So, there I was. I had already been to several doctors and had several procedures; all which showed the same thing: I am perfectly healthy. That’s weird, because I sure don’t feel healthy.
On June 15, 2006 my wife was rubbing the area on my left flank (it should be noted that she is a Registered Nurse currently in school to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist), so her knowledge of various physiological aspects of human anatomy are above-average [as compared with mine]), when she pushed on my bottom/last rib and the area/cartilage between my last two ribs. I felt a jolt of pain/tenderness and we discovered pain localized on/almost under my last rib. She continued to poke and prod until the spot became very tender. At that point, I took Aleve and shortly after, the tenderness went away, and the flank pain was all but gone!
My wife began researching on the internet and came across an article/case history entitled “Slipping Rib Syndrome in a Collegiate Swimmer: A Case Report.” We were both stunned at the similarities between the swimmer’s case and mine. After reading it and several other articles on Slipping Rib Syndrome, she tried to perform the “Hooking Maneuver” mentioned in the Case Study. When she did so, it produced left flank pain and left, upper-quadrant pain in my abdominal wall. The rib also became very tender after pushing on it for a short time. When I push on my left, lowest rib, the dull ache seems to intensify…If it’s already there, it gets worse.
So, we figured out that the flank pain (and the abdominal pain) is actually referred pain and the source is my rib! Holy Shit! Why didn’t any of these doctors figure this out?
After reading the above case report, I immediately recalled an instance in 2000 where I was jumping on a trampoline at a friend’s house and, upon landing on the canvass, felt like something dislocated/dislodged in my lower-abdominal/back. The pain was initially intense, but seemed to go away after awhile, so I didn’t seek medical attention. It was after this incident that these flank pain “flare-ups” began occurring.
So, I was very excited at this point and scheduled another appointment with Asshole, OS. When he came into my room, I explained what I had been through until now and he went off on my ass. He berated me (at least, he tried to; I know I’m not worthless) and even suggested I was making things up. His problem was that I didn’t follow up with my family physician, as he instructed me to when I first saw him. Well, what the hell do I know? I didn’t purposely disregard his instructions; I’m doing what all these doctors are telling me. Lucky for him I’m disciplined enough to refrain from hurting him; I wanted to shatter his jaw, but instead sat there and ate crow…
On June 22, 2006, I followed up with my family physician, and guess what he said? He said there was nothing more he could do for me, as all the tests he would order have already been done. Wow, take that Asshole, OC. After looking at the research I conducted on Slipping Rib Syndrome (hereinafter referred to as SRS), he diagnosed me with SRS and referred me to a Thoracic Surgeon.
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