I have a pain in the sternum area of my chest. I also can feel something hard just below the sternum. I found costochondritis on the internet and the symptoms seemed to fit. Just wondered if anyone has it or has heard of it.

Well, my curious friend, i HAVE costochondritis. It is a real annoyance, because i also have panic disorder, but that's not what you want to know.

Costochondritis is where the cartilage that connects your ribs to your sternum becomes inflamed, which leads to a very sensitive sternum and very sensitive ribs. It often hurts to do something as simple as lean forward onto something with your elbows. It is a real hell bringer, because it can be confused with various other disorders of the chest area. But rest assured, in case you were wondering, if you have chest pains, and you press on your sternum, and the pain gets worse, it probably is nothing more than costochondritis, which is not serious, but is a real *****.

I don't know about the hard part under your sternum, but i can tell you, it does cause pain in the sternum.

Oh yes, I've had it for years and by the way it is one of the big reasons people end up in the ER thinking they have a heart attack. My hubby has had both and he says they feel the same only the Heart A is more intense and travels more. Like Garm said it is real and painful, mine was caused by injury to my sternum when I fell on my chest years ago. It comes and goes and yours will to. Oh and Garm, I use to know a person whose last name was Garms. I don't think I've ever seen the name in this setting.

[This message has been edited by NancyH (edited 09-19-2003).]

Yeah, i developed Costochondrisits and panic on the same day. What a world. Nothing like severe wrenching chest pain, and adrenaline rushes, dizziness, and jitteriness to make your trip to the hospital even quicker.

Oh, and by the way


<--Garm (my password for garm no longer works)

My first attack was severe so I went to the ER thinking it was a heart attack having had one before. The physician diagnosed it as costochondritis and gave me some medication by injection. He said to take Naproxyn (Alleve) for additional relief. Found the Naproxyn works very well. Have had a few recurring attacks since then but these were always less severe than the first one.

I have heard of it--since yesterday when my doctor diagnosed me with it.
I have had a pain in my chest for a week, the rib area under my right breast and the outer muscle of right breast. I thought it might be a bad side effect from my birth control pills.

The doctor didn't have too much info on it--said there isn't much. But she gave me Bextra, an anti-inflammatory (one which, FYI, is great for mentral cramps and hangovers). I am patienly waiting for it to go away.

For those who HAVE had it, do you know about how long it takes to go away?

I dont know if i have it. Does any of you get a pop or 2 with this
condition? I think something is wrong with my sternum cause it pops
sometimes and it also gives me a pressure type feeling and if i push on
it or if the doctors push on it it hurts to where i have to turn away.
what is this?