The good news is that (other than the pain) it is completely harmless.

The way it always felt to me is like someone wrapped a small wire around something tender in my chest, and if I tried to breathe or straighten my posture, they would yank on it. I'd get it anywhere from a couple times a week to once a month. Then one day in my mid-30s it just stopped.

From what I understand this is relatively common. I was so grateful for the person on reddit who dropped this nugget of wisdom several years ago. It was nice to know I wasn't dying or whatever.

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[–] 12 points 7 months ago (5 children)

See, I am unfortunate in that I know exactly where my chest pain comes from and it is from 6 of my ribs being broken and fused together from falling off a cruise ship and breaking them on a railing on the way down.

The interesting part is I didnt know I broke them until years later when I was hit by a car and the hospital doctor was just like "oh yeah you just hurt your broken ribs again, put some frozen peas on it and wait for the pain to go down"

Anyways, dont break your ribs unless you want to know when the weather is changing by pain.

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  • [–] 6 points 7 months ago (4 children)

    how the fuck do you fall off a cruise ship, break six ribs, have them fuse together, and never even realize it?

    Do you just actively avoid going to speak to ANY medical professional unless forced by ambulance?

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  • [–] 4 points 7 months ago (2 children)
  • [–] 4 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

    I'm american, with no insurance, and with a penchant for avoiding doctors/ERs when I should probably go.

    if I fell off a fucking building equivalent, landed on a guard rail ribs first, and broke multiple ribs.. I'd be hopping in the back of that 10,000 dollar ambulance as fast as my shallow breathing, possibly punctured lungs could take me.

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