Oct 27 2010
Osteochondritis Dissecans – A Cause of Rib Pain
Among the many causes of rib pain is a condition doctors call osteochondritis dissecans (sometimes simply called osteochondritis).
Osteochondritis dissecans doesn’t only affect the ribs. It can occur anywhere there’s a joint. Typically it occurs it in hips, knees, or ankles.
Osteochondritis dissecans occurs when some of the cartilage in a joint, along with a thin layer of bone under it, separates from the end of a bone.
Individuals who are most likely to be affected by osteochondritis dissecans are not older adults, as you might expect. Osteochondritis dissecans is more common among teenagers and young adults, particularly if they play sports.
Individuals who have osteochondritis dissecans experience pain and discomfort near the end of a bone. It would be likely to cause rib or ribcage pain in the areas where a rib or ribs connect either to the backbone (spine) or the sternum (breastbone). The exact causes of osteochondritis dissecans are somewhat unclear, but it generally appears in one of three circumstances.
1. One of the most common causes is an injury or some type of repetitive stress damage to a joint. Keeping this in mind, it’s easy to understand why osteochondritis dissecans happens more often to young adults and teenagers – they’re the ones who are most likely to play competitive sports and exercise vigorously (sometimes too vigorously).
Another classic cause of rib pain from osteochondritis dissecans is injury due to an accident (particularly an auto accident).
Sometimes, however, it takes more than one impact or a single blow to cause osteochondritis dissecans. Small, repeated blows over the course of time can add up and eventually begin to cause pain.
2. Another cause of osteochondritis dissecans is blocked blood flow around the end of a bone. This results in a condition called avascular necrosis, which basically means the bone and the cartilage around it deteriorate and die.
3. Heredity is the third possible factor. Certain individuals seem to have a genetic predisposition for developing the condition.
One of the most prominent symptoms of osteochondritis dissecans affecting the torso is rib pain. This discomfort is likely to be felt near the breastbone or the backbone.
You’re most likely to notice the pain when you’re exercising or playing sports – times when you’re called upon to breathe deeply and rapidly.
As mentioned before, osteochondritis dissecans doesn’t only affect the ribcage and torso. It often strikes other joints. When osteochondritis dissecans develops in a knee, hip, or ankle, you won’t have full range of motion and the joint will feel as if it’s sticking when you move. There may be a sensation of weakness in joints where osteochondritis dissecans has developed, along with some swelling and tenderness. When it happens in the front of your rib cage, it can be mistaken for chest pain similar to angina. Meanwhile, pain in the upper back might lead someone to believe they have gallbladder trouble.
Early diagnosis is important for anyone with osteochondritis dissecans because the longer it goes untreated, the more likely it is that long term damage – possibly even disability – may occur. The object of treating osteochondritis dissecans is to reduce or even eliminate pain and restore normal function to the joint. A number of treatment options are available. Outcomes vary from one patient to another but your doctor will probably suggest one or more of the following possibilities.
Staying away from activities that could worsen the condition or increase the damage. Rest will help, as will avoiding movements that cause pain or increase inflammation in the joint.
Usually, immobilizing the joint is a good idea, but this is impossible when osteochondritis dissecans is causing rib pain. Your ribs move with every breath you take. But keeping any activities that require rapid, deep breathing to a minimum will help you recover faster.
NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can help relieve rib pain from osteochondritis dissecans. These include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. They are sometimes better known by their brand names, which include Advil, Motrin, Aleve, and Naprosyn..
Physical therapy involving stretching, strengthening and range-of-motion exercises normally are beneficial to joints. But take care to follow on the advice of your doctor or physical therapist where rib pain is concerned because exercises will be somewhat different from exercises for other joints.
Most doctors will try to treat rib pain from osteochondritis dissecans for three to four months before deciding on surgery.
By getting an early diagnosis and following your doctor’s treatment recommendations, you increase your chances of relieving rib pain from osteochondritis dissecans and resuming normal activities in the shortest possible time.[/body] [resource]To learn more, click on osteochrondritis facts and what causes pain in the ribs. Neal Kennedy is a retired radio and TV medical reporter. To read more of his articles, click on ribcage pain.
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