Painful sternum and shoulder muscle?

Question

Both the pains are not constant but recurring and unrelated.
Sternum pain goes away after I manage to crack it. But I can't always crack and it can be very painful.
My right shoulder/back muscle sometimes becomes very painful, like I'm being stabbed with a knife and the skin around that area eventually feels numb. Moving my arm hurts and I have to hold it at a particular angle so that it won't hurt. This pain lasts anywhere from a few hours to a week. I've noticed that I got the shoulder pains after long shifts working as a waitress, going to the gym or sitting for prolonged hours infront of the computer.
Can this be solved by massage, a chiropractor or maybe acupuncture? Would the results be temporary?
I would be grateful for any recommendations!

Answer 1

Some of these symptoms sound like they could be related to an inflammatory condition called costochondritis. Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartillage around the ribcage and can cause pain to wrap around the shoulder and back area.

I would recommend seeing your doctor for further evaluation of the situation to see what they think could be going on.