Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion Helpful Tips Ribs

I get it now so all I have take an overdose of female hormone, grow breasts, wear and bra and my inflammed ribs will start to calm down??? :-)

Ha ha

Uhm, I think the ladies are referring to NOT wearing bras, as they compress on the ribs too much and inflame them. Unfortunately, we don't have bras to stop wearing to make our rib pain go away!

I think I may try a roller, although they look like a medieval torture device to me (probably only look that way when viewed with AS eyes).

Right on Chief. Bras - NOT. They compress the ribs and are darn UNcomfortable. Stopping wearing them don't make the pain go away, just stops 'some' of the discomfort.

Rollers? Medieval torture devices. Am still recovering from trying em out over two years ago - memories of pure agony! Never again.

My PT tried the exercise that Donna mentions. Now, this is a good exercise, yes, it does hurt, but, you can feel the rib cage responding in a positive way. All I need to do now is to try it out on my own (hmmmmmmmm. First find some floor space!) Wish my PT 'knew' what they were doing re massage. They are Hopeless. Sigh.

Hi, I'm new to the site but have been suffering with AS for over 14 years. I have done pretty well in coping but just need some advise. does anyone have like a constant pressure on their ribcage and if so anything relieve it. Its not neccassary pain but its annoying. Is there maybe a stretch that could help. I go to massage but might go to chiro. It is mostly on leftside but sometimes feel on both. Thank you. Great site

(lol, already said all this. it's late. i need sleep!)


Hi Shanny,

My physical therapist works on my ribs until they start moving again. Ribs are supposed to be flexible to allow for expansion/contraction of our lungs. AS can cause the cartilage around the ribs to harden and kind of fuse. When someone presses on your ribs (hubby, or friend) they can learn which ones have a little flex and which ones don't (probably the ones bothering you). I can also work on my own ribs by rolling around on a foam roller.

Hope this helps.

-Donette

Welcome here Shanny

This is weird, but I have started doing the breast stroke upside down... sort of. It's a modified version of the elementary breaststroke. I sort of slide my arms up above my head in a diving shape, and then gently pull them down to my hips. For some reason, this opens up my rib cage like nothing else.

You'll get lots of good ideas here. Peace

Hi shanny, and Welcome to KA!

I've had a fairly constant pressure on my ribcage over the past year and a half. It's like a small weight centred on my breastbone and the sensation makes it seem as though I can't take a proper breath, although I can really. When it gets worse, it's like a two inch wide band has wrapped around my full ribcage.

I used to get this years ago but with matching pain and lost some range of motion in my rib cage but the only thing that I've found to help was to take it easy for a spell. Too much movement always aggravated mine. When it's a little better, very very gentle breathing exercises to expand my ribcage as much as I can, comfortably, seems to help.

I'd be nervous of being treated by a chiro for this, as they are not recommended for AS, but think a good physical therapist would be very worthwhile, if you haven't seen one yet.

Glad you like the site - nice to have you here!
mig

so i've been going to this chiro for about 3 and a half months now, once or twice a week and he's been doing this really gentle soft tissue work called active release technique and the last few weeks it hasn't even been my ribs anymore, they seem to be much better now. the last few weeks, he's been working on my scalenes; all the muscle spasms really caused the scalenes to shorten and now we're addressing that. again, no thrusting maneuvers, not really working on the bones, much more working on the muscles, tendons, soft tissue, explaining how they impact the bones, get them in proper balance and the bones resolve themselves. there are all kinds of chiros out there, and i wouldn't go to many of them, but if you can find someone who does active release, it seems to be just what my body needs. while i have a chiro doing this technique, i know others here that have had it done through PT, not sure which is more common to do the technique. if you go to youtube, you can watch some videos on the technique.

Sue,

That is so awesome. It sounds like what my PT does. I'm SOOOOOOO happy for you.

-Donette

hi, sorry to hear you got rib pain but your not alone on this one coming to kickas. have you tried putting a cushion behind your back just under the sore area when sitting? i find ice pack and light stretching and a lot of resting helpful also.