Costochondritis pain and discomfort

I'd echo your thoughts that costo can start with a virus (it did in my case) and through coughing extremely hard etc you can damage ligaments in your chest as I did (fit-ish 43 year old). However costo can materialise in other ways as wel, whatever puts extreme pressure on the chest I guess.

To answer Amber's points, I totally relate to what you're saying and it is very worrying so make sure you do everything possible to make sure that docs / A&E have done all of the necessary checks to eliminate cardiac and other related ailments (ecg, bloods, stress test, xrays, scans whatever) - as much for peace of mind as anything. If like me you need further reassurance (felt like I needed it on a weekly basis) then consider having private referrals - I've seen a couple of cardiac and lung specialists and they've all been very good and the 30-40minute appointment checks in my opinion are totally worthwhile.

Remember if you touch the points on your chest and it is tender to the touch, it's unlikely to be the heart. I also used an online Askthedoctor24 facility online a couple of times and although it costs a little bit of money for reassurance it is very good, though you need to be very explicit with your symptoms.

On the work side of things, the last couple of months have been real hell but fortunately showing them specialist reports and keeping them informed and they've been really good about it (remember many people can and do take weeks / months off so try not to put additional stress on yourself by rushing your recovery - there's nothing worse than being in a stressful environment when you're not 100% and then putting back your recovery even further).

On your sore throat point, yes I had one of these too and a continuing dry cough for probably the last 3+months (even though I was given amoxicillian in A&E 2 months ago). My latest trips into specialists have now indicated that I could also be suffering with acid reflux in the gut (sore throat, horrible taste in mouth, difficulty swallowing and digesting food) so i'm now being tested for gastro problems as well. Begs the question whether costo / associated meds can lead to other things (though I have always had a weak digestion due to some botched gallbladder removal a few years prior).

ps. if you need reassurance at night-time I used to cuddle a pillow into my chest and that seemed to provide some comfort (as did leaving the curtains open). Also applying Vics / a good deep anti inflammatory over the chest seemed to provide some comfort also (it's all about the minor wins!). Take care,

Hi. I get the exact pain in the same upper rib cage part but my pain lasts only for a few seconds. Do you know if it is something serious as I'm only 13(

Hi Emily,

apologies for not responding sooner. Your email had went to my spam folder.  It can be something serious, despite the short interval of pain.  Have you spoken to your primary care doctor? or your parents? 

Hi Emily. I am also 13 and I have the pain in the same area but lasts a longer time, which is around a minute. The pain started when I was about nine. But the pain was only a few seconds, which is what you are discovering. But as I'm getting older the pain lasts longer and the pain has increased. This might not help you, but it is a relive that someone my age has the same thing.

Hi im higinio im 15 and I.went to bed andni just woke.up with chest pain.its.to the left of my.chest I have.an inhaler so I took that but it wosent working so I took a hot bath with enrhinc salt but heres.the thing whenever I hold my breath it stops hurting help pls

I know you posted this a couple months back, but I'm experiencing these exact symptoms! I'm 22 year old female and feeling like there's no hope with my doctor for one its so hard to get an appointment it's like 2 weeks or more before I can get one and I she just thinks I'm a hypochondriac! Did you get Any diagnoses !? Thanks in advance.  

Hi, I have just joined this after having had costochondritis for 4 months.  I am 61 and feel sad for younger people having to deal with this, it's bad enough at my age.

I too went through the heart-attack treatment and was delighted at first to hear it was benign, but benign doesn't mean mild.

What helps seems to be rest -  I got a private physio who told me to avoid anything load-bearing (including wearing a handbag), no lifting a kettle or pot, no pushing or pulling (heavy doors, hoover, etc).  It's weird because I can do all these things but the pain comes on hours later and is awful, so I am having to rest a lot.

And ice helps, an ice-cube rubbed on the painful bit, especially just after doing something that hurts - I like the penny idea someone put in a post below. Enough typing now - it hurts. All the best, everyone, and thanks for your help and support.

I am new to all of this but when I first felt a spasm under my left breast and pushed on the pain it felt better so I never thought anything about is. I started working out again and noticed the spasms more often only this time they started to hurt worse and last longer. I sit at a desk for 12 hours a day typing for work. After the day is over I am weak, tired, and feel like I have been drug thru the mud. I have not been seen by my physician yet for I do have an appointment in the morning. The pain is spreading to upper shoulders which I thought once again was from typing all day. When I flare my arms out to stretch I can hear and feel my chest bone pop and that give some relief but this is starting to be agitating to me. I gave my dogs a bath last night and when I was done I felt like a limp noodle and sure enough the spasm came back and I applied the heating pad but that was just so I could sleep. If you have any advice please help

This is exactly how I have been feeling what did they tell you Kelly?

Any info would ease my mind.

I am a few months short of 60 and have experienced costocondritis on and off for almost 30 years. At first the episodes were acute, mimicking a heart attack but of short duration. I was prescribed Librax which appeared to help. However lately the pain has become more constant although not often very intense but bad enough to affect my sleep. I cannot lie on my right side for more than 5 minutes without setting off really severe pain. I feel constant twinges and the Librax no longer helps. At the end of the day I cannot wait to remove my bra to relieve the pressure and some days when I don't have to go out I go braless. Does anyone else experience this? Feeling quite desperate at the moment because I have to travel soon.

I have been doing the same thing. My bra feels like it is causing so much pressure right where I'm hurting. I believe I have Costo but my doc diagnosed me with pleurisy. I've had this pain for months, and in the last 5 weeks, developed a cough. It has caused my whole sternum to throb and feel like it is on fire. Naproxen is what I was prescribed but I can't see that it's doing much good.

Hi

I was diagnosed with costo 6 years ago now after ending up in A&E a fair few times thinking I was having a heart attack. The night I was diagnosed I was told I'd had a heart attack which at 39 was upsetting and worrying. After treating me with aspirin and pain relief and admitting me for 48 they came back to me and said it wasn't a heart attack at all and that is was costo...naturally a huge relief and with reading info helped me learn to manage it as it is quite debilitating at times.. after a while and lots of flair ups I was prescribed amitriptyline just 10 mg and then 20mg it's only a low dose but it helped a lot and was able to reduce pain killers..since been diagnosed with fibromyalgia on top so I'm increasing medication. amitriptyline does help. Hope this is useful x