Question
Hello.  A few days ago, my brother squeezed me very hard and we heard 2 pops.  I thought it was my ribs but my stomach muscle has swollen up and it is very painful.  When i take deep breaths, sneeze, or cough it hurts.  I am referring to the muscle directly under my breasts.

Please help and thank you.

Answer
It looks like you've experienced a tearing of the sternal cartilage, the tissue which connects the breastbone to your ribs in the front of the body.

You should see your primary medical doctor or chiropractor to determine if you need an x-ray, to rule out a possible rib facture.

If it's just the cartilage which has torn, then rest and anti-inflammatory medications are often prescribed.

I hope that this helps to answer your question.