Why can I feel my sternum cracking?

Calcification of the cartilage associated with the sternum is an accumulation of calcium deposits in that area. The calcified calcium can result in small shards that wear away at the joints, breaking down cartilage. This wearing down of the cartilage can cause the popping sound you may be hearing.

What does a crack sternum feel like?

Chest pain. A broken sternum typically causes moderate to severe pain when the accident occurs. The pain may get worse when you take a deep breath, cough, or sneeze. The area over the sternum may be tender and hurt if touched.

Why do I hear a clicking sound in my chest?

A clicking, crackling, or crunching sound over the cardiac apex, sometimes followed or accompanied by left-sided chest pain, is usually thought to be caused by pericarditis. It is frequently ignored that these symptoms can be due to a small left-sided pneumothorax, called noisy pneumothorax.

What does it mean when you have pain right below your sternum?

Sternum pain is usually caused by problems with the muscles and bones near the sternum and not the sternum itself. Pain felt just behind or below the sternum is called substernal pain and is sometimes caused by gastrointestinal problems. Some of the most common causes of sternum and substernal pain are: costochondritis.

How big is the xiphoid process in the sternum?

Doctors on MedicineNet describe the xiphoid process as the lowest segment of the sternum and it has no particular function. The size of the xiphoid process can range from very tiny to a few inches in length.1 Another name for the xiphoid process is xiphisternal bone, the xiphisternum, or metasternum.

What does it mean when your sternum is cracking?

The popping or cracking noise may be accompanied by breast bone pain, tenderness and/or joint swelling. What is the sternum? The sternum, commonly referred to as the breastbone, is a flat elongated bone at front of the chest.

What can I do about the popping in my sternum?

Popping may go away along with the inflammation over time. Rest can also help, though this is difficult to achieve with the joints associated with the sternum. Your doctor will usually be able to help you determine the underlying cause of the popping, and treating that will help with your popping symptoms. What is the outlook for sternum popping?

Why does the xiphoid process cause chest pain?

For example, one overweight man who had to do a lot of lifting at work was treated for GERD because of constant chest pain. However, after treatment for GERD didn’t improve the symptoms, doctors found that pressure on the xiphoid process caused by obesity was to blame for the middle chest pain.