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What Causes Pain In The Sternum While Experiencing Anxiety?

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Posted on Wed, 25 Oct 2017
Question: Hi, last week on Monday I started having pain in the sternum area. it was off and on for around 30 min. kind of like an achey feeling. it didn't happen again until Friday. I got really scared and went to the er. my EKG, blood, xray were fine. I suffer from terrible heart anxiety as it is and chest pain has kicked it into overdrive..... All I can think about is dying from a heart attack. I know an EKG and blood work can't detect a pending heart attack. the er Dr was no help, basically laughed at me. should I worry that I'm going to die soon?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Can be a bone pain.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The pain in the sternum can be due to a musculoskeletal cause or gastritis or a cardiac cause. Since all the investigations are normal there is no need to worry. Increased anxiety can increase the gastritis and aggravate such a pain.
You can consult a physician and get proper anti anxiety drug prescribed and get an echo done in case the problem is recurrent.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (13 minutes later)
thank you, I had an echo done last yr due to PVCs, all was well. the morning my pain started I did lift a heavy fish tank, could that be the cause? but why would I feel it later that day then not again till 4 days later? some of my bones around the sternum area are very tender to touch also but I don't think that's related.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (4 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Muscle pain likely.

Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
The tenderness in the area suggests that it is a muscle related pain. There can be a muscle pull or spasm. You can do a hot compress and apply local analgesic gel for relief.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal

Orthopaedic Surgeon

Practicing since :1994

Answered : 12307 Questions

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What Causes Pain In The Sternum While Experiencing Anxiety?

Brief Answer: Can be a bone pain. Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for posting your query. The pain in the sternum can be due to a musculoskeletal cause or gastritis or a cardiac cause. Since all the investigations are normal there is no need to worry. Increased anxiety can increase the gastritis and aggravate such a pain. You can consult a physician and get proper anti anxiety drug prescribed and get an echo done in case the problem is recurrent. I hope this answers your query. In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out. Wishing you good health. Regards. Dr. Praveen Tayal. For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal