Chest pain needs medical assessment before chiropractic treatment. Do not assume it is a rib or muscle problem.
Call 911 for sudden or persistent chest pressure or pain, pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back, or chest pain with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea or lightheadedness. Do not wait for an office appointment or drive yourself.
For other new or unexplained chest pain, get prompt medical advice. After serious causes have been excluded, a clinician can assess chest-wall or muscle symptoms. See NHS chest-pain guidance; use 911 for emergencies in the United States.
Chest pain needs medical assessment before chiropractic treatment. Do not assume it is a rib or muscle problem.
Call 911 for sudden or persistent chest pressure or pain, pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back, or chest pain with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea or lightheadedness. Do not wait for an office appointment or drive yourself.
For other new or unexplained chest pain, get prompt medical advice. After serious causes have been excluded, a clinician can assess chest-wall or muscle symptoms. See NHS chest-pain guidance; use 911 for emergencies in the United States.
Chest-wall pain may involve muscles, ribs or the cartilage joining ribs to the breastbone. Costochondritis is one possible cause, but symptoms alone cannot rule out heart or lung problems.
After medical assessment, care depends on the diagnosis. Activity changes, suitable pain relief and individualized rehabilitation may be discussed with the treating clinician. Chiropractic treatment is not a substitute for evaluating unexplained chest pain.
If follow-up musculoskeletal care is appropriate, ask about the goals, risks and alternatives before manual treatment. Improvement and recovery time vary; rib manipulation should not be presented as a guaranteed correction or cure.
Call 704-461-1836 to discuss non-emergency follow-up and appointment availability after assessment.
Sharp pain, tenderness or pain with movement or breathing can occur with chest-wall conditions, but these features do not establish a displaced rib or exclude a serious cause. Left-sided or right-sided pain is not a reliable self-diagnosis.
Seek medical assessment for new or unexplained symptoms. For severe or persistent chest pain or associated breathing difficulty, call 911. Only after urgent causes have been excluded should routine musculoskeletal follow-up be considered.
