I was in an abusive marriage years ago and after my ex broke my rib, I wasn t allowed to go to the Dr. to fix it. As a result, the bone healed improperly and is now calcified and even though massage alleviates the pain for a day or so, by the third day, the area is swollen and painful......and now I am experiencing spasms in that area that leave me breathless. I have had an MRI, CAT scan and it was finally found with an ultrasound. My Dr. said there isn t much that can be done with a second rib that healed like mine did. He equated it to an ice cream cone....the bone is protruding, causing the swelling of the tissue around and over it.