The good news is that (other than the pain) it is completely harmless.
The way it always felt to me is like someone wrapped a small wire around something tender in my chest, and if I tried to breathe or straighten my posture, they would yank on it. I’d get it anywhere from a couple times a week to once a month. Then one day in my mid-30s it just stopped.
From what I understand this is relatively common. I was so grateful for the person on reddit who dropped this nugget of wisdom several years ago. It was nice to know I wasn’t dying or whatever.
Ahh, this is fun. Every time I’m like “Is this it? Is this the one?”
But no, it never is.
until it is
That’s the spirit! Got to stay positive.
Gotta have something to look forward to!
And your body has been crying wolf for so long that you just ignore it
It was painless though. Speaking from experience.
OK wait on second thought I can’t remember. So maybe it was. Damn!
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But no, it never is.
Yet
Oh nice post. I totally have this.
Treatment: Reasurance
Its okay. You’re not dying. Calm down.
The pain is agitated by expansion and contraction of the chest. Taking a deep breath and allowing the rib cage to fully expand can relieve the pain, however it will feel unpleasant initially. At the point of full expansion, it can feel like a rubber band snap in the chest, after which the initial pain subsides.
Oh I gotta try this.
Make sure to keep going until you feel and hear the snap.
I’m gonna need the tire inflator
At the point of full expansion, it can feel like a rubber band snap in the chest,
🤮
I often struggle with arythmia, angina, and palpitations, with up to several seconds between beats sometimes, and this sounds horrific. I’d rather double my heart problems than trade them for this
Yeah, this is how I used to deal with it. You just eat that stabbing pain for a few seconds and then it’s gone.
I haven’t had this in probably 15 or more years at this point, which seems to be consistent with the syndrome itself being most common in young adults, teens, and children.
I can also sometimes get it to snap by putting my left foream against a doorframe and twisting my torso rightward to stretch my chest. I’ve always thought it was “popping my sternum” but it only works/is necessary on the left side
The trick is doing it quickly, like gasping for air after jumping into cold water.
See, I am unfortunate in that I know exactly where my chest pain comes from and it is from 6 of my ribs being broken and fused together from falling off a cruise ship and breaking them on a railing on the way down.
The interesting part is I didnt know I broke them until years later when I was hit by a car and the hospital doctor was just like “oh yeah you just hurt your broken ribs again, put some frozen peas on it and wait for the pain to go down”
Anyways, dont break your ribs unless you want to know when the weather is changing by pain.
how the fuck do you fall off a cruise ship, break six ribs, have them fuse together, and never even realize it?
Do you just actively avoid going to speak to ANY medical professional unless forced by ambulance?
must be American.
I’m american, with no insurance, and with a penchant for avoiding doctors/ERs when I should probably go.
if I fell off a fucking building equivalent, landed on a guard rail ribs first, and broke multiple ribs… I’d be hopping in the back of that 10,000 dollar ambulance as fast as my shallow breathing, possibly punctured lungs could take me.
And also yes
Yes
Holy fuck it has a name.
Of course it has a name … Of course I’m not the only one this happens to.
Ive had it since a teen when I got pneumonia, always assumed it was related to that, however it’s actually this and it’s a perfect description. It a bit of a mind blown moment
Oh good so it’s not just been me dealing with this random pain for the last 20 years…
So it’s not a tiny London man coming to check if I got my stabbing license in order?
That would be the stabee license there guvna. Foine for you for nawt undahstandin ya roights.
I had no idea they had a name!
I’ve had it as long as I can remember, though not very often. It would only be a few times a year I’d say…
I see legs and a dick in that drawing, not lungs.
It kinda looks like a dude bent over from behind, hangy balls flappin’ in the breeze
That sexy lungs-shaped butt
Yeah that’s what I saw at first as well lol
It took me a while to see the rib cage too
My god it has a name… and so many people here seem to have it? I thought i was a freak for having this. Nobody else ever said anything about having similar pains.
For me, the way to deal with this was to raise my arms above my head in a stretch. Made it stop every time.
Thought I was having a heart attack the first couple of times it happened.
As an adult, I still have them from time to time, but not anywhere as frequently, though still without any warning.
mine was sleeping on my back lying still, it alleviates it. also it was triggered by doing certain exercises, but that seems to help alleviate eventually. one time it lasted alot longer than usual
Well thanks for sharing this. I’ve been getting this since forever. Now that I think about it though I don’t think it’s happened in a while.
Anyway, much appreciated!
I’ve had this since before I was a teenager…decades ago. Still happens from time to time. I’ve always considered it somewhat like a cramp in my diaphragm and so always breathe just deeply enough that it starts to hurt then relax and next breath try a bit deeper and keep that up until I “work through it.”
As I got older those random pains have me worried “is this a cardiac event?!” despite showing no other symptoms for one.
If you’re able to access primary care they may be able to bill your insurance for an EKG yearly. Wouldn’t catch everything but might notice if you pick up some a-fib or another lowkey issue that might snowball (although the main issue with afib is usually clots and afib clots usually hit the brain not the heart iirc).
Do it if you can. Afib is one of those things that can take years to diagnose, with most people thinking they’re just unfit. Meanwhile, half their heart isn’t working properly …
Oh yeah that happens to me since I’m a kid. I was told it was harmless but never had source.
Ah so it is a known thing and has a name, yay! Thanks for sharing.
