I Just Might Have the Weirdest Problem in the World

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neverstray
neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
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?
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Replies

  • annabellj
    annabellj Posts: 1,337 Member
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    wow! no but im sorry that you do! i hope it gets resolved soon. no exercise would send me off the deep end.
  • palmerig88
    palmerig88 Posts: 623 Member
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    Free floating rib? Huh?
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
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    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
    palmerig88 Posts: 623 Member
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    Everyone has this and not many have problems? Or not many have the free rib?
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
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    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
    jppd47 Posts: 737 Member
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    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
    SPNLuver83 Posts: 2,050 Member
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    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
    steph124ny Posts: 238 Member
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    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
    overfences Posts: 96 Member
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    Two words: Second opinion.

    Hope it turns out well for you and you get some relief STAT!
  • Phaedra2014
    Phaedra2014 Posts: 1,254 Member
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    You may have trigger points between your ribs on that side. Look it up and self-treat.
  • SuperSexyDork
    SuperSexyDork Posts: 1,669 Member
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    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
    bikinibeliever Posts: 832 Member
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    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
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
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    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
    BenderFitness Posts: 349
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    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
    palmerig88 Posts: 623 Member
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    Aha get caught staring oh no! I was just getting a picture of your ribs in relation to your hip bone there...
  • SwimTheButterfly
    SwimTheButterfly Posts: 265 Member
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    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
    NGMama Posts: 384 Member
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    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
    Ely82010 Posts: 1,998 Member
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    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
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
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    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
    lauraniwa Posts: 131 Member
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    Might be worth checking in with a physio for stabilization exercises. (IMO)
    Good luck!

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