or experienced it.

mamaomefo

I vote for a second opinion and while you're talking to the second doctor ask questions along the lines of what is the treatment and/or cure if he agrees with the first doctor on the diagnosis. Then you may have several avenues of treatment options.

jdsmom0104

Never heard of that... But what comes to mind for me is have ur gall bladder checked out. Mine had to be removed ASAP when i went to er with excruciating back pain... Go figure

stephross88

You could do punches. Just sit straight in a chair and punch away...it gets your heart rate up and is pretty good cardio for when you have an injury.

puppywalker

If your doctor doesn't recommend surgery to remove the rib, then insurance won't cover it. I would suggest you get a second or third opinion. If the pain is severe enough, you'll keep the appointments. Good luck!

Cait_Sidhe

Get a second opinion. Something like this shouldn't depend on what one person thinks it is.

As far as having the rib removed, unless it's causing damage, I don't recommend it. I had 8" of my fourth distal rib (chest area) removed due to a tumor and the space was filled with plastic mesh. It's very major surgery and the worst I've ever experienced. My right lung collapsed and my world was nothing but pain for several months. Since your problem rib is lower and not near the chest it might not be as bad. But I still don't recommend it. FWIW I have a rare genetic bone disease and am very familiar with orthopedic surgery.

chocoholicdiva

I have two pieces of advice for you: second opinion from another doctor and an X-ray. I'm talking full upper to lower body torso here, where you're feeling the pain, because for the doctor to tell you to not do exercises you may need to do? Just take some Aleve? That obviously makes him/her only one thing - a quack, and you and I both know they can't be trusted.

MaraDiaz

On the one hand, of all the horrible things pain in that area could be, it's not that scary. On the other hand, I feel bad for you because of how freaking annoying that sounds!

neverstray

Haters gonna hate I guess. He's not a quack. I've been with him for 30 years. Second opinion, maybe, if we get there and it's needed. This kind of thing is not just an immediate fix. We have to eliminate variables in order to pinpoint the issue. Geez. Some of you really need to chill out.