While your sternum heals, there are several things you can do to speed up the process and reduce your pain, including:
- applying an ice pack to your chest.
- taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) to reduce pain and inflammation.
- limiting your movement and avoiding any heavy lifting.
What causes your sternum to stick out?
Pectus carinatum (PC, or pigeon chest) is a chest wall deformity where there is overgrowth of the cartilage between the ribs and the sternum (breastbone), causing the middle of the chest to stick out.
What causes xiphoid process to stick out?
Anterior displacement of the xiphoid process may be the result of significant weight gain. Repeated trauma of the afflicted area, unaccustomed heavy lifting, exercise, and perichondritis are, amongst other causes, believed to contribute to the development of xiphodynia.
