The good news is that (other than the pain) it is completely harmless.
The way it always felt to me is like someone wrapped a small wire around something tender in my chest, and if I tried to breathe or straighten my posture, they would yank on it. I’d get it anywhere from a couple times a week to once a month. Then one day in my mid-30s it just stopped.
From what I understand this is relatively common. I was so grateful for the person on reddit who dropped this nugget of wisdom several years ago. It was nice to know I wasn’t dying or whatever.
I have one where my lung diaphragm gets pinched between my lung and ribs, it’s really not fun, and you have to bend backwards + inhale before it gets better
harmless
Crashed on a bicycle because of it. Broke nothing, but a few scars on my face still there
As I got older those random pains have me worried “is this a cardiac event?!” despite showing no other symptoms for one.
I’m not sure if it’s the same thing or not, but I have a condition where sometimes my chest hurts because of a bone in a strange place. I’ve been to the hospital a few times thinking I might have heart problems. Then I get prescribed painkillers.
Samesies. I popped a rib out a while back and now I seem to have recurring bouts of costochondritis right over my heart where that rib attaches to my sternum. Definitely thought I was dying for a bit.
Well thanks for sharing this. I’ve been getting this since forever. Now that I think about it though I don’t think it’s happened in a while.
Anyway, much appreciated!
I wonder if it’s genetic, or just very common. All five of my siblings and I have had this.
I’ve had this since before I was a teenager…decades ago. Still happens from time to time. I’ve always considered it somewhat like a cramp in my diaphragm and so always breathe just deeply enough that it starts to hurt then relax and next breath try a bit deeper and keep that up until I “work through it.”
I’d take this over proctalgia.
It’s a spasm of the anal sphincter and it feels like someone jamming a hot knife into your asshole without warning.
lol, I told my wife about this post and she said “You might consider doing ones about Proctalgia Fugax and Exploding Head Syndrome too.”
Yeah it’s not fun. Also I’d heard about exploding head syndrome a few years back and then recently started experiencing it. I’m just glad they haven’t both hit at the same time cause I’m pretty sure my body would take a screenshot then drop dead lmao
Holy fuck it has a name.
Of course it has a name … Of course I’m not the only one this happens to.
Ive had it since a teen when I got pneumonia, always assumed it was related to that, however it’s actually this and it’s a perfect description. It a bit of a mind blown moment
My god it has a name… and so many people here seem to have it? I thought i was a freak for having this. Nobody else ever said anything about having similar pains.
Does anyone know the name for the sensation where you stretch and suddenly your innards feel all wrong, almost like being on the verge of a cramp but not and you suspect that if you don’t return relatively quickly but gently to an unstretched position that something may go badly wrong inside?
Huh. I always thought this was part of my asthma since exercise-induced asthma is a thing and I usually get this after an intense cardio-heavy session.
I see legs and a dick in that drawing, not lungs.
It took me a while to see the rib cage too
It kinda looks like a dude bent over from behind, hangy balls flappin’ in the breeze
That sexy lungs-shaped butt
I have experienced this many times in my life. Was always terrifying and painful til someone posted something just like this years ago. Now it’s just painful. Still scares the crap out of my wife every time she sees it happen to me to though.
Oh nice post. I totally have this.
Treatment: Reasurance
Its okay. You’re not dying. Calm down.
The pain is agitated by expansion and contraction of the chest. Taking a deep breath and allowing the rib cage to fully expand can relieve the pain, however it will feel unpleasant initially. At the point of full expansion, it can feel like a rubber band snap in the chest, after which the initial pain subsides.
Oh I gotta try this.
At the point of full expansion, it can feel like a rubber band snap in the chest,
🤮
I often struggle with arythmia, angina, and palpitations, with up to several seconds between beats sometimes, and this sounds horrific. I’d rather double my heart problems than trade them for this
Make sure to keep going until you feel and hear the snap.
I’m gonna need the tire inflator