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Costochondritos suffering!

Posted , 6 users are following.

lorraine2914
lorraine2914

Im 32 and a mother of two children,I'm doing it mostly all alone. I had a very bad experience one night about two months ago. I litrally thought I was going to die or have to go to hospital. I got through that night. Two days later I went to the docter as I knew something was not right. She done an ECG on me and that was fine. Said my heart was healthy. Told me I more than likely had costochondritis gave me anti inflammatorys vimovo and said to rest. Little did I think over two months down the line I'd still have it. I took three courses of vimovo. An anti-biotic in case of infection. I was using diclac and deep heat and heat pads. I now find none of these work. I've been taking arnica and using tiger balm. I am awaiting results of chest xray and bloods. Although doc said she expects xray to be clear. Three docters have said they believe it to be costochondritis. Again today I've had to take off work as I'm sore. I can only sleep on my back. Activity such as hoovering, mopping sweeping, lifting anything heavy, changing sheets on beds are now so hard to do. The other day I done all these activities as I had no choice pain is quite bad since. I have given up smoking more or less as I can't seem to smoke anymore. I feel like its taking over my life its really starting to get me down. I am unable to move about freely like I used to. I'm worried I have this now for life. I can relate alot to some of your stories.....

1 like, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • kim43715
    kim43715 lorraine2914

    Posted

    Hi Lorraine, I was just recently told by my dr that I too probably had costochronditis or Tietze Syndrome. I didn't believe I did though as I had never had heart pain or arm pain. He sent me for a nuclear bone scan which I wasn't sure why. As it turns out a nuclear bone scan also looks at how your blood flows, if there is inflammation, cancer in the bones and also if I you have costochrondritis. It must show up on the scan. Well sure enough the test came back negative. Yay! I still had the bad pain though which was crappy. So I'm 3.5 months down and my issues are not yet sorted. Good luck though.
    • lorraine2914
      lorraine2914 kim43715

      Posted

      Hi Kim,

      Thanks for your reply. With all the research and docters putting pressure on the area nearly sure its one or the other (costochondritis/tietze). Today I feel like I've slight pins and needles in my left arm. My neck is also sore. I should not have mopped, hoovered, carried heavy stuff the other day. I feel its probably made it worse. As a single mother I have no choice but to keep going mabye if I was to just do nothing for a few months it would repair, this is not an option however. Missing days in work is also killing me as no work no pay. Thanks for replying i would never usually join something like this but reading has helped me

    • Flotfriskpige
      Flotfriskpige kim43715

      Posted

      Bone scan Will only show if there is damage to the bones or something but NOT if there is inflammation in joints and cartilage i know that from my reuhmatologist
  • kim43715
    kim43715 lorraine2914

    Posted

    Lorraine I seriously know how you feel. I'm only just starting to feel better after 5 operations/procedures and 5 different hospitals. Over nearly 4 months.  Please take care and know you are not alone.
    • lorraine2914
      lorraine2914 kim43715

      Posted

      I'm thinking its probably Tietzes more so than Costco. I attempted to go to work yesterday could only stay 3 hours was in agony then when I came home it eased off for a bit. Woke during the night. Was supposed to be starting a new work placement in an office today ( type of work I want) & I've had to cancel its like someone is pulling my chest apart! Going back to doc today hopefully find out bloods and xray results
    • kim43715
      kim43715 lorraine2914

      Posted

      I had my bone scan last week and the radiologist told me that if I have Costo or Tietze that it has to show up on the scan as evidence. Mine were clear. Since the scan I have been diagnosed with a 10cm blood clot in my arm from where the cannula was over 2 months ago in hospital after suffering pancreatitis. I have been put on Xarelto which is an anti coagulant . Believe it or not, the pain under my ribs has subsided. I had maintained all along that it felt like an artery being squashed but my specialist ignored that. I've been on Xarelto for a week and I only had some slight discomfort yesterday after I did some heavy work. At least I'm having some relief whether it is just coincidence or not.
    • Flotfriskpige
      Flotfriskpige kim43715

      Posted

      Thats not true you can tell the doctor i know from a lot and my reuhmatologist that bone scan will only show something in the bone but not in the joints
    • kim43715
      kim43715 Flotfriskpige

      Posted

      Mine was a nuclear bone scan not a bone density scan. They are very different. Both my specialist and radiographer stated that it would show up on my scans if I had either disorder.
  • laura90636
    laura90636 lorraine2914

    Posted

    I saw in the comments that it hurts when the Drs put pressure on the area. This does sound like Costochondritis to me. I was 35, mother of 2 when I developed it and it lasted a year. It wasn't until I started seeing an osteopath that I got some relief. Like you changing the sheets hurt, mopping hurt.

    The osteopath told me to put ice on the area 2 times a day for at least 5 minutes. I tried heat and arnica as well with no relief. She also gave me exercise and worked on my stiff spine.

    I believe that stress played a role in me developing costochondritis and lifting young children and prams etc did not help. 

    If if you can get your self to an osteopath, physio or anything like that I would say that is your best chance of getting well. It took 3 months for mine to go away once treatment started. I also stopped all forms of exercisefor 3 months including yoga. I have joint hyper mobility (flexible joints) which I have now learned increases liklyhood of injury,

     

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