Cramp under rib while putting on my shoes???

Many times, while sitting on the ground and putting on my climbing shoes, the act of bending over will spark a really tight and painful cramp in my chest just under the edge of a rib. The location is about an inch to the right and an inch down from the bottom of my sternum. The area affected seems to be the size of a quarter and seems to be muscle related--it's not my heart or a bone. Although it is extremely annoying, it gradually goes away if I stand up and massage it. To avoid too much uncomfortable bending over (thus, the cramp), I try to find a nice big rock to sit on to put on my shoes. 

Anyone else have this? I'm not an anatomy expert, so not sure if there are normally weird lttle spastic muscles in this area of the chest. What is the cause and [hopefully] cure? I'm thinking that for someone over 60 this is likely just one more thing I'll have to live with. (I don't normally have a general issue with cramps--unless I have just done a super long and hard bike ride or something...)

This is going to sound nuts but…if I have a couple consecutive days of not hydrating properly I have random cramps in that spot, usually brought on by weird bending. Took me years to figure out it was hydration related.

Costochondritis? 

Climb On, that could be a possibility as I do sometimes tend to not drink enough. I’ll work on that…

WF 51, at first I thought you were making a joke as my eyes read “Costcochondritis” (cartilage inflammation due to pushing a heavy cart through Costco aisles?). But then I focused properly and looked up the term on the Mayo Clinic website. The symptoms don’t seem to match very well (thankfully).

Daniel I have the exact same thing. Have had it for 2-3 years. Most annoying when I’m putting on my shoe. But I’ve figured out if I take in a really deep breath before bending (which raises up something), that it doesn’t happen. I think something is torn. Not sure why it doesn’t heal. 

I get this too sometimes. 

Thanks, all, for your perspectives. I'll definitely keep up the hydration... still, I suspect it is something more. I do a lot of core work on a regular basis, and it might indeed be helping a bit, but it still happens. Aaargh.

Phylp phylp, I have noticed that as well... breathing deeply helps and sometimes prevents it.

The diaphragm can cause pain.  Do some diaphragm release techniques 

I also get exactly the same thing, often caused by exactly the same activity. It can be so debilitating that I simply roll onto the ground and wait until it passes. I do plenty of core work. It seems to be triggered whenever I do a crunch-type flexion of the abdomen. It's even happened when I raise my foot up onto a chair to tie shoes in the morning, so I don't think it's electrolyte imbalance related. I'm going to start looking into it more in-depth.

Glen—yep, that’s my situation exactly. 

Daniel Joder wrote:

Glen—yep, that’s my situation exactly. 

Mine too. It has nothing to do with hydration or lack thereof. Exact same spot, exact same triggering position every time. The reason I haven’t bothered to investigate it is that it doesn’t seem to have gotten worse and doesn’t interfere with sports. 

bryans wrote:

Same thing here, at 46, at the exact same spot. I feel fit, I can do overhung boulder problems requiring core strength/heel hooks/compression (like 6s inside or 4/5s outside) yet putting on my shoes outside is my kryptonite. Twice while putting shoes on outside I had spasms so intense I could see my a nectarine sized lump push out of my stomach and pulsate for 5 or so minutes  - yes, just like in the movie Alien - until I could manipulate it back in place. I eventually even had an MRI to conclude I had no hernia, and the doctor said it was "a cramp, like a charley horse, except in your abdomen area." Emoji shrug. But still, it's been scary the 2 times the lump spilled out, so I try to avoid crunching over too far forward to put on y shoes, Ill find a way to avoid that exact stomach crunching motion.

Thanks for this info!  I originally thought it could be a hernia but since it never got worse I figured it was muscle related. I will sometimes get the lump too but very small. Nectarine is impressive. I feel so much better knowing there is a small, elite tribe of other people with this experience!

Likely you're getting a "stitch", which is a diaphragm cramp. Could also potentially be a intercostal acting up similarly.

Pilates style core work could offer you some relief through improved strength and mobility in this not commonly focused on core area.

.....Also a small chance it being triggered by caffeine intake. For some, caffeine is a cramp inducing super fuel for couple hours after ingestion.

Dr Google says a diaphragm cramp. Here’s a decent description of what’s happening. Might be good to check your magnesium and potassium levels.

https://www.recordnet.com/story/lifestyle/2001/12/04/stretching-diaphragm-causes-stitch/50767697007/ 

holy crap, i thought i was the only person this happens too.  i get it pretty frequently, and sometimes it is like my rib almost dislocates. always on the left side.  it starts popping out pretty far. almost looks like an egg under my skin.  i think a lot of it may be dehydration, and part of it is probably that for some reason i have certain areas that are REALLY prone to cramping (my feet when i arch them, my hamstring when i am trying to drive home, my hands when i am crack climbing and desperately trying to place gear or clip the rope, etc).

I have a similar but maybe not quite the same issue - mine started with a mantel-highstep move at a gym. Felt like the muscle tore at an attachment to my right 6th or 7th rib just as I was hiking my foot up. Pulling shoes on seems to activate a similar area. It lasted 6 months or so before finally resolving on its own. 

I found that 3-legged dog pose, really opening the hips, helped me stretch and activate that particular spot before climbing. Maybe that could help?

The chest cramp thing happens to me all the time when I'm bending over to tie shoes etc.

I've had it for years.  Hasn't killed me (yet.)    

It could also be rib subluxation. It is definitely a thing, especially if you have lax ligaments or have had impact trauma. There is PT for it, but you have to be rigorous with the exercises. 

why not see your doctor?

Steve Williams wrote:

why not see your doctor?

It's easier and cheaper to get a diagnosis on MP, regardless of accuracy. 

For the past 7 years or so, I get the cramp below my ribs when putting on climbing shoes but not when I put on shoes at home. It’s not dehydration or exhaustion since it happens often after a short approach. Most likely cause for me is that I have had two open heart surgeries for valve replacement. These procedure starts by cutting the breastbone in half and then sewing it up at the end, which provides opportunity for messing up muscles in the thoracic region. Only thing that helps is standing up and leaning backwards and being patient.