Anyone who has had the privilege of experiencing a popped rib can attest to how positively miserable the sensation is. As soon as it occurs, you’re well aware of what you’ve done, seeing as the sensation is indistinguishable from most other injuries, and, sadly, once this type of injury occurs, it tends to happen again.
I’ve had issues with my ribs for a long while now. The problems began years ago when I was in elementary school, competing in long jump for track and field; I ate shit quite dramatically, and immediately felt something inside my chest wall crunch, with pain radiating all the way to my collarbone. My mom took me for an X-ray, and nothing showed up, but I am positive I did some serious damage back then that is contributing to how frequently I now have problems with my chest.
Check out the following information regarding a popped rib from webmd.com.
“A popped rib is a musculoskeletal condition that occurs when one or more of your false ribs shifts out of their usual position. It’s also called the slipping rib or Cyriax syndrome. This syndrome often goes underdiagnosed and may cause other problems that make it very challenging to maintain physical activity.
“Your rib cage consists of 12 paired bones. The first seven pairs are called ‘true ribs’ and are attached directly to the sternum. The 8th, 9th, and 10th pairs don’t attach directly to your sternum but connect indirectly by cartilage. That’s why they are known as ‘false ribs.’ The lower 11th and 12th pairs are usually referred to as ‘floating ribs.’
“Because your 8th, 9th, and 10th ribs aren’t directly connected to your sternum, they are prone to excess movement. It’s this hypermobility that exposes your false ribs to the likelihood of slipping. A popped rib is a more common injury among athletes who engage in contact sports than in other people.
“A popped rib happens when the cartilage attached to any of your ‘false ribs’ breaks, resulting in abnormal movement. It’s this slipping out of normal position that causes pain that’s felt in your upper abdomen or lower chest.
“In most cases, a popped rib is caused by injury or trauma. However, there can be times when it just happens without explanation. For some people, there’s a likelihood of inheriting the condition. Doctors also think the condition may arise from chest problems such as bronchitis, asthma, or a serious, persistent cough,” the web page explains.
Check back tomorrow for more information about this injury.
Photo by Nino Liverani on Unsplash
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