Uncommon costo symptoms
Posted , 57 users are following.
Costochondritis is unfortunately, not widely known or discussed and I've got more information from here than my gp.
Although I'm lucky to say I'm 80-90% healed, I've reached a plateau.
I wanted to share some of the less common symptoms I've experienced in my healing process for those who may be scared/confused:
Head pressure on the side of inflammation
(possibly led to a slowing down of the movement in left eye, I now wear glasses to refocus, never had eye issues before)
Headaches
Swollen neck
Tightness in neck
Swollen shoulder muscles
Back pain in the middle of back
Inability to eat
Feeling physically full after half a meal but still hungry
Stomach pain
Burning sensation in muscles
Tingling sensation in muscles
Strange sinking feeling when breathing, comparable to the stomach drop you get in fear/on a rollercoaster or similar but it's more muscular/physical
Sensation of muscles suddenly "deflating" when falling asleep - possibly anxiety related as well
Constant palpitations
Fatigue
Tiredness
Generally weak
Arm pain on side of inflammation
Feeling like I can't breathe
Difficulty walking at speed - who knew swaying arms could be so painful?!
Feeling fine all day but swelling up when you lie down to sleep
Sinus pressure
BONUS: For those who have overcome the majority of the pain
general discomfort/awareness/heaviness/tightness of the affected areas
Feel free to share your uncommon/less discussed symptoms
10 likes, 172 replies
simon57068 shekme10120
Posted
I've had most of those and also swollen left pectoral muscle and also
The muscle goes rock tight in thunderstorms and in mri scanner.
shekme10120 simon57068
Posted
Oh yes, definitely experienced rock solid muscles. Sometimes its in my neck and shoulder/collarbone area. As a woman I don't always notice when my pectorals are tense for obvious reasons.
simon57068 shekme10120
Posted
I've had most of those and also swollen left pectoral muscle and also
The muscle goes rock tight in thunderstorms and in mri scanner.
Ranger507 shekme10120
Posted
shekme10120 Ranger507
Posted
tracy02849 shekme10120
Posted
The side of my breast hurts on my painful side. And I get pins and needles in my arm and hand.
My main pain is an intense burning in my shoulder pain.
Every Gp I have seen have said my problem is 'mechanical'. I'm currently trying pilates which is painful. Im considering going to see a chiropractor to see if they can help?
QueenMo shekme10120
Posted
What do they mean "mechanical"?
tracy02849 QueenMo
Posted
I think 'mechanical' is to do with movement and the way my bones are put together? So movement aggravates the pain. I suppose 'mechanical' sounds better than 'clinical' which implies something more serious is wrong?
shekme10120 tracy02849
Posted
hmmm mechanical sounds more physical I guess? I've no idea but I found stretching helped much much more than me exercising. Exercising may tighten your muscles and be more painful.
I tried yoga once.... bad move!
Chiropractors scare me, aren't they supposed to be really rough?
The inflamed area is such an awkward area to reach, I'd suggest you not have some specialist roughing you up and twisting you about.
I say stick to stretches until the pain lessens.
lucy53348 shekme10120
Posted
Hi, I've been following this post with interest! I went to the GP last Aug/Sept with a pain in right sternum area which felt like it was in the breast but was actually rib pain. The pain then moved nearer to the shoulder (roughly where bra strap would go) and the whole area feels fibrous under the skin. Sent for mammogram and ultrasound in Nov but all clear. The pain and swollen feeling goes away to a degree but comes back with exercise and most recently a bad cough. Been back to GP this week and diagnosed with Fibromyalgia (as have other pains, tiredness etc) but he cannot explain why my right breat is firmer at the top outer than the left one - does anyone else have a firmness in the affected side? There is no lump and I think the GP thought I was imagining things until he felt the difference in the other breast - i.e both would feel 'normal' if they matched but they feel different to one another. Being sent for a review at the breast clinic but worrying myself stupid in the meantime!!
tracy02849 lucy53348
Posted
My breast is firm on the outer edge and is different to the one on the unaffected side. I was referred to the beast clinic back in Decmeber due to this and was told I had a 'thickening' and that it was nothing to be concerned about. But every now and then I get worried about my breast because it is painful and 'lumpy' on the outer edge. It probably is to do with the costo as the ribs beneath my breast are tender. I hope this helps. Don't worry unduly; wait and see what they say at the breast clinic and take it from there. X
lucy53348 tracy02849
Posted
Tracy I could hug you - if it didn't hurt so much lol! Sounds just the same as mine - the logical part of my brain says it's to do with the other pains in my ribcage and the fact that it was like this to some extent at the last mammogram and that was clear but when it flares up then logic goes out of the window and I do the worst thing possible - consult Dr Google!!! I'm very sorry you're suffering too but so relieved I'm not alone x
shekme10120 lucy53348
Posted
It's not always easy to detect due to the size of my breasts but when I lie on my back, yes the muscle under my breast is hard. the breast itself is not though. It's less firm now that my symptoms are subsiding a little but I went through a period of a permanently solid and slightly swollen shoulder (where the bra strap would go) and under-breast chest area.
Also, when I lie on my back and touch my upper left chest, just above the breast tissue and below my collarbone, it feels like a weird ripply, hard muscly thingy. Quite hard to explain but I'm assuming it's my swollen rib bones.
I try very hard to link every weird symptom to costo cos if I didn't I'd be in and out of the hospital constantly. Internet searches usually tell me that it is costo-related.
I highly doubt I am missing something serious by ignoring most of my symptoms though!
lucy53348 shekme10120
Posted
The ripply muscley feeling sounds exactly where I have mine and the firmness is just below that on the upper outer edge of breast tissue. So hard to describe!! I can only wear a sports bra and then feel the need to keep adjusting myself as my arm brushes against the firmer side - doesn't look swollen but feels it! Got my appointment for 24th Aug so will try not to worry - this forum has helped a lot
shekme10120 lucy53348
Posted
I've given up on sports bras, I feel that sometimes it helps hold things together and not make my muscles feel like they're pulling in all sorts of directions but other times it feels like it makes it worse.
The sports bra only comes out when my clothes can't conceal my dignity.
I'm thinking of booking an appointment just to see what else I can do to heal faster.
My affected side looks ever so slightly swollen but only I seem to be able to see it.