discomfort behind my xiphoid

Hi JanR:

Would love to hear how the surgery went for you. I'm considering the exact same thing, after 3 years of reduced mobility from a fractured xiphoid. I was pregnant when it happened for me, and took a ct scan to show the xiphoid was "floating" unattached to the sternum.

Would love to know the outcome of the surgery. Did a regular x-ray show the problem, or just a CT ?

Hi,
the operation was a succes. I've had some minor complications. It started with irritation on my lungs, and after that the wound was a little bit infected. The problem with my lungs was over in three days (but quite painful), the wound took a week longer than normal to heal.
But: the results are amazing! No more back pain, no more pain behind the xiphoid. I am SO happy.
@Digger: an x-ray showed the problem.
I think more people have this problem without knowing it. I hope they find a good doctor who knwos about it.
Cheers,
JanR

Jan,
Glad to hear everything went well.
Thanks for posting the results.
Were the complications a possibility or just a fluke ?

Deb

Hi Deb,
that pain in the lungs is apparently quite normal when you have surgery in the chest. The doctor did'nt expect the pain because it was not really IN the chest. But he said now he knows for the future. That's great.
So I stayed the hospital and I had a pain treatment for three days with paracetamol.
The infection is bad luck, I'd say. I had to watch out though, because it's not the best area to have infections of course...
But hey, it's worth a few bad days! That's for sure.
Jan

The past 4 years I'm had upper abdominal pain radiating to my back. It's worse in the morning and when I eat. Today I went to see a pain management doctor who told me I had Xiphodynia. He gave me an injection in the nerve where the pain is most severe and prescribed anti-inflamitory drugs. He said the pain should go away within the next few days hopefuly it will and I can get back to work.

JanR wrote:

Hi Deb, that pain in the lungs is apparently quite normal when you have surgery in the chest. The doctor did'nt expect the pain because it was not really IN the chest. But he said now he knows for the future. That's great. So I stayed the hospital and I had a pain treatment for three days with paracetamol. The infection is bad luck, I'd say. I had to watch out though, because it's not the best area to have infections of course... But hey, it's worth a few bad days! That's for sure. Jan

Hi JanR
Glad to see you have found a solution to your problem, I have the exact same issue and have being having all sorts of tests which showed up nothing. I have had pain at the area where my xiphoid is for the last six months.

My rheumatologist diagnosed xiphoiditis and injected me with cortisone 2 times also giving me courses of anti-inflammatory. Now he tells me that there is no point injecting because it’s not inflamed but the pain is still there. He basically doesn’t know what to do now.

Could you possibly send me by private message the name of the specialist who you went to as I am sure you understand how hard it is to deal with this on an ongoing basis. I need to find out if there is someone similar in my Country (Ireland) who specializes in the same area or i would travel where i had to.

Any information you could give me to help i would greatly appreciate

Thanks
Dolphin50

thanks for the info on your surgery JanR. I'll be having the same surgery in a few weeks, finally. are you fully healed and mobile again? i'm hoping for similar results.

wow, can't believe I may have finally found some answers after years of suffering...

I'm 34, and have had a chronic pressure in the xiphoid process area for years, but always assumed it was psychosomatic induced from my anxiety, as the pressure usually feels greatest when I'm most stressed. I've never had any injuries, infections or surgeries in the area, so I rarely suspected a physical defect as the cause. I like to describe the sensation as a balloon attached to the underside of my sternum being inflated inside my ribcage... there is slight outward swelling, but the discomfort is from the inwards pressure. If structural abnormalities exist, maybe they're causing the anxiety and not the other way around.

I'll definitely consult a doctor with this in mind--thank you all for your posts, it nice not to be alone

Hi. I'm a 37 year old female. I recently noticed a lump, non-movable, semi-solid (softer than bone, harder than muscle in consistency) over my xiphoid process. I only noticed it 2 days ago. It didn't hurt at first but it's sore right now as I've been poking and touching it out of anxiety and curiosity. The lump (about a quarter size) is more prominent when I inhale and diminishes when I exhale. I have no illnesses that can be associated with this condition. I am a smoker, though, however, my latest chest x-ray in October showed my lungs are clear. I may have weak abdominal muscles, could it be hernia? I am hoping it will be a benign condition such as xiphoiditis as I do not want to entertain it as a malignant tumor. I also read that beneath the xiphoid process lies part of the liver. Hopefully it's not a liver condition. I am trying to get an appointment with my MD. Hopefully everything will turn out ok - for all of us, that is.