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Costochondritis pain and discomfort

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shelle7belle
shelle7belle

Im 31 and was diagnosed with costochondritis about a year ago. Its kinda lasted the whole year, but recently, over the past few months its been really bad....went back to my gp twice in the last 2 weeks because was convinced it was something more serious.

The main tenderness has been on my left lower rib cage, just under my breast, but now I have pains on my upper right breast plate. My gp has requested ecg/chest xray and blood test to reassure me that there is nothing seriously wrong (still awaiting to have these tests done, but should be anytime soon) hence the reason im on this forum as even tho my gp actually said to me 'I will fall off the back of my chair ifit is anything more serious...I still can't stop worrying as the pain is so bad.

Im getting so anxious about it too, especially at night just before bed, then find it so difficult to sleep, the more anxious I get the worse the pains seems.

Does anyone else find themselves pushing onto the pain when it hurts? This is probably making it worse I know, but can't help wanting to hold the pain!

Im really glad to have read all the discussions on this forum, it really is giving me some reassurance that it isn't just me and that something that isnt life threatening can be so uncomfortable and painful sad

19 likes, 370 replies

370 Replies

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  • jordan73092
    jordan73092 shelle7belle

    Posted

    I'm 22 I've had all sorts of test to figure out why I have sharp pain under my left breast. Sometimes it bothers me in the center of my chest and then on the right side but mostly left. It usually hurts to take a deep breath in, then that's when the anxiety sets in cause I feel light headed from not being able to breathe. No doctor can explain why and I can't find anything that helps. Recently I've been experiencing pain in my right shoulder that only happens when I'm sitting still or especially when I'm laying down. It doesn't hurt to move it at all. I wishing could figure all this out
  • Loo_pulpy
    Loo_pulpy shelle7belle

    Posted

    Hi I've been in severe pain now for 4 years originally a disc in the thoracic area was touching a nerve, then it was trips in and out of A&E, with heart attack symptoms with me knowing it was my back.

    Every time I was sent home with more drugs, morphine diazepam diclofenic amatripoline etc etc, still suffering.

    Then paid private to be told the meds were probably making things worse, so had to ween myself off them and now I'm taking pregabalin methercarbamol, amantadine and tramadol , which helped me from being a 40 yr old looking like 80yr old to being somewhat normal, then it flared up again and was told its costersternal syndrome and had injections in chest and back.

    Well hurt like hell but brilliant from May last year to December then it started again!

    From chest /rib pain to excruciating stabbing pain in left bra area of back then it travels up to neck and shoulders, and arms and even gives me numb lips when bad, then I get pain between breast area like heartburn but it's not and shooting pain to nipple.

    I'm awaiting another lot of injections, but I can't tell you how nice ( in a weird way) to know I'm not alone.

    Reading this forum has answered so many doubts and feelings and reassured me I'm not crazy. Thank you

    • margaret08503
      margaret08503 Loo_pulpy

      Posted

      same with me very same i wanne give up but after reading this makes me feel better

       

    • jules756
      jules756 Loo_pulpy

      Posted

      Hi there,

      May I ask how your CC originated? If you know that is...

    • Loo_pulpy
      Loo_pulpy jules756

      Posted

      Hi Jules 756 i originally injured back by bending and twisted and popped a Thorasic disc then unfortunately my immune system was poor and started getting abcess and had two severe ones on legs which left me with a 3inch by 2 inch open wound for 10 months , and I caught staphylococcus and Mrsa.

      My dr says it can start with injury, infection and stress , so you could say I had all three.

      I was actually only diagnosed this last April after having pain with upper spine, ribs etc after original injury.

    • jules756
      jules756 Loo_pulpy

      Posted

      Oh you really have had a tough time of it all. You deserve a break!

      Mine stated also after a combo of those things... Acute bronchitis, pneumonia, infection. What meds are taking now? Just curious... And are they helping?

      I take Tramadol which does help usually unless it's a bad flare-up.

    • Loo_pulpy
      Loo_pulpy jules756

      Posted

      I apparently am taking a expensive not so regular tablet called methacarbamol, with pregabalin amantadine and tramadol, and occasional naproxen for good measure.

      Are they working, well in a way but the only time I get much rest from pain is when I take 2 of meth and tramadol with the others before bed,and it's heaven for a few hours until I turn or my other half trys to put his arm around me, then it's ouch and I'm awake.

      I am working well in the sense that I'm there in body but in mind it's doubtful some days,thankfully I have a great team of staff who do there best for me and by reaching for things I can't and carrying things for me, but if I'm honest it's not ideal, but I spent 6 months out of work the first year and 10 the second which drove me crazy,but I will say when it's really bad as in i can hardly stand sit or move I just have to dose up and lay flat.

      I'm so fed up with it , but at least I'm not in and out of a&e on morphine screaming in pain.

      I just hope next week when I see the specialist he gets me in for the injections asap .

      I think we have both had a rough time and it's time it buggered off and picked on somebody else, lol.

      It's just nice to know I'm not going crackers with some of the things that has happened pain wise .

    • jules756
      jules756 Loo_pulpy

      Posted

      Thank you for the info and it sounds like you're getting a handle on what works for you on a day-day basis.

      The Amytriptaline is helping me now as is the Diclofenac anti-inflammatory. Tramadol of course is my regular best friend...

      Think I'm rounding a bend. Wouldn't go as far to say I've turned the corner yet but the symptoms are losing some of their gusto it seems. But as you mentioned my body and mind are exhausted! I feel like I'm coming out of a coma and have to readjust to normal life again. All so bizarre.This site has helped me tremendously. We need to all post now-and-again with recovery updates or remission updates... It's all valuable information.

  • jillybean1785
    jillybean1785 shelle7belle

    Posted

    Hi guys, I have commented on this discussion a few times near the beginning, if you all scroll up and read my comments, I found a really helpful website which I am sure I found a link to and shared it in a comment. I have been feeling loads better recently, and found the main thing that worked was taking Naproxine, and hotwater bottles. Also rubbing voltaze muscle gel in the areas which is painful works well too as a relief.

    I work with children so I am always lifting the babies and doing lots of movement. It took a while to get a balance, but my work were really supportive in allowing me time away from the babies and looking after the toddlers where not much lifting was involved. So if you can find a way to give yourself a break from doing things that is going to aggrivate it then that will definitely benifit.

    I developed costo by falling down the stairs on the bus and banging my ribs. I then had bronchitis for a month aswell which was the scariest thing as it made me understand how people with asthma feel. I had after effects with my costo pains because of the coughing, and it took about a year and a half for me to feel almost normal. I rarely have to use my muscle rub or Naproxine now, but I always have it with me just incase. I do get odd niggles, but my hot water bottle tends to sort that out and I am back working in the Baby room.

    It is manageable it is just about finding what works for you and how you continue to look after the pain and keeping on top of it.

    Doctors I found useless, I just looked up stuff on google, and this forum was amazing at not making me feel insane. Let me know if you guys have any questions. As I feel for all of you that are just starting to go through it !

    regards Jill

    xxx

  • laura32704
    laura32704 shelle7belle

    Posted

    I was floored to read your story because I'm living it... only on my right side rather than the left. I've had this pain for years.....As I've told my PCP, its always there, but tolerable enough that I can keep going with my daily living... but when I lay down at night it's not just there, its more constant and unable to get off my mind. I cry and stress that I've got some sort of cancer and they are missing it. The more upset I am the more intense it seems to be.Then I notice that there are also little twinges of pain on the opposite side but not quite as severe. Xrays show nothing. Even a bone and rib xray show nothing. Some days I feel that- plus lower rib pain on both sides but low as if it is pointing towards my zyphoid process bone. None of it is so painful that I cant walk or talk through it. It appears that there are times when I feel it more intense such as spring time. Almost feels like I've got an ulcer around the rib cage.This has been going on for 5 years now. Last year I had tendinitis in my shoulder and was prescribed an anti-inflammatory and bam....an instant reduction in the pain of my rib area. As a nurse myself I've had to do my own research and discovered chondritis discomfort best describes it. I'm ready to just treat it with anti-inflam. during the more intense seasons such as spring. I've noticed your post is over a year old and was wondering how you are dealing with this now?
  • carol91544
    carol91544 shelle7belle

    Posted

    hey shelle .. just a thougth , i had rib side pain and chest pain for years. dr.s said all in my head . so bad i would hold my side all day long at work . finally gave up work so painful. switched clinics , new dr. gave me physical therapy , he asked me after 10 sessions why dont i breathe deep.i said it hurts. he started feeling on my shest in the center he realized i had a rib out int the front. had fallen on my side 10 years ago. down a short flight of stairs. he couldnt get it back in. sent me to find a chiropractor . took 3 chiropracters . last one pushed really hard on center of chest. , left in tears and so much pain , had multiple massage to relief muscle spasms. lord . now it pops in and out once in a while. , when i have that pain i head on back to the good dr. i had been on tranquilzers and anti depressants for years for my imaginary pain. good luck girl
  • Wendinthewillow
    Wendinthewillow shelle7belle

    Posted

    I'm new to this discussion, I've been doing a bit of research on some pain and tenderness I have just below my left breast top of my ribs where my bra sits could this be costochondritis.. I don't want to go to my GP unnecessarily .. it's been painful on and off for about a month now 
  • Beekeeper3
    Beekeeper3 shelle7belle

    Posted

    Yes, my worst pain is on the right side on the lower rib cage, but it's all over the chest area and on the sides under my arms and even at the top of my back.    Most of it doesn't hurt by itself, except the lower rib area.    But when I push on any area I mentioned, it hurts.   This is very characteristice of Costocondritis.    My GP did numerous test, x-rays and even and MRI and found nothing wrong.   Doctors, I think, do not know how to diagnose this.    My previous GP and present GP never diagnosed it.    After reading this forum and studying myself, I diagnosed it myself because what I have is exactly what you all mention--pain all over in the rib area, back and sides with no apparent cause.    I was given a treatment by a naturalpathic doctor to use Castor Oil pads.   It actually worked for a while, but isn't a cure.     Also, Neproxin for pain--but don't overdo Neprozin...it can damage your kidneys.    Anyway, thanks for you post and you are with us in the problem.   
    • Mlmlauns
      Mlmlauns Beekeeper3

      Posted

      Hi, I'm new to this. I haven't been diagnosed but am convinced I have this. 6 years ago I had a baby and almost immediately after I had agonising breast pain in my left breast. Anytime my baby hit off my breast the pain was unbearable , I also had shooting tingly pains etc. I thought I felt a lump so headed to doc. when doc examined me she said no lump, that it was my breast bone I was feeling but the pain when she examined me was excruciating so she sent me to breast clinic to be sure. The doc there said that he believed it was hormone related pain and it should disappear eventually. Anyhow it never disappeared. I can function daily no prob but I am always aware of it and I guard it like my life depends on it. If I happen to get a bang on it I can't even describe the pain. I keep meaning to go back to doc but I'm scared of the examination she will do. I don't want her to push it. I also have a very very tender chest/neck area. And lately I've been getting upper back pain , like trapped wind in my back which is causing me slight concern. I think I'll bite the bullet and go to doc and tell her what I think I have. So my question is , does this sound like costochondritus! Thanks in advance smile
    • Conta10
      Conta10 Mlmlauns

      Posted

      Hi, sounds like costo/Tietze's. Its a very annoying condition. It has many faces and can manifest in many ways. I was diagnosed in January. Been seeing a chiro for months now and despite frequent treatments, its really bad, it moves around. Now it is my neck, in the upper ribs. Makes life harder. Sometimes I take ibuprofen, helps a bit. Do you have swellings? In that case it is called Tietzes syndrome. Otherwise no differens, same condition. I have swelling around collarbone area and the upper rid. Looks awful. And hurts. Sometimes the slightest touch on the collarbone area hurts like h-ll. I was put on cortisone tablets, it helped but I had to stop due to an unexpected, adverse reaction. I hope to be able to try that again later on. I am now referred to a rheumatologist.

      You can get cortisone shots in the affected area, some doctors do that.

    • Beekeeper3
      Beekeeper3 Mlmlauns

      Posted

      It most likely is costochondritis.    But since you just had a baby, and the pains are a lot more severe (since you don't even want your doctor to push of it), it might be something else.   But like I said earlier, doctors really don't know how to diagnose costochondritis well.   They all don't think it's worth the effort because it is not life threatening and no one really knows the cause.    They mostly just say take pain pills.    But we all know it is serious for each one of us individually and the pain is real.   I would go back to the doctor and say yes, this is what it is and I want you to diagnose it and give me proper care for it.   At my last doctor appointment, when I told him it was costochondritis, he basically brushed it off and didn't really address it.   We have to be forceful with these doctors and tell them that it's their job to care as much as we do about this problem and not consider it not to worry about.     My costocondritis comes and goes.   Sometimes it's severe and other times it's just light pain when I push.   I'm having a feeling it has something to do with diet and how much my stomach pushes up on my diaphram, but not sure.    Just a hunch.   But, yes, I would go back to the doctor and if it's sensitive, tell her not to push hard on these areas.    Tell her you really need to address this and not bruch it off as my doctor did.
    • Mlmlauns
      Mlmlauns Beekeeper3

      Posted

      Thank you for your quick replies. I haven't just had a baby, he's 6!!! I wonder with all the pushing back then did this happen! I read that one person on here was told that from her doc. In reply to 3conta10 I have no swelling. But like you my collarbone area can get so sore. When I'm reading my kid a bedtime story and he rests his head on that area it hurts so much , I am always pushing his poor head off me. I will go to doc as soon as I can and see what she says. I also have bad posture , my shoulders slump forward a bit, I wonder if this didn't help the situation. Anyhow I will let ye know what doc says. Thanks again. It eases my mind to see so many people with similar symptoms.
    • yvonne99380
      yvonne99380 Mlmlauns

      Posted

      I'm 73 but normally very fit and well. I had a very bad fall almost a year ago when I fell like a tree - flat on my chest and face. The bruising etc settled after a few weeks but I then had a really searing pain in my right side about two months later, combined with tenderness in my breastbone and around both breasts. I was assured it was just inflammation caused by the fall. I was very dubious as it seemed too long afterwards to be connected but the GP insIsted that was what it was and it did settle again. It wasn't given the name costochondritis but I was told it was inflammation between the ribs - which is, I believe a definition of Costco.

      Two months ago - that's eight months after the fall I had a niggling pain in my left shoulder blade which was mirrored in my left breast. I then had increasing discomfort in my breast and the breastbone was very tender, I was worried because this seemed like the early symptoms my late husband had and which turned out to be lung cancer. It just went on and on. 

      My GP sent me for a chest X-ray and assured me it was completely clear and prescribed pain killers. Even with stomach protectors my stomach can't cope with anti inflamatories or pain killers so,far from stopping the pains I had, I then had stomach ache !  

      Then the pains moved to my lower back so I went to my chiropractor who said that was because I had been holding myself wrongly due to the pains in my chest.  He got rid of that but I now have a severe pain in my left ribcage and the original,chest pains are still,there, 

      im going to go back to my GP and ask for a diagnosis but don't hold out  much hope as they don't seem to like self diagnosis.   Its quite frightening as I don't know where and when these pains are going to appear and I'm sure I'm not holding myself well as I am anticipating problems all the time. 

      I don't expect this has helped anyone else very much  but it is very similar to a lot of your experiences and it does sometimes help to know we are not alone. 

    • jillybean1785
      jillybean1785 Beekeeper3

      Posted

      Hey BeeKeeper3,

      Do you get to pick the doctors you see? I picked a specific doctor that I knew who would listen, and he put it in the system that is what I have, I work as a Nursery Nurse, my previous Nursery was really annal about health and safety information, so I had to give them a letter saying that this is what I have. I saw a physio for a good year, who did a lot of work with me, and now I rarely get pain. I was doing alot of work in the garden yesterday and all the bending up and down caused me to get the pain in my right hip that feels like nerve pain, and my middle of my back was bad aswell. I have had occassions in the past where I would be sitting down and I would get completely stuck and wouldn't be able to get up myself, because my stomach muscles around my sternum just wouldn't allow me to push up from the sofa. For a long time I had to roll onto my side and get up that way if I was on my own. Does that sound familiar to anyone? I was diagnosed about three years ago when I fell down stairs on a bus and I had knocked my ribs and back quite badly, and thats when it started. I wouldn't be able to sit without getting stuck, so I used to just walk about the room. 

      It isn't anything to do with diet, it is all about getting the right balance in exercise and knowing what you can do and what you can't do, If you scroll up to my earlier posts near the beginning I shared a website that was really helpful for me being able to manage it, because I was determined I wasn't going to lose the battle. 

      Let me know if you find the website helpful and I am here for any other questions if anyone wants to ask anything ? 

    • Mlmlauns
      Mlmlauns Conta10

      Posted

      So I went to the doc today and she diagnosed me with costo! Thank god she acknowledged it. She reckons it's all down to my posture which is bad. She gave me a prescription for anti inflammatory for when pain is bad and really reccomended I try pilates ! At least I have the diagnosis now and can stop worrying that it's something else ! Thanks for listening !
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