Lately, I've been experiencing intermittent pain in my chest. It's kind of a throb, exacerbated by, for example, picking up something heavy.
However, I've noticed that, when I arch my back far backward and, in so doing, pop my sternum (an audible "pop!" sound), it relieves the pain entirely. If I'm unable to achieve the pop by arching/stretching, the pain remains.
Is it common for popping one's sternum to relieve unexplained chest pain?
I have had something similar for years years and years now. I went to the doctors....nope...nothing. They can’t explain what it is. It also happens to me if I am lying down in an uncomfortable position. And I know I need to “pop” just like you. Sometimes it doesn’t work and I need to find a position which doesn’t cause pain and let the pain subside. So...I don’t know what it is but I know the feeling 😂
Suspect muscle over contracted. Over contrracted causes pressure on a nerve which in turn causes pain. Popping the sternum technique stretches out over contracted muscle and pain goes.
Of course I could be totally wrong.
I've had similar - its costochondritis - see a physio or chiropractor to get your back loosened up (that affects the joints at the front) - or watch the video here which explains and gives simple exercises to check if thats your problem - and fix it.
bodystance.co.nz/costochond... (I have no connection with this site but its a brilliant explanation)
We have lots of joints in our chest, all those ribs where they connect to the sternum are technically joints held together with tendons and muscles. And like any joint they can fall out of place, or dislocate. So it could be something as simple as that. I have a rib second from the top on the left that does that. If I twist the right way it falls back into place. I also have the condition hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos.
I have this well hypermobility syndrome i got diagnosed in 2016 being referred bk to hopefully get more tests done . This is happening to me left-sided under breast waiting on drs call but not holding up hopes as they know nothing of EDs .Hope your ok 👌
Suggest u get spinal consultation on ur neck mine turned out as wc3, 4 c6, 7
Hope it hekps
Dude, I thought I was the only one in the world that this happened to lol. I get weird chest pains daily, and the only way i can relieve the pain is by pushing in the middle right side of my chest and it pops and it automatically feels better immediately. I explained this to my gf and shes like wth???? lol I even told a dr this as well, and they looked at me like i was crazy..glad im not alone
Me as well, I haven’t done any heavy lifting or body weight exercises recently. I’ve been having this weird pain off and on. I have not found a pattern to it that I’m aware of. It happened this morning after getting out of bed. It may be happening to me after siting/laying for some time to give a chance to “build up”. I’m not experienced in the medical field at all, so I’m not sure.
Hi Isaac! I’m experiencing exacly what you explained. Especially after sleeping the pain is there. Are you feeling any better after these 5 months and any advicds for this condition?
You might have subluxed one of your ribs and by stretching it you pop it back in place
I have Costochondritis and thought I was the only person who got relief by popping my chest Issac it sounds like you have the same condition
I have noticed this for a few weeks now. It also hurts to speak for longer than a couple of minutes making the back of my throat sore(not a sore throat as very different to that). The main pain is the middle of my chest.
I literally have the same issue as many commentors. I get some aching and pressure in the center of my chest (no cardiac symptoms whatsoever) and when press on the center of my chest a few times it goes away. Sometimes pops 6 or 8 times audibly. Freaks my wife out when she hears it. I think it’s costochondritis also.
I just want to cry just finding this thread conversation
Nailz73235 you hit the nail on the head as I couldn't explain what is happening to me. YES THE AUDIBLE POP
I thought I was the only one going through this problem and couldn't explain that this weird chest pain is relieved as you outlined, by arching my back far backward then that 'pop or crack' sound seems to relive the pain.
I couldn't articulate this to my doctor but he did give me a x-ray which came back clear.
Problem I am having now is that when I arch back their is no popping so pain is there all time.
Nailzil or anyone on this thread..can you update me on your condition now or any other suggestions to relieve pain.
Hi, I have literally the same issue, its like you have just described whats happening with me? i have no idea where its came through either as i dont smoke (social maybe now and then) and are pretty active and fit.
I been having the same exact issue and can’t figure out what it is. I’ve googled it with nothing to derive except a potential heart attack which I know it isn’t. Anyone been to a chirp or doc for it? The pain gets unbearable sometimes at night and I can’t always get a good pop so I’m left with discomfort
Hiya, I have the same issue, I have Severe anxiety too So I always panic and think I’m having a heart attack when it starts!! I will say, I have rheumatoid arthritis and costochondritis is a common thing associated with that. I also get the pop/crack in my sternum, it makes my co workers feel sick when I stretch! Handbags, try stretching your arms wide while arching or pushing your elbows into your sides so your chest arches out. That usually get me! Ask your doc to do some blood work to check your inflammation levels if it a recurring thing x
Same Technique I use. I was getting really worried as I couldn’t pop it for like 3 days it was hurting so bad one day I didn’t work out. Then I popped my sternum and literally instantly gone. Happen I found this thread as I was literally going to make a dr appointment.
Just joined the community today and so relieved to have found this thread. I’ve just been to see my GP as I’ve been getting this strange pains/sensations/cramp on my left chest. I literally thought I was having a heart attack of some kind. The diagnosis is costochondritis, she prescribed me a course of Naproxen. I’ll see how it goes, but failing that I’m going to need look into how to pop my sternum. Not feeling so alone and strange with this condition now. Thank you all.
I have been diagnosed with Costochondritis since having covid. I cannot do alot without setting off inflammation in my chest and sternum.
About a year ago I used to wake with sore ribs each morning and it would hurt to reach up. It would slowly go away after a few hours of being awake but would return the next morning.
Doctors kept saying I had just strained myself but it never got any better. Now since having covid the inflammation is alot worse. It used to be so bad I could only talk for a short time. I have been on ibuprofen to help reduce the inflammation which has helped alot but I still need to be really careful to not over do it as it leaves me in alot of pain which takes a few days to go away.
I might try to pop my sternum to see if it helps relieve the pain.
I was seeing a chiropractor a year ago for lower back pain, he made good progress but at a similar time after reliving the lower back pain I started getting upper back pain and my shoulders tightening.
He relieved some of the pressure by popping my sternum but I am not sure if he might have made things worse overall? As ever since I have had alot of paon in ribs after sleeping on my side.
exactly. this pain started last yr in jan 20 the tym of covid i had unexplainable chest pain but i kept testing negative for covid. this yr after getting covid the pain is even worse. my pain on concentrated on my right side of the chest. pressed down on my sternum makes me feel beta i oso got upper back pain,pain on the right side of my shoulder blade. i have been worried it could be heart issues but docs dont agree. wat can i do
Have u been able to crack your chest?I’d been trying for months without luck, and it was to the point that it was almost a crushing tightness in my chest (first started at the beginning of this year but got a lot worse over the past few months). I finally cracked it last night and OMG such a relief? I felt about 10-20 really quick pop/cracks down either side of the front of my rib cage
I’ve still got pain but this is the best I’ve felt in over 6 months
I see the dr in a few days so will b mentioning costochondritis which everyone else has mentioned
I had the same thing, I would recommend looking up something called Costochondritis (not a diagnosis but its what I had and its common) I have it for about a year and it slowly improved, hope yours does too.
I have the same problem! I’ve had it since I was 16 now 23 and by popping my sternum the pain goes! I get a small pain in the centre of my chest and then it goes and then I get it on my left side in between my ribs ?costochondritis Or Tietze's syndrome I’m thinking! But I’m glad I’m not the only one out there that can pop and crack 😂
This thread makes me feel so much better. Amazing how all of us have really only had success with getting rid of the pain by popping the sternum. I can’t always do it and sometimes it hurts to even attempt but for any of you who have not been able to do it yet I tell you it is the game changer... time and rest seems to help too but the cracking of the sternum is Instant relief ... I hope all of you can find a way to crack it, I am getting better at it but still can not do it sometimes even for a whole day and then when I do it is the loudest pop you have heard ... i did it once with my x girlfirend was around and she was seriously concerned that I injured myself, so if I haven’t done it and you do don’t be alarmed at the force/sound of it... good luck everyone. I will check back to see if anyone has anything further to add...
Also , Thank you nailz for starting this thread. It make me feel a lot better
I have had the same experience for the last 5 years. I've really struggled to explain this to my partner and wouldn't know where to start when talking to a GP. All Internet searches lead to a heart attack, which it clearly isn't. Has anyone got any recommendations on how to reduce the pain? Popping my sternum or rib joints seems to be the only way but doesn't always work. I'm thinking of trying a different mattress as it hurts when I'm lieing in bed most. Does anyone else get a tight chest and feel like they can't take a full breath until they've popped their sternum?
I have the same thing for sure. I use ice right on the center of my chest when it will not pop. Feels like iI can't draw a full breath just as you describe. Feels a bit like a burning pain when I cannot get the full breath but the ice does sometimes help. Totally understand what you are going through, have had it for years
I've had a pain in my chest for the past 6 months, I have no idea what caused it. And at only 23 years old it seems something odd for back pain to last this long. Much like the others who have commented, the only pain relief I have had is from popping my sternum, although recently even popping the sternum hasn't relieved the pain. I was prescribed naproxen and within an hour I had no pain, no popping, nothing. They make me very sick so had to stop taking them now and instantly the pain amd popping is back. I am currently in the process of seeing a spine specialist to try and diagnose the problem. If I get to the bottom of my issue I will post the diagnosis on here for you all.
I came back from a scuba diving holiday last Oct and a pain started in my chest that got worse each day. I went to the doctors and he diagnosed Costochondritis, (they did give me an ECG to check), probably from over exertion on a particularly difficult dive swimming against strong current. I have been on 3 x 400mg ibuprofen a day since then.
I find that once I get up and start moving, the pain subsides. If I forget to take an ibuprofen, I end up in some pain as soon as I sit down to relax in the evening, but it is most painful at night.
I did change my mattress from a very hard one, to a “ not so hard”, but have found no difference, so I wouldn’t waste your money unless you feel you need a new one.
I cannot crack my sternum, but if I sneeze, that’s when it cracks.
I have read that it can take quite some time for this condition to go away, but at the moment I can’t see an end to it. I am used to exercising on a regular basis, but even just doing yoga, throughout lockdown, left me in pain. The only exercise I feel I can do is cycling on a bike trainer, where very little upper body movement is required.
So ibuprofen it is for now. (I did try naproxen but it caused my asthma to flare up after just 1 tablet.)
Caramu has your costochondritis resolved since this post five months ago. I have had the same thing for two years. I also exercise alot and def biking is the least impactful. Rest seems to help ease my pain. It moves from my right side into the center of my chest. Like others on here stretching my chest open helps but doesnt completely eliminate it. Mine is worse at the end of the day. As an exercise buff which you seem to be have you tried full rest/ no exercise for any period? I have not so I suspect I am contributing to this not healing but I have trouble not doing some form of lifting running biking or surfing every day and just curious if your case has resolved after five months. Thx.
Hi Bigtidewater, my costochodritis has not resolved, unfortunately, but it is not causing me as much pain. As I said 5 moths ago, at that time I was taking 3 ibuprofen a day. Now I only need one, and I take that just before I go to bed.
I am not in as much pain whilst in bed, but what I have done for months now is place my top arm over a very plump pillow to keep my chest space more open. (Unfortunately for my husband, he occasionally gets a pillow whack on the head when I turn over🤦🏻♀️😂). I am naturally a side sleeper, but whilst this condition was giving me lots of pain, I found sleeping on my back better. It’s been such a relief to get back on my side.
Regarding exercise, I would say I’m less active than you, as I generally exercise 3-4 times a week. At the moment it is still mainly on the bike trainer, but also walking. I gave up on the yoga, but will definitely start again if my pain level stays low, or disappears.
At the end of April, our softball season starts again, so it will be interesting to see what effect throwing and swinging a bat will have.
Most people with costochondritis seem to be able to crack their sternum. I cannot do this on purpose, but it generally happens as I’m getting out of bed in the morning.
It’s been 17-18mths now since my diagnosis, and it is definitely more manageable now.
I actually ran out of ibuprofen a couple of weeks ago, and as I was due to give blood, I actually went 7 days without taking any ibuprofen at all. I initially thought that maybe I didn’t need them anymore, and I was over the condition. However, by time I’d given blood, I was quite happy to take my first tablet again. Initially 2 per day, but now back to 1.
It’s funny, but when you read about costochondritis, the info usually states that it can last up to 12 months, and after 12 months you’re kind of waiting for miracles to happen. However, reading through the posts on this page, you can see that everyone is different, and unfortunately, it doesn’t disappear as quickly as it started.
I guess my response doesn’t really give you the answer you’re looking for, but I hope you find some of it useful, at least.🤷🏻♀️
This has got to be the most helpful page I’ve found - I started getting the pain in the middle of my chest, like a bruising feeling back in July this year. Every morning I would wake up and struggle to sit up because it was so painful, I had an ECG and chest x-ray - nothing would give me the answer and my doctors didn’t even tell me it was costochondritis until I started researching it on the Internet. The only thing my doctors decided to do was put me on codeine and the same old call back in two weeks if the pain is still the same rubbish.
I did notice a difference last month when I bought a firmer mattress, the mattress before was a memory foam and was very soft whereas the new one is much firmer and I do wake up most mornings in less pain now. About a week ago the pain came back again, costochondritis can last for months even years, I’m going to look into physio next because it is something that I find also only gets relieved if I manage to pop my chest. Sometimes it’s just not as easy as that though!
I want to say there is light at the end of the tunnel if you’re in as much pain as me avoid heavy lifting and try not to go on the Internet too much because it will just tell you that you have something very wrong growing on your chest when 9 times out of 10 that’s not the case!
I’m so glad I saw this post too. I’ve had this pain for a few weeks now. Thought it was my heart! Ive had an ecg and a heart monitor box for 24 hours. Yesterday the doc Rang to say my ecg, bloods and 24 hour readings were fine.
It’s so scary having pain there! I use one of those ‘between the knee’ pillow things and hug it as it stops me rolling onto my front while asleep, when I sleep.
I’ve got my first Rheumatology appointment on Monday, been waiting since January as I have problems with my feet, hands and lots of other places and my counts for RA etc were very high on July.
After seeing this I can now go on Monday and mention Costochondritis to the doctor, I just want this pain to go or ease. I’m taking co- drydamol or zapain at the moment.
Not tried popping yet.
I’ve had this Costochondritis for about 5 years too. Like you my dr never gave me a diagnosis. Only found out Officially yesterday. However what has helped me enormously is holding a hottish wheat bag over rib area.
I’ve even continued to do extensive exercises thinking they will help!! Had I known earlier I’d have rested area more & it might have healed by now!
I get the same thing, and also in my left hip. The pain and discomfort build and build and only that pop will relieve it. If it gets to the point where you can't do it yourself, I can highly recommend seeing an osteopath. They will treat you with a much more open mind than most GPs, and have the skills to give immediate relief.
Sometimes physical activity like weight bearing exercise and yoga also force a pop when my normal stretches and twists have failed.
Happy popping 🙏
Hi all. I just wanted to share a solution I found to be very helpful:
Backpod
amazon.co.uk/Backpod-Upper-...
Read the product description to see how it helps costochondritis. It helped me and worth every penny.
Also search for ‘bodystance’ for info on the inventor and other helpful techniques.
Hope it helps.
I’m also so glad I found this! The pain just began about a month ago for me. Same thing as most, hurts most early in the day, usually closer to waking. No relief until I manage to get a loud pop in my sternum area. I was diagnosed with costochondritis when I was about 12 and I am now 32. I get pain from it maybe twice a year. But it’s pretty minor and usually aggravated by digestive stuff like excessive gas leading to a burp. And that pain is different. It’s sharp and when it was at its worst I couldn’t breathe when I was in pain. But this is more of a dull but strong pain. I can breathe but it does hurt a little worse when I do. I haven’t talked to my doctor yet but I’m going to start taking glucosamine chondroitin pills which have always helped my chostochondritis. I’m also thinking about getting a yoga wheel.
I had this, I have something called Costocondritis (most likely spelt wrong) I would get bad pain and sometimes it would pop. I got quite unlucky and would be able to push it with my fingers to pop it but sometimes I would have to push it up to 20 times before the pain went away and it stopped. I was told it was made worse by growing pains, but it only got slightly better after a couple of years. Hope yours does get better.
Glad I found this thread. I woke up this morning again with pain in my sternum and couldn't move properly. I've had this for years and I mean 5+ years, it used to be a lot more common and I used to get this chest pain at random times in the day, every day, they'd last only minutes but I couldn't breathe deeply or move much. Doctors did my ECG and nothing, they did my blood and I was low in iron so they put it down to anaemia and gave me some pills. Pills didn't help!It was getting less often now until I was giving birth and I got a chest pain and couldn't breathe properly for a couple minutes.
Now since then (3 years ago) I've not had any random pains during the day but I do often wake up with sternum pain which makes it difficult to change positions- often happens if I sleep on my side.
I think I used to pop it actually but haven't done that in aaaaages! Will try when it happens again.
Glad to find a name for it though, costochondritis.
@nazil73235 I'm experiencing the exact same thing, the pain immediately goes away after my chest pops when I move my arms. The issue is it doesn't always pop and I'm not sure how to make it happen! There seems to be an issue both on the right and left side of the sternum for me.The pain seems to occur when I sit or lay in positions that don't support my back well for long periods of time. It started when I was excercising intensely almost a year ago.
I think it's costochondritus. I've been looking up excercises to help with it and apparently the backpod works well, or similar objects that can be used to deeply massage the area between the spine and shoulder blad on the back. I got this information from Bob and Brad on YouTube.
Hey all! I've had costochondritis since 2016 and the sternum popping since February 2020. I wanted to know if any of you have ever tried acupuncture? My doctor says that I can get shots of cortisone into my chest wall but uhhh that sounds scary so I'm trying to exhaust all other possible remedies first. So far what I've noticed has helped reduce the inability to crack my chest is:
Really trying to remember to have good posture, and not sleep curled up with my shoulders tucked in towards my center. This one is hard because I know my costo is brought on by chronic panic attacks. I always have an easy time cracking my chest when I haven't had an episode in a few days. It's hard because klonopin is the only thing that's eliminated my panic attacks completely but they're highly addictive so I refuse to go down that route. So doing yoga and meditation and managing my anxiety levels as best i can is crucial. Also trying to eat less sugar, and eat more turmeric for inflammation. CbD has also helped, I live in a medical marijuana state but before I got my card last year the cbd tincture i was getting legally online helped too. Chiropractor helped a little, but not enough. Also, if you can't crack it, take both your hands and rub roughly up and down the length of your sternum with your knuckles, with a decent amount of force. Usually a 50%chance I can crack it after that. A hot washcloth helps a bit. I've accepted I'm living with a chronic condition at this point, but I'm still optimistic I can find relief, if not total elimination. Will update again whenever i get acupuncture!
I’ve had a weird tightness in my chest for over 6 months. I mentioned it to a Telehealth dr as they weren’t seeing ppl in person due to the pandemic. They said it’s probably muscular and to try to stretch/massage it. It felt muscular too. Occasionally I would stretch and it would crack/pop and I would get relief. But it slowly got worse and no matter how much I tried I couldn’t get it to crack. I’ve been to the dr again and they’re doing blood tests etc which I’m waiting for results of
But last night I finally got it to crack. Not just once, but around 10-20 times really fast, kinda sounded like fireworks. I felt it crack on both sides the full way down the front of my ribs. It wasn’t till I finally got that relief (it’d been months since I’d cracked it) that I realised just how tight everything had been. It was like a crushing pressure, and when it finally cracked it felt like I had some kind of shell over my chest that I’d finally been able to break free from
I’ve still got weird pain today but it feels so much better that it did
Now I’m just freaking out trying to work out why that happened at all
You have no idea how happy I was to find this, I’ve been starting to get really worried that something was seriously wrong. I wasn’t thinking heart attack since I’ve had the pain for so long (it would have to b close to a year) and it had been months since I’d gotten any relief. I see the dr again in a few days, I’ll be mentioning costochondritis to her and trying some of the suggestions I’ve read
Thank you everyone for posting your stories. I don’t feel so alone or as scared anymore
I have had this for awhile but never thought of a creative way to explain it. It's so frustrating to have chest pain issues that are difficult to explain
Chest and breast pains
Longterm unexplained chest pain
Chest pain 
PLEASE HELP! PAIN IN CHEST! 
