Costochondritis pain and discomfort

Yes, I also have those symptoms. It started om ly left side under my arm last July. It preogressively is getting worse and has traveled just as yours. Nothing seems to help the pain. I go to the chiro 2x a week and a PT 2x a week.  am at my wits end...I feel for you!

hi stevie. good to know it sounds familiar as i've diagnosed myself with the worst...although not good that you  have it too you understand. i tried physio and it made it really bad for a couple of days,like a band around my rib cage...which was bad, but also good that it helped me rationalise that it related to muscular skeletal...if you get my meaning! i just don't know what to do, its making me so axious and miserable...

Hi Victoria don't know if you live in UK but use OLBAS Oil rub it into to painful areas it really relives it continue to do this buy on amazon it's wonderful I also go to a chiropractor for aquapuncture it's getting better reach week but it's essential you rest as much as you can I've had it in all areas it does travel  hope this helps you 

Hi yes I'm in the uk and I gave it a go the other day and it was good. The back pain is like a wave so difficult to pin point, I would love to rest but I have 2 small children so it's really hard! But I may give a chiropractor a go the back pain is pretty horrible!

To all the women with this... As we know wearing a bra is a problem but being big-boobed I've endeavored to find something that works because not wearing one I think is making is worse pulling down on the rib-cage.

I discovered at Walmart today a "nursing bra!" I've figured out now that I have to wear 4 sizes bigger in back size so there's no squeezing on the ribs... The bra has adjustable band on both sides and of course the hooks at the front. Sometimes if I'm in the car or sitting for a long time the anxiety feeling sets in as all gets swished and I need to rip my bra off. This one simple unhooks for some freedom!

Just ideas as I go on 8-months with this...

Hi there. Yes I have the back pain. It used to be all over especially mid-back on spine. As this thing has gradually lost some punch over the months I find it's mostly shoulder-blades. I probably don't help putting on a bra, very loose mind and 4-sizes toi big but I do need some kind of support... I use the Olbas and also an Ortho Oil which my accupuncturist uses. It's very good and has multiple essential oils in it. Also I asked doc for Lidicaine patches as suggested on discharge after my last ER visit! Think they're prescription only. I stick those on all around my back which helps when doing daily stuff. Actually even over-the-counter pain patches work quite well. I was using Bengay a lot too. The back seems easier to work on. Chest much more sensitive to the analgesic creams. I can't put those strong lotions on my front, always seems to burn. But the oils work well.

Hope this helps. It's all desperate measures I know but this forum is great for pooling our resources together... And boosting moral most importantly.

Hello

I dont know if anyone is still following this thread but id appreciate some help. I think I may have this condition but my GP has dismissed it and insisting that I have acid reflux and has put me on an acid reducing tablet which is doing absolutely nothing. My symptoms are a pain in the centre edging towards the left of my chest that feel like something is trapped and I have a place on my chest that is tender to touch. If I put my head back, especially if I'm drinking from a bottle, I get a pain and wearing a bra has become uncomfortable. The pain sometimes seems to spread across my left breast but always starts in the centre at the same spot.

Any advice would be appreciated. I'm 44 and I've had this since January.

Did it just come from nowhere or were you ill prior with something? Surgeries?

No, no surgery or illness. It just came out of the blue.

Hi lisa!

When I had the same discomfort/PAIN I went to the doctor thinking it was heart related and he said the test to do for this condition is simply, if there is pain or tenderness at the point of the pain then BINGO! It only stays for a few days but I have read through research that it can stay for up to and beyond a year.... I take a couple of ibuprofen before I go to sleep.  Somtimes it works and sometimes not so much... Lastly, I've read that good sleep is crucial to the pain disappearing.

Thank you so much for your reply.

I definitely have pain and tenderness in the area where the pain starts. I'm really annoyed with my GP, he did a chest xray and ecg to rule out cardiac issues and has put me on tablets for a condition I dont think I have!

I will try to see a different gp at a different surgery I think.

Hi Lisa,

I definitely think you need to see a different doctor.  I'm 70 and have had to take reflux medication for many years, but the rib cage pain I have now is totally different and definitely is CC.  The first time I got it from severe coughing and when the cough got better the rib pain gradually went away.  I had a chest X-ray but the bones were fine and the nurse said inflamed rib muscles can cause very severe pain.  A few weeks ago I injured the rib muscles again by leaning over forward and pulling on a stiff low drawer.  I tend to avoid crouching down as my knees are very stiff but now I know I must bend them rather than leaning forward which stretches the rib muscles.  Lifting anything heavy or twisting my body also brings the pain back.  In my case, I think age is a cause and menopause caused great deterioration of all my internal muscles, which also caused my reflux I think.  As you are much younger, can you think of any repetitive action you take which might damage the rib muscles?  When you next see a doctor, be sure to ask about CC as this is what your problem sounds like. 

Good luck,

Lori

 

Hi Lori

Thank you so much for your reply.

The job I do does involve quite a lot of lifting, some of which can be quite repetitive. I also find that if I tense my shoulders it can trigger the pain in my chest. I suffer from a quite severe anxiety disorder which causes me to tense my muscles quite a bit and I did wonder if my continually tensing my chest muscles when I'm anxious may have caused it? I mentioned this to my GP and he dismissed it.

Best wishes

Lisa x

Hi Lisa,

I have had this for at least 4 years and until recently, I didn't have a doctor who diagnosed me with this condition. A lot of doctors try to pass it off as anxiety issues, which I do suffer from anxiety and panic attacks, and those attacks do make the flare ups worse, these are two different conditions. If your doctor isn't taking you serious I would really suggest you look into getting another doctor. I'm really sorry you are going through this, thus really is painful and very uncomfortable.

Hello Coleen

Thank you for your reply.

Being stressed and anxious really makes mine worse too. My Dr keeps telling me it's a digestive issue but the pain is definitely starting in my chest and not radiating from my stomach.

I do suffer from some bloating and when I feel the need to burp the pain does get a bit worse but surely gas pain wouldn't cause a tender spot on my chest?

Can I ask what your symptoms were?

I'm having a flare up now its been about a week, I have tightness and extreme pain all around my upper chest, tingling in my hands, some back aches, pain in my sternum . I get neck aches and headaches a lot.

Like you I do have some GI issues. I have had my gallbladder removed, I have IBS and gerd. Im not sure if the GI issues are related to the costoconditis, that's a good question. I know that when im dealing with these flare ups it does make the anxiety and the GI issues worse. I also have an almost 4 month old and I am 200% that having a baby made it worse. It made it worse in pregnancy and its kicking my butt now. I'm switching insurances on the 1st to an HMO so I'm going to have a new doctor and I'm going to make sure I get more answers to this condition. The doctor I have now is not too educated on it and I have been busy with my new baby, so I haven't had the time to find a new doctor. As soon as I get an answer about the GI stuff I'll let you know.

Hi Lisa,

Iam so glad to have founf this forum/thread.. I thought I too had something really bad wrong with me and didn't believe my doctore diagnosis of costochondritus and have had ECG/ chest xray / blood tests - all clear. BUT reading this and seeing yours and other people's posts has made me realise that my symptoms are the same and that my GP was right.  I have had severe pain in my sternum that radiates up  and outwards towards my left breast. I have had a burning sick feeling as well and my GP has given me tabltes to reduce production of stomache acid. I'm also really itred and was very breathless which iron tablets have hepled with. The pain seems to be there all the time but I am ttrying fish oils and Olbas oils as well as paracetamol after reading this forum. I now know that this may take a long time to get better (have had it for 8 weeks since starting Yoga!!) which I am going to stop to see if not strectching helps. I am so thankful to all that have posted as it has helped me to be less anxious about what could be wrong.

 

Hi Lori

My pain is also there all the time.

A lot of posts mention olbas oil. Has it had any effect? I've had this since January.

My Dr put me on acid reducing drugs but they did nothing so I stopped taking them.

Hi Lisa, apologies for bad typing in my post.. I didn't check it before posting! Yes I do think the Olbas oil helps, it doesn't remove the pain but it does help to lessen it. I'm also not sure the acid tablets are making any difference but I've almost finished the pack and will stop taking them then. I am just starting fish oils with glucosamine sulphate which is supposed to support healthy cartilage function to see if that helps.

Hi lori keep up with the ok as oil rest rest rest no stretching lifting try to find a good chiropractor to do aquapuncture it really did help me I had it since last June and finally now back to my work pain killers or antacids don't help you need lots of ok as oil rub it in on ribs sternum at night before bed and in morning use ice packs not heat as it inflammation hope this helps then take things slow don't rush back to normal

That's Olbas Oil

Hi lisa i have this condition was diagnosed by the 5th or 6th doctor i saw after numerous ecgs and test but i also have been diagnosed with acid reflux alongside it although they have done no twsts to confirm this diagnosis they are going from the fact that i also suffer with A LOT of heartburn but due to fact that actual info on this illness is limited im unsure if the heartburn is one of the symptoms of the illness itself or maybe of the anxiety that the pain creates id seek a 2nd 3rd or even 4th opinion if your not happy as you know your body best x

Hello.

I've just recently had a consultation with a cardiologist and he's actually diagnosed costochodritis.

My GP insisted it was acid reflux because the pain worsened when I needed to burp. The cardio explained that burping causes a lot of movement in the chest, as does having air in the windpipe which is why it was hurting so much.

My GP put me on lanzoprazole then rabeprazole which did nothing for the pain but since I've stopped them I've actually developed quite severe heartburn which I understand can be caused by a rebound effect of these awful drugs.

I too suffer with anxiety and this causes me loads of digestive issues and I definitely felt a surge in gi symptoms since I've had chest pain so I think the anxiety of it could well be the cause of heartburn.

X

Lori I am 73.  Just spent last few weeks being checked for lung disease, clots in lung, heart probs etc etc.  could not breathe.  Given puffers & told it was a virus.so glad I found this site.n I mentioned the pain on rite side of my chest centre to my sister.  Silence.  My daughter had thar,she said, and said cc.  A week before, I had moved storage boxes ..26 of them to another level in building.  Did myself as my son was late.  Next week went to new gym, walked, then did pull downs on machines.  Then saw n interesting seat to twist on. The next week the pain started with a catch in the chest.  Still seeing lung specialist soon and will tell him story.  So, you can pretty much give it to yourself by overdoing it, it would, seem.  Going to try ice instead of heat, and the oil.  Yes my shoulders are tight from stress @ have spouse w  Alzheimer's. A perfect storm, u might say..

You need to take it a bit easier now when you have this pain. Superimportant. Sounds very much like CC. Stay still for 48 hrs...I mean be calm and ice the chest 8 min per hr. Take antiinflammatories. . Dont lift anything. Push or pull anything. .dont reach high up with arms..do not twist..

You might have overdone it....It might go away with you care for it....Stress and anxiety does NOT help so maybe ask your son to give you a hand..

Take care

Mitouback

Yes I M sure you are right.  Just a tip to you and others.  PHysio says ice but  doesn't kick in til after 12 minutes of icing.  also for all of you...appendicitis, tonsillitis,costrochondritis:  all ITIS related words are inflammation.  That means ICE!!!

Whoahh!!!  Went out today to get Olbas Oil so many of you have posted about.  told it is discontinued!!!!   the salesperson said she thinks it is the company and not thestore discontinuing it.  anyone else find this out???

Yes. Mine (which this is my 4th year having it)... is always in my entire back ribs both of them, my shoulders always and my neck. I also have myofascial pain syndrome which affects my shoulders and neck and mostly my arms-so its double pain for me. It seems like mine will never go away. So I just have learned to have to live with bad pain daily.

Ask your GP to reffer you to a rheumatologist. They will discover it for you. You know your body best. My GP gave me meds and braces for tennis elbow because my arms hurt like heck and got weak very easily with repetitive movements.... my rheumatologist laughed and said I dont have tennis elbow! It was Myofascial pain syndrome. But I had to keep pushing and insisting to get an answer as no one else could find out what I had. It was this amazing doctor at sunnybrook hosptial a rheumatologist who knew her stuff and gave me peace finally knowing what was wrong with me. Which costochondritis was also what i hadz

Hello Lisa ! As many others on this forum I have many if not most of the presented symptoms in this forum . I see that your cardiologist diagnosed you with cosotchindritis which must have been a great relief . If you don't mind , which tests did the doctor perform prior to making god diagnosis ? Thanks

Hi Victoria,

Yes chest pain from Costo can go to your back.

Pain pills barely work for me too!

I went to the ER and IV Toradol is magic!!! It's not a pain med it's an anti-inflammatory. But it works!! It only works by IV and you can't take it for long though.

I am presently getting a gallbladder ultrasound. I need to be sure what I am dealing with. I need a solution. Pain pills barely work, but I don't want more of them. I need to fix my problem.

Good Luck to you💖

Hi Lori and Lisa,

I totally agree I'm still not wearing a bra!! It makes me uncomfortable not wearing a bra!

My last possible thing for me to test is my gallbladder because the gallbladder is known to go bad too.

Hi Coleensteele,

You are right on in your advise!!

💖

Hi Lisa,

The good thing about Tums is you can take one 3x day with vitamin D3.

Bone densit,;y is important!!! Because the symptoms are are no jojht!!!!!8*