Persistent Chest Heaviness/Tightness

Posted by yokely @yokely, Jul 29 12:07am

Hello,

I am a 25 y/o male and I began experiencing chest tightness/heaviness around the sternum area, more so the bottom of it, since March 2024. This is a sensation that never goes away and is persistent throughout the day the moment I wake up. My PCP doesn't seem to know what it is as we've exhausted a lot of possibilities.

What's been done:
- 3 X-rays, 3 EKGs (they look normal, done at an Urgent care, ER, and PCP)
- Oral steroids (no effect)
- Allergy testing (nothing found)
- MRI chest scan (nothing found)
- 2400mg of ibuprofen daily, 30 days (no effect, prescribed by a 2nd opinion doc). Not much luck with Tylenol either.
- Upper endoscopy (no issues found), did 40mg of omeprazole for months with no improvement while following GERD diet.
- Cardiologist found no issues so far, though will follow up later for a stress test to see anything else can be found.
- Physical Therapy, working on trying to get a referral to continue this.

What seems to work:
- Doing core exercises alleviates me of the sensation as well as long as I keep doing them. After I stop, the feeling comes back though.
- Urgent Care gave me a steroid injection, which alleviated the issue for a week. It then came back afterwards.
- Muscle relaxants seemed to work before, though I don't know if my tolerance went up as they don't work as effectively before
- Applying slight pressure anywhere on front chest immediately alleviates the feeling as long as the pressure is there. I've been wearing a chest binder in order to be relieved of this feeling. Though the sensation immediately comes back after taking off the chest binder.

I've talked to a 3rd doctor about this to get another opinion on this, to which they suggested it's musculoskeletal probably. But from there, I don't know what else they can check in this area. Please help, thank you.

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My first thought is considering a referral to a rheumatologist, once cardiac issues have been ruled out.

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Yes definitlehy see a rheumatologist. I have Sjogrens syndrome and get pericarditis from it all sorts of weird chest pain but I also have mild pectus excavatum its an indent in the middle of my chest which can cause the chest problems also

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Look into costochondritis. I have had this for 3 years and you are describing many of the same symptoms.

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I am 78 and I have been diagnosed with costochondritis. I have had it over a year. I just want to know is there a cure for this or can this be corrected someway?

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I am seeing pain management doctor. We are hoping maybe shots can give me some relief. Some days days the pain can be so severe I can barely stand it. I was just wondering is this the thing that will help? Will it ever get better?

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I am 78 and I have been diagnosed with costochondritis. I have had it over a year. I just want to know is there a cure for this or can this be corrected someway?

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NSAIDS, older antidepressants such as amitryptaline, PT with gentle stretches, and TENS units have been used with good results. I think the best specialty to help would be a rheumatologist. Most cases only last weeks so you are an outlier or your diagnosis needs to be reconsidered

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