Cracking Sternum?

[07-Aythree]

Over the past few years I've noticed that I get this tension in my sternum. Eventually if i pump my chest out and up like a stretch it cracks/pops and aleviates all this tension. It feels amazing at the time, but is this normal? Had a huge one today and relieved some pain I've been having

[chubbychynk]

gas? or... get your lungs checked...

[07-Aythree]

No no def not gas. just had a physical, lungs are fine. But it feels just like a physical cracking like neck or fingers.

[chubbychynk]

you sure it's not your back?

[chubbychynk]

I just removed the sternum from a dog today you have me curious now, I'll take a look tomorrow to see if there is anywhere that could actually crack like a joint. Humans may be different though. If it concerns you enough maybe you should go see a doctor (again).

[chubbychynk]

Here is an illustration of a human sternum for you (did a google search):

[Groove1797]

This can be Costochondritis or Tietze's syndrome. It is recognized as the presence or absence of swelling of costal cartilage. Another possbility is a non-fused area between the sternal body and the manubrium. See a doc

How is your posture?

[07-Aythree]

feels right where the 2nd set of the ribcage meets the sternum. Right there. Very odd feeling. Ill look up what you just mentioned Groove. Thanks

edit ** Groove looked up what you said...don't have those symptoms

[Groove1797]

Has it ever been frac'ed?

[07-Aythree]

not to my recollection. I've even had chest x-rays during my physical to look at lungs etc and nothing ever showed up. Maybe I'll have to go back, but its not something I can replicate... It just happens sometimes, so I don't know how that would work at a doctor's office...

[Groove1797]

i wonder if your 2nd ribs attatch and sometimes detach to your manubrium (via cartilage). Bow-tie shaped bone above sternal body and second ribs

[chubbychynk]

could it just be the sternoclavicular joint? In the dog the clavicle is almost non-existent (not even visible in most radiographs) but from the human illustrations it looks fairly significant.

[07-Aythree]

I have NO idea. Its kinda annoying cuz its a loud pop but it does relieve a lot of pressure

[chubbychynk]

Hopefully that's all it is. It just seems like any other cracking in that area could be really bad!

[onemoremile]

I get that sometimes too. I'll sit in a chair and stretch my arms up and back and it is a loud pop. I don't feel the tension or release of tension though. The pop comes from dead center, right where the sternum label points to.

[bvnguyen516]

my sternum pops as well. i can only do it when i have super bad posture and slouch a lot. there isnt anything really bad about it. its just built up gases from the synovial fluid that the cartilage releases when you stretch like your fingers and neck..

[07-Aythree]

So i'm not gonna die? lol

[AudiA4Style]

I get that too but I feel like it's coming from the top of my sternum.
Do you do any type of weight lifting? I noticed that if I don't workout for a period of 1 month or over it stops happening.

[07-Aythree]

I do work out regularly -3 -4 times a week
but it does happen when i sit with poor posture, i.e in front of the laptop or something

[NVR STSFD]

I get the same thing, and it feels great when it happens. I was concerned at first, but was told by a doctor, there is nothing to worry about.

[Groove1797]

Asked the a doc today while in the OR and he says it can be caused by many different things. The most common is bad posture (especially hunched shoulders) that forces the ribs towards the sternum. The pop occurs due to the "freezing" of the cartilage as they overlap the sternum. The best way to fix this is posture correction by weight training (lower and upper).

[07-Aythree]

oh nice. thanks for looking into it. I'll ask the doc just in case as well. I am doing weight training so hopefully it decreases. I can't do lower body yet due to a recent knee surgery.

[biggygo]

I'm so glad to see that I'm not the only one this happens to...it's happened to me since High School (that I can remember) - it's really uncomfortable sometimes and the POP is loud...people around me stop and look so I smile and say "that was my chest!" and they give me the "creeped out" look! lol

glad to know I'm not going to die, too

[Groove1797]

oh nice. thanks for looking into it. I'll ask the doc just in case as well. I am doing weight training so hopefully it decreases. I can't do lower body yet due to a recent knee surgery.

I mean lower and upper back. Sorry for the lack of clarification