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What Does Severe Pain In The Sternum Indicate?
I feel heavy on my upper sternum, contant pain changes, and hurts when I talk or if I press that area. I also feel that breathing in is not problem but breat out seems little labor. have to speak slow and soft for awhile then pain gets better. In chest X-ray result everything is normal. To r/o what is causing this pain do you advise to go for ct scan? Anything to worry like lung small cell cancer or esophagus cancer?
Fri, 30 Dec 2022
Hello,
First of all, lung small cell cancer and esophagus cancer won't cause pain. Pain in the upper sternum may be because of physical trauma, muscle strain very commoner than other causes, costochondritis, pleurisy, pneumonia, or gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Most common is muscle strain. My recommendations are NSAIDs like Ibuprofen and Naproxen with a muscle relaxant like chlorzoxazone is to be taken twice daily for 3 days. To avoid gastric irritation, tab. Pantop 40 mg is to be taken once daily before food.
If your pain doesn't subside with the above mentioned treatment, you need to consult a physician. Only then you can think about CT chest. As of now, I don't see it's necessity.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Pallavi M., Anesthesiologist
First of all, lung small cell cancer and esophagus cancer won't cause pain. Pain in the upper sternum may be because of physical trauma, muscle strain very commoner than other causes, costochondritis, pleurisy, pneumonia, or gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Most common is muscle strain. My recommendations are NSAIDs like Ibuprofen and Naproxen with a muscle relaxant like chlorzoxazone is to be taken twice daily for 3 days. To avoid gastric irritation, tab. Pantop 40 mg is to be taken once daily before food.
If your pain doesn't subside with the above mentioned treatment, you need to consult a physician. Only then you can think about CT chest. As of now, I don't see it's necessity.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Pallavi M., Anesthesiologist
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