What is the effective treatment for chronic back pain due to rib fractures?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have been experiencing terrible back pain for three years. It started after a car accident. It was discovered that I fractured my posterior ribs 2 to 6 on the left side and 4 on the right side. It hurts during breathing and physical activities like bending, twisting, and stretching. I find it hard even to clean my house. I have lots of pain in my scapula, under the clavicle on the left side, and under my left breast around my serratus anterior, to my back, and on the scapula. There are also certain spots that hurt when pressed. I find it hard to sleep at night due to back pain. This has been ongoing, and I have images of my thoracic spine. Please review my MRI report.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understand your concern.

The MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) images (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity) you have uploaded do not show significant abnormalities that might be causing you pain in the chest wall. There is no spinal canal stenosis in the thoracic spine. Having said this, your pain is likely due to post-traumatic rib injury. The ribs are not well visualized in the given images, and X-ray and CT (computed tomography) scans of the chest are investigations to confirm rib fractures. Please share X-ray or CT scan chest images if you got any images.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I have reviewed the X-ray reports (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity). The X-rays show mild degenerative changes in the mid-thoracic and lower lumbar vertebral levels. Sorry, the DICOM (digital imaging and communications in medicine) files are still not available to me for review. Please attach them again.

Thank you.