Rib pain syndrome

hi guys,
well wud some one throw some light on RIB PAIN SYNDROMES..

i have a lady patient with lower rib pain on the left side, both infront and at the back... she has it since 6 months... history of lung infection but that has subsided now...
wat therapy sshd i start with... will ultrasound work...
it aint referred and mobility of thoracic spine is fine..

bye

[Physiobase]

Rib pain is common with lung infection, especially if the plueral space becomes "sticky". Breathing exercises to both inflate the lung and the rib cage would be good. Think laterally. Get the client to go and buy a packet of ballons. Ask them to blow up 10 balloons twice a day for a week and you might get a great result.

I would not want ot use any device such as ultrasound over a previously infected tissue. Use gentle rib mobs in prone and also in sidelying. Let us know how you get on.

i think some resisted breathing exercises would help the patient.In this regard, i would suggest the patient might benefit from spirometry exercises.
If there is localized pain in the costo- chondral junction ,then it may be suggestive of Costo - chondritis .in this diagnosis,ultra sound in the pulsed mode will be of benefit.

hey,
well thanks for the help.. well physiobase, the balloon worked magic.. in a week the lady reported back with jusst mild pain which was gone within a few more days.. that was good..
thanks..

[arunja]

As you have said that there was a lung infection , all the breathing pattern would have changed. This may also reflect in the movmnt of the ribs . I would suggest that its better to do some rib mobs especially in the sternocostal and costochondral.