thanks for the advice. I'll try that next time. Thanks for the prolo and rehab info too. This is interesting cuz the more you describe your problem, the more it sounds exactly like what i've been experiencing. My problem seems to be on the right side too and involve a couple of ribs where they connect in the front and the back. The right side of my rib cage seems a bit lopsided too like my chest sticks up a bit more on that side.

I did go to physical therapy before and they didn't really do anything for me. Just some strengthening exercises involving a big rubber band. I need to strengthen my chest and back area for sure, but i'm not sure if they way they suggested would be very effective. At this point I can barely even do a couple of push-ups cuz the muscles are so weak and tense and I get shooting pains in my chest and back when I try.

It really feels like those ribs are popping out of place or something when I sneeze or shift around during sleep. Sometimes instead of a popping, I actually get something that sounds and feels almost like a tearing. Like cloth being torn or something. It's quite disturbing. I'll have to look into the chiropractor option as well. Anyway, let us know how your chiro treatments go and anything more about your problem you feel like talking about. Thanks for replying.

Wow, I can't believe I found this forum. I started to have this problem in 5th grade - a tightening sensation in the chest where breathing was difficult. After taking a deep breath through the pain, it seemed to give a "pop", which worried me. I saw my doctor, he looked at me like I was crazy. Finally, he referred me to stanford hospital, and they looked at it. I described the popping after exhaling deeply and the sharp pains, but they were dumbfounded. Now I know it must have had to be costochondritis.

I have these pains once in awhile, I just had one randomly today and decided to google it. Pretty crazy that google can work as a better doctor than even the best at stanford :o

seems like the problem is quite common as well, but most people just dismiss it.

I have also had anxiety about it with heart problems, but again this was refuted with tests.

Do you guys have the same symptoms of deep breathing increasing the pain, and if you breathe deeply enough, it will "pop"? Or are you required to bend back to make it pop?

i know how you feel with the frustration with doctors, but they are only human and can only be an expert in their specific field of study. They are also limited by their experience. I have been full circle since last november.

As I posted earlier, recently I saw a physiatrist that got me into sports rehab and just last week referred me to a chiropractor. What a relief it was to see this guy! He is the team chiropractor for the st. Louis cardinals. He diagnosed me in 5 minutes, treated my back with ultrasound, then adjusted me in 4 different areas. I walked out a different person. It's only been two days, but something has changed for the better. I ran a floor buffer for several hours last night and should be in serious pain right now, but i'm not. I still have pain in my chest and my back is still tense, but nothing like before. I see him again tomorrow and i'll keep you posted on the results. He said to continue therapy as proper stretching and strengthening only helps and to continue to see my physiatrist. He believes in teamwork when it comes to healing.

I'm not saying that chiropractic care is the answer for everyone with this problem. This is the third one i've seen (among my growing list of ten total doctors!) in the last 7 months and the first two were worthless for what I needed. He is not the typical chiropractor. He believes once my back relaxes and moves back into proper position, that everything else will fall in place and the popping will stop and that I will not need to keep coming back - something you don't usually hear from a chiropractor! He said this is a common problem that happens as a result of a repetitive motion.

[mine happened as the result of pulling spring after spring in assembling a trampoline! It would have been ok if I had put the mat in right side up the first time, but I had to take all 6 million springs off, turn the matt over, and put the 6 million springs back on!!!]

the body 'remembers' this new position and everything else compensates for it. Hence, the ripping sensation in my chest and tension in my back - both are fighting with each other.

To answer your questions:

my pain has never been from breathing in but for many others it is. The chiropractor said the same thing. Mine comes from breathing out - coughing, sneezing, or even like yesterday shooting a watermelon seed out of my mouth caused my chest (sternum) to pop. Also, I can't pop my chest by leaning back, but i've heard of many others that do.

Take care!

hi, jack. That sneezing maneuver you told me about works perfectly! I've used it several times and am confident sneezing will never be painful again as long as I remember to do it (or happen to be driving at the same time, haha). I'll have to check out chiropractors as well. I'm wary of them because I know that they typically don't want to "cure" you completely so you'll have to keep coming back. You're lucky to find that guy. If he happens to have any collegues in the san francisco bay area who he recommends, please let me know. You mentioned seeing a sports medicine specialist. I really think I need to see one of those as well. Unfortunately, my lousy hmo doesn't offer such a thing, just stantard physical therapy which was of no help to me.

Anyway, to answer the previous question about breathing, I do get a little click in my back and/or chest sometimes when I breathe deeply, but never the kind of violent painful pop I get when doing the pulling the shoulders back spine-arching maneuver.

Wow, is your name really jack bauer? That is really cool! (sorry, i'm a huge "24" fan) I am so glad I found this site. I thought I was the only human being on the planet with this condition. My symptoms began when I was about 19. I am now 39. I have been to numerous doctors throughout all these years and get the same reaction from all of them - they look at me like I am crazy. I have heard everything from it is stress to mitral valve prolapse. My chest pops and cracks all day long and has a tightness feel to it. I thought I had lung cancer. It gets really bad when I sit in the same position for a long time. I first noticed it when I was playing the piano years ago. I had to stop playing because it got so bad. I am so glad I stumbled onto this site so I know that I am not crazy! I have never been to see a chiropractor before because I just didn't know who to go to next. Thanks jack bauer, for pointing me in the right direction!

Still checking in from time to time. My chosto sucks. Chest pain daily, tons of popping and snapping when I move after sitting for a long time. I'm up and it's 1:20am, and I need to be up early...That's really the worst part of my chest pain, how it makes me lose sleep. I was trying to drift off to sleep but my chest is keeping me awake.

I'm still a positive person about this problem. No matter how much of a "pain" it is, it's still nothing life threatening.

I hope some of you on this message board read this and remember how fortunate you are to be relatively healthy. Chosto isn't terminal! It stinks, yes, but you can live with it. Hang in there everyone!

Hey guys,

i to need to crack my sternum after I sit down for a while or when I try to pick something up. I get this feeling on my sternum like its pushed in, and the only way to relieve the strain is to move my shoulders out and release.

Been working with a chiropractor for about 3 months and have not received any positive results. I took an mri on my sternum and the test showed that everything is normal. I am not sure what to do at this point. I am going to consult my primary doctor and see what he says to do. I think I will also see a cardiologist to see what his thoughts might be. I am 26 years old male. I used to be in to weight lifting for several years. I stopped lifting weights for about 6 months and have stopped playing sports. That did nothing. I work out lightly now and try to do some cardio also. Nothing seems to help my cause.

Chest started to crack after getting into some very heavy bench press. Never hurt until I became less physicly active after getting out of the army and into a job in front of a computer(something alot of us have in common...The computer job) had pretty much identical symptoms to all of you. I stopped cracking it, even though I wanted to badly and started lifting very lightly. I also cahnged the chair I sit in at work to one that didnt force my shoulders inwards. I worked out all muscle groups moderatly heavy but went easy on the cheast for the first couple weeks. Over the period of a few weeks the pain started to go away(sometimes a little stiff in morning but I let it work itself out without intentionaly cracking). I was very happy the pain was 95% gone and I had resumed working out normally. I could still crack it but there was no pain. I went on vacation and was not able to work out and the pain came back within 5 days.
My conclusions. Working out obviously helped, not sure if it was becasue it limbers up my body or becasue of the strss releif, probly both. I think it was casued by some past minor trauma(seperation, strain...Etc). There are so many people with this identical problem...It must have a consistant cause.
Costeochondrtitis, maybe, I dont buy that. (sorry about my spelling throughout) if it were then why would working out make it better in my case, when high intensity training by nature causes swelling and inflamation. I feel when doctors have no real answers they would rather have you leave with some pills and any answer rather then nothing at all. I was in the army long enough to know when people in the "medical profession" dont know what they are talking about. The army doctors answer to everything is 600 mg motrins.
People in our situation need to find their own answers, try making lifestyle changes and see what works and what doesnt. Nsaid's, yoga, jogging, new chair at work, stretching...Etc. I think we can all agree that cracking our chests is only a temporary fix and probably does not help in the long run so just stop!!!
Good luck and please reply or email at tripleduece249@yahoo.Com

I know this must sound like a broken record (especially on this string) - but I can't believe I found you lot... I've had this for a while now (about 5 years) & having read most of the literature on the web about this strange condition, I'm still none the wiser about how I got it!

Here's the conclusion I've come to: I've been asthmatic since I was 4 (some people say this could be an issue), I've been skateboarding for 15 years (I've landed on concrete from a height more times than I care to remember - this is obviously not 'good' for me), I broke 2 of the upper left hand side ribs in a snowboarding accident about 5 years ago (a chiropractor once told me that I was sub-conciously protecting my damaged area around the ribs and my muscles were in knots because of the way I've been carrying myself since the accident - hence the pain), my posture is shocking and has been all my life. Anyone of these could be good reason for developing this symptom - but I really noticed it getting worse when I got my first computer.

I was never much of a computer geek, more of an outdoor kinda guy, but when I started working on my laptop regularly (10-12 hours a day) I got really sore & tense around the chest & I really could get some respectable deep audiable snaps out of my sternum. I was really worried at first & like most people that have posted on here - I sought medical advice with my doctor, went to an ostoepath, a chiropractor & someone who specializes in the Alexander Technique (which helped the most actually) the only thing I didn't do was have an X-ray, I wanted to have one to make sure everything was OK - but most doctors thought I was being a hypochondriac. God bless the NHS.

So, I really think my posture when working on the computer is the main culprit of this condition as the pain / cracking started almost at the same time I got my first computer and began to change my daily routine around it. Us human's are supposed to be out there doing their 'hunter/gathering' thing, not stuck in a room staring at a computer screen all day - it makes sense to me that this is a postural condition from 21st century living. What do you lot think?

Anyway - my symptoms - I feel the pain on my Sternum build & when I stretch out to relieve the pain it feels as if my muscles / tendons on my ribs are pulling against my sternum then when it finally does crack it's like a deep shockwave going through my ribcage then the sternum feels sort of cold and painful to touch - but then I feel OK - like I've got a full range of movement again... until it builds up again. When it's bad this can happen 4-5 times a day.

Anyway, I've found this never goes away, just comes in waves. I've tried to pay attention to what makes this worse recently and it seems to me that when all is going nuts at work and I'm stressed & don't have any time to exercise - I crack alot more. This could be because all my muscles crunch up and I'm completely unaware of my posture or it could be a psychosomatic condition that is related to my state of mind. This last part makes sense because when I go on holiday or am in a postitive & relaxed state of mind it seems to ease off... is this the same for everybody else?

I'm no doctor, but I reckon if you try and stay in a positive mind state by eating well, exercising when you can & try and find a release for your emtions rather than bottling them up - the cracking will ease off. I'm not saying this works for everyone, but it sort of works for me & even though life gets me down every now and then - if the cracking starts again - i know its time to readjust my attitude a little.

Just to finish - most people have said how addictive the cracking is - I agree completly, it feels so good when it finally goes. But I guess it can't be good for you & I'm trying to stop 'intentionally' cracking - but it's hard to break a 4 year habit!

Next time I feel a crack coming on, I might film it and stick it on Youtube to see how may off us out there has this...

Later.

I've had this problem for about a year and half now. It started when I got this new Town & Country. The headrest on the seat pushes my head forward, like I'm stooping. And from driving long distances in the minivan this problem got worse and worse.

Now, if my head moves forward or moves back it can automatically produce this snapping in my sternum. It's painful, too. I've taken the headrest off the seat and avoid driving long distances in it. I believe the car seat destroyed my posture. I feel like writing to the manufacturers about it to complain. When I look at the passenger seat, it's clear the posture they're encouraging with the tilt of the headrest is unnatural. Anyhow, my two cents.

I feel and understand you all.
For 2 years not my sternum is getting worse and worse.
I was able to do 50 pushup and now i cant even do 3.
i feel my ribs part of the problem as it feel its getting under my sternum, or piercing trough.

Ive been over training for someyears, and only at 22 i feel this sternum problem destroying my life.
I agree with you as saying that most Chair and Seat are not made for a good posture.
I put part of the blame on my Computer Chair, as it have a curved back support, That push my back backward and push my head foward. Shoulder inyard too!.

I readed all this forum about this problem and Neither I, got help for any Doctor or Osteopath.
The cracking, The noise, The pain. It all get worse.
I really need help as the pain make me unable to work or even study.
I cant even pass a good day now with that.

I suggest everyone to walk each day, and change computer chair, get a good posture, and DONT workout with heavy weight.

Bad chair and Heavy Weight Training destroyed my life, change yours now.

I am a perfect example of this! Im 20 years old and I have the worst posture in the world, I spend all day either playing games, using my laptop or studying at my desk, continuously sitting in a slouched or reclined position with my back arched forward. I started doing weights and crunches about three weeks ago. A one week later I sneezed and ka-pow! my sternum cracked with a sudden sharp pain and occured every time I sneezed for the next few days. Too similar a situation to everone elses to be a coincidence. I do human antomy in college so I immediatly knew that the pain I felt was at the sternal angle of my sternum, which is in essence a joint that has a small degree of rotation. Since then I have adopted a better posture and avoided sneezing by breathing in through my mouth and out my nose when I felt one coming on or bracing myself with crossed arms when I felt it couldnt be avoided.

Then Yesterday I let myself sneeze and hey presto, no pain. I figured it went away quikly as it was a mild case.( no pain from extreme inhale/exhale, only from a sneeze) My advice is to just sit properly, make sure you're in the correct position when doing weights/exercises and it should go away or become less extreme. X-rays probably dont show anything as you would need to be sneezing or active for it to be seen! ;D

I was diagnosed with costochondritis five years ago, when I started overdoing it on the treadmill (hunched over while I walked). I had popping in my chest as a kid as well. The pain is mostly gone, but my ribs are crooked! This might sound silly and vain, but my right ribs seem to stick out about a quarter inch past my left, and down a bit. It looks ridiculous!

Has anyone else run into this? Would a chiropractic adjustment do the trick?

Appreciate any help!

I am 20 years old and am in very good health. I'm 5'7 and can dunk a basketball and am very athletic. I am in good health for the most part except a couple minor sports injuries BUT.........

For the last couple of years i have had a bad sternum. I noticed the pain about 3 years ago and it affects my sleep at night. Whenever I sleep on my chest, when i wake up my sternum is extremely tender. It hurts when i push in and it also hurts whenever i take hits to the sternum while playing basketball. Even when i laugh extremely hard it hurts. When i stretch in the morning there is a real faint cracking noise in my chest.

One time when i was wrestling with someone they hit me in the chest and it hurt so bad i went to the hospital. I cant take a hard shot to the chest at all. I got an x-ray taken and the doc said everything looked good except for an unfused rib, but that should be causing me no pain. Also i think i do have Tmj. My jaw cracks when i open my mouth real wide. Does anybody know what i have? I ahve no medical insurance and i support myself, go to school, and work full time. I cant offered to go to the doctors again. THanks for your help.

Let me be the first to diagnose this syndrome as CSPP(Chronic Sternum Popping and Pain). The CSPP started a year ago and I finally searched the net after increased pain and a lame-ass answer from the Doc. I'm 25 and male. Some of my gatherings are as follows: Don't pop your chest intentionally, keep good posture, go out and get some exercise, get chiropractor to straighten your back to realign your body, try massaging both back and chest, sleep only on your back!. I have had popping ankles as well with no pain for years, knees that ache during cold months, as well as stress and anxiety. I'm interested in where people live if cold weather living could have an affect? What the hell is this?... Vitamin D deficiency?, Costochondritis?, "fractured sternum at the manubrial joint"? "Tempro mandibular joint plays a huge role in joint distress thru out the body"? Prolotherapy? We should create a site dedicated to this problem!

Hi there everyone!
I’m a 31yr old male I live in England and I too have been getting these symptoms it all started out of the blue around 6 months ago! And although I don’t feel it every day! I do feel like I have pressure on my chest like someone is sitting on my chest and I have to stretch to crack my chest then I get pain relief well for a few hours anyway! I have read allot of posts on here and it’s made me feel relieved that it’s not just me with this condition. I also get a aching pain that feels like it’s coming from my peck muscles when I tense them or lift something heavy does anyone else get this too or know if its related?
I have been to my local gp around 4 times and they just haven’t got a clue they just send me off for x-rays and give me pain killers now I’m not sure what to do next.

Hi,
im a 26 years old female and in the Military. About a year ago I noticed pressure in my chest, I went to stretch and it popped. I thought it was weird but not serious, so I let it go. Well one day I woke up and could barely move, my entire upper body hurt so bad I felt like I was paralyzed. I went to formation and couldn't stand up straight because it hurt so bad. Well they sent me down to the medical clinic, and when I got there some stupid military Doctor after having done an ekg on me sent me away saying it was just stress. Well I got back to my company and had one of my friends pull my arms back to try and pop my chest, but it didn't work. Instead when she let go of my arms, my entire upper body seized up and I doubled over. I could barely breath to the point I couldn't talk, I started crying the pain was so bad. Nobody really did anything, they just had me lie down. The pain stayed with me for the rest of the day, and now there is a constant pressure in my chest.
I've only had that happen to me one more time since then, and my husband made me go to the emergency room, because I could hardly breath and move.
Sorry that was so long, but I believe it is a serious issue now. I can't find anyone who can tell me what it is, because x-ray's show normal.

I have chronic costochronditis, and I am wondering if anyone who has gotten x-rays showed calcification of the cartilage in the ribs.
This started the moment after I gave birth to my daughter 3 years ago. I pushed for 3 hours and pulled my ribs. It effects my everyday life, but I do want to know about the calcium deposits. Any info??

I have chronic costochronditis, and I am wondering if anyone who has gotten x-rays showed calcification of the cartilage in the ribs.
This started the moment after I gave birth to my daughter 3 years ago. I pushed for 3 hours and pulled my ribs. It effects my everyday life, but I do want to know about the calcium deposits. Any info??

Except it started when I was about 25. I am now 40 and it is not better but I have just learned to live with it. I do notice though that sometimes if I eat too much or if I sit the wrong way or don't straighten my posture it makes it worse. I also have noticed that since I have gained more weight in my stomach area it has become worst. I think the thing to do is eat more moderately and exercise that gut.