<human>: Sometimes while doing Yoga or sit ups I feel a popping and then a very painful sensation in my abdomen. It feels as though something gets stuck under a rib and/or sternum. I can still breathe just fine. Its very painful and paralizing. I have to staighten my body for it to slide or pop out. What could this be?
<bot>: HI. Thanks for your query. This is an atypical presentation where you are getting this feeling of popping and pain just below the sternum / rib. As this is occurring after yoga or sit-ups, it is suggestive of a hernia in the epigastric. This is a peculiar site as the fat only gets entrapped, and you get a pain. The moment you are straightening, the hernial contents get back to abdomen and your pain is relieved. I would advise you the following:Get a Clinical examination done by a Surgeon and ask Him to examine you during such acts that give you pain. High resolution ultrasonography to confirm. The surgeon would just confirm the diagnosis or try to find out other possible problems if the hernia is not present Another possibility of Hiatal hernia - needs upper GI Endoscopy Get operated if this is hernia.