Chest Pain

[Heugh]

Hello,
I have currently been injured for nearly 2 months now, I am a very active 18 year old and am involved in Mixed Martial Arts fighting and weight lifting. Recently I have not been able to do any kind of physical activity for two months because of extreme pain that will make me feel natious the day after I train or work out. I find the pain can be a very stabbing and pressure pain. When ever I hold my breath and let all the wind out of my lungs and squeeze my chest it will give me pain on and around my sternum. If I  turn my head sharply I will feel pain on the right side. But what hurts me the most is when I push down on my sternum or pull an object into my sternum. Nothing shows up in xrays and the doctors just keep sending me away without telling me anything. Does anyone know what this could be? It also does hurt in my back on the right side when everything hurts.

[Heugh]

I recently had a bone scan done well 2 weeks ago what would that allow my doctor to see? I still havent had the results back and How much does a MRI cost in the states i dont have health care and dont wanna wait 2 weeks to get the appointment and 3 weeks to get the results back like I would in Canada

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Fractured or dislocated rib can be seen on an x-ray chest.Did you get it done?

Torn cartilage and soft tissue injury can be seen on a CT but more precisely on a MRI.If you feel that your chest pain is related to these,then getting CT or MRI chest will be helpful.Pls discuss it with your doctor.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing and if you have any additional queries.Kind regards.

[Heugh]

My doctor has already ruled out costochondritis the side where it hurts alot seems to be swollen or has scar tissue under the skin. Could this be somthing like a dislocated rib or torn cartialge or maybe the legiments that attach the ribs to the sternum r weakened or damaged? The ER has already ruled out that there is nothing wrong with my heart

[Heugh]

My doctor has already ruled out costochondritis the side where it hurts alot seems to be swollen or has scar tissue under the skin. Could this be somthing like a dislocated rib or torn cartialge or maybe the legiments that attach the ribs to the sternum r weakened or damaged? The ER has already ruled out that there is nothing wrong with my heart

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Without examination it is very difficult to confirm a diagnosis,but it looks like costochondritis.

Costochondritis is an inflammation of the junctions where the upper ribs join with the cartilage that holds them to the breastbone or sternum.Usually costo chonditis is without any cause,but sometimes infections like bacterial,viral and fungal may be causing it.

Personal history and physical exam are the mainstays of diagnosis. Tests however are sometimes used to rule out other conditions that can have similar symptoms but are more dangerous, such as heart disease.These tests are blood count,x-rays,cardiac enzymes and ECG.

Apply some cold compresses and take some anti inflammatory pain reliever.If the condition improves,then it was costochondritis other wise other conditions like cardiac ,Gi or lung pathologies.Some other possibilities are anemia,fibromyalgia, Ankylosing spondylitis and irritation of the nerves supplying the chest by buldging disc of cervical or thoracic vertebrae.Then a complete evaluation to rule out these possibilities is needed.

I hope it helps.Take care and regards.