clicking sounds in chest!!!

[Stephie1982]

hi - i'm a 22yr old female and i just wondered if anyone out there has any idea to why i get (which i can only describe as..) clicking noises when i take a deep breath. It doesnt happen all the time, but when it does its very uncomfortable - i've had it now for about 7yrs, and it has got worse as i've aged. I did go to the docs when it started years ago, an got sent for xray but everything seemed fine, and the doc couldnt tell me why - so i got discharged and carried on with it, but it has got worse - and the clicking noises louder!! anyone know what this is?? - Thank you - Steph

[dali_butterfly]

I get the same sternum clicking but mine usually comes after some strenuous exercise. I also sometimes feel something like pressure in my chest. I went and saw a doctor and he said that it's just an inflammation of the chest bones. He told me to apply a cold pack for 5 minutes followed by a heat pack for 5 minutes (repeat a few times). He also told me to take anti inflammatory medicine like Ibuprophen. I took the pills but I haven't tried the heat-cold thing yet. It does feel better when I take the pills.

[mattsmart]

hi dali_butterfly

I too have read about hot and cold packs, but whenever an painful episode occures, its often not convinient to try this method!
I may try ibuprofen as a friend uses it for athuritis, and says its helps?

good luck

[190574]

I know the feeling. I feel an uncomfortable feeling in my chest everyday. It activates anxieity attacks. I take a death breath constantly and it my rib cage clicks. I went to see my doctor, and he said it is loose muscles and that they need to be tighted. When you do that, it will keep the bones attached. But, I also have poor posture which doesnt help the situation at all. I have also been told to go see a chyroptractor to staighten my back. So, I hope this info can help. Just remember, allot of the time when you feel the sharpness, it is the nerves and muscles being pinched between the ribs and sternum and can cause your heart to think of heart attack. It happened to me after work today and it was scary

[mattsmart]

your condition sounds slightly different to mine but still similar. My posture / sitting postion is what causes the sterum to get out of position, not exercise. I usually have to click a few times a day?
I saw a chiropractor who practised a Mctimony method, it didint really do much although at the time you could feel a general improvemrnt in posture?
My doctor also mentioned building up my muscles around the chest are to better support the sternum and ribs.
If you get soreness around the center of the sternum after a crack etc.........I find disolvable asprin help. although I dont think daily drugs hold the key, I think its a physiological problem which like your doctor said may require muscle work?

[mcheads]

My boyfriend and I,both coincedently, get the chest clicking sensation. I thought it was only me. Its a scary feeling which is relieved when a deep painful breathe is taken. We have put our chest clicking pain down to anxiety, however this is not medically proven its just a personal diagnostic. Good to know there are others out there

[mattsmart]

hi mcheads
is it brought on randomly, or when you feel stressed? diagnosis differs between people?