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
jeanette76185 sinead_34836
Posted
I am 43 years old and recently started suffering with dibilitating pain in my chest. Right where the rib cage goes into my sternum on the right. At times when I stretch my chest will crack and the pain begins. Sometimes I am unable to move any direction and it hurts to breath deep. Nothing helps. No doctor's understand or know how to help. They say here take a anti-inflammation med and have a nice day.
I am so scared everytime I go to stretch or even twist that my chest will crack and I will be in horrific pain again. It is so depressing to not knopw how to relieve this pain. I want to loose weight and exercise but know I shouldn't life weights because it could crack again.
People look at you weird when you say chest cracking. No one understands and no one appears to be able to help.
grace28398 jeanette76185
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wendy35090 grace28398
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grace28398 wendy35090
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jamice70950 sinead_34836
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Hi, It has been about three months since i've noticed a lump on my chest and i had pain in my back up to my shoulder down right arm so i looked it up and i found out what it was so i bought anti-flammitory drugs like aleve, ibupforen, advil, etc. I found that Aleve better in releving the pain all day until i go to see my doctor.
rosemarie35417 sinead_34836
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I have suffered with Costo for 5yrs now on and off varying severity, about a year ago I started taking a high dose of cu cumin (from Turmeric) daily, once in my system the difference was amazing, I ran out recently and couldn't find the correct make to buy. After a week with NO cu cumin my costo symptoms returned with avengance. I would definitely recommend anyone suffering this condition give it a go, it's got to be better for you than chemical prescribed drugs or even over the counter NSAIDS. Hope some other sufferers find this of some help :-)
wendy35090 rosemarie35417
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QueenMo rosemarie35417
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I'd be interested in the brand name also!
grace28398 rosemarie35417
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rosemarie35417 wendy35090
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Good health naturally nutrition CurcuminX4000 3capsules a day, haven't been able to find it anywhere since running out though??Hope you can source some, I have my first appt with a Chinese doctor 2mor, going to give acupuncture and herbs a go, fed up with the pain and GP's don't really have an answer except to prescribe chemical anti inflammatory drugs which I don't really want to load up my body with 🙂
tracy02849 sinead_34836
Posted
I too have a 5 year-old daughter (as well as an 11-year old daughter). I've been disagreeing with my various GPs for nearly 7 years now. One said to me "well you're still here, so it can't be anything life threatening". This made me really sad. I've tolerated it for all this time, and when life quietens down in between family commitment I go back to the GP for another's stab at the problem.
I've recently moved area and thought I'd start afresh and get some answers, but after 2 blood tests and a chest and spine x-ray I've come away with the suggestion of Pilates and amitriptyline (which I'm scared to take!)
I believe my costochondritis began the first (and last) time I helped out at my daughter's school. I got flu, with a severe cough, and damaged a rib through the coughing. I was told I'd probably cracked a rib because the pain took 6 weeks exactly to stop and the intensity of the pain remained the same throughout that time.
The main pain I have day-to-day is a burning sensation in my shoulder blade. I have also started to have pins and needles in my hand. I also get tightness in my chest from time to time. I find stress aggravates my shoulder pain, and also if I lift something (or my youngest daughter needs a carry...) Sitting on my breakfast bar stools hurts too!
I've often worried there is something serious wrong that the GPs are missing. I've even told them this and stressed how my family need me and if there's anything wrong I need to sort it out for their sakes as much as my own.
I'm so glad I've found this forum today. I hope it's the start of getting support and reassurance from others in the same boat. Thank you.
cherralyn23710 tracy02849
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I'm like you iv had mine for 4 years I just live with it but as you know sometimes the pain is unbearable docs not interested if i get stressed pain bending pain moving in my car pain some days I just cry I don't know what to tell you to ease it but it's hard when you have children to care hang in there
tracy02849 cherralyn23710
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I will persevere, but would rather if someone could tell me "this is what you've got, this is what you can do to help, and it will last x long (or forever)". Whenever I have a chance to focus on myself I start to worry there is something sinister underlying.
I've ordered some different turmeric capsules/caplets to try from Nature's Best - it is supposed to help ease inflammation. I'm happy to try natural remedies but reluctant to start the amitriptylene the GP prescribed at my last visit.
cherralyn23710 tracy02849
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Same I'm going to try turmeric can't do any harm but as you say they tell you nothing as I don't think they know
rosemarie35417 sinead_34836
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The brand of Curcumin that I found works really well for me is 'good health naturally nutrition ' CurcuminX4000. Haven't been able to find it anywhere since I finished my last bottle 😟If anyone on this forum knows where I could find it I would be really grateful if you could let me know. Have given up with the mainstream medicine and 2mor have my first appt with a top Chinese doctor , going to give acupuncture and herbs a go! Good Luck all x
tracy02849 rosemarie35417
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I took Holland and Barrett's Turmeric (400mg) with curcumin for a while and it helped initially, but with horrible burps! I have just ordered Nature's Best 10,000mg Turmeric with 95% curcumin to try. Sounds a lot stronger, so worth a try if I can swallow the capsules!
tracy02849 rosemarie35417
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