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Q: Xiphoid Process?
asked by: JVTHEOGUY on July 17th, 2009
New User
For 10 weeks now I have been suffering from an unusual health condition. The region of my xiphoid process has seemed enlarged/swollen (more so than normal) and it is extremely sensitive/painful to touch. It seems that pain radiates outward through my arms and especially to my back from that one spot. I had a very similar condition for three weeks last fall. I had a CT scan last fall that showed nothing significant. Fast forward 8 months later and I am hit with the same condition once again. I notice that when it initially hits I have symptoms similar to that of a heart attack. This time round I have had multiple tests done (EKG, multiple blood tests). All of these turned out normal. I also had a ultra sound and hydascan done on my gallbladder this past May. They determined that my gallbladder wasn't working properly and they advised me to get it removed. I did just that. The surgeon informed me that the gallbladder was pretty inflamed and that he thought that THAT was the source of my problem. However, the same debilitating problem in the xiphoid region remains (though a bit more tolerable than it use to be). I have also had an endoscopy and colonscopy done to check for ulcers or other issues that may contribute to my problem. They all turned out normal.

So, here I sit. I've discovered that taking pain pills, drinking hot tea, and wearing ice packs helps (even back massages from my wife helps). But every day I look down at my xiphoid process region and it continues to appear and feel swollen, and it still sends radiating pain throughout my body. I am scheduled to see an internal medicine doctor on Monday. I may suggest getting an MRI done. But I am doubtful how this would be helpful since the CT scan last fall showed nothing significant. I have seen a chiropractor who took x-rays of my spine which revealed that my spine was kinda messed up. But I want to rule out more serious issues before I continue on with a chiropractor.

Anyone suffer from something similar or any idea as to what it may be?
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ioka
replied on July 17th, 2009
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hi i looked into this and only found xiphoidalgia..its inflammation of the brestbone and may hurt when you cough, or breath deep and chest movement.
anti inflams or anesthetic injections,or steroids have been known to help. treatment is not usually necessary as its unknown why this happens.
an mri may help evaluate your spine better as xrays do not give true reading of nerves or underlying issues.
think your already doing what would be recommended according to info i found and treatment does improve it in time.
hope this helps we are not doctors but can advise you on finds that we research..
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gp1967
replied on October 31st, 2009
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been dealing with the same issue for about 8 months and have finally seen a surgeon who is going to remove my xiphoid tip as he feel it is damaged and maybe broken. Hope this fixes it. It is weird how the syptoms radiate throughout the body, my xiphoid actually pops when I rub or push it and I too get numbness in my hands with back & neck pain and headaches when pain is at its worst. went to the hosptal 3 times and was treated for everything from heartburn to depression with no relief. My surgery is Tuesday 11-3-09, I will post the results soon after. The xiphoid seems to be the last thing most doctors suspect.
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gp1967
replied on November 3rd, 2009
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well I had the surgery this morning, it took about 2 hours and I have a 3 inch incision in the middle of my stomach just below the sternum. surgeon advised my xiphoid was damaged and point inwards so if not removed I'm sure this issue would have plague me for years. I feel sore from the surgery but already feel better internally. I have only taken one vicodin post surgery (perscribed 1 every 4 hours) so if you have been diagnoised with this problem I would not fear removing it. I found it interesting that most of the nurses and staff was curious as to how I damaged it as it was the first they heard of somebody getting it removed that didn't break it during CPR. I never had CPR done on me and the only thing I can recall was working on a car back in Feb.09 and used my chest as a 3rd hand to push in the axle while changing the bearings, no pain that day but within a few days of that my problems started and I never thought that was it in the begining. I will post more results once off all meds.
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