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Costco?

Posted , 2 users are following.

wall1409
wall1409

Hi everyone 

im 54 female and have arthritis in my full spine but for months had this chronic rib cage pain that would affect the upper back and both sides but never the front, it would last 2 hours after I got up from a nights sleep. I have now had it constantly all day and night making it difficult to stand sit and generally move around, it feels like someone is crushing my rib cage. My gp has now provided me with morphine tablets to take alongside my oramorph and said she believes it's coming from my thoracic spine area. Seeing neurologist next month.

Ive read about costa chondrites and it sounds similar but I don't get any pain around the front at all. Any advice greatly appreciated.

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • caitlin39841
    caitlin39841 wall1409

    Posted

    Hi Wall

    so sorry to hear of the severity of the pain you're experiencing at the moment. it sounds pretty awful.

    from what you say, it could well be CostoC., however, a GP should be able to diagnose it or/and differenciate it from other similar conditions by palpating on certain spots/areas on your rib cage/chest.

     I was diagnosed with CostoC., that seemed to have migrated to other nerves by the time it was diagnosed, that it hardly resembled CostoC.  however, my lovely new GP diagnosed CostoC. and immediately commenced me on 'Nortriptyline' (an updated version of the Amitriptyline family) with amazing effect.  I went from crying and sometimes screaming into the pillow with the pain, to smiling within 72 hours. i do hope you get it properly diagnosed and treated asap.

    all good luck.

    C

    • wall1409
      wall1409 caitlin39841

      Posted

      Thanks Caitlin for being so understanding. I'm already on nortryptoline and gabapentin for cervical and lumber stenosis. My gp did touch some of my ribs which really hurt but because I'm seeing neuro next month and due to the fact I'm already on strong pain relief including oramorph, the only thing she could do was to top it up with morphine tablets, however, I'm still struggling.

    • caitlin39841
      caitlin39841 wall1409

      Posted

      Hi Wall.

      oh my Heavens Wall, that sounds horrendous. does the  Nortryptline help at all?  what dosage are you on?

      at least the Oromorph will, hopefully, allow you to sleep a bit. i guess, it's the only time that you are, hopefully again, not experiencing the full, raw force of the pain?  I can't think of anything else to add, just my empathy and compassion which, no doubt, is of little practical help to you? i do hope the neurologist will come up with some novel means of pain control?

      with empathy

      C

    • wall1409
      wall1409 caitlin39841

      Posted

      Thanks Caitlin

      Your kind words mean a lot. It's very difficult to explain to people and I put a brave face on. I've suffered chronic pain for about 4 years now but this is just another set back and so frustrating

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