Hello, I'm trying to get info on what I may be experiancing. I'm a 26 y/o male w/no major health problems. For the past 5-6 months I have been experiancing mild discomfort in my chest area. I have seen my PCP and a GI specialist thinking my pains were associated with GERD because I sometimes have heartburn. I suggested an endoscopy just to make sure but the GI Dr. said my symptoms were nothing to be concerned about and gave me a month supply of protonix which hasn't really helped much. Discomfort is usually there on a daily basis but it did stop the heartburn. He said it may be a condition knows as costochonritis (inflamation of the cartledge around the sternum) and may have that due to working out. I did a little research on costochonritis and from what people have been experianceing with their costochonritis, I'm not sure if it matches me. I'm experiancing dull, annoying pains that seem to be coming from sternum, or around that general area. Can't really tell if it's on the sternum or behind it. This is not a sharp pain but rather the kind of discomfort one would have with bronchitis, the dull,full, and congested feeling you have in you chest with that illness. The pain does not become worse when pressure is applied to the sternum like others have said and the discomfort comes and goes. I also get the dull pinching feeling if I take a deep breath and hold my breath and the pain is usually around the top of the sternum or maybe behind it. Once again, I really can't tell if the pain is on the sternum or behind it. The discomfort only lasts for about a couple of seconds then goes away until I take another deep breath. I do have some mild back pain every now and then as well. I had a chest x-ray done just to make sure I didn't have an enlarged heart or something and everything came back fine. Any feedback is appreciated.