Pectus excavatum

I have a medical condition called pectus excavatum. It's a deformity of the chest that caves the front ribs inward.

(Note: The picture may be mildly disturbing to some)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pectus_excavatum

Kitties get it too! http://www.thecatsite.com/a/flat-chested-kitten-fck

It's one of the most common birth defects in America. Chances are that you know someone with it, but don't know they have it if you've never seen them shirtless. Mine is quite mild, and not nearly as bad as the one shown in that picture.

But, it does cause pain from time to time, especially when I'm growing. Like now. I can't really take a deep breath without a shooting pain underneath my left rib, and it also causes referred pain to my shoulder on occasion. The cartilage makes it hard for my ribs to grow, so they have to streeeeeetch.

I've been to the ER a couple times when it's been REALLY bad, but each time they did the necessary heart/lung function tests and figured out I was fine, just in pain.

They wanted to do the Nuss procedure (it's in that Wiki article) on me when I was small, but my dad said no way Jose. I'm fine with it.

Anyway, it's just on my mind, and I'm wondering if anyone here on TCS has it. If you do, what do you do to relieve the pain?

Oh, Katie, I'm sorry you're going through that kind of pain. I don't have anything like that, but just wanted to come in and give you a (gentle) . Is there anything they can do for your chest or is it something you have to deal with the rest of your life?

My cousin has something like that.  That may be the technical name for it; I just don't know what that is.  His doesn't look as bad as the picture either.  I don't remember him having pain from it when we were kids or anything.  But then he has broken more bones than anyone I know.  He started early by flipping over his bike and knocking out several teeth and breaking his arm when he was like 4 or 5 I think.  All the teeth were baby ones fortunately!

I'm not sure how to describe his. It looks like a sunken shield in shape.  I sort of remember my aunt saying the doctor said he was fine and didn't need any kind of treatment.  He's 4 years older than me so some of that stuff is hard to remember.

Katie (gentle :hug: from me too). I am sorry you have this condition. I have heard of this and know it can be so painful. I hope you can find something to help you for the pain. Lots of and to you today :heart4:

Aww, thank you everyone.

Pam, I think they recommend that if you want the surgery you do it when very young, when your bones are more pliable. I'm 19, and the pain from it isn't constant, but it's gotten markedly worse in the last few years. So I'm not sure what they would recommend. I'm sure you CAN have one of the surgeries when you're older, but I imagine it's very painful -- maybe painful enough to be worse than the condition itself, if you see what I mean.

MoochnNoodles (sorry I don't know your name!!) -- If it looks like a sunken shield, your cousin might have this instead http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pectus_carinatum. It's the opposite of what I have. No picture in that article, but you can look it up.

Lauren, thank you for the vibes!! :heart4: I only remember I have it when it hurts. LOL