floating ribs??

hey guys, ive just got a question. Hopefully smeone will know.

Basically i get bits of pain just underneath the bottom of my ribcage, u know, like behind it. Anyway, like, 4 yrs ago now i noticed that i could feel like a lump that would ocassionaly move from almost behind my rib so it was sort of poking out. Well enough for me to be able to move it with my fingers, like make it click against my rib. Anyway, i saw 3 docs about it, the first 2 didnt really believe me i dont think as i couldnt get the little lump to pop out for them to see for themselves. But the third doc i was insistant to stay there til i could get her to feel it. Anyway, she seemed a bit suprised and hesitated for a moment and then said it was a floating rib, so basically a spare rib at the bottom of my rib cage that does nothing and its not attatched to the cageitself, And that there was nothin i could do about it and it would just hurt forever. Its not bad pain, jus like a stabbing pain every now and then which i can make go away if i prod about for a while.lol. Anway, i noticed that i have it slightly on the other side too. Does anyone know anything about floating ribs? And do u think i have anything to worry about. Its been playing on my mind for ages ive never met anyone with a floating rib before and everyone i tell thinks im stupid!

Morning Jenny,


Its something I have heard of but until you mentioned it...I had forgotten all about it. Before I go to bed I did a quick search(you and other Dogweb users can probably do better but this is what I found)

The 'floating' ribs are 11 and 12. They are said to be floating because of an absence of an anterior articulation. However, they are not completely mobile and unattached:

• they articulate with a single thoracic vertebra posteriorly
• they are attached to thoracic cage muscles along their length

However, though I have yet to look here myself...try the following link...and yes, seemingly even dogs also have floating ribs...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbo.../ribcage.shtml


G'nite

Gildy

thanks for that gildy

i tried lookin for info ages ago and nothin came up,. but i just did a search and i found this:

[The painful floating-rib syndrome]

[Article in Italian]

Frada G.

Attention is drawn to a painful syndrome in the front of the chest, due to abnormal mobility of a rib that has lost the normal cartilaginous connection with that above it. The syndrome is common enough, though little understood. Deep, continuous, dull and gravative pain is felt in the bottom of the chest and top of the abdomen, with distribution over the base of the hemithorax involved. It is relieved by rest and exacerbated by the effort and certain postures. One or more ribs on one or both sides may be affected, though the Xth is most commonly concerned. The condition may be the direct or indirect result of trauma, or congenital. Abnormal development of the XIth rib may result in its riding over that above it and so causing pain. The formation of parietal algogenous sites is thought to be primarily responsible for pain. These sites result from rubbing of the end of the free cartilage on neighbouring structures. Direct compression of the corresponding trunk may also be involved. Objective diagnosis is based on topical signs. The floating rib is readily recognised as the cause of pain and the syndrome itself is known as the painful slipped (better, floating) rib syndrome. Satisfactory results are obtained by deep analgesic infiltration at the end of the free cartilage and can be prolonged by rest. Reference is made to previously reported data concerning functional disorders of the extrahepatic bile ducts in subjects with this syndrome in the light of a more ample case series. The radiological picture is usually marked by gall bladder hypertonia and hyperkinesis, with occasional sphincter involvement. The physiopathogenetic interpretation of these associated parietobiliary manifestations is discussed in the light of experimental and therapeutic evidence. Their clinical interest is also stressed.

Hi Jenny
I hope it helped but did not frighten you. Does it give any ideas of possible reduction of the pain?

It proves if anything that you are probably correct in your own diagnosis and something more to tell should you need to go back for further medical help.

Syndrome after some ailment I now realise all too well is often used by the medical profession when they are unsure what caused the problem.

I went down with a kidney problem in 1997 and am now only off all tablets and treatment though I guess I am only in remission and am never sure if the problem will return or rather when. And if it does whether it could be ven more serious. The point being I had been fit and well until then and suddenly I was being told that I had Nephrotic Syndrome. Though years on they appear to refer to it as nephrytis.

Hope things improve for you

Take Care

Gildy

Hi

I don't know much about them but my mum has it too. She is in her 4os now and it has never caused any trouble except a bit of pain if she accidently squishes it. Sorry I don't know any more but I hope that helps you feel less worried about it

I would imagine, if there was any major worry with this, when you saw the doctors they would have done something about it, I would not worry too much, unless it becomes unbearable then obviously go back and get it sorted. funnily enough my daughter was in a car accident last year, and when they xrayd her they found she had extra ribs on both sides. but these were at the top of the ribcage not the bottom, she has never had problems with it and the specialist(they referred her to a cardio thoratic surgoen) said they didnt have to do anything with it, as it was not interferring with any other parts of her.

Mo