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Severe Cramps In Sternum On Bending Over, Using Abdominal Muscles, Occurring Post Child Birth. Cure?
When bending over or using abdominal muscle I sometimes get a severe cramp at the bottom of my sternum. If I push on it and sort of stretch it will go away. I noticed this 9 years ago after I gave birth to my son. The cramping is so severe that I literally have to stop what I am doing and try to relax enough for the pain to stop.
Thu, 11 Jul 2013
Hi,
this could be a small epigastric or paraumbilical hernia. This is not serious. It occurs when a gap develops in the muscle layer and a small area of tissue, usually fat, protrudes through. This is often intermittent and may only occur when the pressure in your abdomen is raised. When you push on the area, you may be pushing the tissue back through the gap in the muscle and therefore relieving the pain.
It is a condition that can occur after childbirth as the muscles get stretched and weakened during pregnancy.
The treatment is usually a small operation to repair the gap in the muscle and this cures the problem.
Regards,
Dr K A Pottinger
MBChB. FRCA
this could be a small epigastric or paraumbilical hernia. This is not serious. It occurs when a gap develops in the muscle layer and a small area of tissue, usually fat, protrudes through. This is often intermittent and may only occur when the pressure in your abdomen is raised. When you push on the area, you may be pushing the tissue back through the gap in the muscle and therefore relieving the pain.
It is a condition that can occur after childbirth as the muscles get stretched and weakened during pregnancy.
The treatment is usually a small operation to repair the gap in the muscle and this cures the problem.
Regards,
Dr K A Pottinger
MBChB. FRCA
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