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I Get Lower Sternum Pain While Eating Or Walking. I
Question: I get lower sternum pain while eating or walking. I have to burp anytime I move. I get winded and can't very far. I had abdominal ct come back normal. I had endoscopy done that showed mild esophageal inflammation. I had normal echo cardiogram, with the exception of mild basal spetal thickening. I'm 25, 215 pounds and have elevated bp 135/85. Why am I feeling this pain.
The pain occurs beneath my lower sternum, right where the abdomen ends and the ribs begin. Worse with movement better with rest.
It makes me burp with movement and flatulence all the time.
This has gotten progressively worse over the last two years, ever since I had spinal fusion for hypnosis (t6-l2) posterior fusion
The pain occurs beneath my lower sternum, right where the abdomen ends and the ribs begin. Worse with movement better with rest.
It makes me burp with movement and flatulence all the time.
This has gotten progressively worse over the last two years, ever since I had spinal fusion for hypnosis (t6-l2) posterior fusion
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome to Ask a Doctor service !
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that your symptoms are suggestive of a possible musculoskeletal pain or gastroesophageal reflux.
The fact that the pain is triggered by eating and is associated with increased burping is indicative of a gastroesophageal reflux. The presence of esophageal inflammation confirms this as well.
For this reason, I would recommend avoiding large meals and spicy food and trying to eat more frequently and in small portions.
Another issue to consider would be a musculoskeletal pain, as the pain is triggered by body movements and walking. Radicular nerve pain related to your vertebral column can not be excluded either.
For this reason, I would strongly recommend trying to lose some weight by following a diet and avoiding straining physical activity.
If the pain is relieved by local warm packs, you should consider costochondritis, which is local inflammation or the chest wall ligaments. In such case, ibuprofen would help improve your situation.
As a cardiologist, I would exclude any cardiac issues, related to this chest pain. The mild septal hypertrophy can be related to high blood pressure, but it does not cause chest pain. I would recommend you to closely monitor your blood pressure values and taking antihypertensive drugs in case of higher blood pressure values, in order to stop the progression of these cardiac changes.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
I remain at your disposal for any further questions whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr.Ilir Sharka, Cardiologist
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome to Ask a Doctor service !
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that your symptoms are suggestive of a possible musculoskeletal pain or gastroesophageal reflux.
The fact that the pain is triggered by eating and is associated with increased burping is indicative of a gastroesophageal reflux. The presence of esophageal inflammation confirms this as well.
For this reason, I would recommend avoiding large meals and spicy food and trying to eat more frequently and in small portions.
Another issue to consider would be a musculoskeletal pain, as the pain is triggered by body movements and walking. Radicular nerve pain related to your vertebral column can not be excluded either.
For this reason, I would strongly recommend trying to lose some weight by following a diet and avoiding straining physical activity.
If the pain is relieved by local warm packs, you should consider costochondritis, which is local inflammation or the chest wall ligaments. In such case, ibuprofen would help improve your situation.
As a cardiologist, I would exclude any cardiac issues, related to this chest pain. The mild septal hypertrophy can be related to high blood pressure, but it does not cause chest pain. I would recommend you to closely monitor your blood pressure values and taking antihypertensive drugs in case of higher blood pressure values, in order to stop the progression of these cardiac changes.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
I remain at your disposal for any further questions whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr.Ilir Sharka, Cardiologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
First, I like to thank you for your response. The symptoms get worse with exertion, better with rest. I get this hunger like pain in my lower sternum and it happens when I walk, have sex or eat. It also makes me burp. I'm scared this could be angina.... the pain feels deep. And it doesn't feel like pain per say, it feels more like a dull ache that's deep in the center of lower sternum. I can only walk for a few minutes before I feel fatigued.
This issue has gotten progressively worse over the last 2 years ever since I had spine surgery.
Brief Answer:
My opinion as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
As a cardiologist, I would exclude coronary artery disease based on your description, as your symptoms are not typical of this disease.
Cardiac ischaemia does not lead to pain modulated by eating, hunger or walking.
Besides, you have already performed a cardiac stress test, which has resulted normal.
Considering all your description of the pain, I think that it is related to the changes in your esophagus and in your vertebral column.
You should know that the nerves which originate in the vertebral column, can be pinched by the discs in the vertebral column and cause irradiation nerve pain in this region.
For this reason, physiotherapy can help improve your situation.
A spine MRI may be needed.
I would also recommend taking PPI ( omeprazole) to help reduce the inflammation in your esophagus.
I hope you will find this information helpful!
Let me know in case of further uncertainties!
Wishing all the best,
Dr.Iliri
My opinion as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
As a cardiologist, I would exclude coronary artery disease based on your description, as your symptoms are not typical of this disease.
Cardiac ischaemia does not lead to pain modulated by eating, hunger or walking.
Besides, you have already performed a cardiac stress test, which has resulted normal.
Considering all your description of the pain, I think that it is related to the changes in your esophagus and in your vertebral column.
You should know that the nerves which originate in the vertebral column, can be pinched by the discs in the vertebral column and cause irradiation nerve pain in this region.
For this reason, physiotherapy can help improve your situation.
A spine MRI may be needed.
I would also recommend taking PPI ( omeprazole) to help reduce the inflammation in your esophagus.
I hope you will find this information helpful!
Let me know in case of further uncertainties!
Wishing all the best,
Dr.Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I never had a cardic stress test, only an echocardiogram. I tried a stress test but failed due to getting exhausted 2:36 into biking on a bike. Nothing looked abnormal on the leads while I felt exhausted though.
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
This is another indicator that there is no presence coronary artery disease , as no ECG changes were present when you felt exhausted.
Anyway, another alternative test would be cardiac stress echo, which can be done to help investigate for coronary artery disease, in patients that can not perform a cardiac stress test because of physical limitations.
Anyway, I still think that your symptoms are not related to coronary artery disease.
In my opinion, the main problem is your vertebral column, which may need further tests ( an MRI).
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask me again!
Regards,
Dr.Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
This is another indicator that there is no presence coronary artery disease , as no ECG changes were present when you felt exhausted.
Anyway, another alternative test would be cardiac stress echo, which can be done to help investigate for coronary artery disease, in patients that can not perform a cardiac stress test because of physical limitations.
Anyway, I still think that your symptoms are not related to coronary artery disease.
In my opinion, the main problem is your vertebral column, which may need further tests ( an MRI).
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask me again!
Regards,
Dr.Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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