Minor, random, annoying pain around the chest area

[child of wonder]

Before anyone suggests it, yes, I already have a Dr. appointment lined up.

Every once in a while like when I'm lying down on my side, raising my arms, or at random times I'll get this minor chest pain. It usually originates around the bottom of my left rib cage, though sometimes it's on the right bottom rib cage, or on the right near my heart.

I don't think it's heart related because if I twist my body it hurts a bit more. I don't feel faint, nauseous, or any other symptom just an annoying pain that almost feels like my ribcage might be touching my lung or a muscle has been pulled.

The pain only lasts a couple minutes and then goes away. It maybe happens once every other day.

I have had a history of high blood pressure years ago but have since lost over 50 lbs., lowered my caffeine intake, quit smoking over 4 years ago, and do my best to watch my sodium. Last I checked my BP was 134/78. A little bit high but not near as bad as it used to be.

My mom's side of the family has had cholesterol problems and she's going on medication for it. Hopefully it's not blockage of some kind.

Anyway, I'm not overly worried about it. A buddy of mine had chest pain and went to the ER but it turned out to be acid reflux.

Has anyone else had similar symptoms? What did it end up being?

 

[cdmccool]

nm

 

[GenHoth]

Yeah, no idea. Good luck at the Doc. Hope its nothing serious!

 

[Ballatician]

I've had random pains over the last few years that were really sharp but never any cholesterol, bp or other cardiovascular problems. When it first started I got an EKG done. The only thing the Dr could suggest was that maybe I had been hit and there was scar tissue or something that was causing pain.

It has worried me but hopefully your pain is nothing serious.

 

[child of wonder]

Just an update I got back from my physical today. Doc listened to my heart, checked BP, had bloodwork done a week ago, and a baseline EKG. Everything looks great and my heart is strong. He's convinced it's Costochondritis or inflammation of the rib cartilage. Since my chest pain is much better now than it was when I first posted, he advised I keep doing what I've been doing by taking it easy a bit, not lifting heavy objects, and hitting it with 2 weeks of ibuprofen if the pain doesn't go away after another week.

 

[GenHoth]

Glad to hear its nothing serious!

 

[leeland]

I have that pain every day and when I have gone to the chiropractor she has said it is due to a rib being mis-aligned...

The pain is an annoyance and I can generally relieve it by contorting my body lol...thus moving the rib back into place but it always comes back again.

getting old sucks

 

[Canai]

Originally posted by: leeland
I have that pain every day and when I have gone to the chiropractor she has said it is due to a rib being mis-aligned...

The pain is an annoyance and I can generally relieve it by contorting my body lol...thus moving the rib back into place but it always comes back again.

getting old sucks

My floating ribs used to cross when I was younger. Hurt like a bitch, but you could noticable see the bump and it was a very specific pain. It hasn't happened in a couple years though, thankfully.

OP: I have random pains like that sometimes. They always go away and only happen once a month or so, so I never really worried about it.

 

[StageLeft]

I have had it sometimes, just some kind of non specific chest pain. I think it may be skeletal muscle related from benching. In any case, in fact perhaps since I stopped benching it's happened much less. Nonetheless, my PCP sent me to get an echo cardiogram, and it came out just fine. I suppose we may be on the look out for chest pains but the reality is that perfectly health people will feel pain from time to time and it doesn't always have an obvious cause and is not always meaningful.

FWIW my rib cage cartilage (guess I just learned something new) does click or shift from time to time. Feels/sounds gross but doesn't hurt. I am not 18 anymore so these things are part of dying.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

i get it too.
chiropractor said something about my ribs rubbing against something else, lungs i think since it hurts more when i inhale.

 

[Riverhound777]

I have something similar every once in a great while. It is pretty scary because I can't take deep breaths without pretty harsh pain in my heart area. But if I slowly take deeper and deeper breaths eventually I feel this click, and all is well. Pretty sure it is just cartilage or something snapping back into place. Usually get it after laying down for a while.