Hey Austin/Jordan, I need some guidance if possible.
Summary:
- I have sternum/chest pain in the middle of the chest; the breast bone. It’s been about 4 weeks since the pain started. It gradually got worse each day. I do not feel the pain as I walk around, but when I do any of the following below, I feel a sharp pain in the area. Things that hurt (from least to most painful):
- Pressing against the area: pain = 1/10
- Turning torso to either side: pain = 3/10
- The Rowing motion (at the peak contraction): pain = 3/10
- Hiccups, Sneezing, Coughing, deep breathing: pain = 3/10
- The Benching motion: pain =7/10
- Bending over motion: pain = 10/10! I am not sure what caused this pain. I was sedentary when the pain came about; e.g. I took a couple weeks off training to study for my final law school exams. I did not get sick during this period, now was I hit in the chest; I was literally studying all day. I did study in bed with a hunched over posture which might be the cause.
Also, it is worth mentioning that I was stressed in general for the past few months leading up to the onset of this pain. Also, I do suffer from anxiety/depression, although these conditions havent impacted my training in the past, nor have they brought about any physical pain. Training is usually my safe haven and something I look forward to.
Nonetheless, I went to the ER to rule out any heart-related issue. All tests came back negative and doc prescribed an NSAID (Celecoxib 200 mg) and said “take a few weeks off the gym”. Doc never diagnosed me precisely; e.g. what the condition is and what caused it. His main objective was to rule out any heart-related issue. However, he said it could be costochondritis or Tietze’s Syndrome, or simply a bruise/inflammation to the sternum. Tests that were done (blood test, blood pressure, urine, X-ray, ECG).
Having been sedentary for a while, I decided to go against the docs orders, and went to train anyways for the first time in a month to “test’ it out. The pain, although not caused by training, kept getting worse and worse as the weight on the bench press increased. I did my warmups and 3 X 5 on Bench and decided to call it quits due to the pain. It’s been a week since I trained, now what? Should I try training again? Perhaps try OHP to see if that movement is pain free. I just do not want to make the situation worse.
I am 25 years old and NOT a competitive lifter, nor do I intend on ever competing. However, I want to continue getting strong and prioritize strength training for the long haul. I am okay with “resting” a little longer if that means I’ll be pain free in the long term. I do not want this to be something that lingers as I have read that costochondritis is generally a misunderstood condition that can linger. I know you cannot give me advice since I am not your patient, but, if any of your patients had costochondritis or general pain/bruising in the sternum, what would your advice to them be?
Thank you.