The sternum, also known as the breastbone, is the long, flat bone in the middle of your chest.You can have pain in this area because of infection, inflammation, injury, or the breakdown of cartilage affecting the sternum itself.Problems with nearby organs like the heart, lungs, and esophagus can also cause pain in this area. This includes a heart attack, pleurisy (a lung inflammation), and acid reflux.Usually, if the pain is in the actual sternum, you’ll have sharp pain when you push in the middle of your chest. But because the symptoms of chest bone pain are so similar to other causes of chest pain, you might need to have tests to check for heart attack and other serious conditions.If your problem is just with your actual sternum, you may feel better with rest, gentle stretching, and anti-inflammatory medications. But if there are other issues, you might need prescription medications, joint injections, or surgery.3. Muscle strainSymptomsSharp or achy pain in the sternumWorsening pain...
