When Chest Pain is Not a Heart Attack
Chest pain is usually a sign of the beginning of a heart attack; however, there are other reasons for chest pain that may not have anything to do with heart problems. When you are having trouble or pain when breathing (especially, when inhaling), there may be something brewing beneath the surface.
What is a Rib Subluxation?
Rib subluxation is one disorder where chest pain may be the prominent symptom. So, what is rib subluxation? It is when a rib is misaligned and not in the proper position in the joint space. When this happens, the ribs are not in the proper position and they can cause many issues, including chest pain. Chiropractors often call this a rib head going out. Luckily, the pain relief comes quickly following the correct treatment by a qualified chiropractor.
Causes of Rib Subluxation
Some causes of rib subluxation can be lifting a heavy object improperly and causing the rib to dislocate. Many physical contact sports are to blame for this problem as well. Weight lifting can also become a culprit of this rib misalignment, but putting too much weight on the joints or breathing improperly. This often happens during bench pressing. You can event get this subluxation from coughing or sneezing too hard.
Symptoms of Rib Subluxation
The symptoms can feel like a sharp pain, often during inhalation. After the injury, the body will display symptoms in the form of pain when breathing, muscle spasms, numbness and tingling, and even problems in the form of chest pain (oftentimes my patients say it feels like they are having a heart attack). Coughing, sneezing and even laughing can often increase the pain and cause more discomfort. You may also experience swelling in this area that can be sensitive to the touch.
Treatment
Fortunately, there are treatment options for this type of injury. If it is severe and you are having acute pain that will not go away, you should see a doctor. However, for minimal discomfort, you may be able to visit a chiropractor. They can work on the situation by working on the alignment of your spine. It may just take one session for you to feel relief from pain and discomfort. It may take several visits for others to get the rib head aligned in their proper joint space. Regardless of the sessions required, make sure to visit your chiropractor as soon as possible to avoid scar tissue that may form around the joint and cause adhesions that will make it difficult to align.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is not just about manipulating the back through force and pressure. There is also education provided on posture and exercise, ergonomic training regarding how to sit and walk properly, nutritional therapy, and even various forms of physical therapy. Chiropractors have numerous ways to be able to provide you with a happy and healthy back. Chiropractic treatment should be your first line of defense if you are considering back surgery or other types of back pain treatment. Besides appropriate treatment, my staff and I often give tips and pointers on how to avoid getting in that painful situation again.
If you’d like to set up an appointment, you can call my office at 860-583-43466 or fill in the online form here.
Dr David M. Spitz is the founder and clinic director of the Chiropractic Health Center of Bristol, located in Bristol, CT. From 1982-2022, he treated thousands of patients for various conditions ranging from neck and back pain, to migraine headaches. He specializes in treating patients who have suffered whiplash injuries and/or back injuries in a motor vehicle accident. In 2022, after 40 years of treating patients, Dr Spitz retired to spend more time with his wife, children and grandchildren.
Dr Spitz was a volunteer EMT-I and a lieutenant for several years at the Burlington Volunteer Fire Department. He has lectured throughout CT on various topics including, chiropractic, stress management, headaches and preventing back injury in the workplace.
