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
laurie20688 sinead_34836
Posted
Hello. I'm 40 years old and recently went to the ER thinking I was having a heart attack. They did a EEG and chest X-ray, I was diagnosed with costochondritis. I left there feeling embarrassed but relieved it wasn't a heart attack. This forum has been extremely helpful and I'm going to add back stretching to my routine. The ER doctor did say that it is typically brought on by a strenuous activity and asked if I had been exercising. I try to exercise 3-4 times a week and when I had this scary experience, I had worked out 2 days in a row. At first I was hesitant to work out but I have been spacing it out. It helps there are others experiencing costochondritis. Thank you for hearing my story and offering advice. Laurie
emily_82375 sinead_34836
Posted
Hi everyone
I had scoliosis surgery 4 years ago. A few months before my surgery I realised I was having mild chest pains. I didn't take too much notice as I was in more pain with my back (due to the curve). Almost straight after my surgery my pains in my chest started getting worse, and 4 years on I am in horrendous pain. I find it difficult to breathe like there is not enough space to inhale, when having a shower or hot I have more pain. I get out of breath, my chest sternum area feels tender to touch too.
I have had x-rays, ultrasound, blood test, endoscopy, and steroid injections and nothing has showed up. Apart from the doctor saying that it feels 'slightly tight' around that area.
I have had one physiotherapy appointment and they said this may help.
Does anyone know what I can do as I am in severe pain every single day, and desperately NEED HELP.
Thank you
christine22868 emily_82375
Posted
chrism6973 emily_82375
Posted
Hi Emily - I had costo badly for a while and, as with everyone who experiences this, the impact on my life was unbelievable. I no longer have any pain, although I have to maintain it almost every day...but I'm fine with that.
My question to you is, do you have a really, really tight back? If so, you can do something about it. See some of my other posts and let me know if you need to know anything else.
It _is_ treatable.
emily_82375 chrism6973
Posted
I had scoliosis surgery on my spine, and have not done any exercises to my back since! And that was 4 Year’s ago. I didn’t have any physiotherepy after.
I think maybe my back is quite tight where i had the surgery which may have caused this pain in my chest due to the trauma?!
I can’t see any of your other posts.. what helped you the best?
Thank you
chrism6973 emily_82375
Posted
Hi Emily,
I thought there might have been a connection. I'm no doctor, but everyone I have spoken with, without exception, has had a tight back.
This is a copy of one of my previous posts, including my learnings that I credit to a phyio in New Zealand of all places. I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me (and others).
My wife's family (affectionately?!?) call me "Concrete Man". My back and hamstrings are terrible. I can see my toes...but that is kinda where it ends. Touching them with straight legs is simply not an option.
As far as costo goes, the theory is, your back gets extremely tight and this prevents your ribs from pivoting on the spine (where they are designed to pivot) for every breath you take. Instead of allowing your chest to expand and contract properly, well, you still need to breathe and that forces your ribs to move slightly where they meet the sternum. This *isn't* supposed to happen and is, apparently, the root cause of the pain.
What I did:
First, I saw a physio / chiro and he was shocked at the state of my back. He had me lie on my stomach and used his elbow, pushing down between each rib along both sides of my spine. He just pushed hard into the gaps to loosen them. This was very interesting...it hurt, but not as much as costo, and although it didn't fix it, I felt strangely 'better' but there was still pain. Looking back, I think it started to free up the back a little.
After that, each day I would to a rotational stretch while standing. Standing still, knees slightly bent, I rotate as far as I can to the left 10 times, then to the right 10 times, then the left 10 times. At first, this was hard, now it is pretty easy and I actually get a crack every now and then. When I had it badly, I would do this 4-8 times per day. It isn't pleasant, but it is worth it.
I then went back to physio a week later and he was stunned at my progress. My back had loosened up considerably. Now, in maintenance mode, I only do it once in the morning and every now and then if I feel a tightness in my chest.
I think the physio thing was a really good start to try to get the back started, but I would do the twisting anyway...it makes such a huge difference.
There is one other thing that I believe really helps in maintenance mode, but please PM me for those details.
I hope this helps you. I think, in hindsight, the twisting *could* be enough if you are dedicated enough and push yourself. I liked the fact the physio seemed to loosen something and I think it helped speed up my recovery.
Please check back in and let us know how you go if you consider trying these steps?
samuel29424 sinead_34836
Posted
My Rheumitology Dr has me on Tramadol 50mg twice/day. This and bed rest has helped more than any earlier treatments.
I was taking Diclonefic tabs but found it was too much as I have UC. I do use Diclonefic cream on the areas. Did not want any bleeding.
I do believe by lower rib area is the worst.
grace28398 sinead_34836
Posted
I'm so sorry you're going through such a difficult time. I too was diagnosed with Costro over two years ago and went through many tests and went to many specialists. I have found that Arnica gel can help ease the pain and ice packs help me alot and Gabapentin prescribed by my dr really takes the edge off. Hang in there!!! It will get better
emily_82375 grace28398
Posted
What tests did you have to be diagnosed? All the doctors I’ve seen say they don’t know what it is because many tests show nothing. Even though I keep saying I know it is this condition! I’ve had it for 4 years now and nothing has worked. My steroid injections were 2 weeks ago too!
chrism6973 emily_82375
Posted
Hey Emily...I was just wondering if you had had a chance to see if easing the back tightness has been able to help? The rotational stretching at least I find you can do at your own pace and does help.
BTW - My sister has scoliosis too, that isn't fun
emily_82375 chrism6973
Posted
I have been doing exercises that my physio gave me. Slowing increasing them. I mentioned to her that I think I have Costo so hoping when I next go back she has exercises relating to this!
chrism6973 emily_82375
Posted
For me, the physio physically separating the ribs where they attach to the spine was a major achievement. Not sure if you can do that after your op. but it sure made a difference. It was painful, but much less so than the costo itself.
aoife45195 sinead_34836
Posted
Hi Sinead, I realise you posted this along time ago. Has there been much improvement in your symptoms? I get a very sharp pain under my shoulder blades and pain in my neck. Just desperately hope there is light at the end of the tunnel. I'm pregnant so the docs thinks it costo but obviously can't investigate it much more until baby arrives. Had bloods, an x-ray ecg etc. I live in Drogheda btw. x
sur66645 sinead_34836
Posted
even I got it after severe flu.one day suddenly it happend to me after waking up in morning.life seems he'll now ,feeling like handicapped person.I m 35 year old female.can't pull anything,can't hold my grocery bags,can't lift heavy objects.constant pain in left chest area ,shoulder blade,breast,ribs..nobody ever listen to it,but really it making me helpless..no medicines work..
chrism6973 sur66645
Posted
Hi - I don't know if you have had a chance to look at any of my other posts...but, if it is costo, I reckon there is a root cause that we all have, and if that is right, there is hope.
My question to you is, do you have a really, really tight back? If so, you can do something about it. I know I was able to and I am living essentially pain-free.
It is treatable.