Costochondritis pain and discomfort

Hi Jules

I was prescribed Amitrypteline (I think thats spelled correctly) It is a known drug for anti depressants but is not prescribed for that anymore, it apparently can ease the pain for some people but not others as it is a nerve blocker too. I think it depends upon the severity of your costo and which ribs it is inflaming (the nerve affected will be different) I try to control my costo with an anti inflammatory diet as posted in my original post. there are lots of sites relating to this so may be useful to you to have a look. I have certainly found some foods make it worse than others. hope this helps

Hi Sean,

Thank you so much for that usefull information.... As it happens I have a prescription for that exact drug waiting to be picked up. I like you tried to avoid stronger meds like nerve-blockers since here we are 7 months later and nothing else has worked. My question to you is did it help?? And are you still taking it? I'm still a little wishy-washy when one knows when to stop taking it...

Hi Jules, No didnt work for me, neither has the latest one I was given to try - gabapentin which is another nerve relief tablet. I feel like the only thing that works is Diet control and Naproxen but they screw up my stomach. I wish there was a powerful pain killer that didnt hurt my stomach. I honestly think if I jump up and down that I will start to rattle, I have tried that many tablets. There is a nerve pain blocking injection available that supresses the intercostal nerve (the one that runs down 3/4th rib i think) nd that may be a help. Going to ask about that one when I go to the doctors next.

Hi Sean,

Thank you for the information even though it's disheartening....

I'm off everything now except for Tramadol for pain but not sure if I should change that to something else. Any recommendations on that??

Think you also previously mentioned foods to avoid... What are those??

I go back to the Mayo next week for a second round of steroid injection as the first ones didn't do anything. I'll ask about that intercostal nerve block.

Jules, I also tried tramadol and unfortunaltly it did not help.   This is an awful condition and I am sorry you are dealing with this.

Yes it is awful. And it takes so long to go away... Chronic pain is an understatement!

Have you found a painkiller that does help??

thanks.

Nothing seems to take the pain away. I do take ibuprophen and it helps a little but I want soemthing to take the pain way. I am doing craniosacral therapy and I see a chiropractor. I also take an antidepressant called Zoloft. I want this to go away!

I have been taking Fluoxetine 10 mg (low dose), which is for anxiety/depression, but my dr. prescribed it for me because it also helps with pain. I have been taking it for about 3-4 months. I think it is helping because I don't get the pain as often. I still do have flare-ups at times, and when that happens I take two Advil and when I can I put a heating pad on my back. At the gym, I stopped doing upper-body weight machines and just do weights for abductors, adductors, hamstrings, and quads, although I started adding free weights for biceps, which does not seem to bother me. This costochondritis is a very painful condition. The dr. said he sees a lot of people who have it, but whenever I have mentioned it to anyone they've never heard of it! Good luck!

Hi Jules,

Yes foods to avoid are mostly anything fried, eggs, white breads, most processed packaged foods, fatty meats and some red meats (lean meats tend to be better) white sugar and sweet things, alcohol, milk chocolate (dark tends t be better and is also an anti-oxidant. I have replaced these for leafy greans, fish (omega3), chicken, salad, things with turmeric, fresh herbs, green tea, garlic, shitake mushrooms. Try and rethink your diet, swap anything inflammatory with a healthier option. I fully detoxed on thursday i.e. drank water and green tea, ate vegetables, oily fish, turmeric, various herbs, blueberries and strawberrise, plenty of power foods basically (clears you out) same friday came off medication on friday, was pain free all day friday and today so result so far. try it may work for you hopefully

Hi Sean,

Thank you for all your info and advice. I purchased lots of supplemets yesterday and also starting take the Amytripyline about a week ago. This thing has pushed me to my emotional limit so maybe it'll help maybe it won't. In a big flareup right now and still cannot figure out what starts it for sure. It's so bizarre as nothing is consistent and no two days are the same... Frustrating to say the least!

This forum has been fantastic and I thank everyone who has posted. I've gathered the most helpful tips and advice from here

Hi Sean,

After reading your advice about foods that cause inflammation, I read more about it on the Internet. This may be the answer I have been looking for. Most of the healthy foods are things I eat regularly; the hard part is eliminating the unhealthy things, like white rice, processed foods, cookies. I made roast beef in the crockpot a few days ago, and I had really bad pain the next day all day. So I am going to try to eliminate all the things that are considered inflammatory. Much will power will be needed. Thanks so much for your advice!

Hi Nancy

Yes Beef also makes me flare up and I try to minimise as much as possible. Beef is one of the most potent when it comes to inflammatory food, it contains an inflammatory causing molecule called Neu5gc, and also high in omega 6 acids (not tso good) due to being fed meal containing high protiens (which a cow should not really be eating) which will add to an already hard to control issue. (Omega3 is the good one) found in nuts and fish.

I have been following the anti inflammatory diet for a week with no medication and have seen very good results. This weekend (being my birthday) I have lapsed a little and over indulged and have suffered for it. Definately down to diet so mine can be controlled, I hope you can get to the same stage!

Sean,

Happy Birthday! Glad you've been having fun, but stick to your anti-inflammatory diet!!! Sometimes I have the pain and cannot figure out what I ate that may have caused it. I wonder if I will ever get back to the way I used to be without having to think about every little thing that I eat. Or is this a lifelong condition? If anyone knows the answer to this, please comment!

Thanks Nancy, I am sure this condition will go as quickly as it came, This surely can not be a long term thing, it doesnt add up. The fact that no apparent reason for it manifesting itself sugests a nerve issue (complicated for sure) but will hopefully be controlled with medicattion/ diet. I also have a new drug to try out from my last doctors visit, I have been holding off until the pain gets unbearable and at the moment I can manage it but the medication is specifically for nerve repair and targets the production of glutamates within the nerves (which stimulate pain) its called pregabalin and is very expensive apparently which is why the doctors do not issue unless all other routes have been tried. Could be worth mentioning....

So I had Myofascial Release therapy yesterday... It may well be the key to helping me out of this. Chinese Therapy was a disaster! So aggressive and still recovering stay away from that. Wish I'd known but I followed my acupuncturist's lead... After having this chronic situation for so long the fascia around all of our muscles and soft tissue is a wadded mess, or at least mine is! Through months of stress, pain and emotion the rib cage is stuck or out-of-whack as mine is. And it's gentle. Also heard ultrasound on the chest helps.

I am doing craniosacral therapy and soetimes it is gentle and other times I m in agony 2 days after the treatment. How is the accuouncture? That is going to be my next step. I have a few ribs thta "pop" out on a regular basis, I guess due to weakness and that puts my recovery back at least 3-4 days. I feel I am living in "ground hogs day". I do also have a cold laser treatment 2x a week...I am at my wits end. I hope the Myofascial therapy is the answere for you! My heart goea out to anyone suffering from is horrible condition!

 

I was prescribed amitrypteline too. It didn't help and I had a bad reaction to it. After 2 1/2 wks I was advised to immediately stop it. I use Naproxen which takes the edge off just, but the biggest help has been Glucosomine Forte 1500 mg once a day. As long as I take it at the same time every day with food, the pain stays away. I've had it for over 4 years now, and if I'm late with the Glucosomine the pain comes back.

Where can you buy this Miricle , after another night of little sleep due to pain I will give anything a go!!

Thank you for reply

Thanks for the info!