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
carolee91695 sinead_34836
Posted
Hello,
I am a 40 your old woman and I may have this as well. I am glad that I found this forum but I am a little worried because there is nothing they can do to alleviate the pain. Some people have suffered for several years which also makes me nervous because I have been in pain for two weeks and it is driving me crazy. I ordered the oil that was suggested so hopefully it works. My doctor wants me to see a pulmonologist so we will see if he has anything new to say about it. I do have rheumatoid arthritis so I need to see her to see if there is anything she can do for me but I have seen others in this forum that say they didn't know what to do either. I have to go back to work but I am a teacher so I'm not sure how I am going to pull this off but I guess we do what we have to do.
simone_40974 carolee91695
Posted
Hello I am a teacher also and when days are stressful it really makes you feel like crap . I have had this whatever it is for 3 years off and on. Stress def makes it worse . So if you have rheumatoid arthritis why are they suggesting a pulmonary doctor ? Do they need feel it's related to the arthritis ? I went to rheumatologist yesterday and they suggested some lab work .
cherralyn23710 simone_40974
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simone_40974 cherralyn23710
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Hoping for good results for you ! I went and I told you he acted like he has no clue what I had. Sent me for markers for inflammation and retested for sjroghens. Not even sure what that's is but I tested positive in 2013 for that . It's like a drying condition of eyes , mouth etc . We need to find a cure for this . Please let me know what your doctor says .
cherralyn23710 simone_40974
Posted
Will do probably think I'm loopy do u find your skin gets sore to touch on your ribs and back but there's nothing to make it sore
simone_40974 cherralyn23710
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Yes I do get that as well . Am so sick of this . And I really want to read threads about ppl getting relief at this point . We all feel the same way ok so now what ? You know ? Can't wait to hear what your doctor says . I have to take more blood work and go back within two weeks .
cherralyn23710 simone_40974
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simone_40974 cherralyn23710
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That's exactly how I feel . And my husband is looking at me like it's all in my head . This is a battle . Where you tested for lupus ? I had that test as well . Not crazy about all this testing as eventually they find crap
cherralyn23710 simone_40974
Posted
No all doc say that it inflammation it was my cardiologist that pushed for this so hopefully can get some answers I think my husband get fed up with it as we don't get anywhere you can't live on pain killers don't know about you I'm sick and fed up with being in pain hope I do get some sort of light at the end of the tunnel
simone_40974 cherralyn23710
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simone_40974 cherralyn23710
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Thank god it's not heart seems all the doctors are leading to us nflammation
simone_40974
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simone_40974 cherralyn23710
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Done it ridiculous ! Make sure me loook nutty ! We all must find a cure
cherralyn23710 simone_40974
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God knows how much it will cost I know it's around 150 p0unds for consultation so I have to get my questions ready do u ever get a sharp pain under your arm pit don't know but any pain I get now I freak out
simone_40974 cherralyn23710
Posted
Hello I get pains in my
Ribs , sometimes back , definitely sternum . Heart feels like it pounding sometimes when I feel the pain in sternum . Back of neck but
That's only because if stress . Let me know what doctor says tom
cherralyn23710 simone_40974
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Will do my cousin think the pain under my arm pit is glands I don't know we falling to pieces and no spare parts take care nice to chat will send tomorrow
simone_40974 cherralyn23710
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We will be ok . Let's speak positive over this condition only
. I doubt
It's the glands
grace28398 simone_40974
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A cure for this woulds be awesome!!!!!!! But its so great that we have this forum to give each other helpful tips and share our experiences!!!! Hope you are having a good day.
simone_40974 grace28398
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grace28398 simone_40974
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I'm glad your a bit better!!!!! Prayers and optomism are so helpful.....same here. I'm doing better today too. Thanks. Have a great dayyyy
simone_40974 cherralyn23710
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simone_40974 cherralyn23710
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