What happens if you get hit in the sternum too hard?

A very forceful blow to the chest can injure the heart or blood vessels in the chest, the lungs, the airway, the liver, or the spleen. Pain may be caused by an injury to muscles, cartilage, or ribs. Deep breathing, coughing, or sneezing can increase your pain.

What does a strained sternum feel like?

feeling mild pain or having aching and swelling around your upper chest and collarbone area. hearing pops or clicks in the joint area. feeling stiff around the joint or not being able to fully move your shoulder.

Is a bruised sternum bad?

Bruised Sternum This injury is rarely deadly, but it can cause extreme pain and discomfort, and it often leads to pneumonia.

How long does a sternum strain take to heal?

Treating a bruised sternum often involves waiting for it to heal on its own, which usually takes about two to four weeks, though healing time varies depending on how severe the bruising is.

Can you sprain sternum?

The sternum and ribs have many muscles attached to them. These muscles can be pulled or strained by severe coughing or strenuous activity involving the arms or torso. Injuries or trauma can result in bruising to these muscles, which may cause them to ache.

How do you tell if your sternum is fractured?

There are several symptoms of a broken sternum, including:

Chest pain. A broken sternum typically causes moderate to severe pain when the accident occurs.
Shortness of breath. Up to 20% of people with a broken sternum feel like they can’t get enough air when they breathe.‌
Bruising.

How do you sleep with a bruised sternum?

Sleeping While Sitting Upright Ideally, this is the best sleep position for patients with a broken rib. This position can help your ribs heal quickly than lying down on the bed.

What do you do if you hurt your sternum?

The most common form of treatment is simply to rest and allow the break to heal. During this time, ice the chest area to treat both swelling and pain. You can also take over-the-counter pain medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil).

How do you treat a sternum injury?

What does it mean when your sternum is bruised?

Many people with chest pain describe feeling like their sternum is bruised. The sternum is more commonly called the breastbone. While it’s possible to bruise your sternum, this pain is more likely caused by costochondritis. This is inflammation of the cartilage that connects your ribs to your sternum.

What should I do if I have pain in my sternum?

Coughing and sneezing are also likely to reproduce pain and bruising may appear later. If the pain is severe seek medical attention as soon as possible. A doctor will perform a full examination and may order X-rays which can confirm that there are no fractures to the sternum or the ribs.

How long does it take for a bruised sternum to heal?

While a bruised sternum can feel serious because it’s so close to your heart, it usually heals on its own within a few weeks. While you heal, try to avoid as much heavy lifting as possible. If you start to notice other symptoms, such as jaw pain or dizziness, contact your doctor right away. Last medically reviewed on December 7, 2017

What does a bruise look like at the Mayo Clinic?

By Mayo Clinic Staff. A bruise forms when a blow breaks blood vessels near your skin’s surface, allowing a small amount of blood to leak into the tissues under your skin. The trapped blood may cause a bruise that at first looks like a black-and-blue mark and then changes color as it heals.