Cascade Crew

[d00012]

So I have had some chest pain the past couple days, thought it was muscle, but then it started to feel really tight today. I'm just getting over a cold and have started the cough, well I coughed pretty badly and then it really started to hurt, definitely didn't feel like a muscle strain. Almost like I broke my ribs or something, but I don't remember ever getting trauma to my ribs.

So as the pain progresses, I decide to go to the ER. Went up to Regristration, skipped Triage and went straight to a heart moniter and EKG. Ten minutes later, I'm getting chest x-rays. No broken bones, EKG came back normal, and my lungs are perfect. blood pressure slightly elevated due to the pain and discomfort.

The doctor said I probably damaged the cartilage somehow, twisting a certain way, or from stress. Causing the cartilage to become inflammed and making it very painful. Costochondritis is what it's called, no known cause, except maybe stress.

So, if any of you have chest pain, don't hesitate, go to the nearest ER IMMEDIATELY!!! Chest pain is no joke.

['92 camaro boss]

I went to the hospital back when i was 14 from chest pain, felt all stiff and couldn't breathe then suddenly after a minute or so, my chest would pop, and i could breathe again and the pain went away, i went to the hospital for that and they told me i had Pluracy.. gave me meds and i felt fine, but to this day once and a while i still get that pain. so i dunno if that's what it is or not...

either way. it's good it was nothing too serious.

[d00012]

I was relieved it wasn't serious. Just need anti-inflammatories and a heating pad where the pain is, is all I can do for the pain. Just have to wait one to two weeks for it to heal on it's own. Well, four days are out of the way.

[IROCDave]

Man, I was in your exact same position two years ago. My chest hurt for a couple of days, gradually getting worse. It kinda felt like a muscle pull but was deeper. I had a cold at the time and remember coughing really hard when it first arose. In the back of my mind I kept thinking heart problems, but I didnt die after two days of it

Any how, being a guy, I didnt tell my wife. So @ 5:00AM on a Sunday morning the pain became significant. I snuck out and went to the closest ER. Whithin 1 minute I was stuffed into a wheel chair and off loaded into a bed.
Man, if you need to be seen first at an ER, just tell the nurse you have chest pains, you will be seen by a doc within a couple of minutes. The funny part was my aunt, cousin and her daughter were all in the waiting room ( Evergreen) becuase of the flue when I came in. So, two hours later, every test known to man for heart problems, the doc told me the same thing they told you, must have torn cartlidge in my rib cage.

It was scary but I am really happy that I can still have beer and pizza in my life!

[Al Hasse]

I'm glad it wasn't more than it was. Chest pain is nothing to take lightly.

I know what fractured ribs feel like (hairline fractures anyway), coupled with a collapsed lung and a broken collarbone. It was no fun. All from a bicycle and a dog

I was participating in an organized bike ride and came upon a section where there was a dog bothering the riders. When it was my turn, it chased me for a few yards on my left while I maintained my pace, then it decided to cross over in front of me. Needless to say, I nailed the dog with my front tire, and over the bars I went and landed on my left shoulder and back. The impact broke my left collarbone, collapsed my left lung and fractured a few ribs. I really didn't know I was injured until I tried to pick up my bike and noticed that the collarbone was broken. It was really painful when the adrenaline wore off I skipped the waiting room and went straight into emergency - ambulance rides are funny that way.

After an stay at the hospital (to inflate my lung), the healing process was fun. Any sneeze would put me on the floor because of the painful ribs.

[d00012]

Amazing the cartilage being inflammed/torn/"fractured" can be so painful. They call the specific rib that is bothering me the "cardiac" rib, due to it's location in the chest and when it's hurt it gives heart attack symptoms.

Man, the ER doesn't take chest pain lightely. I was in and out in 30 minutes.

Just a couple hours ago I started to cough really badly, been pretty much pain-free all day, sure enough, a sharp, dull, and tightening feeling hits me after the coughing (stupid cold!).

Sucks worse because my family is all out of state right now! Parents just went to Arizona, brother left for Cali, sister is here but doesn't care about the family, and my girlfriend is in Florida on business. I have never had so much trouble driving just 7/10 of a mile to the ER. I could hardly use my left arm to steer, I had to use my right to shift and steer. Should have called the ambulance, oh well, I'm fine and that's all that matters!

A good lesson to other guys out there, I should have gone the moment it started three days ago. The ER treats you like royalty, I'm pretty sure they would treat a chest pain patient over lets say the President for the flu. All joking aside, do NOT hesitant, seek immediate attention! No matter your age.