Dear Dr. Aaron

Is it actually possible to displace a rib while cooking ribs?

My husband swears he “threw a rib out” lifting a tray of ribs into the smoker. I say he just had one too many adult beverages while “supervising” the smoke. Now he’s walking around holding his side like he’s auditioning for a barbecue drama.

So, Doc—do ribs really go “out,” or is this just a case of too much sauce and not enough sense?

Signed,

Saucy but Skeptical

Dear Saucy but Skeptical,

Yes, ribs can technically “go out”—but usually not while loading the smoker. More likely, your husband strained a muscle, or maybe he’s suffering from a severe case of barbecue bravado. 🍺🔥

If he truly displaced a rib, he’d be in enough pain to drop the ribs, and let’s be honest—no one who loves smoked meat is letting that happen.

So, bring him in. We’ll check his spine, his ribs, and maybe even his story. Until then, keep the adult beverages to a minimum and the ribs on the smoker, not in the excuse pile.

Stay saucy,

Dr. Aaron