Bone Deformation On Chest - Very Important Posted: 10-08-05 00:05am
I just turned 15. I was skinny all my
life, and still am, but over the summer I
tried to gain weight. It's not much,
but 10 more pounds meant a lot to me.
Now i'm working out 3 days a week and have
very large upper body muscles
proportionally. I've known that I had
some bone deformations since birth and now
that i'm really caring about my looks, I
can't help but notice my flaws. In my
pectorals are uneven and sort of zig-zag
along my chest bones, which slant to one
side. My abs are uneven on both sides-
half are positioned higher than the other
half. I feel no pain at all from it,
but it looks terrible! When I look down
at my chest, I have to look away.
Please, tell me, what should I do? What
do you think? What would others think?
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Arcain214
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 2 Location: San Diego
Posted: 10-08-05 00:09am
Please! This has been on my mind for half
a year.
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Boxing_Is_Fun
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 14 Location: Ontario, Canada
Posted: 10-11-05 20:38pm
As far as the abs go, it seems to be that
some people just end up like that (if
you've ever watched boxing or ufc) and
theres really nothing to be ashamed of,
and you should be proud of your body
because it sounds like you've put a lot
of hard work into it. As far as the bone
deformation in your chest, well nobody can
have a perfect body, and as long as you
aren't having any actual health problems
because of it, then just don't worry about
it, and if you really have that much of a
problem with it then maybe try talking to
a doctor about it to see if theres
anything that can be done about it and if
not then the best advice I can give would
be to just accept it, and if your finding
that hard to do just think, things could
always be worse and be thankful for what
you've got.
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Citrus
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 18 Location: New York
Posted: 11-07-05 22:38pm
Hi, my name is david and I am also 15. I
have the same exact problem. I havent
noticed anything with my abs yet, but
there is a stuck out bone on the left side
of my chest that feels and looks weird.
The only way I can make it look normal is
by flexing just right in the mirror, but
you can still feel it. I am also very shy
of this, and do not know what to do. I am
going to confront my doctor. What about
you, man?
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cd998776
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Aug 2005 Posts: 997 Location: Ohio
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 11-08-05 18:17pm
Have you talked to a doctor about it?
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Citrus
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 18 Location: New York
Posted: 11-08-05 19:27pm
Not as well as I should have. I mentioned
quickly the last time I had a physical,
but I didnt mention how my cardiopulmonary
functions had been getting worse. We
suffer from a pectus carinatum, where part
of the chest protrudes forward, however
slightly. This is easily fixed with
surgery and is low risk. Recovery time is
2-3 weeks and hospital stayover is about 3
days. You are to keep away from heavy
lifting for 2-3 months. This is what I
plan to do, its not a huge deal, but there
are some confidence issues im dealing with
here, and i'd like to fix these. If you
have any other questions, feel free to
ask.
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Swim Guy
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 2
Posted: 12-11-05 23:31pm
citrus
wrote:
hi, my name is david and I
am also 15. I have the same exact
problem. I havent noticed anything with
my abs yet, but there is a stuck out bone
on the left side of my chest that feels
and looks weird. The only way I can
make it look normal is by flexing just
right in the mirror, but you can still
feel it. I am also very shy of this,
and do not know what to do. I am going
to confront my doctor. What about you,
man?
hey, I was looking this up, and was
suprised that I saw someone with the exact
same problem as me. You said that you're
probably going to have it surgically
repaired?
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Citrus
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 18 Location: New York
Posted: 12-12-05 13:01pm
Indeed I am. I plan to find a surgeon
that practices with the nuss procedure,
which I look at as being the best. There
are three different kinds of procedures
you can have done: the ravitch (the most
gruesome and painful of the surgerys), the
nuss (which involves much less cutting),
and the leonard (which involves wearing a
brace for the 6 week recovery period
around your chest). The ravitch was the
most commonly used procedure, as it has
been around the longest and had simply
become the standard in pectus carinatum
operation; this is all changing with the
introduction of the nuss procedure. You
see, in the ravitch procedure, a good
surgical cut is made all the way across
your chest to allow doctors to operate and
remove affected cartilage causing the
actual deformation, among any other
problems you may have. I chose the nuss
because it requires only two very small
holes to be drilled around your sternum to
allow doctors to operate. The leonard
entials basically the same thing, but is
weaker in a surgical sense, requiring you
to wear a brace covering your entire chest
region for 6 weeks post the operation. I
noticed this when I was 14, and this
summer, I plan to have this damn thing
taken away. I highly suggest you print
out an article or other reference on this
topic and show it to your doctor. If you
wish, you may undergoe surgical operation.
Hope this has been helpful.
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Swim Guy
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 2
Posted: 12-12-05 20:11pm
Very helpful. Do you have any good links
on the nuss procedure that have helped
you? Thanks a million for the info, and
good luck.
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Ross5
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 16 Jan 2006 Posts: 2 Location: California
Yeah Posted: 01-16-06 22:42pm
I'm not sure if you guys have already
answered this question, but I need to
know. I have a concave chest and have
had it since I was born I guess. It
didn't really happen all of a sudden one
day, but it did really start bothering me
a few years ago. I'm 16 and have to deal
with it every damn day. I've gotten
pretty good at hiding it. Wife beaters
(a-shirts) are tight around your chest, so
when you put your shirt on over it, you
can not notice the "hole". When I get in
the pool with friends, i've sort of
developed a habit of not totally facing
the person until i'm under water, or have
a towel wrapped around me. I know none
of that matters, but I also feel like its
affecting my stamina. I've played soccer
ever since I was 5 years old. I'm on my
high school team, traveling team, and an
indoor team. The guys I play with I have
played with ever since I started playing,
and they can last much longer in the game
then I can. I'm good and all, but my
stamina is what keeps me from doing the
best I can. The left side of my ribs
sort of protrude as well. I just want to
know if there is something a doctor can do
to fix the bones around in that area to
make it go away. Any suggestions are
greater appreciated. Thanks a lot.
-erik
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cd998776
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Aug 2005 Posts: 997 Location: Ohio
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 01-22-06 12:23pm
Usually, the abnormality is mild and needs
no treatment.
If pectus excavatum is severe, it may
affect function of the heart and lungs.
But this is rare. Severe pectus excavatum
usually is associated with spinal
deformities, such as scoliosis. Treatment
in such cases may include surgical
correction of the deformity.
Consult your doctor and see what he says.
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Ross5
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 16 Jan 2006 Posts: 2 Location: California
Re: Yeah Posted: 01-26-06 00:04am
Ok. Thanks for the information. Ill be
sure to talk to him.
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groger_16
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 4
Re: Yeah Posted: 06-22-07 19:14pm
Dude, ive got the same problem, im 17, the
left side sticks out more than the left,
and it may be the reason my back is
hurting on the left side but not the
rite,idk what to do, i went to the doctor
a few years ago before the pain was here,
and they said it was nothing, i want to
fix it without havin sme doc cut me open,
any sagestions??????????
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groger_16
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 4
Re: Yeah Posted: 06-22-07 20:33pm
srry i mean my left is biger than right,
and its not only that its below my neck is
the same, and my abs, its not tissue its
bone
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Elric
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 7 Location: Houston
Re: Yeah Posted: 07-12-07 04:00am
Ross5
wrote:
I'm not sure if you guys
have already answered this question, but I
need to know. I have a concave chest and
have had it since I was born I guess. It
didn't really happen all of a sudden one
day, but it did really start bothering me
a few years ago. I'm 16 and have to deal
with it every bless day. I've gotten
pretty good at hiding it. Wife beaters
(a-shirts) are tight around your chest, so
when you put your shirt on over it, you
can not notice the "hole". When I get in
the pool with friends, i've sort of
developed a habit of not totally facing
the person until i'm under water, or have
a towel wrapped around me. I know none
of that matters, but I also feel like its
affecting my stamina. I've played soccer
ever since I was 5 years old. I'm on my
high school team, traveling team, and an
indoor team. The guys I play with I have
played with ever since I started playing,
and they can last much longer in the game
then I can. I'm good and all, but my
stamina is what keeps me from doing the
best I can. The left side of my ribs
sort of protrude as well. I just want to
know if there is something a doctor can do
to fix the bones around in that area to
make it go away. Any suggestions are
greater appreciated. Thanks a lot.
-erik
While reading this it seemed the further I
red the bigger my eyes got because it is
the same EXACT thing for me, it's creepy.
I've had Pectus Excavatum since birth,
same age, skinny, same soccer career, less
endurance when you have done the same
exact thing your teammates do and you
don't know why, even the things to hide
it, like wearing tight Under Armor, it's
such a burden.
It's not like I'm shallow but when I
notice that another guy's shirt lays flat
across their chest I envy them, and I get
angry because they don't even know what
they have. I'm sorry but I don't get to
talk about this because my friends can't
understand, in a school of over three
thousand I feel very different, the
doctors say it's fairly common with a 1 in
1000 chance of having it, but what does
that leave maybe 3, and that's a stretch.
I really want to get the Nuss procedure, I
read about and I know how it works but
feel kinda guilty about asking. It is a
surgery after all and as less invasive as
it is, it would mostly be for cosmetic
reasons and it seems to be asking alot of
my parents.
What does something like this cost, does
anyone know?
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failed
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 15 Location: california
Posted: 07-12-07 13:24pm
oh wow
i cant believe that there are other people
with the same problems
honestly i thought i was the only one
my chest also has a "hole" in it
pectus excavatum i think?
should i go to the doctor about it?
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ks_1990
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 16 Jul 2007 Posts: 1
Re: Yeah Posted: 07-16-07 17:52pm
Elric
wrote:
While reading this it seemed
the further I red the bigger my eyes got
because it is the same EXACT thing for me,
it's creepy. I've had Pectus Excavatum
since birth, same age, skinny, same soccer
career, less endurance when you have done
the same exact thing your teammates do and
you don't know why, even the things to
hide it, like wearing tight Under Armor,
it's such a burden.
It's not like I'm shallow but when I
notice that another guy's shirt lays flat
across their chest I envy them, and I get
angry because they don't even know what
they have. I'm sorry but I don't get to
talk about this because my friends can't
understand, in a school of over three
thousand I feel very different, the
doctors say it's fairly common with a 1 in
1000 chance of having it, but what does
that leave maybe 3, and that's a stretch.
I really want to get the Nuss procedure, I
read about and I know how it works but
feel kinda guilty about asking. It is a
surgery after all and as less invasive as
it is, it would mostly be for cosmetic
reasons and it seems to be asking alot of
my parents.
What does something like this cost, does
anyone know?
I can't believe there are others like this
too, i seriously thought i was the only
one! My right side sticks out more than my
left, and i really am annoyed about it
too, and i always have to put more than
one shirt on, because you can easily tell
there's a hole underneath, and it makes me
envy people that don't have it and can
easily wear a shirt without having to
worry about such a thing. It makes me so
embarassed, i'd be far too embarassed to
go to the doctor's or something, it's
really affected my social life too, i feel
i have to back away from people when they
talk to me, incase they for some reason
spot that i have a hole in my chest. I
have some questions for anyone that knows
the answer:
-what's the best type of solution for a 16
year old like myself?
-i have 7 weeks till school starts, is
that long enough to get surgery over and
done with, without having to worry about
school?
-Is there any scar left behind, because i
really wouldn't want a big scar across my
chest for the rest of my life, that would
be horrible.
- Do you have to wear some kind of
brace\machinery thing over your chest, (as
i said, i have school in 7 weeks after
these holidays are over, and there's no
way i'm going to school wearing that!)
I'm really desperate for answers, so if
anyone has any answers, i'd *really*
appreciate it.
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Tylanas
Especially EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 12985
Thanks: 3
Thanked:0
Posted: 07-16-07 18:43pm
Surgery for this would probably involve
breaking your ribs off of your sternum and
reattaching them in a flatter position.
Recovery could take 2-3 months (as with
any broke bone) and a cast or brace may be
required.
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failed
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 15 Location: california
Pectus Excavatum Posted: 07-18-07 09:14am
ive been looking things up and it turns
out there is a way to surgically correct
pectus excavatum, where your ribs turn
inward leaving a depression or a "hole"
the most up to date procedure is called
the Nuss Procedure. in this procedure
surgeons insert a steel bar under your
ribs to literally "pop" your ribs out to
look normal.
the bar will stay in your body for 6
months to - 2 years depending on the
severity. some people may need 2 bars.
the surgery is 95% successful and many
people are very happy with the results.
the surgery takes about 1-2 hours and you
will stay in the hospital for 4-7 days.
after you leave you are excused from
sports and physical education for 6 weeks.
no contact sports are allowed for 3
months (football, rugby, etc.)
after that you are allowed to return to
doing anything you were doing before the
surgery.
i have pectus exacavatum but i dont think
ill be getting this surgery done because i
come from a very poor family and i have no
idea how much it costs.
i would appreciate it if someone could
tell me the cost
thank you
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Elric
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 7 Location: Houston
Posted: 07-18-07 22:09pm
Eiri
wrote:
Surgery for this would
probably involve breaking your ribs off of
your sternum and reattaching them in a
flatter position. Recovery could take 2-3
months (as with any broke bone) and a cast
or brace may be
required.
This isn't unnecessary any more now that
the Nuss Procedure was invented, and to
reply to ks_1990. I know the feeling, do
your research on the"Nuss Procedure" and
see if that is what you want to do. I went
to my parents a couple of days ago and
told them that I wanted to look into it,
and fortunately there are some great
doctors that do it in my home town of
Houston. I was nervous to ask but I asked
my mom if I could talk to her and she was
pretty supportive. But whether I get it
done comes down to what the insurance will
cover. And when it comes to other people,
don't let it control your life, use humor
and change the subject, just today I was
swimming at a friends and his little
sister commented on it and called it weird
with everyone there but, I just played it
off like it was nothing and for some
assurance just know no one is going to
remember such a small comment like that.
If someone notices they aren't going to
shout to the rooftops that your chest is
indented, they will most likely realize
that you are uneasy about it and drop the
subject. I don't want to reread this so if
there is a typo I'm sorry here are a
couple good links I have found if it
helps.
