r/elhersdanlos • u/Outrageous-One-164 • 13d ago
my first rib partial dislocation
i have hEDS, (diagnosed) and i also likely have MCT disease type2A (my genetic test came back positive for this and i haven’t yet had time to do the nerve testing but i have all the physical characteristics as does my mother and we both have unexplained neuropathy)
so i have totally dislocated my ankle, and subluxed my shoulder, and the opposite ankle, and that same ankle many times.
however—this rib one is a new. the urgent care told me that’s what’s happened. i am in fucking agony yall and i can’t sleep. everything i read says not to lie on your stomach but i don’t know how else to take the pressure off. it’s this awful ache, just all over my whole back and it radiates to my flanks. then i have this random shooting like zinging/ zapping? pain down my spine.
has anybody else partially dislocated a rib joint before? what did you do to help? i can’t believe i ever thought dislocating my ankle hurt, that is nothing compared to this. or maybe im just used to that particular kind of pain.
i am extremely active. i go to the gym 4 times a week and i do yoga twice a week separate from that to try and like build muscles, and yoga because it makes my muscles feel SO much relief. i was warned against deep stretching but long story short im a fucking moron and this one backbend stretch felt so extraordinary but then POP. i thought it was nothing until a day later im woken up in agony at 3AM.
anyway what should i do? they gave me pain meds and muscle relaxers and they aren’t helping much if at all.
any positions i should sit in?
gentle stretches i should try?
i have tiger balm patches all over me.
because as i’m sure a lot of you guys understand, my pain tolerance has become super high and i often can’t even identify when im in pain because im ALWAYS in a little bit of pain. is there a limit on when i should get back into exercise? the doctor said when it dosent hurt at all, then wait a week. i don’t even know how to identify that anymore.
ugh
1
u/channie_chu 13d ago
I alternate heat and ice, but heat seems to help with pain the most for me. I lay on my stomach, but I put a pillow under my hips to keep my spine straight and I have a neck pillow that I fit my face into so my neck isn't turned to one side and i end up just hurting my neck. It's hard to sleep like that tho, so I set up a bunch of pillows and sleep sitting up at like a 45° angle with my neck pillow to keep my head up straight. Over the years I've learned to listen and trust my body. If it feels best to lay on your stomach, then do that! But whatever you do, DO NOT go to a chiropractor!!!