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What Causes Pain Under The Sternum When Pushed Upon?
Question: Hello, My problem I'm fairly certain is gas related.
Symptoms been occurring for 4-6 months. Gradually gotten worse. Now practically after every meal I experience symptoms.
Symptoms are:
Pain under sternum when pushed upon.
Shooting headache, which is relieved by putting pressure on "pain-points" below rib cage.
The headache seems to go up the neck along the left and right side of head. Again, can be relieved without medicine, using pressure on stomach area.
Sharp pain while attempting to sleep which wakes me up. Again, I feel gas sitting there and I can move it around with my thumbs.
Extreme sleepiness during onset of symptoms, as though I hadn't slept for 24 hours. Goes away as soon as stomach symptoms are relieved.
When pushing on these points with the burning sharp-ish "glowing" pain, I can feel and literally hear gas moving around. It's solid, as though it's a pressurized ballon with a kink in it, and I'm shoving the gas between the kink, one side to the other.
I can't burp or otherwise relieve the gas. It just sits there.
I have seen a gastro doc, and he is recommending an endoscopy. I'm not against that, and am happy he is attempting to locate the problem. However with symptoms so distinct, I would think someone out there would have an idea?
Other health concerns of note, though they really shouldn't be anything more than mild to fair contributors in my mind:
I am a smoker, 2-4 per day
I was in a car accident 1.5 year ago, rolled 4 and a half times. Broken collarbone, that's it.
I am otherwise fit and healthy, an avid surfer and motorcycle rider.
Additional notes:
Also causes lightheadedness at times, as though the world spun for just a second and I'm catching up with my vision. This is semi-rare but noteworthy.
I meant to say headache goes up left and right side of the BACK of the head.
The "pain points" as I've dubbed them, are all along the rib cage bottom part, like when you stick your finger just underneath the last rib and straight in. The pain moves between center and left and right sides. But the pain is always present when pushing on the center. The gas sounds and movements are only on the center-left side. Strange right?
I've had the pain point stretch all the way over to the side of the abdomen next to rib cage.
I've tried diet extensively. Eliminating grease, acids, salts, sugars, dairy. I actually have experienced symptoms without eating at all for 14 hours. There's just this little pocket of gas sitting there hard as a rock, and painful to press upon, but moves about slightly when pushed.
All the symptoms are relieved when the pain subsides by me rubbing and pushing on these areas.
I will say this, the gas seems to disappear into nothing. Once the symptoms dissipate, there is most usually not accompanied expelment. It's just gone.
I think I wrote everything down here. I wish I could find a way to summate this for my gastro doc, because it's unlikely he would read all of this if I were to print it out. But it described the situation precisely, and I think that matters. To know the situation fully before deciding. Thus I am here, and I appreciate your time greatly!
Symptoms been occurring for 4-6 months. Gradually gotten worse. Now practically after every meal I experience symptoms.
Symptoms are:
Pain under sternum when pushed upon.
Shooting headache, which is relieved by putting pressure on "pain-points" below rib cage.
The headache seems to go up the neck along the left and right side of head. Again, can be relieved without medicine, using pressure on stomach area.
Sharp pain while attempting to sleep which wakes me up. Again, I feel gas sitting there and I can move it around with my thumbs.
Extreme sleepiness during onset of symptoms, as though I hadn't slept for 24 hours. Goes away as soon as stomach symptoms are relieved.
When pushing on these points with the burning sharp-ish "glowing" pain, I can feel and literally hear gas moving around. It's solid, as though it's a pressurized ballon with a kink in it, and I'm shoving the gas between the kink, one side to the other.
I can't burp or otherwise relieve the gas. It just sits there.
I have seen a gastro doc, and he is recommending an endoscopy. I'm not against that, and am happy he is attempting to locate the problem. However with symptoms so distinct, I would think someone out there would have an idea?
Other health concerns of note, though they really shouldn't be anything more than mild to fair contributors in my mind:
I am a smoker, 2-4 per day
I was in a car accident 1.5 year ago, rolled 4 and a half times. Broken collarbone, that's it.
I am otherwise fit and healthy, an avid surfer and motorcycle rider.
Additional notes:
Also causes lightheadedness at times, as though the world spun for just a second and I'm catching up with my vision. This is semi-rare but noteworthy.
I meant to say headache goes up left and right side of the BACK of the head.
The "pain points" as I've dubbed them, are all along the rib cage bottom part, like when you stick your finger just underneath the last rib and straight in. The pain moves between center and left and right sides. But the pain is always present when pushing on the center. The gas sounds and movements are only on the center-left side. Strange right?
I've had the pain point stretch all the way over to the side of the abdomen next to rib cage.
I've tried diet extensively. Eliminating grease, acids, salts, sugars, dairy. I actually have experienced symptoms without eating at all for 14 hours. There's just this little pocket of gas sitting there hard as a rock, and painful to press upon, but moves about slightly when pushed.
All the symptoms are relieved when the pain subsides by me rubbing and pushing on these areas.
I will say this, the gas seems to disappear into nothing. Once the symptoms dissipate, there is most usually not accompanied expelment. It's just gone.
I think I wrote everything down here. I wish I could find a way to summate this for my gastro doc, because it's unlikely he would read all of this if I were to print it out. But it described the situation precisely, and I think that matters. To know the situation fully before deciding. Thus I am here, and I appreciate your time greatly!
Brief Answer:
Pathophysiology explained
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone very carefully through your query. Your query is quite long. In case I miss any points, please point it to me and I will clear your queries.
Your problem seems to be due to gastritis or gastroesophageal reflux. Our gastrointestinal tract has a forward propulsive movement (peristalsis) that moves the food material forward as it is digested, absorbed and finally expelled as feces. If somehow this movement gets hampered, food along with the digestive juices would stagnate, stomach acid will reflux into the food pipe and on the other hand the bowel habits would not be proper. Degradation of undigested food in the intestines by the intestinal bacteria would lead to the excess gas formation.
In order to relieve yourself, you need to do the following:
* Avoid spicy food. Take small but frequent meals. Avoid long gaps between meals.
* Avoid alcohol intake.
* Take Prilosec (omeprazole) once daily before breakfast.
* Take plenty of green leafy vegetables as well as other sources of dietary fibers. Take fiber supplements like isabgol/psyllium husk or senna. I would insist you to increase your dietary fibre intake.
* Regular morning walk and exercise to keep the bowel movements proper.
* If I had a patient like you I would perhaps have suggested Prodep 20 mg tablet once daily for at least 2 months (it may take time for the action to set in).
* Take curd or yogurt on daily basis. It contains beneficial bacteria and should help.
* You could be having tension headaches. Needs a careful neurological evaluation. Investigations can be done accordingly.
* Get your blood TSH levels checked. That could point to the cause of excessive sleepiness.
Hope that helps.
Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
Pathophysiology explained
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone very carefully through your query. Your query is quite long. In case I miss any points, please point it to me and I will clear your queries.
Your problem seems to be due to gastritis or gastroesophageal reflux. Our gastrointestinal tract has a forward propulsive movement (peristalsis) that moves the food material forward as it is digested, absorbed and finally expelled as feces. If somehow this movement gets hampered, food along with the digestive juices would stagnate, stomach acid will reflux into the food pipe and on the other hand the bowel habits would not be proper. Degradation of undigested food in the intestines by the intestinal bacteria would lead to the excess gas formation.
In order to relieve yourself, you need to do the following:
* Avoid spicy food. Take small but frequent meals. Avoid long gaps between meals.
* Avoid alcohol intake.
* Take Prilosec (omeprazole) once daily before breakfast.
* Take plenty of green leafy vegetables as well as other sources of dietary fibers. Take fiber supplements like isabgol/psyllium husk or senna. I would insist you to increase your dietary fibre intake.
* Regular morning walk and exercise to keep the bowel movements proper.
* If I had a patient like you I would perhaps have suggested Prodep 20 mg tablet once daily for at least 2 months (it may take time for the action to set in).
* Take curd or yogurt on daily basis. It contains beneficial bacteria and should help.
* You could be having tension headaches. Needs a careful neurological evaluation. Investigations can be done accordingly.
* Get your blood TSH levels checked. That could point to the cause of excessive sleepiness.
Hope that helps.
Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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