Help me please. I dont understand, my chest hurts no not like a heart attack but my breast plate or whatever is there hurts BAD!

The center of my chest my bone feels like it is not one piece rrr I hope this makes sence, it hurts feels like it is rubbing on each other whats up with that? it hurts it feels like it is not one piece and rubs against it self.

I have had surgery for the rib removel and all, could it be the other side is messed up too? I HOPE NOT!!!!! what is causing this? PLEASE HELP ME!!!

Gosh Flip,
I wish I could really remember the way Dr Togut explained it, I will give it a go.

In the chest wall , come nerves that branch from the brachial plexus bundle. When we breath, move or have an inflamation they are captured; they are irratated by the movement in that area, So the inflamed nerve, the chest rib cage, the clavacal etc, they have compression on already irratated areas so more inflamation happens.
That is were it comes from, but how to reduce?

Did you try maybe ice, I would put it under the arm pit area on the rhemboids that travel to the chest area. Also, if you get pain in the "hump" area on the upper back. The area women older get widow dowers humps.

WHen the nerve becomes irrataed, even from daily activities it flares, the muscle around it try to protect and make spasms. THe tight spasms, keep the bones from being in proper positions, They can pull them out of position, try to pull them out, and cause stress on all the structures. To calm it the cycle has to be broken. THe orginating factor is the irrated neve. Stop the activity if you are for example vacumming, then take an anti inflamatory, anti spams (I am given valium) and a pain pill. So my conconcution it percocette, for accute pain flare, the valium for the spasms, and toradol for the inflamation.

This keeps me from the ER. IF you pain is nearly that high; I would call PCP and see if he can give a shot of toradol. This instantly will bring down a flare. It is a strong kick butt asprin type anti-inflamatory. I get 10 for 90 days for flares.

When De would have a flare in the trapsizius it could travel down the back to hips and into lubar not to be able to move. A shot of Toradol at PCP kept us out of the ER. Also great relief by the time she was ready to stand up.

Another thing if you don;t have toradol, or Asprin and can toeralte it. I use biofreeze and lidoderm patches. Also, FOUR Advil! that is equal to perscription strength 800 mg.

The lidoderm patches I keep on the hump area when I get awake.

I hope you can feel better soon
Di

Thanks Di you are right I over did my keying THANKS I will take my breakthroughs, and thin my blood stay KOOL

I'm so sorry to hear you're in so much pain. My DIL has been dealing with severe pain in that same area- says it feels like a heart attack and hurts when she moves a certain way. I've seen her laying down on the floor, flat on her back and not moving, trying to ease it. Her dr. gave her some pain meds and diagnosed her with costochondroiditis. I don't know if this is exactly what you're dealing with or not- just thought I'd throw it out there. What DiMarie said also makes sense. What has helped my DIL the most is going to a chiro and getting adjustments for it. Sounds like you definitely need something for pain though.

What do you suspect is rubbing against each other. You need to be a bit more specific. The chest is a very large area.

Example: For me...I get pain in the 1" area of my left clavicle right before it meets my manubrium and sternum AND another 1" down from there over the manubrium and sternum. This I have now learned (today) is a result of a weird left clavicle which is hypermobile (to ease the detailed explanation) and thus a bit unstable from time to time. It literally clicks/pops back and forth in and around my manubrium with tiny subluxations/dislocations. It's not really dislocated but it moves. In so doing it irritates the BP behind it and near the first rib and compresses the arteries and veins there too. What specifically am I doing...not quite sure but it IS posture...so if I hold myself up better, it improves or doesn't get bad to begin with. Still working on it.

Get familiar with your anatomy so that you can help yourself. I'm convinced that most of us have structural issues that can be corrected without drugs or surgery. Watch the posture and see if that helps.


Which side are you talking about? Is your chest on one side hurting? Is it the same side you had a rib removed? Did you have the rib removed on one side or both? What were you doing when it flared? What were you doing 1-4 hours before? What was your posture like during all of that?

Thanks for the help, I will try to learn my body. I will say it is in the center of my chest that hurts,between my chest right in the middle it feels like if I move wrong it will slpit open (my Chest) I know that is wrong and impossible of course it als feels like my bone is not connected and is rubbing back and forth in the middle of course that is wrong as we all know it is connected.
What causes it, mm most times it happens in the morning so that is key, how I sleep may cause it but also happens while I sit to, I do not want more meds LORD NO I take enough as it is, I do my PT wich causes it too, will just monitor it, and take my breakthroughs for it it also could be from my symphatic nerve cut also.
thanks

Don't know if this applies to you, it does for ME so it is offered in case it may apply to you....

1. POSTURE. In many cases, mine in particular, POSTURE is very key. While I may have to maintain tighter scrutiny over my form/posture than the next guy and it may be unfair, that is MY reality. It sometimes is a matter of a millimeter off and all hell breaks loose. It is a constant reminder. Another reason I emphasize getting to know YOUR anatomy. When I got the diagnosis I wasn't surprised when they said my posture wasn't the greatest. And they assured me they'd seen people with worse posture with no problems. That is where the unfairness comes in. I'm predisposed. Lucky me. I have to work harder to maintain good posture and form in ALL things I do. Walking, sitting, standing etc. ALL things. It is a full time job. Do I slack off, yes...do I suffer every time I slack off...no, but usually. Get the know the route of the brachial plexus ...where it originates and where it ends. Know the structures it passes and how it passes. Know this and you start to see WHY posture in many can be key. Most, if not all of us, are bent forward a bit. From sitting and just general fatigue from time to time. The computer is one of the worst culprits for TOS because we all, or most of us sit in front of it sort of hunched over. Look at your "typical" posture when in front of the computer. Are your shoulders rolled/rounded forward? If so this is typically a big problem. If you do not know or understand what "rolled/rounded forward" is...ask someone who would. A rolled/rounded forward position creates LESS SPACE for the BP to pass in various structures as it exists the neck..one of the most vulnerable is the first rib/anterior scalene/clavicle area....compression of the nerve/arteries/veins here and you can have "chest pain" One of many symptoms. Not saying this is YOUR situation...again, I merely point out a possibility for YOU to look into. Ask if they know where your compression is...did you get an MRI/MRA/MRV? This is very expensive but generally will pinpoint exactly what is going on. IF this is the problem, what has helped me (and I'm still working on this and it's been over a year now so PATIENCE is also key) are exercises, stretches etc., that OPEN THE CHEST. Yoga has some poses that are literally called "chest openers" Yoga to that extent is one of many modalities that you may be able to use to help you get relief. IF this is your problem, as it is mine, you may also need, as I do, to strengthen certain muscles...the upper back muscles need to be stronger to hold BACK the shoulders which are being pulled forward and rounded by the tight pectorals. Try to see this in your mind...the upper back rhomboids are weak/stretched out...creating the roundedness in the back and the chest area is short/tight, exaggerating that roundness bringing the shoulders forward and concaving your chest...it is all scrunched in front...and hence less space for the BP to pass....open all of that up and keep it open...and you MAY (no guarantees) help yourself. Just one of many thoughts on the subject. Again this has helped ME...it may not apply to you...hence get to know YOUR anatomy

Hi,

I too get this pain and it is usually pectoral muscles that hurt and are causing me pain if I over extend myself or go into positions that cause the pain.

I find if I try to change my posture too much from what has become my normal then I get way more pain and it stems from flare in the muscles that are trying to put into the "right" posture. I find I am hellishly sore and flare for days if I try to get the right posture now.....my muscles are now in a position that "normal" posture is sooooo out of the question due to the way the new muscle strength and positions have changed and adapted to help cope with the pain...or as a result of my injury.

so keep that in mind if you decide to change your posture good idea, but it needs to be a slllllllllllllllllllllllooooooooooooooooooowwwwwww wwwwwww processs as you can cause way more pain or nerve damage if your nerves are in a position to be irritated by the way your muscles are moving......and changing positon.

When my chest gets this sore...no cpu, no lifting, no hair drying or makeup application no typing.....but mine was so sore in the beginning I actually had heart work up as they thought I was having some cardiac event.

best of luck,
love and hugs,
Victoria

gibbrn thanks, I forgot I have a exercise ball and I get on it laying on it with my back so the ball is between my shoulders and I slowly relax I breath and I let my shoulders slump back pulling my chest open since we with TOS huntch so much, I also was told to walk with my hands in my pocket or on my wast to raise my shoulder up- man TOS makes us all out of wack or is it just me.
Going back to the ball I think I over did it, I also have a spot on my SUV LOL that I lean against near the back that fits between my shoulder blades and I can pull my arms back and chest open I know I know I'm wierd THANKS ALL!