Costochondritis pain and discomfort

I was diagnosed with this in July 2015 and I'm on my third flare up. Had x-rays and bloods and all is fine. I have been prescribed Amitriptyline 20mg and find this it helps a bit as it taken at night although I still suffer pain it's not as bad as it could be.

Sinead, Costochondritis is an inflammation.  Itis means inflammation.  Osteoarthritis, Tonsillitis appendicitis, etc, You will do better with ice for a while, at least, when you have a bad spell, to cut down the inflammation  Like when you sprain an ankle, it's ice for the first 24 hours, THEN heat  Try the ice.

Hi Sinead 

My name is Reece, I have been suffering with costo for about 4 months now. 

I am fit and healthy and before this condition I was exercising 3 times a day every day. I increased the intensity of my exercise and was pushing hard because I had my Royal Marines selection. I felt a pain in my sternum but as my selection was only a week away I decided to try and push through. This aggrivated the condition massivley and I have suffered for the last 4 months because of this.

Initially the pain was just in my chest and I went to see a physio, she tried to massage the rib area thinking that it was a pulled muscle in my chest. This aggrivated it further so I would not recommend sports massage.

After being aggrivated further the pain spread into my neck and back and so I looked for other help in the form of a chiropractor. Whithin 5 sessions he was able to dramatically reduce the back pain so that it is now only very mild.

Unfortunatly I do not have an answer for the chest pain. It is constant and wears you down. I have been sick some days because the pain is that intense. I have a very high tolerance for pain but this is definatly the worst pain I have ever felt. 

I take fish oils most days but refuse to take anti-inflamatorys. I think that pain killers only mask the pain temporarily and by doing so with someone like myself will make it worse as I will then start to do more physical activity and aggrivate the condition further.  

At my wits end with this whole thing. I am not even able to run, my fitness reduces by the day and if it carries on any longer my Royal Marines application will be cancelled. 

As I have said all that has worked for me is the chiropractor to reduce the pain in the back. This can be expenisve, I amy try and osteopath next and maybe accupuncture. 

A couple of years ago I had a sharp pain in my chest, was told by doctor that it was anxiety, I knew I was suffering anxiety but that was from the chest pain I felt, I was given propanalol for anxiety, this did not help at all, I have bouts now where I get pain under my left breast where I too have stopped wearing a bra, I also don't like being hugged to much either, but now suffering from upper and middle back pain, could this be costo. thanks for any input. 

I have similar pain. Had it a good while now. I also have Fibromyalgia and Hypermobility syndrome. This pain consists of ribs sore to touch on both sides and front of chest, I also have sore to touch at side of breasts n armpits. This along with numb feelings in my legs n painful pelvis....feeling like I'm falling to bits. I explained this to dr he said it could be Costychondritis just to continue with ibuprofen...n yes it's totally drags u down 😞

Hello i am also a costo sufferer its the most awful thing ive ever experienced, mine started 3 years ago when the doctors said i had pluracy then months layer2 i still had the symptoms which going to the doctors countless times never helped until these last 6 days when i thought i was having a heart attack with chest pain tightness above my breasts area and pains in my left shoulder and arm i had xray of my ribs and ecg they was both okay and clear and they have gave me naproxen which im starting today so hopefully these will help me im only 23 this is no lifestyle to have its making my depression worse day in day out because im a born worrier with anxiety and all sorts doctors need to find a cure as so many suffer with it!

Hi Guys

I am a 52 years old male, and had a heart attack when I was only 39. I received 4 stents, and again almost 2 years ago they put me 2 more stents. Since I had heart attack, I was always feeling a faint pain in the back ground in the chest area, and itching sensation in the center of my chest. I was thinking it is related to my heart, and was making me very nervous and was going to emergency, and of course all the test was showing that I was not having heart attack, until recently when I told my cardiologist that I do not like to use the sit belt when I am driving because it induces pain, she realized that this pain is related to something else, and diagnosed me that I have costocho. Now it has been almost 6 months that the pain is very bad and it is unbearable and even gives me arrhythmia, I feel numbness in both lower parts of my legs. I tried diclofenac for sometimes but was not very helpful. Now I am using diclofenac as gel, and it is bit more helpful.

The pain is very random, sometimes in the morning it is worse, for example this morning I was not able to sleep. Just last week I did echo stress test and heart seems to be OK. When the pain is bad, I feel pain even in the muscle of my stomach, it is like that I did 100 pushups. I am not sure but I think when I have physical activities I feel better, since the characteristic of the pain is so random I can not conclude what is good or bad, I have also experience hot water bottle will help after a couple hours. Thanks a lot to all you, I found your comment very helpful, and I could identify myself to many of you. 

I too experience a lot of pain my back between the shoulder blades and upper area below my neck. This started after I had gallbladder surgery and like most people it comes and goes in severity. Also have digestive problems and feel that it so w way contributes to the chondritis. Not able to take anti-inflamatories so use heat and started trying hemp seed oil. Stress does make it worse for me. Gentle massage used to help not anymore.