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Ste 103, Asheville, NC 28803

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Rib Pain

Rib pain that makes you guard every breath, hesitate before a sneeze, and dread rolling over in bed is one of the more disorienting things a patient walks through our door with. The good news is that it usually responds very quickly to the right care. Call (828) 274-1122 for a same-day appointment.

Rib pain catches most people off guard. You wake up and take a breath, and there is a sharp catch in your side that was not there the night before. Or you take a fall on a trail at Bent Creek or Black Mountain, and suddenly every inhale is something you are bracing for. Breathing is not optional, which is what makes this kind of pain so hard to just push through.

The good news is that rib joint problems, which is almost always what causes that sharp catching pain with each breath, respond really well to chiropractic care. At Blue Ridge Chiropractic, Dr. Mark treats this regularly. Most patients can breathe more easily before they even leave the table after their first visit.

Are You Dealing With Rib Pain?

Rib pain has a pattern that most patients recognize right away once they hear it. Here is what we commonly see:

● A sharp or stabbing pain on one side of your chest or back when you breathe in

● A tender spot along the ribs or next to your spine that hurts when you press on it

● Pain that gets worse when you twist, reach, or turn your upper body

● A dull ache across the mid-back or between the shoulder blades that came on suddenly

● Rib soreness that started after a hard cough, sneeze, or long illness

Trouble finding a comfortable position in bed because lying on your side makes it worse

If a couple of these sound familiar, you are very likely dealing with a rib joint that has shifted slightly out of position. It sounds scary, but it is a straightforward problem to fix.

What Actually Happens to the Rib

Each rib connects to a bone in your mid-back called a thoracic vertebra. That connection is a real joint, just like your knee or your shoulder, and it can get stuck or slightly out of place just like any other joint. When it does, every single breath moves that joint and irritates it. That is the sharp catch you feel.

Common causes include a fall or sudden impact, a really hard sneeze or prolonged cough, an awkward twist or reach, or just sitting hunched forward for too long. Pregnancy is another common cause because the ribcage expands quite a bit, and the joints do not always return smoothly after delivery.

Did you know? You have 24 ribs and each one has two joints where it connects to the spine. That is 48 joints just in your thoracic ribcage. Any one of them can become restricted or slightly displaced, and when they do, you feel it with every single breath.

How Dr. Mark Treats Rib Pain

A rib adjustment is a specific, targeted technique aimed at the exact joint where the rib meets the spine. It is gentle and precise, and it is very different from a general back adjustment. Most patients notice they can take a full deep breath more easily right away. Dr. Mark also addresses the surrounding thoracic vertebrae and uses soft tissue work on the muscles between the ribs and along the mid-back to release the tension that built up while the joint was stuck.

Most patients with rib joint problems feel significantly better within two to four visits. We see patients from Asheville and nearby areas including Fletcher, Weaverville, Candler, Fairview, Arden, and Biltmore Park. Call (828) 274-1122 for a same-day appointment.

Ready to Feel Better?

If pain, poor posture, or stiffness is slowing you down, we’d love to help. At Blue Ridge Chiropractic, Dr. Mark makes it simple to get the care you need and start feeling better. Call today or book your appointment online to get started.