Costochondritis

[Annab124]

So I started getting heart palpitations shortness of breath an then the heart palps stopped but chest pain started ! Every day I get chest pain on and off an it even goes into my back too. I went to the doctors had ecg an bloodsand all came back normal (just low b12 levels ) . I went to the doctors numerous of times as it was stressing me out an the doctor said it sounds like Costochondritis. I have been getting short of breath from this too . Anyone else had this problem ? It all stared from having bad anxiety

[Titan4757]

Hi Anna,

I have it too. It's been a long journey figuring it out. I manage it much better now but it still gets painful. Some days it's in my back but my hot spot is below my left arm and pectoral. It feels like I'm getting poked with hundreds of tiny needles from the inside and it takes my breath away. I can't say exactly why or how the body has this but I found some relief through mind body medicine. My anxiety and stress is a large factor in causing the pain. Some days I don't feel anxious at all and it appears. I've learned that if I don't control my emotions, negative thoughts and attitude it will be worse. I stopped taking ibuprofen because it's not good for my stomach in large doses. I hope yours improves and you can find the triggers that make it worse.

[Annab124 in reply to Titan4757]

Thanks very much for you reply! yeah even tho they have said it is Costochondritis, I worry it’s not an something more serious

[o2G2o]

I too was told I had costochondritis by my doctor, but I realize now it was just anxiety. I had sore rib cage that felt like I'd been hit by a bus, and if I poked myself anywhere in the chest area it felt heavily bruised. Now that I'm not going around like a ball of nerves 24/7 I rarely if ever feel any kind of pain like that. Don't forget that fight or flight response makes your nerves overactive and pain isn't "real" beyond your nerves. Pain is the interpretation by your brain of signals from the nervous system, so it is technically conceivable that you could even train your own mind to feel pleasure as pain and vice versa. All that to say, the brain (which in our case as anxiety sufferers is operating in a flawed way) can make you feel whatever it wants without our conscious approval.

[Indigojoe]

HI

I have had almost the same physical symptoms.

The anxiety tightens up all muscles, including the gut and the heart.

Chest pain and rib pain seem to run hand in hand for most of us when we get like this.

I go to a massage therapist and a chiropractor when I get in a knot.

The Chiro told me to take 2 tennis balls, put them in a sock, and roll my back over them when I get chest pain like you describe in the front or back.

I have even gotten out of bed and got that sock and, put the tennis balls on either side of my spine and rolled it ( by using my body to move over the tennis balls), and just stayed there until I found a position that felt good.

I can get a deep breath and the pains go away and I calm down and get on with it.