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Pressure-like symptoms in chest and tietze syndrome or costochondritis

I am a 26 year old female. I have been to the doctor several times and was told that I "probably" have pulled a muscle in my chest. The first time I went was five months ago. I was given anti-inflammatories and still feel pressure-like symptoms in my chest area. Can this be the result of improper weight lifting and or extended cardio exercise? I am worried because it has not gone away during the five month period. I was tested for blood clots and that was ruled out. Is there anything else I should asked to be tested for? Is this a common occurence.
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Avatar universal
Symptoms, breast nipple sore sensitive swollen chest pain tingling electric pins sensation, I have an itchy spot between the breasts
I am female 54 menopause at 52. Ski everyday in the winter and backpack in the summer.

July 22 2008 I fell and broke my leg (tib-fib fracture). I had to be rescued from a hiking trail for a mile on a stretcher, so the little ache just left of the sternum was not something I harped on but I did mention it when they kept asking "does anything else hurt"

I mentioned it again in the ER. Had surgery and that night and in the hospital I told the respiratory therapist about the pain and she said use the spirometer(breathing excercise) which of course made it hurt more. I was taking 800mg ibuprofen and told to keep taking that. I was on crutches and directed absolutely no weight on leg.

The pain got worse for 8 days especially in the afternoon until the morning. Slouching in bed made it worse. Sitting up straight and standing helped. Walking on crutches made it very bad.  Lying in bed watching TV, I was sure my bra was shrunk and had to get it off in a frenzy.

I went to the town doctor to get an xray to see if my sternum or ribs were cracked. I told her "I broke my leg by falling downhill on my chest July 22,8:30AM and that is the exact time my chest pain started" and the reply "no I don't see a connection". Xray showed nothing and all vitals and respiratory functions were fine. Take Ibuprofen she said.

The pain got so bad that 8 days later the morning of July 30, the pain was crushing. It felt I was being slammed down with a slab of concrete every time I tried to get up.
I live 40 miles from a hospital, husband out of town and I didn't think I could make it in a friends car, so for the first time in my life I called 911. When I was on the phone I was crying and saying my chest hurt so bad that I couldn't move and my breasts were swollen and sore. When the paramedics got here in about 5 sec with all the heart equipment I said it's not my heart it's my chest.

Well now I know that Costochondritis mimics a heart attack. So I get zoomed in the ambulance and my BP and pulse and oxygen are great. So they ask when did it start to hurt and I say "I broke my leg by falling downhill on my chest July 22,8:30AM and that is the exact time my chest pain started" and they reply "no I don't see a connection" And I keep saying it's my chest and my breasts hurt so bad. I'm worried about breast cancer and he's thinking heart or blood clot. Blood clot actually sounded logical as the accident and the surgery could cause a blood clot to form and hang out in the same area. When he calls the doctor he tells her all the vitals and I'm saying to him while he is talking "tell her about my chest and breasts"

So at the hospital ER I get 2 ekgs (plus one in the ambulance) a chest xray and a cat scan.  Also had my abs pressed and she said maybe it was my digestion and to stop the Ibuprofen. My stomach never hurt.

No one wanted to talk about the breast pain and when I said the pain pills given to me for the leg aren't working (oxycodone 10mg) ER doc looks at me like I'm a junkie and says "I'm not prescribing anything stronger". Then it was good bye, flipped my covers and said  "that's it". No one helped me out (remember the pain and the crutches?) I asked for my ob/gyn because I thought it was breast/female related. They did give me a wheelchair ride to her office down the hall.  

Well the gyn does the normal breast exam listens to me and I tell her just like everyone else "I broke my leg by falling downhill on my chest July 22,8:30AM and that is the exact time my chest pain started".  and they reply "no I don't see a connection". I made a dumb remark about "can an injury cause cancer" and that's when I lost whatever credibility about my pain. I know you can't get cancer but in that moment of pain and I just had to ask. And then like in the hospital she just opens the door for me.  I knew then that going to a doctor wasn't the way. Although an internist might have known so I'll see one before I write off all MD's,

This morning my nipples were sore, it's itchy between my breasts. The worst was a sensation in my right nipple of a light electrical charge coming from inside to the outside like pins. That is the worst feeling. It did stop but if this is going to be a permanent condition I'll have to kill myself and I am not being dramatic. It feels like I am being taken over and I have no control all I can to is anticipate the next charge and the anxiety was crippling.

I now know that in the ambulance and the hospital that even if they did know about Costochondritis, everyone followed the correct procedures to rule out cardiac and lung function. What amazes me is that I live in a town that is very athletic, college town, ski town, rock climbing and not one doctor suggested this. Another thing that makes it hard to seek treatment is there is no way to know who to call when they don't know about the symptom. The ortho said to call my ob/gyn and they told me to call the ortho. Another reason I called 911.

I have a very high tolerance to pain and it is so hard for me to get across when I am in agony.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It is the first time I have looked on one of these websites but it seems that we are all going through the same things.  Firstly, I would definitely recommend that you see your doctor, as you are obviously concerned and it may put your mind at ease.  But, I wanted to say that I've been experiencing Costachondritis for 8 years now, (I'm 28) and my symptoms came on after a flu-like episode.  I felt ill, went to bed and woke up the next day with no flu symptoms but with the pain and swelling in the right side of my chest.  My pain and swelling does move around and into my breast area, and recently I've noticed my bra seems to be making it more uncomfortable for me.  I am still tryng to work out what helps and doesn't help me, but I know now that stress and anxiety make it worse and affect my breathing.  Strangely, I have also noticed that eating pasta, pizzas etc make it much worse.  Relaxing and lying on all fours sometimes help to relieve the pressure on the chest.  Fresh air and walking is quite good too, but make sure you're not carrying heavy bags.  Finally, I hope this helps, but I must say that it is different for everyone and I have also been diagnosed with Lupus so it may be different for me.  But, I still think that you should go to the doctors as self-diagnosing is not good.  I have been trying an alternative therapy called Kineasiology for a year ehich does really help me chest to relax, although I can't explain how or why!      
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Avatar universal
i had a very bad case of the flu about a month ago after i got over this i noticed a pain under my left breast it feels like it is right on the rib bone where my bra goes.  Of coarse right around my breast i was very scared.  Do you ever have pain in the breast area, mine feels like it is behind my breast, it is not constant but a every day nagging feeling sometimes painful but not overwhelming, also i have discomfort under my arm not in  my armpit but under around the area my bra follows to my back, and sometimes the pain is in my left side in my upper back.  Have u experienced any of these symptoms, I really need to go to the doc.  But a little help understanding these things would put my mind to ease if someone else was feeling these same things.  When you are mesing around the breast it is scary, and i just would appreciate the help!!!!!!!!
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Avatar universal
I have Tietze and experience everything you describe (the bra, etc.)  I just joined the Y and then found out about Tietze.  I really need to exercise for health.  Which exercises worked for you?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
could this "Tietze Syndrome" be what is wrong with me? I am 16 also, but my pain is on the top part of my breast bone and in a rating of 1 to 10, 1 being the least painful and 10 being the most painful, I would give it around an 8 or 9. When I turn towards the left, it feels like I'm being stabbed. I was also told that it may be a pulled muscle and I had the same effect w/ the medication that the Dr. prescribed me. I don't do any strenuous exercise so I don't think that it sould be that. This pain has been going on for a while now and I don't know what it is. Can you help or suggest anything if you know?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Tietze syndrome and costchondritis are the same thing just different names for it.  I am not sure if that is what you have but I have it and have had it since I was 16...now I am 31.  For over 10 years I could not have Dr. diagnoise me properly but they finally did.  It is also hard to get help for this disease.  To know if that is what you have when the sypmtoms come up and you press along each rib as you go down your chest if it feels tender or bruised than that is it.  My chest pretty much feels tender to the test all the time.  Sometimes it is difficult to where a bra because it runs right accross that sensitive area and puts pressure.  I have found that exercise works well for me becasue it loosens up the muscles, although I can't do situps because it puts alot of pain on that area before and after, it also cuts my airway off from the rolling up action.  I do it anyway I just do very little and monitor my breathing very closely.  Liquid Advil is my savior, I take 3 of them when I get pain.  The doctor did not want to prescribe anything that might negativly affect my body.  If you exercise just remember to stretche well afterwords it really helped me.
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1 Comments
Tietze's Syndrome and costochondritis are NOT the same.  One difference is that swelling is associated with Tietze's.
Avatar universal
I had a similar experience approx. 7-8 months ago.  I had just gotten over a respiratory infection: bronchitis/pleurisy and I felt a popping/pull in my chest while playing tennis.  After that, I had some "popping and crackling" feeling in my chest when breathing.  It felt like something had pulled out of place, it would hurt on the left side for a week then on the right side but always around the third rib at the sternum.  Doctors told me it was a cartilage problem.  I began noticed that if I didn't pop it intentionally by over-stretching, that the discomfort would slowly go away.  I laid off of it completely for 3 months, and then began strengthening exercises to give added muscle support.  It's been 8 months now, but with this approach I have had some good progress, and now (especially since it is warming up outside--seems there might be some correlation there) I am back playing tennis and golf and moving around without any problems.  My doctor told me to use a "commonsense approach" to it... if it hurts, lower intensity, and work on strengthening.
Hope it helps.
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