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
kristy60700 kelly1981
Posted
Hi everyone
I have just found this conversation and have read so many of your comments. I started with getting pains in August 2016 I had numerous trips to a&e also to my gp it was only in November when the doctor finally said I had costochrondritis they gave me naproxen for two weeks and said I should be fine I am still getting these pains and I start to panic and worry I don't know what to do, I can't keep taking tablets and hoping the pain will go away, what does anyone advise please in desperate need of advise or help thanks x
lisa33471 kristy60700
Posted
HI Kristy
I was about the same time as u. It's been a horrible journey. I don't want to say too much as it's only now I can feel things are getting better - just hope I don't slide back down again 🙈
Paracetamol & ibuprofen - didn't help
Naproxen - didn't help
After this the doctor gave me amitriptylene which helps the pain a bit but more as a relaxant muscle. With costo I found I was just really tense all the time especially across the shoulders. I've been taking this for about 3 months now and I do feel it helps. I've always been quite anxious and it's been good for that too.
I am currently having acupuncture now. I am in my 4th week and only now feeling a difference. (Hope it lasts
Also try and cut down on sugar a little.
I take omega3 and cod liver oil as they both help inflammatory together. I've been told that vitamin D is meant to help too. I also drink ginger tea preferably with tumeric (pukka brand) and camomile. I don't know if any of this has really helped with it, but I definitely feel 80% better than I did 6 months ago.
I hope this helps
oh and if it hurts when u lie in your side in bed, hug a large pillow 
grace28398 kristy60700
Posted
Hi Kristy,
Im sorry your going thru this. Costro can be very scary. The good news is its not Life threatening...Thank God!!! I hav had it about 14 months. Ive been to rheumatologist to rule out anything auto immine and cardiologist. A medicine I take is called Neurontin. Really helps. Not a n Nsaid or controlled substance. Also cold soft ice pacs work really well for me. reducing sugar in yur diet is key. Because inflammation feeds off of sugar. It gets better I promise. If they have done blood work and ekgs that have been normal then its the Costro. Im going for accupuncture next month. Hope it helps. Ive heard good things about accupuncture. Let me know how your doing..
kristy60700 grace28398
Posted
Thank u so much for replying, I will ring my doctors in the morning and get an appointment and mention some of the things you have both said, I need to get this sorted and under control. I am currently trying to eat healthy and to lose weight and am trying to cut down on sugar but I didn't know that it feeds off sugar. I also struggle with anxiety and stress because I worry about loads of things. Time to get better 😀
grace28398 kristy60700
Posted
ABSOLUTELY!!!! You will get better. Anxiety and stress definitely affect this horrible condition. Camomile tea helps me with stress. The neurontin also may help anxiety. Good Luck!!! Im here to talk.
lachastity04089 kelly1981
Posted
I have been dealing with Costo for about 4 months now. First started from anxiety and stress. I started having chest pains of my left side which rotate down my left arm. I went to the er thinking I was having a heart attack. Have over 10 EKGs performed, 3 ECHs, Nuclear Stress Test, 5 Chest X-rays. And countless ultrasounds. And blood work. All to come back negative. My upper left breast area started to swell and I thought I was a lump so my pc ordered a breast ultrasound which came back negative also. I was finally diagnosed with chest wall pain/costo/Tezie. I can't take the over the counter anti flammators because of previous stomach problems acid reflux, and previous h pylori infection. My anxiety was sky rocketed over the last six months. I'm not taking steroids and muscle relaxers and tynelol which is not doing a bit of good. Each day I wake im in pain. I don't know what else to do. I'm tired
grace28398 lachastity04089
Posted
Try Neurontin. Works great. Does not afect your stomach. May even help with your anxiety. Im sorry your dealing with this. I have had Costo for over 14 months. It sux sometimes. But reducing sugar in your diet really helps, as well as maybe going to a therapist to help with anxiety and stress. I do, as well as taking something for anxiety. Hang in there. I love the good days, and hate the bad days!!!!
lisa33471 lachastity04089
Posted
I know that's how I found out. It started with a lot of pain in the breast which frightened me but then anything sinister isn't painful. I am lucky working at a hospital as I got to see someone in a matter of a day or two. I had an ultrasound which showed inflammation across the breast. It was the breast consult who diagnosed me. It's rly difficult with treating it If u don't want to take pain meds on a regular basis. I've had ibuprofen. Paracetamol and naproxen. Neither of them worked long term but as it's been settling and not taking them as often they do help occasionally if that makes sense. All I am doing now is taking amitriptylene as it rly helps me relax and sleep at night (low dose of 10mg) try to do my stretches when I can, drink ginger and camomile tea and have acupuncture once a week. If I have a bad day I do find the ibuprofen helps as it doesn't last as long now, so hopefully that gives u hope that it does get better
lisa33471 lachastity04089
Posted
Oh and the omega3 and cod liver oil meant to help which I've been taking. It's hard to know if any of these things have helped in getting better but I'm just glad the pain is every other day now and not every day!
chloe76853 lisa33471
Posted
Hi everyone, I was diagnosed about 2 months ago. So nice to read all these comments about different experiences. I've had several paramedics come over and check me over because I couldn't move from the pain. I was dizzy, achy and shivery. Did anyone else ever feel sick or get headaches with chostro/tietzes? Also I was told to distract myself from it all but my anxiety never seems to let me do that. Has anyone found any way of distracting from it or calming down?
grace28398 chloe76853
Posted
Hi Chloe!
I have had that same experience as well. I think the ER by me knows me by name lol. I too get dizzy at times and very tired. I get the chills out of the blue sometimes too. I see a therapist who helps me to relax and share my anxiety issues with her. Also, I take medication for the anxiety. which really helps alot, especially when im in alot of pain. camomile tea can relax you. warm heating pads help too. Also reducing as much sugar as possible helps this condition. Bluberries are great for inflammation. Hang in there. It gets better..PROMISE
mimccu grace28398
Posted
Anyone tried aspercreme? (Lidocaine HCl -- topical, applied to the painful area). Although it doesn't eliminate the pain entirely, it seems to help with sharp pain. Accupuncture has helped me as well. I have gastritis, so I make sure that the accupuncturist understand this concept of targeting the vagus nerve
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lisa33471 chloe76853
Posted
Hi Chloe
I Have had costo for 2 years now. I didn't even know what it was until I was getting really bad breast pain and thought I had cysts. Afteran ultrasound I was diagnosed with that. I know how you must be feeling being new to this but as grace said it does get better in time! I am still having acupuncture after about nearly 6 months and find it helps. Also drinking lots of camomile tea helps, cutting out or down on sugar and I take amitriptylene if I have a bad bout of it. I think over time you tend to become familiar with it and I think knowing what it is helps. I must admit when I get the pain bad I do still worry which doesn't help when u have anxiety, but I do my breathing exercises and try n calm myself down. Using ibuprofen gel is also good especially if a night time. I remember I couldn't sleep on my back for a few months but now I can so it does get better 😃 If u are still concerned about your symptoms I would book to see your GP and ask them to explain the condition a bit more. Remember that although some of us have this a long time or on/off some people can only have it a short period of time too. Anxiety can worsen costo. I now have mine under control and have noticed a big difference. Hope you feel better soon
grace28398 mimccu
Posted
mel37037 kelly1981
Posted
Hello, so I got diagnosed with this this afternoon the dr didn't explain much to me at all apart from it may flare up again but not be as severe as the first time. I had the excruciating pain Sunday night around 1pm where I thought I was going to die but I didn't call an ambulance as it went after 30 mins although I probably should have called one. But I was just wondering do I call one next time or just go with what the doctors say as she just pressed my chest as it was tender never had a full ruling out of a heart attack? Because what if next time it is a heart attack?
grace28398 mel37037
Posted