What Causes Pain At Base Of Sternum?

Posted on Tue, 28 Oct 2014

Question: For the last week I have developed a strange pain at the base of my sternum/three inches above my belly button. The pain doesn't get worse when I poke around there, but in the area along the right side, I do feel an ache or tenderness when I press down along the ribcage. It's mostly uncomfortable when I'm lying down on my stomach, in which case the pain/discomfort is fairly constant. I've also had general chest pain/tightness occasionally that began around the same time. It is such an uncomfortable feeling, and I'm it's freaking me out because my grandma passed away from an abdominal aneurysm, and I've been freaking myself out about what this could be. I had a recent complete blood test and all my numbers were perfect, except for high platelets levels from a splenectomy I had 6 months ago

Answered by Dr. Robert Galamaga (49 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Considerations

Detailed Answer:
hello and thanks for sending your question.

First of all I think it would be a great idea for you to visit with your primary care doctor for a good physical examination and consultation.

Regarding your symptoms I think and abdominal unusual in a 23-year-old. I understand your family histories concerning.

One of the most likely cause of the symptoms you have reported is esophageal reflux.this is a condition where increased acid secretions in the stomach and esophagus causing pain and burning within the central part of the chest. It is often confused with cardiac pain.

in order to treat this type of condition patient will often use medication to lower the acid content in the stomach.

again please visit with your doctor to talk about this further. Again I do not suspect that you have anything extremely worrisome going on but it should be investigated by your doctor.

Sincerely,

Dr. Galamaga

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar