Other potential causes include falls and sports injuries. Treatment depends on how severe the injury is. It typically involves rest and pain relief while you heal. In more severe cases, surgery may be needed to put the bone back in place. The sternoclavicular joint is the area where your collarbone meets your sternum.
Although uncommon, sometimes you can develop joint problems in this area due to injury, arthritis, or infections. Since your collarbone is connected to your sternum, injury to this bone may also lead to pain or discomfort around your sternum.
Collarbone injuries often occur due to things like falls, accidents, or sports injuries. The most common causes of sternum pain are musculoskeletal issues. If you have lingering pain or discomfort in the area of your sternum, make an appointment to see your doctor. They can diagnose the cause of the pain and work with you to put together a treatment plan. Remember that chest pain is also associated with health emergencies like a heart attack and pulmonary embolism.
Because of this, seek emergency medical attention for chest pain that:. It provides both support and protection for your torso. Several conditions can directly affect your sternum, leading to chest pain or discomfort.
This is often due to musculoskeletal issues such as injuries, arthritis, or infections. Treatment often involves rest and medications for easing pain and swelling, although surgery may be needed in severe cases. The clavicles meet the manubrium at the concave clavicular notches to form the sternoclavicular joint, the only point of skeletal attachment between the pectoral girdle of the shoulder and the axial skeleton of the thorax.
Slight indentations on the lateral sides of the manubrium provide attachment points for the costal cartilages of the ribs. At its inferior end, the manubrium meets the body of the sternum at the joint with the costal cartilage of the second ribs. Here it forms the sternal angle, a slight posterior bend in the sternum that can be felt through the skin and serves as an important anatomical landmark in the medical profession.
Several important muscles attach via tendons to the manubrium, including the sternocleidomastoid, pectoralis major, sternohyoid, and sternothyroid muscles. The body of the sternum is the longest region of the sternum and is roughly rectangular in shape. The costal cartilages of the second through tenth ribs connect to the body of the sternum to form the bulk of the rib cage. Discomfort can range from mild to severe.
A person may feel pain in muscle groups connected to the xiphoid process around the abdomen and chest. Symptoms tend to come and go, making it a challenge to diagnose. It is also possible for the area to become inflamed, causing a lump to develop around the lower sternum.
This lump is a result of inflammation but can often be mistaken for a more serious medical condition, such as a tumor. The xiphoid process is not protected or supported by surrounding structures, making it vulnerable to damage. This damage can occur during cardiopulmonary resuscitation CPR when a person applies too much pressure to the lower sternum. People who have felt pain in their lower sternum for more than 1 week should see a doctor for assessment.
Diagnosing xiphoid process pain can be challenging given the transient nature of symptoms and its proximity to several major organs and bone structures. For example, it can be initially mistaken for a broken rib. The presence of inflammation forming a lump can also be mistaken for a tumor or a hernia. Given the difficulty in confirming xiphoid process pain, doctors may recommend an X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging MRI , or computerized tomography CT scan.
With the help of these images, it is possible to assess any damage to the structure and the extent of any inflammation. They may also recommend that a person experiencing pain from xiphoid process avoids high-intensity exercise or activities that put a strain on the area.
A broken xiphoid process increases inflammation, which leads to pain and tenderness in the chest. You may also experience xiphoid process pain with acid reflux. This is when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. Acid reflux can irritate the lining of the esophagus, and since the esophagus is located behind the breastbone, xiphoid process pain can develop along with reflux symptoms. Xiphoid process pain caused by minor trauma may resolve itself.
A doctor may be able to diagnose problems with your xiphoid process based on your symptoms and the presence of a lump near your breastbone. A lump near your xiphoid process can be mistaken for a tumor or hernia.
For an accurate diagnosis, your doctor may schedule an imaging test of the lower part of your breastbone. An X-ray can reveal damage to the xiphoid process. If X-ray results are inconclusive, your doctor may recommend further testing.
These tests can take pictures of the inside of your body and help identify masses, inflammation, and other abnormalities. Treatment for xiphoid process pain depends on the underlying cause and the severity of your symptoms. If symptoms occur after a recent trauma, your doctor may prescribe a prescription anti-inflammatory to relieve pain, or recommend alternating between hot and cold therapy throughout the day.
Your doctor may also suggest limiting certain activities until the injury heals. Modifying eating habits can treat xiphoid process pain associated with acid reflux disease.
Eat smaller meals five to six times a day and avoid certain trigger foods e. Acid reflux is also controllable with over-the-counter and prescription medications that reduce stomach acid and promote healing of the esophagus. Although the xiphoid process has a specific role in anatomy, a broken xiphoid process can cause serious problems, such as puncturing internal organs.
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