Merry Christmas!

I’ve just found an extremely valuable tool in my crusade to educate the morons, I mean masses: Goolgle Book Search. I’ve been using Google’s plethora of resources to conduct my research and, although I thought I was using all Google had to offer, stumbled upon their book search page. In so doing, I searched various terms, e.g. slipping rib syndrome, etc. and found actual medical textbooks that talk about/describe SRS and it’s related ailments! I even found an illustration that shows/describes the “hooking maneuver!”

I’ve placed a link to Google Book Search in the “Blogroll” box, located at the right. I’m still researching ALOT, so if you have questions about anything, let me know!

Sympathy For The Devil

Well, it’s December 20 and I’m still undergoing therapy with my DC. One of the most frustrating things about this ailment, for me, is that it is so unpredictable. As of this writing, my pain and symptoms are fluctuating so rapidly that I don’t know what therapy will consist of until I get to my DC’s office. My pain is sometimes: 1) a deep, dull ache in my left flank, 2) tenderness on or around the area of my last/lower, left ribs, 3) sharp, stinging pain on/in my left side, or 4) tenderness on or around the area of my upper, left abdomen. Moreover, because I’m doing SO MANY different things to combat this ailment, I have no idea what works and what doesn’t! It’s a vicious cycle!

However, I will say this, and please let me know if you are able to explain this: When the pain is a deep, dull ache, if I have my left flank vigorously massaged, the deep ache gives way to surface tenderness, i.e. the dull ache almost completely goes away, but the injury spot becomes very tender!!!???

My DC also gave me a “FASTT Patch,” to see if it could help me, and I must say that it appears to be helping/working, but I could easily be wrong, as one of the many other things I do to combat this ailment could be what is actually working, or a combination thereof…I’m confused.

I’m also in the process of trying to contact every Orthopedic Surgeon/Neurologist/Spine Specialist, etc. in my area, to see if they’ve heard of SRS or if they can point me in the direction of someone who does…So far, all I’ve gotten from the receptionist/nurse is a non-empathetic “Sorry, no.” One facility I called has six OS’ and in a matter of 30 seconds the nurse I spoke to told me none of them has heard of SRS. I said, “All of them? You asked all six doctors in a matter of 30 seconds?” To which she replied, “Yes.” Riiiiiigggghhhht.

It seems to me that, in this case and to these doctors, I am a devil. I represent the unknown, the medically unconquered, a medical mystery. I’m a thorn in their side and it’s too easy to blow me off, rather than take the time to actually research this ailment and help me. If they could feel the pain I do everyday, they would have this shit down in no time.

Happy Holidays!

Maybe It’s A Glimmer…

The following day I went to my Pain Management Specialist and she prescribed me muscle relaxers. I took them 4 times a day for about three weeks (until around November 29^th). I now continue to take one at night, before bedtime. As far as waking up with back pain, some days I do and some days I don’t. One of the things that makes Slipping Rib Syndrome so frustrating is that I can’t find a correlation between ANYTHING! I can’t deduce that, if I do X and X, then my back pain goes away or is minimized. SRS seems to manifest itself however it chooses, whenever it chooses.

 

So, today is Sunday, December 3 and I’m still seeing my Chiropractor thrice weekly. The therapy consists of ultrasound for a couple of minutes, followed by a “Graston Rub” and then spinal/rib manipulation/alignment. My Chiropractor comments every visit on how my ribs are STILL “popping out!” The only rational thing to do is to continue my current therapy to see if it can resolve my injury. I should point out that, I do feel better, as far as the pain goes, so even though I’m not “healed,” my therapy is helping.

 

I was also fortunate enough to speak to another SRS sufferer who told me that her Orthopedic Surgeon was familiar with SRS! This gave me renewed hope and I plan on contacting every OS in and near my hometown to see if they have heard of SRS!

 

If you have, or suspect you have, SRS it’s SO important to NEVER GIVE UP HOPE! I saw on the news yesterday that someone had received the world’s third successful hand transplant. Hell, the lady who had a FACE TRANSPLANT FOR GOD’S SAKE still continues to do better! If medical science can transplant limbs, appendages and faces, it can help us; it’s just a matter of finding that doctor who’s familiar with this syndrome. It’s also important to spread the word about SRS and educate as many people as possible! I’m learning that there are A LOT of us out there!!!!