All in the alignment

Q: When I was drying off after my shower the other morning I noticed a sore spot next to my breast, at the bottom of my breastbone. When I felt around I found that it was a bit sore above and below that, too. Is this anything to be concerned about?

JVW: While I can't say for certain, it sounds like a condition known as "costochondritis." Sometimes vitamin B6 helps, especially for women, but more often it's caused by a strain on this joint stemming from a misalignment in your back.

You can check to see if your back might be misaligned by using a finger to press firmly on each of the vertebral spines -- the row of bony bumps down the middle of your back. If one or more of them hurt when you press them, you should make an appointment with a chiropractor to correct the misalignment. If you have back pain, it'll likely take care of that, and it may very well also eliminate the misalignment that could be the root cause of the pain you noticed around your breastbone.

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