Hello,
I'm 17 years old and about 5 years ago i noticed my left rib cage (front) was bent inwards, i didnt think i was much of a bigger deal though. But its strange, my right rib cage is fine, but the left one is curved inwards, and towards were it meets with the right ribcage, there is kind of a lump, its bone i'd say cause its hard, you can see both the lump and the curved inwards ribcage without having to try and feal it. Is this common? Is there anything i can do about it?
Thanks.

My husband has something like that, his right rib cage is bent inwards. I think he's had it from birth. His right chest muscle is actually smaller too so he's had to weight lift to even out his appearance out. From what I've read, it's common, some people have it much worse. I'm not sure whether you can do anything to fix it, but you can ask your doctor anyway.

my wife's ribacge curves outwards.

She's never had a problem, so I agree that it is just an abnormality that shouldn't cause any problems. You can ask your doctor about it next time, but I wouldn't worry.

I have a third nipple... but who cares?

Thanks for the answers,
Sometimes after i've been in the gym taking weights a few hours later when my muscles are sore, when i bend over it feels kind of like my left ribcage is kind of pressing against my lung or something, its strange cause it only happens after working out a bit. Also, sometimes, but not very often, when I breath it will hurt a litte bit on my left lung, and i can only take small breaths without it hurting, but then it goes over after maybe 20-60seconds.
I'm not sure if i was born with it, maybe the bones in my left ribcage didn't grow like they were supposed to?
Cheers.

I have something similar.. its the lowest rib on the right side seems to be bent inward.. its not really painful at all but since im thin, its noticeable if u look at that area.. i was also wondering if its something that a doctor should look at.. ive read about something called slipping rib but that comes with pain and i dont have any pain.. whatever it is i'd like to correct it because it is noticeable when i have my shirt off.. also like someone mentioned it also seems that one of my chest muscles is a little (very little) lower than the other on the lower area.. ive always wondered why but never really asked a doctor since i dont have health insurance..

Could my bent-in ribcage be a result of insufficient Vitamin D intake? Because as a child i never had any curved ribs.

im just hoping someone has an answer.. i dont remember having them when i was a kid either.. and since ive been working out in the gym alot over the past few months, im worried how abs will grow around that area.. cause when i flex my abs hard the area where the rib curves in a little kinda fills out and looks normal.. any exercises to "fill it out"?? bad idea?? what do u guys think?

anyone have any idea?

I am going to go see the doctor about it, hopefully there is something the doctor can do about it!

let me know what the doc says. there really isnt any info about this online anywhere. i bet its nothing serious at all but still want to know what the heck its all about. \

thanks

Is your upper ribs, lower ribs, both sides or just one? Have you ever heard of Pectus Excavatum? This a deformity in which the sternum sinks (symmetrical) in or is twisted (asymmetrical). Depending on the severity, it can cause symptoms of shortness of breath, chest pain and decreased pulmonary function. There are treatments for this, surgically depending again on the severity and symptoms. I would look it up and see if it's something like you are describing.
My son has had this since birth, it usually gets worse once you go through a growing spurt. He had surgery to correct this last May. It might be something worth looking into again depending on the severity.

hey thanks..

well, its the lowest right rib.. it doesn't effect my chest. None of those pictures look like me. Hmmm.. maybe its related to that tho those pictures look alot worse than what i have..

Hi Jim
Yes most of the pictures that you find online are extreme. My sons didn't look that bad when you looked at him from the front, but when you looked at him from the side, you could definately see the rib cage sink in about 2 inches on the right. His was asymmetrical caused by a twisted sternum. Sometimes it affects the lower ribcage, upper ribcage or both. There are alot of sites out there and one that I go to that show pictures of alot of different cases, it's like pectusinfo. Have you ever brought this up to your Dr?

no i haven't gone to a doctor for it, although i had a physical last year and the doctor didn't say anything to me about it ..i wonder if he noticed? I didn't have insurance at the time and i was afraid to open up a can of worms because i was supposed to get insurance a month later ..well. that job fell through and i dint get the insurance.. so i haven't gone to see a doctor about it.. i have some money saved up now so maybe i'll go get it looked at.. just wish it wasnt so expensive.

I have an indent on my ribcage, the lower 3-4 ribs are bent on my left side.
SupMom810: I don't think I have Pectus Excavatum, from what I've seen on that, it's when the centre, where the two ribcages meet, in the centre of the chest bend inwards. In my case it's on the left ribcage under my left breast-muscle. Anyone got any idea, im worried!

Have you doctor check if your back is straight. You might have scholiosis (I'll bet anything I spelt that wrong). I have two friends with scholiosis, and both of them had the same type of rib curvage.

I finally got around to seeing the doctor today, and he claimed that it wasn't anything to worry about and it's just the way my scelleton has grown. He listen to my lungs and heart and he said that there wasn't any problems. He also took a quick look at my back & spine and they were fine.