Bruise or Pulled Pectoral or Sternum

[ladysternum]

I'm hoping you can help me. I'm a 35 year old lady who's very active. I work-out daily and play sports. While playing kickball in mid-April 2009 I was plowed down by a 200 lb guy who elbowed me in the chest, I'm only 135 lbs. I went to the hospital in which they've informed that I had a bruised sternum. It was the most painful injury ever. I couldn't stand straight, I slept in a chair, breathing and lifting was painful. Eventually (maybe 1.5 mos later) it subsided. I was happy to work-out again. However, a last week I was real sick with an upper respiratory and while coughing/sneezing I felt a tightening in my chest. I didn't think anything of it - until my boyfriend hugged me and all I can feel was the excruciating pain in my chest. The pain is not in the center of the my sternum like before but over my left boob (pectoral area) in which it's like a pinching feel that runs across to my back portion of my left shoulder blade. It feels like it has to do with my heart - but I know for a fact, I'm in very good health. Just got all my blood work and no case for heart disease. Forget about laughing, sneezing, It's hard to breath, lift (even my purse), sit, sleep, get up from bed is a killer and stand/sit straight.

Is this a direct injury from my bruised sternum a few months ago? Or is this different? What can I do for the pain to stop?

Please please help.
--lady sternum

[ouchmysternum]

Hi, I have just done something very similar to my sternum. I did it last week and I still cant even run without my chest aching and hurting. I am living on painkillers which is subsiding the pain, but what I wanted to know was how long was it before you could start exercising again, I hate not being able to exercise, its very upsetting.

Thanks! Hope you are better

[Dr Vinod]

We would still advice you of continuing ice packing and taking some anti inflammatory drugs, if it subsides you are perfect!
Normally heart problems would have a longer history and you clearly give a history from april after that heavy man pushed you down & the history of the respiratory infection. So taking the history and no prior complications with your heart and no symptoms we would take it as a simple inflammation.

But, if it does not decrease then we would surely advice you 1st to go to a General Physician and then Cardiologist. Take care!

[ladysternum]

Thanks for the quick response. I did put icy/hot on my pectoral and the shoulder blade area last night which definitely increased my movement. There's still a sharp pain but I will monitor it for a few days. Another Dr. on another forum mentioned that my heart sak may have been compromised. Is this something I should worry about?

Lady Sternum

[Dr Vinod]

This is purely a muscle inflammation as it is very tender to touch. You might have had a hit, injury or might be due to exercise your pectoralis got inflammed. Another reason is your upper respiratory infection which also causes body aches and fever.

If you exercise or lift weights you are advised to stop for few days, consume anti inflammatory drugs and if it does not subside you have to to go an orthopaedician for examination.