Asymmetrical chest

crookedchest · Newbie Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 1

Hi!
I've had a problem since puberty which I want to address here in hope of getting some advice in how to fix it.
PHOTOS
http://rapidshare.com/files/102545565/nr1.jpg.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/102545566/nr2.jpg.html

The left side of my chest is noticably bigger than the right side (look at the difference marked with "B" on the nr2 photo. I can recall that when I was younger, I had a small "bump" on the left side, but apart from that the chest looked flat and symmetrical. The difference grew as the years went by. Now I am 21 and as you can see on the photos I have added, the difference is starting to be fairly big.

I think I was around 16-17 when I first started to feel some stings along the area marked "A" on one of the photos. It felt like a protruding bone sticking a bit farther out (I've marked this with double line) - touching this part always felt a little bit uncomfortable (not directly painful, but a lot more sensitive).

I have no idea if this is relevant, but some nights I could wake up with a shooting pain in the heart, having it beat really hard (and kind of out of rythm). This luckily happened less and less as I got older. Now it only happens twice every six months or so. However, I have no idea if this is caused by the chest deformity or if it is because of some other reason.

I thought the difference would recede if I'd started weight training, so I started benchpressing. I was wrong. My left side grew alot faster, I gained strength alot faster on that side. And the soreness from training would always be alot more on that side. I even got a bump just beneath the chest (marked "C" what the hell is that?? - one displaced fraction of a sixpack?)
I also started feeling this weird feeling when sitting, my left arm (shoulder) would travel further forward than the right side. Really weird. So I stopped training. Real pity. So back to square one. I was still left with this uncomfortable twisted feel and prickly sensation, and asymmetrical chest.

But god, I can't take this anymore. I have to get something done. If the difference gets any bigger than this, I don't know what to do. My mind is bent on it, even if I wear loose clothes so I can't see it. It feels like my whole upper body is twisting to the right, the feeling is so hard to describe.

PLEASE HELP, WHAT CAN I DO!!!??

- And please don't tell me to see a doctor, I've seen three already.
With three different outcomes.
1st doctor: Said the problem was due to an infection in the bone, which made it swell. She gave me painkillers and told me to return in 6 months if the swelling didn't reside. I was at the time in the army stationed far from home, so I never returned.
2nd doctor: showed some concern and took some x-rays, then told me i couldn't do anything about it. He could really not explain the pain though.
3rd doctor: looked at it for 1 minute, then said this was as common as having a bigger right foot. He then totally ignored me when I said I had that stinging sensation in the left chest bone (as i have explained earlier).

What can i do... i am so depressed..

Guest · Guest

alright i've noticed that my left chest is also bigger than my right, its about i'd say 1.5inches wider. And while immediately under my left chest my ab shows. Below the right pec there about a 1/2inch gap before the ab shows. I too believed i was doing something wrong in the gym to where my left chest grew so much bigger. After actually taking the time out to research i found that either, i have a small curvature in my back that is causing this or maybe i have pectus carinatum. That's where one side of your chest/ribcage portrudes out further than the other. It's fixable but you have to have surgery, if your an adult they also have this new method where they put a brace over the side that portrudes more.

Jooweol · Newbie Joined: 28 Jul 2008 Posts: 1

I have a similar problem, only my right side is noticeably larger than my left- I have never been able to palpate a discernible sternum or xiphisternum either. The left side of my chest feels sharp and angular. All in all it feels my right side developed normally whereas my left side became more and more crooked, and growth became stunted. This happened sometime maybe pre-puberty, and maybe come 14 or so it became noticeable to the school nurse. Her words? "Oh, what a deformity....you need to go for an X-ray". The X-rays showed that the lungs and heart were ok, just the ribs had developed 'abnormally' on one side. I tried to explain I sometimes had pain in my chest and back but nothing was followed up on. One doctor said that the shape of my chest may put a strain on the intercostal muscles and make it- at times- painful to breathe, but shouldn't affect me normally. I do tend to get quite tired when performing physical exercise, my stamina being only average at best.

The worst problem is more psychological. I almost never take my top off in front of people, and wear clothes that best cover up the problem- close-fitting t-shirts are out of the question. But even with loose t-shirts I can still see the deformity when walking past a mirror/shop window, making me more self-conscious.

I must admit it does seem difficult to see whether something can be done now-I am in my 30s, and do wonder whether a brace would be effective. I did wonder whether surgery would be possible, but I never chased it up.

Would you say, then, that the biggest problem is any physical discomfort or the psychological nature of the deformity? I actually find the physical discomfort easier to deal with than the psychological difficulty.

sucubus · Newbie Joined: 29 Jul 2008 Posts: 1

I have the exact same thing. Like EXACT! I was looking for photos of someone on the internet that had something similar to me...Those photos are like looking at my own chest. I have brought it up to several doctors when visiting for other things, and each one has said something along the lines of "Its normal" or "Its not even noticable". I have this theory that it was brought upon by playing too much guitar. From the age of 12 to 18 (which is how old I am now by the way) I have had a guitar on my chest at almost all times in which I was sitting down. I rarely take my shirt off, which is a real shame because I use to really enjoy going to the beach, but now when I am there I feel self conscious. Its funny because I feel like it motivates me to practice guitar more, because I would have to be pretty good to back up a story in which it is implied that a guitar was pressed on my chest so much that it physically altered my body.

Like you, I tried working out because I figured if I could devolop Pectoral muscles and abs, it would be less noticable. I have come to realize that It is really a bone and probably will not go away without surgery. What do you think man, should we just accept it?

I don't know, but we are in the exact same boat and whatever you do I will most likely do as well. It is definitly nice to find someone with the same problem though.
Get back to me

attackxhomy · Newbie Joined: 06 Aug 2008 Posts: 1

My left side is noticeable bigger than right side. I also have something sticking out on my left side of chest and realize that there is a lot more fat buildup on the right side of my body. I go to the gym often and i just thought that my left chest was a bigger muscle. Now my nipples are assymetrical in that the right side is lower than the left, significantly. I thought this was due to the weight loss (lost about 98 pounds) and I am currently turning 20 this month. I was wondering if there is anything that I can do because when I wear a shirt, I can see the difference and it disgusts me. thanks

benjylove · Posted: 08/21/08 - 04:13 Post subject:

Hey, I have a simular problem so its best to post it in this topic,
In my early teens I got hit in the chest, I believe it was while swimming I got kicked in the chest and found trouble breathing, this apeared as a red mark and sadly didn't look any further into it. Now I am 18 and my right side of my chest is noticebly larger then my left, I have had 3 doctors look at it and Xrays but they said 'it's normal' even though I still have chest pains and sometimes problems breathing, I desperatly want to fix it for health and psycological problems, does anyone know what type of sugery will actualy be able to fix it? and the cost? as my mother believes Im too paranoid over something that doesn't matter, though it matters a great deal to me....

benjylove · Posted: 08/21/08 - 04:16 Post subject:

couldn't find the edit button,
but I don't know if everyone has got a growth or something different
with mine the left side of the ribs are bellow the right, where I got hit

Asymmetrical chest

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