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Crazy with Costochrontitis

Posted , 6 users are following.

kim27383
kim27383

Ok since I went to the ER with chest pains and was told two things acid reflux and costochrontitis I have had panic attacks and I think I have PTSD or something from it. I press on my chest after getting pain just to make sure it still hurts there when I press on it or I think it's my heart. I've had it for a month and a half and have had several EKGs, an x Ray, a CT scan with contrast of my chest and a stress test with two more EKGs. I can't stop worrying. On top of that size ce I've started panicking I now think I have e everything and notice every little pain. Does anyone else else do these things?

0 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • pamie28299
    pamie28299 kim27383

    Posted

    Yes, I go crazy over things i wouldn't even have noticed when i was younger! I have bouts of insane health anxiety to the point of not even believing i got my own test results! (hey, it happens), i got some guys cholesterol results in the mail addressed to me!! I panic and think the doctors are either stupid or lying. I know how crazy I sound, and so at least I'm aware of my goofiness!! You are not alone!!

    • kim27383
      kim27383 pamie28299

      Posted

      I usually think they missed something like do I really have this or is it really my heart is failing me? I look at a lady at work that they took forever to diagnose with heart problems and think maybe they are missing what's wrong with me. I hear how people were diagnosed to late for this or that and wonder if that's me. I notice every little pain and I'm 39 years old. I can't even stop myself from googling stuff even when I've already read it two or three times. Glad I'm not alone Pam because I was starting to think I'm the only one on this train.

    • pamie28299
      pamie28299 kim27383

      Posted

      I do the same and I'm making a conscious effort to stop googling!!! I think I have massive trust issues anymore! I google to try and reassure myself that it's not just me, and end up even more of a basket case!

    • kim27383
      kim27383 pamie28299

      Posted

      I do the same thing and then today I had physical therapy for my neck and the therapist tells me costochrontitis hurts all the time the pain doesn't just come and go. If that's the case what are my pains? Made me freak out. She thinks they are muscular or skeletal I probably totally spelled that wrong. She thinks it's from poor posture. Then why does it hurt when I press on certain places on my chest, breastbone, and ribs..

  • donna_63014
    donna_63014 kim27383

    Posted

    Sorry to hear your having to go threw this horrible Costochondritis I have been experiencing the same things and have had stress tests, ekgs, blood work I ve seen a rheumatologist an waiting on an mri and app with sports medicine doctor mine was getting better but as soon as I move anything to heavy it flares up

    • kim27383
      kim27383 donna_63014

      Posted

      Wheb I have the pains in my chest I can't help but press and make sure that's why I'm having them. Do you notice stress makes yours worse? I even get pain in my collar bone areas. I also have a issues with my upper back and it's hard to not think the pain is caused by something else. I sit at a computer all day. And it's the worst after I start sitting there for awhile.

  • susan74911
    susan74911 kim27383

    Posted

    Hi,

    I have had this for about 18 months now and have had all the tests. I have had to retire from my job because of it ( and it doesn't stop the pain, regardless of what the doctor said!)

    I am now starting to improve a little after the pain clinic doctor put me on slow release Tapentadol, which is a synthetic opiate. He had tried me on morphine, Tramadol and both Butrans and Fentanyl patches, but either I couldn't cope with the side effects or there was no pain relief from them. This one still has some side effects, as it is causing me to faint, but I haven't had any problems with confusion. Now that I am in less pain I can breathe better and walk further. It is like having a weight lifted from my shoulders!

    I would urge you to talk to your doctor about referring you to a pain clinic. Mine has been really thorough and has followed up my symptoms with tests in case it was caused by something else, but they have also been helping me to find something that eased the pain. It has taken 8 months to get to this stage, and I am still seeing a cardiologist as well because this started as a result of a heart procedure, but I am starting to see some hope. If the side effects become too bad, I have been told that there are other options including a stellate ganglion block which works for some people. My consultant keeps stressing that he can never predict what will work for an individual, but that sometimes it is worth trying to see if you can get over the side effects. He did say that he thinks that I will always have this (but that's because it is caused by the injury), but that they will help me to cope with it.

    Good luck!

    • kim27383
      kim27383 susan74911

      Posted

      Funny thing is I don't have any issues with my breathing with it all all. My pain is not constant and I have twitches of pain sometimes. It bothers me and hits more in the afternoon than any other time. I am taking an antibiotic depressant and that has seemed to help because I'm less stressed than I was. It still bothers me though. I think back to my mom and she had constant pain but she had breast cancer and a double mastectomy and just blamed that. My entire family also has fibromyalgia maybe I was misdiagnosed. I don't know. I have had the stress test with EKGs CT with contrast and chest x-ray and they say it's not my heart. I just still worry a lot and I actually was able to sleep for almost the full night last night. Which is the first one since all of this started. My pain is better at night but depends on how u lay if I have a pain or not. I just try and watch how I sit. The clavicle pain gets pretty bad and some days that's constant. Mostly in the right side. It's so tender to touch but it seems less irritated the last few days so maybe I'm coming out of an attack. I don't know.

    • pamie28299
      pamie28299 kim27383

      Posted

      I'm in less pain at night also!!! Most people seem to be the opposite. Maybe we finally relax and shut down, (and stop googling) lol

    • kim27383
      kim27383 pamie28299

      Posted

      I'm trying I'm obsessed with everything health related right now.

  • grace28398
    grace28398 kim27383

    Posted

    I totally know exactly how you feel Kim. So Sorry youre going through this. Because most of the pain in in the chest with Costro we automatically think its the heart. Ive had Costro almost two years now. Ive had more EKGs than I can count and the ER knows me by first name(No joke). I have been diagnosed with Fibro Myalgia as well  recently.

    I have a counselor I talk to. Helps alot and take meds for anxiety. Soft cold ice packs help, Arnica gel helps, Neurontin from your dr helps the pain as well. I dont like taking meds that make me feel loopy. Just remember this condition is not life threatening..Thank God! and this too will pass. Hang in there. We are all here to help  each other. Hope I helped you. smile smile smile

    • kim27383
      kim27383 grace28398

      Posted

      Is your pain constant or does yours come and go? I get sharp pains and I get them in several places. The clavicle upper back, around my breastbone which has been painful since this started, and my chest wall.
  • grace28398
    grace28398 kim27383

    Posted

    The pain comes and goes. Its usually in the middle of my chest and shoulder. and under and around my left breast. Somtiumes pain is like burning. others like stabbing.  Neurontin helps alot as well as ice packs. I also have Fibromyalgia though.
    • kim27383
      kim27383 grace28398

      Posted

      That's exactly how mine was. Sharp at first then a but in kind of pulling feeling, now it's different like everything is trying to calm down. I'm pretty sure I have fibro too my whole family has it. I've never been diagnosed and I get pain everywhere. It feels like it's all the way to my box es at times. Others it feels like a stabbing pain.

  • grace28398
    grace28398 kim27383

    Posted

    Theres actually a paper that your dr has to fill out. IT asks where your pains are and how you would describe them. My dr kind of knew I had it before I filled out paper. BUT I have had the pain in my chest on and off since I was diagnosed with Costro. The icepacks or heating pad really help. so does muscle rub, arnica gel, and Neurontin is a big help. Hang in there. Get that paperwork from your dr. Good luck
    • kim27383
      kim27383 grace28398

      Posted

      Do you also have pains in your arms and legs? I do and they hurt for a few seconds or minutes and stop just like the chest pain. Worse when I'm stressed. Do you experience that?

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