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.

  • Landless2029@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    81
    ·
    2 days ago

    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.

    • Dozzi92@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      19 hours ago

      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.

    • 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

    • Homosexual sapiens@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      1 day ago

      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