protruding sternum disorder

EDIT: Double post sorry.

Wow, I have this too.

I have an uneven chest and I'm 15, it really sucks because I've been wrestling this year and it's been alot more noticable than last and I got picked on because of it.

We didn't do many pushups on my team (more drilling and running than pushups or work outs) and it's still very noticable. I just barely found out about the surgery stuff today via google searching and all I can say is OUCH! Broken in 3-4 places and a brace for several months? I dunno if I could deal with that.

I also have very poor posture so that could have something to do with it too...

Is there any other remedy? I live in utah so I don't think I could really do that brace thing.

You can get the brace in Utah, just need a prescription from your doctor.

Hey Guys,

I hear you all. I'm a 34 year old man in Australia. I had and have a pigeon chest. It was a bit of a pain to have during my teenage years, but since I've become an adult it's been okay.
I started weight training at about 18 years old. It doesn't make the protrusion disappear, but it certainly hides it!! I've sincew become a bit of a fitness fanatic. All those guys with the so - called " normal" chests in high school have now gotten quite unfit and don't look too great. But to be honest I didn't really get that many terrible things said to me because of my chest. Looking back now I realise most people were curious.
In short, don't let it bother you too much. As you grow and broaden it lessens. And when you're able, swim, hit the gym, whatever you can and you'll see it slowly look normal. I mean VERY normal. But don't over train your chest muscles.

Does this help?? Peter

my son and my daughter both have this. my son is now 20 and his chest

really looks much better. my daughter is 17 now and just been in a head on car crash with me and her dad. it seems to have made her chest look worse. neither off parents have got this. but hang in there and maybe like my son your look better.

elaine

hey im 16 and ive had the problem for about 2 years now, but its just now starting to get really bad. I want the T-Joe brace terribly but my parents say that out insurence doesnt cover it so they won't pay the money for it. It sucks but im hoping it gets at least slightly better over time. If by chance i would get it, how noticible is the brace under clothing?

Im 13 and i have had this since i was about 12ish. I think i have a minor case but i still kinda of stinks when i have to take my shirt of for gym, and were ganna start swiming in a week. i want to get that brace really bad and i dont even really care if it shows through my shirt. i have been trying to do push ups latly

i am 22 and i first noticed my pectus carinatum at about 6 or 7 years old. i was diagnosed with a growth condition when i was younger but my sternum grew at a very regular rate. it was once measured at protruding more than 4 1/4 in. it currently resides at about 2/12 to 3 in. a long with my sternum protruding my ribs grew in an unnatural way so they are quite broad. i was not able to use a brace because of it and te surgery is not worth it for me health wise. there aren't any know sternal deformities in my family. i used to find it imbarrasing to take my shirt off but i have come to terms that it is part of me and always will. i have noticed that as i have gotten older people arent as cruel, there more understanding and want to know why and how and ask questions so they can realize that it doesn't make who you are but it is part of you and it may seem hard but you need to feel comfortable about yourself. for some that may be the brace or surgery, but i think the biggest part is the support from family and friends. it took me a while to figure that out but there is always gonna be support.

yeah im 14 and i have exactly the same problem and havnt been swimming since i was 8. i hate it, i get teased so much about it in the pe changing rooms at school and im already seen as an outcast as i like the heavy metal scene.
my recent girlfriends have noticed it too and think its discusting and have finished with me the moment they found out about it.
you all helped me by understanding that i am who i am and i cant change that.
Thanks, all of you guys have really helped and thank you all for the advice. :-)

Hey guys im 17 and I've got a pigeon chest too. I'm really self concious about it because it shows up a bit when i wear any type of clothing. So do push ups really help or does it make it stand out more. I hate it, I wish I could just bang it into shape. ahahah oh well hang in tight guys. It could be worse, true? Still sucks though. =D thanks for this forum. I don't feel so alone now.

hey hi. wow. ive been looking all over the net for ages. ive been to like 4 doctors. ive never found such a collection of people with this prob. its like no one else (even the docs) know anything about it.
im 19 now, ive had a small (1in.) protrusion at the very bottom of my sternum for about 9 years. it really shoots my self esteem to the ground.
it gets bigger whenever i flex/work out and it has definitely gotten bigger as i have grown.
also the ribs to either side of it are super uneven. this makes my right pec look huge!
i can push it in until it is flush but it just pops back out.

a doctor told me he could grind the bone down, quick and easy, but the op was like 30g and my insurance classified it as "cosmetic" so i couldn't get it.
plus that wouldn't fix the rib thing.

thank you all so much, finding about about the brace has given me this strange light at the end of my tunnel.

I also have this pidgeon chest, but surgery may not be the answer. My cousin also had this condition when he was a teenager, but as he grew through his 20's it turned back into normal. I just hope the same happens with me.

Guys and I am 41 now and have lived with a protruding sternum (also medically known as Pectus Carinatum ) for most of my life. Surgical options were available when I was younger but they were way too invasive and destructive. My protrusion is fairly sever (3.5 inches) and has actually limited me physically. There are several physiological side effects to this deformity, such as decreased stamina, getting winded or shortness of breath quickly with light to moderate exercise, heart displacement, etc... I too have lived through many of the same things you guys are experiencing, trust me it will all work out and it gets better as you get older with the exception of the physical limitations and of course the protrusion. The medical technology has advanced so much over the years that surgery is far less invasive and there are even braces that can be worn to correct most pectus deformities without surgery. See Trainer Joe or Pectus Services for Bracing information. Most of you are all still young enough to take advantage of bracing since your bones are not as rigid. Based on everything I have read most youth can get close to 100 percent correction in less than a year with bracing. It is certainly worth checking out if you have not heard of it. As far as surgery goes the Children's Hospital at the University of Minnisota does alot of surgical corrections as does UCLA. Dr. Fonkalsrud at UCLA is now retired but has done extensive reasearch in this area and has performed countless number of corrective surgeries. Any way another good reference if you want to get more information. You can also lookup Pectus Carinatum or Pectus defects to learn more. Also do not be surprised if most of your local doc's do not know about this deformity and most will dismiss it as purely cosmetic. Most cardiothorasic surgeons are familiar with the disorder and surgical corrective procedures but most will also advise against surgical correction unless you are suffering some serious physical limitations due to the deformity. Anyway best of luck to you all, do some research and all will work out.

Hey, i am 14 and i have the pigeon thing too, i just noticed it and it is realy weird. I mean i can move my sternum, thats freaky, i can move it outwards from the tip.
I just thought that i was the only one that had this thing, but then i googled it and found this forum.
I feel like a freak. But life goes on.

Wow. There are a lot of people with this same problem. It seems I also have this problem. My chest seems to stick 3-4 inches out and has been like that since I was born. I've always been very self conscious about it. In my middle school days I was teased about it a lot. I was very skinny and it stuck out a lot. I would try to hide it by putting 4 or 5 baggy shirts on but it was still very visable. People would call me "uniboob" and things of that nature. I really hated myself and wondered why I was like that. I'm 17 now and a junior in high school. I have a wonderful girlfriend who doesn't mind it. She has really helped me with my self esteem. I have started working out and it seems that now that I'm starting to gain more muscle mass in my chest and abs it looks more normal. Good luck to you all.

Thanks for listening

-Jack