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Concern

Posted by dab63 @dab63, Jan 13, 2017

My husband was in an accident a few years ago and fractured his sternum. We found out when he was having problems breathing and he got an x-ray. We were told he had pneumonia so he was put on antibiotics and it got better. He is slightly overweight, has been for years but he continues to have shortness of breath just from talking. He has has a stress test which was ok. He is always tired, he is sore all over, has had a dry cough for years now and since this accident he cannot breath correctly. I am concerned that it could be pulmonary fibrosis? He is going to the doctor this week because the pulmonologist told him he was "just out of shape". There is something wrong and need some advise please.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 13, 2017

Hi @dab63, welcome to Connect. We, of course, can't diagnose here on Connect, but perhaps other patients can give you some ideas as you look for answers with your husband's doctor. I'm tagging @dawn_giacabazi who also fractured her sternum in a car accident. However, I don't think she had lung issues as a result. I may be wrong. Dawn, any thoughts?

Dab, what makes you suspect pulmonary fibrosis?

REPLY
Dawn, Alumni Mentor | @dawn_giacabazi | Jan 14, 2017

Hi @ dab63, wow you just gave me flash backs to a horrible time in my life! I absolutely feel your husbands pain. Thank you @colleenyoung for tagging me.

I will highly suggest you insist on an MRI of the sternum. His symptoms are mirrored mine. I ended up having a paired over fracture through the sterno manubrium joint. If this is what he has 1st I he will breath very shallow because every time he takes a breath it causes his chest to rise and fall which moves the joint which pinches nerves and splinter the cartilage which after time results in a costochondral Chondritis of course speaking only from many years experience and 3 surgeries to repair because sternal fracture's ALMOST always heal on their own but some cases don't. 27 doctors later we ended up removing the sternal manubrium joint. We tried wiring but the wires broke in 2 place during physical therapy. So we cut it all out but 2 years later the bones grew back together and broke during an an exercise class I was doing with 2 pound weights. So 3rd surgery we made the hole bigger so my 2,3,4 & 5th ribs are floating but no more pain and no more chronic pneumonia.

So I had MRI and then a bone scan to determine if the healing process had stopped. Mine had stopped so surgery was my only option to start the healing process again. Note: sternal injuries can take six months to a year to heal. He would greatly benefit from learning biofeedback.

I will post some information for you both to review.

Prayers for healing
Dawn

REPLY
1 reply
Dawn, Alumni Mentor | @dawn_giacabazi | Jan 14, 2017

So here is a link with some information.

Ice will become his best friend if he has costochondritis. However it is possible he has another condition and it needs address asap. Here is info on other possible causes.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/costochondritis/basics/causes/con-20024454
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/costochondritis/basics/definition/con-20024454
Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota use to do fluoroscopy guided sternal steroid injections to help with pain control. So of the treatments we tried before surgery was anti inflammatory medications, pain medications, ice, biofeedback, acupuncture, Raki, physical therapy, chiropractic, acupressure therapy, water therapy and we tried a molded brace, they tried to tape my breasts up so the weight of my breast would pull the fracture open (safe to say he won't have that issue against him) all over a 3 year time.

Hope this helps
Dawn

REPLY
dab63 | @dab63 | Jan 16, 2017
In reply to @dawn_giacabazi "Hi @ dab63, wow you just gave me flash backs to a horrible time in my..." + (show)
@dawn_giacabazi

Hi @ dab63, wow you just gave me flash backs to a horrible time in my life! I absolutely feel your husbands pain. Thank you @colleenyoung for tagging me.

I will highly suggest you insist on an MRI of the sternum. His symptoms are mirrored mine. I ended up having a paired over fracture through the sterno manubrium joint. If this is what he has 1st I he will breath very shallow because every time he takes a breath it causes his chest to rise and fall which moves the joint which pinches nerves and splinter the cartilage which after time results in a costochondral Chondritis of course speaking only from many years experience and 3 surgeries to repair because sternal fracture's ALMOST always heal on their own but some cases don't. 27 doctors later we ended up removing the sternal manubrium joint. We tried wiring but the wires broke in 2 place during physical therapy. So we cut it all out but 2 years later the bones grew back together and broke during an an exercise class I was doing with 2 pound weights. So 3rd surgery we made the hole bigger so my 2,3,4 & 5th ribs are floating but no more pain and no more chronic pneumonia.

So I had MRI and then a bone scan to determine if the healing process had stopped. Mine had stopped so surgery was my only option to start the healing process again. Note: sternal injuries can take six months to a year to heal. He would greatly benefit from learning biofeedback.

I will post some information for you both to review.

Prayers for healing
Dawn

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Thank you, I will give him this information and insist the doctor dig into this.

I appreciate it!

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