Costochondritis for years?
Posted , 51 users are following.
For years I've dealt with on and off left breast pain (or so I thought) but it's never bothered me enough to be worried, recently it's got bad enough where my anxiety levels were through the roof and I convinced myself I had a serious condition. I began frantic obsessive googling which I do not reccomend haha, but I came across this condition, after reading that it's a condition with the ribs I did a self exam and realised it's not actually my boob that hurts but the ribs behind it. I booked straight in at the doctors, I told her my symptoms as I wanted to see if she came up with any other suggestions of what it could be before I gave my no expert opinion ha. Instantly she mentioned costochondritis and examined my chest, she pressed around my ribs and sure enough the pain was there and she instantly diagnosed me. I've been dealing with this pain for so long I was wondering if anyone else has had this for years? On all the websites I look at it says it should go in a matter of weeks and rarely lasts longer than 6 months, I remember getting most of my pain around beginning 2014 ish. If so anyone has had this condition long term do you have any advice on how to ease the pain? I also get shoulder blade, shoulder and arm pain too 
thank you!
1 like, 59 replies
sheila41382 jade18705
Posted
Oh my I know exactly what you are talking about... the chest pain, left side breast, pectoral, underarm, pain shoots out to my nipple, in my ribs around to my shoulder blade etc... nearly takes my breath away sometimes... I get anxiety from it cause it scares me when the pains are so sharp in my breast and sternum and I feel like I am going to pass out... I have been to ER numerous times... ECG,EKG, lung xrays, d-dimer, cardiac blood work up, all of it is normal which I am truly thankful for, yet I am plagued constantly with what they are saying is combo of costo and fibro... can't sleep most nites due to pain... it's so debilitating... had appt with doc the other day and I begged him to fix this... I just want to be normal again and not confined to house because of this pain and anxiety it has been giving me... had a bunch of tests done again today and have follow up next week... right now I am laying in bed with a pain patch on my breast and heat pad on top of that... so annoying
sally_10036 sheila41382
Posted
I hope you're feeling better! It is awful isn't it. I feel like I am being punched in my sternum from the inside and it's like my heart stops and then of course that makes things worse. Gee! But I have to say I was way way worse than I am now over a year later. The breathing is the worst part for me. Hang in there it's not uncommon and we will get better
isapal24 sheila41382
Posted
thanks for sharing! I just found this page and I believe I have all your symptoms and those of others on here. The only thing I seem to not experience is pain when breathing or coughing which I've read lots have. I was sent for PT and dr. put down fibromyalgia but had discussed coto as being a possibility. would love to talk more with you about this!
wendy26886 sally_10036
Posted
Hi Sally
Not sure if you still on site but your symptoms sound very much like mine. I have not been diagnosed yet with this but I have the breathing problem and also a funny throat at times. I am a golfer and really fed up with this but it's scary as I have waited nearly 6 months to get any tests as all the Dr's keep telling me I am very healthy and slim and I feel not taking me seriously.
How did you get diagnosed and how are you doing now?
Best Wishes Wendy
sally_10036 wendy26886
Posted
Hi! Sorry to hear you're suffering. It was hard to get a diagnoses. Doctors did nothing for 6 months. I saw a naturpath who was also a chiropractic and she told me what it was. Then told doctor and they agreed but were not helpful. Have a read on all the posts they are so helpful. The breathing is tight because the rib catrilage is tight so best to gently stretch and rub anti Inflammaorty cream (I use voltaren) all over the ribs and sternum. For me I did accupuncture and take bone supplements.
Sally
deirdrie31680 wendy26886
Posted
Hey Sally, I had the ER doctors diagnosis confirmed by my GP 5 days ago. One interesting thing he told me was that slim women, especially if they have concave or shallow rib cages are more susceptible to Costco. Oh joy, you go through life supposedly slim and healthy then bam. My egg also showed an anomaly, common in women that could also be related to a slender build and frail chest. Coincidence, I think not.
Vaevin deirdrie31680
Posted
This is helpful to hear, thank you for sharing. The ER doctor I had made some really unkind, skinny shaming comments to me which made the whole experience more awful. I had a nurse walk over and basically whisper that I should ask my GP about Costcochondritis- bless that sweet human.
I never would have guessed staying slim would increase my chance of something like this.
Hope you're finding relief.
ejc sheila41382
Posted
Hello I know yours is an old post but was wondering how things are now. I have had your symptoms exactly for 6 weeks. Is's awful 😖
poopsie jade18705
Posted
Dbmetsfan jade18705
Posted
francine73922 jade18705
Posted
I have exactly the same thing also with the tightness around chest and pain between the shoulder blades. I've had all the tests to rule out heart issues and was finally diagnosed with costo. I have anxiety and this triggers the symptoms even more. I'm so glad I stumbled across this forum as I have read so many comments that have reassured me that the drs are right and it is costo. I am going to try the creams - have you tried any yet? I'm also going to try my hardest to not let this stress me out as it appears that can aggravate it. I have had it since December I believe - so not as long as some people. I sure hope it goes away. I wish I had the magic answer for us all and if I find it I will share.
isapal24 francine73922
Posted
hi all, I believe this is the condition I've been dealing with. I have had this pain for 4 months now with no relief. My dr. had mentioned he thought I had this. I also have fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, IC and IBS, reflux too. I have been really depressed as I Cant plan to do much but stay home and feel bad I cannot live like I normally do with family lately due to pain. I hope to get ideas and definitely feel more support reading everyone's responses. thanks! Now I just need to figure out pain control. Going back to my dr. soon to discuss what else to do besides PT, to have a plan!
TheSoulRhythm jade18705
Posted
Hi Jade, I went through a very similar experience. I've been having similar pains for about 3 years now. My pain is localised where my 3rd rib on the right meets the sternum, and there is a bony knot protruding from there. Every once in awhile it cracks, almost like a knuckle would, usually brought about from an especially hard sneeze!
I eventually found myself researching on inflammation and its role in this condition, and must say its intriguing. It seems that our bodies produce too much inflammation which can harm rather than help sometimes. Two ways of tackling this would be to ensure our diets are not adding to this excess and by taking anti inflammatorys.
I personally take one 400mg ground tumeric capsule with 2-3 whole black peppers twice a day as a rather natural anti inflammatory. A compound called curcumin is the actual therapeutic molecule here (pepper increases the bioavailability or absorption of it). I noticed less pain within a week!
I hope these two methods help you as much as they have helped me. Cheers!
hellothere123 jade18705
Posted
hello , i am having almost the same condition as you and have been recurring for more than 5 years now and is very persistent lately . recently diagnosed with coscondritis, if too worried suggest do a detailed check up with a cardiac specialist and given prescribed painkillers / anti-inflammatory medicine.
meanwhile, try to slower down your pace and dont carry heavy things (if you do). this was advised by my doctor. hope it helps.
take care !!
jacqueline39317 hellothere123
Posted
hi ive just been diagnosed with costochondritis, ive had pain in my rib cage for 2 and a half years now had all kinds of tests at the hospital and they couldnt find out why i was in pain. my pain is worse at the bottom of my rib cage and in my back and shoulders all on my left hand side and sometimes in the right hand side but not as bad as the left. i have been to docs today and they perscribed me codeine and paracetamol as i can not take anti imflammatories because of my blood pressure tablets, so far the codeine and paracetamol have done absolutely nothing for the pain.