Pressure on my sternum

beef410dc · Newbie Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 1

I am 22. I started experiencing pain in my sternum area about 6 months ago. I have scoliosis and went to a chiropractor in my youth until I was 17 years old. I used to weightlift religously up until about 3 years ago. On the right side of my sternum bone about two-thirds of the way up, there is a bump/knot, which I deduce is inflamed cartilidge where the rib meets the sternum. I've had that bump for as long as I can remember. So....I've always had scoliosis, a bump in my sternum, and I used to be a big weightlifter...so why does the pain start now??? My logic says its posture. In retrospect, the past 6 months I have been sitting in front of my computer at least 3-4 hours a day. And I admit, my posture is absolutely HORRIBLE. The previous explanation of poor posture and how it affects the sternum make sense wonderfully. I AM NO DOCTOR, but I believe my sternum discomfort comes MAINLY from my lazy posture. Sure...scoliosis, cartilidge inflammation, and weightlifting put pressure on the sternum thats not meant to be. But I imagine poor posture amplifies this pressure exponentially!!! I will make a concerted effort to correct my posture woes and see how my chest pains are affected, and definitely try to post my findings.

Guest · Guest

I cant believe I have found this website and to find out that Im not the only person suffering from this. That alone brings comfort. I can just related to every person who has wrote in about this and what they are suffering. I havent experienced the popping thing but I find when I twist my top body I hear a grinding sound. Ive just been back to the Doctors this morning, so Im now waiting to go for an X-ray. If I think back to when it started I at the time was suffering alot with heartburn and acid reflux. I believe this has done something to my sternum. I know Im not coming up with a solution but Im just glad to discover Im not alone and I understand how everyone is feeling.

Guest · Guest

My sternum hurts too. It has for a couple of years now and I am used to it but I feel cursed. I've been told I have costochronditis. This seems like a likely explanation except that costochronditis is supposed to go away. The pain moves from right to left and to the center and to my lower back. I am a runner, I run few miles every day. I do not find that exercise aggravates the pain, but stress does. And it doesn't hurt as much as causes the sensation of great pressure, like an elephant is resting its hoof, or whatever, right on my chest. I also have these tension headaches and I feel dizzy sometimes. It's no fun to be me.

Guest · Guest

The one--and only--relief I have found was taking vitamin D (calcium). One pill, daily.
-eric

Guest · Guest

Deb113 · Newbie Joined: 09 Jul 2007 Posts: 1

I too have been experiencing sternum pain for the last 6 years along with upper back pain radiating through my left rib cage. I do not have a cracking issue. I have been to my GP, had a upper GI, visited a cardiologist and rheumatologist, had a MRI, visited a orthopredist, had physical therapy, went to a spine specialist, seen a Chiropractor and no one can come up with a diagnosis. The spine specialist said it might be costrochondritis, but it never goes away, so I am not confident with that diagnosis.

People cannot empathize with the chronic pain. I travel 2 hours on trains to work each direction and work on a computer for hours. I have tried different ergonimic solutions at work, but nothing helps.

I have taken nerve medication, antidepressants, pain pills, but nothing helps.

It is good to see that I am not alone, it at least makes me feel that I am not the only one. I just wish someone can help me and all of you.

User123456 · Newbie Joined: 18 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

I've had the same problem for about a year and a half ago. i work alot with computers (both for work and for fun). I played alot of video games when I was young (mostly computer games). The posture that you have, and the desk that you have, when typing and on the computer has alot to do with the problems you migth be expreiencing.

I am not overweight, i am in fact tall and lanky. Im 6'1" 130lbs

If you do ANY work with computers or typing, make sure you get a desk and a chair that properly suits you. Check out this website to see how to set your desk up:

http://www.nismat.org/ptcor/ergo

Buying a new desk and chair is the best investment that you can make, i'm serious here. You will save yourself alot of pain and trouble simply by having proper posture when typing.

As for the condition. i've had it since I was 17 (im 18 now). As some have said it does feel good to "pop" my chest. I have always done it by leaning back in a chair or something. However, i have passed out when popping my chest and with disastrous consequences. If you lean back by arching your back you can sometimes lose consciousness either by cutting off blood to your brain (if you arch your neck aswell) or by simply having a vasovagal response (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasovagal_syncope). Don't worry too much if that happens, although it can be pretty scary, its not harmful (i once fell on my face off of a chair, and really screwed up my face, embarrassing, but I recovered Smile

. If you DO need to pop your chest, make sure that you do it in a location that is safe Smile

. I started doing it while sitting down on a bed after that.

I have recently had less problems and haven't cracked my chest in about 3 months. I would make it a habit not to as it is an "addictive" feeling, similar to that of smoking or any other vice, you get a short high off of doing it, reminds me of nitrous, or laughing gas.

Conclusion,

Improve your posture,
Set up your desk properly,
Stretch your entire body more often, including your chest, it will releave alot of stress,
Do breathing excercises,
Meditation and other breathing oriented arts such as Yoga really really help in this matter both by stretching your chest with controlled breathing, but most importantly releiving stress,
Do anything that releives stress, go for a run, walk your dog, take a hike, have a glass of wine (everything in moderation), have a nice evening with your significant other...

I hope this helps, i have improved my condition 10 fold and i hope it can do the same for you.

User123456 · Newbie Joined: 18 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

quick reply to this topic:

the "cartilage" that is being stretched here is called fascia, and its basically the stuff that holds your muscles together, the white stuff in beef jerkey if you eat that stuff.

dumplin12 · Newbie Joined: 22 Sep 2007 Posts: 1

I'm very glad to have found this site but from what I have gathered no one has found relief? I have the same pain but also have pain on my left side (chest area) front and thru to the back. My left shoulder hurts as well and sometimes feel pain down my left arm. I immediately thought of heart issues but like others all tests showed my heart to be healthy.

I experience headaches as well and this has been going on for 3+ years. Doctors look at me like they've never heard of such a thing. It's also somthing that makes me very fatigued.

Can anyone say if there is a medical remedy?

Guest · Guest

Pressure on my sternum

LIFEFORM SOCIAL COMMUNITY NETWORK