Rib cage deformity without scoliosis?? please help

Question

Hi,

I have a rib cage deformity in which one side of my ribs stick out more than the other due to a rotation that normally occurs in scoliosis (spinal curvature). However, oddly enough, I do not have scoliosis which is what causes the rib rotation.

The deformity is very visible, and began to first appear in my early adolescence (age 14 - I'm in my 20's now by the way) and has since progressively worsened. It often causes me a lot of pain. I was given various conflicting answers to my problem. I've been told by some that it cannot be fixed. Other say it's related to posture and leg length (one of my legs is slightly shorter than the other). I've been told that it can be fixed by strengthening my front muscles and wearing a shoe lift.

However, nothing seems to have helped me so far. I've done the exercises my chiropractor instructed me to do (on and off due to other responsibilities in life and time constraints), the only time I did them on a consistent basis was for 4 months, which didn't show any results.

My chiropractor told me that it would probably take a year to show results; however I believe if this was going to help me it should have shown at least a minor change which it didn't. It seems more likely that my chiropractor was after money.

Now I am even more worried about this issue, considering I cannot even give my condition a name, and I believe it may affect my ability to have children, since one of my ovaries has been pushed to the back due to this rotation (it is not easily visible in an ultrasound).

It would be very helpful if someone has answers to this problem I have. And even more importantly, is there any way to fix this?

By the way, I have been looking into surgery as an option as a last resort (costoplasty - rib removal), and VATS (which is minimally invasive), but I wanted to get a second opinion to ensure I've explored all other options before I make such a big decision as surgery. I have also been considering joining a gym, so that I can strengthen my muscles on a regular basis to see if that offers any changes.

Thanks so much for all your help in advance.

Answer 1

You need to see an osteopathic physician-- not an M.D., but a D.O., particularly if you can find one that specializes in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM).  They have training in musculoskeletal adjustments like chiropractors do, but also understand the physiology of the body like you would expect from a "typical" physician.  The dual knowledge base is your best option for evaluation and treatment.

Your chiropractor sounds like a good upfront person by giving you a time frame for results.  You should ask him/her about why you haven't seen even minor improvements, and see if there are any alternative treatments.  If you're really serious about seeing a difference, then you really need to be religiously consistent with the exercises he/she gives you.

Answer 2

If it were me, I'd avoid any doctor that uses manipulation to treat bone problems.  I could be wrong, but it just doesn't make sense that adjustments can treat bones that have grown curved.

My guess is that you haven't found the right doctor.  In scoliosis, there are some that are more experienced than others.  I'd bet that there are super specialists for orthopedics also.

So how do you find the doctor you need?  Ask the people that know.  Contact other orthopedic doctors for references.  You might also join a couple of orthopedic Yahoo Groups to see if the members can recommend anyone.