Costochondritis pain and discomfort
Posted , 177 users are following.
I am a 39 yr old mother of a 5yr old daughter. I live in Newry, northern Ireland.
I was diagnosed with costochondritis 2 years ago this month. Like everyone elses case I have read on here I was totally convinced there was something more serious wrong with me and argued with my Doctor for a long time about it.
It started when I got a flu while on holidays and the only thing that I can think may
have brought it on was the coughing. It comes and goes every couple of months but there isn't a day that I don't get some kind of pain in my back or chest area. Just
before Christmas last year while driving to work I took really sharp chest pain and
felt like my heart was jumping around in my chest. This panicked me as I thought I
was having a heart attack. I pulled into the hard shoulder as I had my little girl in the car with me and I was finding it difficult to breath. The panic stopped after a while and I went straight to A&E. They did numerous tests, ECG, chest Xrays, blood tests, you name it and in the end they said they agreed with my GP that it was
costochondritis. They put me in Diclofenic tabs, which are anti inflammatory. They did help and the condition eased up after a few days but it wasn't long til it reared its ugly head again. so for me its 2 weeks of severe pain and maybe 4-5 weeks of bearable pain then back to severe pain again.
I am down at minute but this time its really bad, it seems each time I get it It is more severe. I am now on naproxin which to be honest I find useless. Pain killers are not working and even the hot water bottle which I found great is no use this time.
The majority of my pain in in my back between my shoulder blades and travels up into my neck and shoulders, sometimes down my arms. Although I have chest pain the worst is in my back, though if I were to press on my ribs at the front I could scream with pain.
I find this time with it being worse it is affecting my moods. I am snapping at my little girl all the time which I feel terrible about, and I just dont want to do anything. Work is just a nightmare recently. I am normally an upbeat person and very little gets me down, but it is really taking its toll. I have had this condition now for 2 years and it really in not understood. Most people I talk to have never heard of it, so when I found this forum and so many people suffering like myself it was a God send. So hopefully I can gain some knowledge from other people and anyone panicking about the pain they are feeling and thinking its something bad, can take some reassurance from my story.
Does anyone feel the pain is in their back more then their chest area. And if anyone has any advice or anything, please do share with me.
Sinead
11 likes, 604 replies
Mommy_bear sinead_34836
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I am 32 I was diagnosed at age 18. If I sleep wrong move wrong breath wrong I'm in pain. I am currently suffering today with the worst it's ever been and was wondering if this is really what I have or if I'm going to die from something they didn't find. No pain killers take care of the pain the pain is from my neck all the way down into my right side stomach. Back to front you are not alone. My advice is just to lay down and rest warm compress cold will make it worse.keep on the anti-inflammatory.
Jacquedorothy Mommy_bear
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grace28398 Mommy_bear
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Have you tried Neurontin..a medicine my dr prescribed. Or a TENS unit? They have help me tremendously. As well as cold soft compresses, and lots of rest when its bad. I also pray alot, and go to a counselor to help work on anxiety this condition causes. The good thing is this is not life threatening...Thank God! We are all in this together. Good luck. All will be well soon
Jacquedorothy sinead_34836
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rose05272 sinead_34836
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Hi I know this is a really old thread but I'm wondering what success you might have had with this?
I have chronic rib & back pain the last 4 months. There is loud grinding pain in my ribs when I raise my shoulders. I use heating pads every single day & I am tired & drained from this pain.
I've had X-ray & ECG but no one can tell me what this is. I've had massages, seen a physio & a chiropractor and I'm just getting worse.
Could this be costochondritis? I'm so depressed.
Karen_Q rose05272
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Hey Rose, sounds like it is, 1st time I ever had costochondritis there was a grinding noise in my ribs too, I had to stay in bed for about 2 weeks, couldn't walk or anything the pain was so bad but it eased off and eventually went away after 6 weeks or so, I didn't have any treatments at all, just used painkillers which were prescribed to me. Only thing is that it comes back from time to time for almost no reason at all
Karen_Q sinead_34836
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grace28398 Karen_Q
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Karen_Q grace28398
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Thanks for reply Grace, I was thinking I maybe had something else wrong now! 😊
cherralyn23710 sinead_34836
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Mine had settled down for a few weeks but it always felt it was still there and it's back pain in ribs all over my back I hurt every where I can't put up with much more feels like I'm having heart attack I wish like you it would stop I'm so sorry for you like you I've tried it all I'm off back to doc
peachie2484 cherralyn23710
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simone_40974 sinead_34836
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cherralyn23710 simone_40974
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Dose not matter what pain killers I take relief is short term I can't take ibuprofen or anything like it this drags you down I like you have had it for over 18 mon the hot baths help but sometimes stress adds to it I'm sure when go backwards and forwards to doc they must think God not again but the pain becomes unbearable just hang in there at least there are others to talk to 😢
simone_40974 cherralyn23710
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cherralyn23710 simone_40974
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No I don't in to much pain at moment it feels like my whole rib cage as moved I darexpect not twist to much going back to doc pain all across sternum I think if I had heart attack I would not know difference been in pain to long
simone_40974 cherralyn23710
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JuanTwoThree simone_40974
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I have not gotten a MRI. While this occurred while I was active duty they denied me be used it was too expensive. Went to a private doctor even they wouldn't give me one because they determined I did have costachindritis. I still have pain sternum and in between the ribs. I just take Aleve. Nothing more they can do.
cherralyn23710 JuanTwoThree
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They don't want to do anythinggive u a packet of pills and on your way
grace28398 JuanTwoThree
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you need to fight for yoiurself. Dont take no for an answer. Have you had xrays? ct scans? Bloodwork? to rule out other things first, before they diagnosed you?
cherralyn23710
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cherralyn23710
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simone_40974 cherralyn23710
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Hello . I am feeling better today thankfully . But I know how this goes. As soon as I am stressed I feel it horribly . I had a chest X-ray and AnA blood profile and
Rheumatoid factor test taken Saturday . Haven't heard back from doctor am Praying for good results . He also did Lyme disease test . Go figure as I am not a natured in the woods type of person . 😭
cherralyn23710 simone_40974
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Glad u feel better today at moment mine is along front of chest in the bones but you know what that's like when the pain gose it's heaven but it always lurking there it drags u down when it's day in day out nice to have someone in same position to talk to
simone_40974 cherralyn23710
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cherralyn23710 simone_40974
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No but my osteopathy think it's something else as well but it's so miserable like you having heart attack
simone_40974 cherralyn23710
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cherralyn23710
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She says it's imflammation of the ribs I've had this for nearly 2 years each time I go more pain killers I don't think it will ever go🙁
simone_40974 cherralyn23710
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It's been two years for me as well . This is insane it really
Is
cherralyn23710 simone_40974
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I'm sure they think you make it up
simone_40974 cherralyn23710
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Yes everyone thinks like what is going on with me. So I am getting all type of test done . My doctor has not said Costo honestly I don't think he knows what it is.😫
cherralyn23710 simone_40974
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No I agree they clutch at straws to much hassle or no time to help you I'm in a lot of pain to day it's in my back chest it's horrible it's vry hard to get to see my doctor but I think I may change after Christmas I do think stress doesn't help
simone_40974 cherralyn23710
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cherralyn23710 simone_40974
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simone_40974
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cherralyn23710 simone_40974
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How you doing. Went to get Christmas to tree from sainsburys carried it back to car in so much pain me own fault I hate this pain it's never going to go
Cass73 simone_40974
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Simone, likely nothing will show on your tests. Last year when diagnosed it was the heart doc who confirmed what physio suggested. I had told therapist how I could not wear a bra. She checked me out and told me about costochondritis. I had never heard of it. My doc sent me for tests and heart doc ran his finger my sternum. After I recovered from that he confirmed i had costochondritis and would live......
i am in Canada, alone, and a senior. I am shovelling snow this winter and having a flare. Also lost my husband this year, so strike 2. Stress and too much physical lifting or pushing snow shovels . There is also a virus they believe....I think it's all up to us to realize we have to learn how to,relax..I have a monkey mind.. and I go out three times rather than one huge snow removal binge, and it helps. My parking spot is one of the cleanest, as I am also afraid to slip with a replaced knee. So careful of ice. It can be managed with care. An Osteo treated me last year, and was a help. She worked muscles between the ribs. Try massaging very gently. Then put a heat pad that is soft on your ribs. I still swim, but a lot less. Dance too, but don't do a lot of twisting movements. It's all balances with this wretched disease. You look fine. Docs are not sure what to look for, so we are left to sort it out ourselves. Pretty annoying. Keep going, and try to cut back when you can. If you are lifting a toddler, etc must be very difficult. Best, Cass
cherralyn23710 Cass73
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It's a nasty nasty thing to have I'm sorry for your loss but stress I'm sure makes it flare up its just hard work trying to get doc to help like you it was cardiologist who said what it was my ribs and back are bad at moment I'm so miserable as you can't do much it just has to be a bit at a time if it gets bad then rest
simone_40974 Cass73
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So sorry I am just
Seeing your message . And sorry for your loss as well. I really hope and suggest that you find someone to assist
You in shoveling snow this winter . It's imperative for your health . I am going to doctor tomorrow for my
Chest X-ray results and my
Rheumatoid test and ANA profile test. Am having discomfort at the moment
, this Is quite tough .
sharon32910 cherralyn23710
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sharon32910 simone_40974
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The ER doctors diagnosed me. They suspected Costochondritis, but you need to be certain it is not your heart by blood tests, enzymes and the EKG. I take ibuprofen, pain pills and an aspirin. I hope we can all feel better.💖 soon. People are also talking about a topical oil as well.
sharon32910 JuanTwoThree
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