left sided pain, numbness

here is some usefull info from a uk nhs site hope it helps you to gain a better understanding as i found it usefull.

Fibromyalgia, also called fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), is a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body.

As well as widespread pain, people with fibromyalgia may also have:

increased sensitivity to pain

fatigue (extreme tiredness)

muscle stiffness

difficulty sleeping

problems with mental processes (known as "fibro-fog") – such as problems with memory and concentration

headaches

irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) – a digestive condition that causes stomach pain and bloating

If you think you have fibromyalgia, visit your GP. Treatment is available to ease some of its symptoms, although they are unlikely to disappear completely.

Read more about the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

What causes fibromyalgia?

The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but it's thought to be related to abnormal levels of certain chemicals in the brain and changes in the way the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) processes pain messages carried around the body.

It's also suggested that some people are more likely to develop fibromyalgia because of genes inherited from their parents.

In many cases, the condition appears to be triggered by a physically or emotionally stressful event, such as:

an injury or infection

giving birth

having an operation

the breakdown of a relationship 

the death of a loved one

Read more about the causes of fibromyalgia.

Who is affected?

Anyone can develop fibromyalgia, although it affects around seven times as many women as men. The condition typically develops between the ages of 30 and 50, but can occur in people of any age, including children and the elderly.

It's not clear exactly how many people are affected by fibromyalgia, although research has suggested that it could be a relatively common condition. Some estimates suggest nearly 1 in 20 people may be affected by fibromyalgia to some degree.

One of the main reasons it's not clear how many people are affected is because fibromyalgia can be a difficult condition to diagnose. There is no specific test for the condition, and the symptoms can be similar to a number of other conditions.

Read more about diagnosing fibromyalgia.

How fibromyalgia is treated

There is currently no cure for fibromyalgia, but there are treatments to help relieve some of the symptoms and make the condition easier to live with.

Treatment tends to be a combination of:

medication – such as antidepressants and painkillers

talking therapies – such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) andcounselling

lifestyle changes – such as exercise programmes and relaxation techniques

Exercise in particular has been found to have a number of important benefits for people with fibromyalgia, including helping to reduce pain.

Read more about treating fibromyalgia and advice on self-help for fibromyalgia.

Support groups

Many people with fibromyalgia find that support groups provide an important network where they can talk to others living with the condition.

FibroAction is a charity that offers information and support to people with fibromyalgia. If you have any questions about fibromyalgia, call the charity's helpline on 0844 443 5422.

There is also a network of local FibroAction support groups you may find helpful and a FibroAction online community, where you can find out about news, events and ongoing research into the condition.

Other useful support groups are Fibromyalgia Association UK and UK Fibromyalgia.

plus it can also lead to costocondritis and heres some info on that to.

Costochondritis is the medical term for inflammation of the cartilage that joins your ribs to your breastbone (sternum).

Cartilage is tough but flexible connective tissue found throughout the body, including in the joints between bones. It acts as a shock absorber, cushioning the joints.

The area of cartilage joining your ribs to your breastbone is known as the costochondral joint.

Costochondritis and Tietze’s syndrome

Costochondritis can sometimes be confused with a separate condition called Tietze’s syndrome, as it also involves inflammation of the costochondral joint and can cause very similar symptoms.

However, Tietze’s syndrome is much less common than costochondritis, and it tends to cause chest swelling in addition to the other symptoms, whereas costochondritis does not.

The rest of this topic focuses on costochondritis but, as the conditions are very similar, most of the information also applies to Tietze’s syndrome.

Signs and symptoms

When the costochondral joint becomes inflamed, it can result in sharp chest pain and tenderness.

The pain may be made worse by:

a particular posture, such as lying down

pressure on your chest, such as wearing a seatbelt or hugging someone

deep breathing, coughing and sneezing

physical activity

In cases of Tietze’s syndrome, there may also be some swelling.

These symptoms can develop gradually or start suddenly.

When to seek medical help

It can be difficult to tell the difference between the chest pain associated with costochondritis and pain caused by more serious conditions, such as a heart attack.

However, a heart attack usually causes more widespread pain and additional symptoms, such as breathlessness, nausea and sweating.

If you, or someone you are with, experiences sudden chest pain and you think there is a possibility it could be a heart attack, dial 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance.

If you have had chest pain for a while, don't ignore it. Make an appointment to see your GP so they can investigate the cause.

What causes costochondritis?

Inflammation is the body’s natural response to infection, irritation or injury. It is not known exactly why the costochondral joint becomes inflamed, but in some cases it has been linked to:

severe coughing, which strains your chest area

an injury to your chest

physical strain from repeated exercise or sudden exertion that you are not accustomed to, such as moving furniture

an infection – including respiratory tract infections (RTIs) and wound infections

wear and tear – your chest moves in and out 20 to 30 times a minute, and this motion can, over time, lead to discomfort in these joints

Costochondritis tends to be more common in adults over 40 years of age, whereas Tietze’s syndrome usually affect young adults under 40.

Diagnosing costochondritis

If you have symptoms of costochondritis, your GP will carry out a physical examination by looking at and touching the upper chest area around your costochondral joint. They will ask you when and where your pain occurs, and look at your recent medical history.

Before a diagnosis can be confirmed, some tests may need to be carried out to rule out other possible causes of your chest pain. These may include:

an electrocardiogram (ECG), which records the rhythms and electrical activity of your heart

a blood test to check for signs of underlying inflammation

a chest X-ray

If no other condition is suspected or found, a diagnosis of costochondritis may be made. Tietze's syndrome may be diagnosed if you have swelling in your chest, in addition to your other symptoms.

Treating costochondritis

Costochondritis often gets better after a few weeks, but self-help measures and medication can manage the symptoms.

Self-help

Costochondritis can be aggravated by any activity that places stress on your chest area, such as strenuous exercise, or even simple movements like reaching up to a high cupboard.

Any activity that makes the pain in your chest area worse should be avoided until the inflammation in your ribs and cartilage has improved.

You may also find it soothing to regularly apply heat to the painful area – for example, using a cloth or flannel that has been warmed with hot water.

Painkillers

Painkillers, such as paracetamol can be used to ease mild to moderate pain.

Taking a type of medication called a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) - such as ibuprofen and naproxen – two or three times a day can also help control the pain and swelling. Aspirin, another type of NSAID, is also a suitable alternative.

These medications are available from pharmacies without a prescription, but you should make sure you carefully read the instructions that come with them before use.

NSAIDs are not suitable for people with certain health conditions, including asthma, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, or kidney or heart problems. Children under 16 should not take aspirin.

Contact your GP if your symptoms get worse despite resting and taking painkillers, as you may benefit from treatment with corticosteroids. 

Corticosteroid injections

Corticosteroids are powerful medicines that can help to reduce pain and swelling. They can be injected into and around your costochondral joint to help relieve the symptoms of costochondritis.

Corticosteroid injections may be recommended if your pain is severe, or if NSAIDs are unsuitable or ineffective. They may be given by your GP, or you may need to be referred to a specialist called a rheumatologist.

Having too many corticosteroid injections can damage your costochondral joint, so you may only be able to have this type of treatment once every few months if you continue to experience pain.

Outlook

Costochondritis can improve on its own after a few weeks, although it sometimes last for several months or more.

The condition is not life-threatening and does not lead to any permanent problems.

In cases of Tietze's syndrome, you may still have some swelling after the pain and tenderness have gone.

Costochondritis can cause chest pain and tenderness.

hope this info is of some help to you 

Thank you Derek for that info i really appreciate it!

Welcome to this blog Ashley..most of your symptoms sound soo familiar, you have such young children too..really feeling for you, well done you for looking us up..we have to be pro-active...take our health into our own hands and learn as much as we can for our benifit..it's a hard one to come to terms with for sure..most of us on here have had Fibro plus many other illness that are also autoimmune too.  I have had Fibro plus the rest for over  24 years now and had all the symptoms and tests for a good 10 years before that..most of us on here have...let me encourage you, there are ways to help yourself....especially keeping stressless, as Fibro just loves that...you will find lots of information on here from people who have managed to live with fibro for years..most of all lots of encouragement...which we all need....you'll also find lots and lots of empathy too..so welcome on board,to our Fibro family..be blessed and have a lovely day...by the way this is world wide..you never know where people are from..you might meet someone from around the corner.. Im in Australia...:-) xxx

Yes I do also have difficulty swollowing, and I wind up wasting the food!  Sometimes it can be also like a cramp in the muscles which is so uncomfortably sore to...  I've got used to it...  but it's never nice when going through it.. My left side is my worst, however if I over do things it will also then take out my right side.  All the best to you...  take care and go easy on yourself

Hi asjley I have trouble with swollowing, I have choking turns at times which is quiet frightening. My left side is my weakest side, fibro affects my left side worse than my right. I get numbness alot and at 1 point it was all down my left side arm face. my speech went funny I was rushed into hospital with a suspected TIA if theirs anything your concerned about and not sure about. its always woth checking thing out with your gp just to be on the safe side. as we never know whether its fibro or something else.I get alot of back pain and very bad pain my legs back goes tingly numb. we experience all different weird symptoms with fibro. take care gentle hug.

Dear Ashley. I see you're overwelmed and drained...that's maybe the culprit of the condition you're experiencing. I know you can't runaway from your burdens....

I feel you must have had a shock or something that has hurt you very deeply. 

The tingling is common and indicates some level of nerve damage. You should however always report that (insist) to your doctors.

Magnesium is good for that as for fibromyalgia in general.

A good vitamins and mineral supplement too. 

Eliminating allergens namely in food (maybe dairy, gluten, etc) is beneficial.

The gasp for air may be anxiety.

If I were you I would consider going to an osteopath.

XX

Thank you all for your responses I'm pretty sure I'm having a nice bout of that lovely costochondritis as i woke up this morning and I'm extremely sore in my chest, I've had this many times its just so uncomfortable. I do have a vitamin d deficiency I currently take 50,000.iu's twice a week.

I'm trying to take it easy , its hard when your trying to work with this stuff 😔 i thank you all so much for your responses. I will definitely try to keep my stress under control .