What Are the Possible Causes of Numbness in the Upper Chest?

There are a few conditions that can press on the nerves in your upper chest and make it feel numb. One cause is thoracic outlet syndrome, where the nerves (and sometimes blood vessels) that run from your neck to your arm get squeezed. This may lead to numbness in the chest, arm, or hand. Another possibility is pectoralis minor syndrome. This happens when the pectoralis minor muscle—the muscle under your chest—presses on nearby nerves, causing discomfort and numbness in the chest area. A third cause is intercostal neuralgia, where the nerves between your ribs become irritated or injured, leading to pain and numbness along the chest wall. These conditions affect the nerve signals sent by the body, resulting in the numb sensation. If you have these symptoms, it’s important to speak with a doctor who can help find the exact cause and suggest the best treatment.