Healing Costochondritis and Anxiety
Posted , 69 users are following.
Hi All,
I have been dealing with Costochondritis for nearly 5 months and like all of you, am at my wits end! It came about after I had experienced a very intense 3 month period of extreme anxiety due to lots of little and big stress factors in my life. I had a lot of physical symptoms accompany my anxiety but after seeing a social worker and psychologist for a few months I am feeling much much better and happy : ) and can see why and how I ended up with anxiety. Basically, I didn't know anxiety could manifest physically and it got worse because I began to become more anxious. Thankfully that is under control and all my blood tests and ultrasounds and bp/ heart rate are all normal and I feel more like a new and improved me. But about the time I got a grip on my anxiety the chest pains kicked in. I understand why and how and have been diagnosed with costo by 2 different doctors. I have tried Meloxicam which seemed to work for a week, but that is about it, apple cider vinegar, drinking ginger and chamomile tea, eating lots of vegetables and vitamins and trying not to life thing (which is very hard to avoid) and still I have costochondritis. I am even lathering myself with arnica gel everyday. I wanted to hear from anyone out there that has had costo arise from anxiety and also any tips for healing? I try to walk as much as I can and do soft exercise but am frightened I am aggravating it all. Thanks for any thoughts or advice 
Kelly
6 likes, 206 replies
kippy7 kelly1981
Posted
RobinG1 kelly1981
Posted
Exactly the same symptoms as discussed. Been having weird pains and pins and needles type feelings in my left side and chest since about April (when about 1000 really heavy, stressful things happened at once)
Was prescribed Pregabalin for it but don't know how much this is helping! Chiropractor also said I had a trapped nerve in my back. Are there any other little stretches or exercises I could do to help things? Thanks for all the cool advice on this thread because, like everyone else, it's been bugging me too!
heathermarie412 kelly1981
Posted
Just wondering if anyone else's pain goes all the way up to the collarbone and neck. I get strange pain/sensation when I breathe in deeply? Appreciate any advice or reassurance about symptoms. Cheers
dee50031 kelly1981
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Ranger507 kelly1981
Posted
laquandra35611 kelly1981
Posted
I too suffer from chostochondritis and also acid reflux. I was diagnosed with both when I was 18 years old, and I to this day still suffer from it and I am 26 now. What I have learned that is if I eat healthier and tend not to upset my acid reflux than I don't have problems. But every now and than I tend to stress and when the stressing gets to bad the pain comes and lasts for two weeks or until I calm myself down again. When the pain comes though I normally take an ibuprofen and that helps it. At night in order to get sleep I sleep on my stomach and place a pillow under my chest and that seems to stop the pain so I can get some rest.
riisiichan kelly1981
Posted
I've had costo since February and it has caused me stress as well. I get frightened everytime I feel a jolt of pain although I've been trying to tell myself it's just a little pain, not life threatening. I've been taking: Coral Calcium, Fish Oil, and turmeric/curcumin pills. They help for the most part but after reading the experiences of others here, I'm going to go see a chiropractor. I sit 8 hours a day for work and then I go home and play video games so I'm sure my back is playing a large part in this whole thing. Try to steer clear of night shade food and red meat. Goodbye Jimmy John's Roast Beef! You were my first love
Also try not to overheat. I had an "episode" in the kitchen 2 weeks ago that had me down for the count. The worst part is really just trying to get yourself to fall asleep after that. I press on my chest when it hurts really bad and that kind of helps. I'm 28 and hoping to get myself in check before the end of this year. I wish you and all our fellow costo warriors the best of luck!
paul_85001 kelly1981
Posted
If you're a regular coffee drinker you must quit drinking coffee immediately! ... I didn't want to believe it at first as I love my morning coffee too much but after about a week of quitting cold turkey the symptoms went away like magic!
I was afraid to even look at coffee for 3 months but since I was pain free I slowly started getting back to my old coffee drinking routine and before I knew it I was back to drinking 3+ coffees per day ... little did I know my troubles were just around the corner ... I was at work at my desk one day and after my 4th coffee of the day I thought I was getting a heart attack!
Long story short I quit coffee again for a while, the pain went away and nowadays I only have one small coffee per day and not everyday ... I also try to buy it from the same vendor or just brew my own to make sure the caffeine content is under control
I hope my experience helps someone
Good luck!
michelle49541 paul_85001
Posted
Hi Paul,
I couldn't agree with you more. I had a 3-month run 2 years ago with chest pain, anxiety, stress, 2 trips to the ER, several doctors and specialists before I was diagnosed with costo. When I asked for the treatment options I was told naproxen, avoid straining and lifting, and rest. Just knowing I wasn't having a heart attack did help. I did some research online and tried a lot of different options. I found increasing my water and cutting caffeine to be the most helpful. This month I began to feel the familiar twinges returning. I reflected on my lifestyle and realized I had slipped back into old habits. Recently a new supervisory responsibility was added to my workload and I needed to be at work over an hour earlier so I had started drinking an extra cup of coffee in the am and having an extra dose in the afternoon when I needed a boost. Clearly, that was a mistake and now I'm in the process of detoxing. Love coffee so after I am pain-free will probably go back to one small cup in the am which worked fine the past 2 pain-free years. Unbelievable how easily a few chemical changes can impact our unique body chemistry. Glad to feel that I am not alone in this struggle. I appreciate everyone in this forum sharing their stories and successes. Blue Skies,M
modemarco916 kelly1981
Posted
I don't know if anybody is still on this page but I have been dealing with costochondritis since 8th grade. They had me on a heart monitor for 2 months because they couldn't find anything wrong and they also didn't know what I had until 10th grade when I got diagnosed. When I had an eating disorder from anxiety that's when I really had bad costochondritis it was controlling my life it felt like I was getting stabbed by thousands of needles and I couldn't breathe it made me want to hold my breath because it hurts so bad. I defeated my eating disorder and the pain from costochondritis sort of went away but everytime I do a little bit too much exercise or if I'm stressing too much then that's when it comes back and it's usually not as bad pain wise as it used to be but I'm at work right now and my chest just started hurting really bad in the middle of nowhere and I can't even recall being stressed out the past week or anything so I don't know what's going on but it's painful. Mine feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest and I'm getting stabbed with needles and hurts so bad to take deep breaths. The biggest discomfort right now isn't the stabbing or the pressure if it's more of the bruising feeling from the inside out on my whole rib cage.
paul_85001 modemarco916
Posted
I know how that feels ...it always comes out of nowhere! Every time there is an recurrence I try to write down anything that may be significant ... first I always concentrate on what could have caused it then what I did to try getting rid of the pain ... I look at my old notes only after the episode is gone ... here is something new I've discovered recently: apparently (according to my notes) every time my costo comes back I have this small cough that is phlegmy but hard to cough out and every time I cough it hurts like hell right where the inflammation is in my sternum ... I decided to take a cough medication called Benylin Mucous and Phlegm plus cough control and after two days my cough and costo pain went away! Maybe it's a coincidence but worth trying if you're experiencing similar cough symptoms
quana64941 paul_85001
Posted
Just wondering because I've recently been diagnosed with costochondritis, does it affect your whole left side as in make it seem to feel kind of weak I know this discussion was a year ago and your symptoms are probably gone but if you can remember it would be a huge help I too have anxiety as well
paul_85001 quana64941
Posted
I hope when you say you were diagnosed you mean by an actual MD and not Dr. Google :-) The MD should have discussed this with you in a little more detail ... from what I've read every person has slightly different symptoms however over time pattern does emerge: thinking it's a heart attack, anxiety, pain which does not respond to standard pain killers, cracking sound/sensation in your chest/sternum etc ... however I've never come across a costochondritis symptom where patient's entire side feels weak .... that does however sound like something I've come across when reading about pre symptoms of a heart attack. ... that feeling you describe could be due to arteries being obstructed and not enough blood/oxygen gets delivered to your muscles ... there is also a possibility of a neurological issue ... but again I'm just hypothesizeing and I'm not a Dr. you best discuss this with your physician
quana64941 paul_85001
Posted
Yes I was actually diagnosed with costochondritis, been to the Dr er etc countless times, had the whole work up done chest X-ray's CT scans blood work you name it. I'm currently seeing a chiropractor as well, who has told me that this is common in people who have costochondritis it will cause the arm to feel weak not exactly my whole left side meant to say my left arm as it sometimes does feel weak or maybe heavy, just haven't seen anyone post that symptom up here just wanted to see if I was alone please please please don't speak of heart attack to anyone dealing with costochondritis and anxiety, for It will not sit well with them
paul_85001 quana64941
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Well then I have a new symptom to add to my costoC journal :-) yeah we've all been down the heart attack path that's why it is so important to get a professional diagnosis do all the tests and make sure there is nothing wrong with our heart! :-) good luck with your chiropractor let us know if it helped
quana64941 paul_85001
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Thank you so much, has you pain eased off any? I've actually joined another discussion board were they do speak of the left arm weakness, different strokes for different folks I guess.
paul_85001 quana64941
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Mine comes and goes but it never really leaves 100% ... also I didn't mean to diminish your suffering I simply never came across the "side weakness" before or perhaps I scrolled right past it because it wasn't something I've been experiencing? In any case I wish you all the best in finding your cure
quana64941 paul_85001
Posted
Have you tried an experienced chiropractor? It's pretty helpful with mine, and same wishes to you, I know yours will eventually go away 100% best of luck to you
lobsang19586 quana64941
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I´ve been treated about 6 times by a chiro, because of vacation two different people, I´m not sure it helps for me. After treatment it gets worse..and then a little less. I want it to work, but now I will take a break for 4 weaks and get if it gets worse without the chiro. If you dont mind me asking, have you seen your chiro often?
cheers
quana64941 lobsang19586
Posted
When I first seen the chiro my costo flared up badly after the second session it was under control, he also deals with anxiety as well so it's kind of like a win win, I currently see him 3 times a week.
lobsang19586 quana64941
Posted
Three times a week, wow. I went weekly, first time 2 times a week. Good for you that it helps! I will see and get back to them if the pain gets worse
cheers
grace28398 modemarco916
Posted
Hi..Just found this sight. So glad I did. Costocondritis really stinks sometimes. I was just wondering..have you been referred to a rheumatologist? I recently was in er for severe chest pain, and er dr ruled out anything cardiac. Even said he didn't believe in costro..DUMM DUMM lol. Anyway, I followed up with my PCP on Tuesday..she said a rheumatologist can work with me and may be able to help me. I was diagnosed back in December. Good Luck to YOU