Question
Hello! I am a 24 yr old male. About a year ago my chest would feel tight and by arching my back and stretching I could crack my sternum which would cease the tightness. After a while of doing this it started causing a little pain right after cracking but would go away soon after. It was almost like a sore feeling. I remember one time in highschool I was hit in football and bruised the chest badly. I dont know if this is related as its many years later.

Eventually the pain got worse, and when I started to work out again it caused too much pain to continue with any chest work. I went to the Doctors and they said it was costochondritis. I got chest x-rays which came back negative.

It has been 4 months now and the pain has not gotten any better. I have not had a serious crack for a month but my sternum on the left side is constantly tight and if I move abruptly I will get a severe shot of pain and it will ache.

I'm assuming the cracking of my chest may have caused some trauma causing the costo. Have you ever heard of this problem and is there any work I can get done to help heal? I also feel popping and get pain in my back as well, could I have dislocated a rib from cracking? I am getting desperate!

Thank you!

Answer
Neil,

Thank you for your question. Costochondritis is an inflammatory disorder that often does not have a definite cause, although trauma and infections may be associated with it.

Medical treatment often involves anti-inflammatories, and recommendations for rest and avoidance of activities that may provoke the disorder.

'Tight' (or hypertonic) muscles may provoke some of the symptoms associated with the disorder... you may consider seeing a chiropractor who uses soft tissue manipulation techniques or a massage therapist for soft tissue therapy.