Chostocondritis Flare-up

[Scoobs87]

Is there anything that anyone can recommend, I am coming to the end of my Baclofen and Dihydrocodeine, and I am still getting flair ups. Does anyone know of any natural remedies, in terms of pain management, rather than have to rely on medication, because I am aware that overuse, can lead to addiction.

[Spikedog66]

Try serrapeptase 80,000iu was recommended by su-mo does help have used it for about a month can buy it from Holland and barret for about £17 or online cheaper. 😊

[Cw70]

I haven’t been on here for a while as I feel a bit of a fraud! It started for me 7 years ago when I had a run of chest problems completely confusing my local respiratory clinic. I too suffer from costochondritis which was horrendous when my cough was bad. I was treated with spiriva, symbicort and montelukast but was still unable to go outside when the temperature got below about 11 degrees (about 6 months of the year in the UK!)

I was referred to Professor Alyn Maurice at the Hull cough clinic who suggested a few drugs to try. The first, metachlorobromide did not help at all. But then he suggested baclofen, I started on 5mg 3x day and gradually built up to 20mg 3x day. At first the side affects were awful, dizziness, room spinning and feeling sick (at about 10mg) but I was starting to see a positive affect on my cough. I persevered by going to bed as soon as I got home from work, not sure how I got through those weeks working in a primary school!

The hospital have suggested I reduce the dose or stop taking it over the warmer months but I’m reluctant to as I don’t want to go through those awful side affects again.

Although my mobility is not the reason for taking this it has really helped me, the professor diagnosed overactive airway with gaseous reflux (on top of regular asthma)

I feel a fraud because compared to everybody else on here I’m really not unwell!

Sorry I cannot suggest a non prescription way to help you. This post just hit a real chord with me.

Sorry for the epic post!

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

If you want to try a non-drug route, you could try visiting an osteopath. They can’t ‘treat’ asthma but they can treat the side of it and the musculoskeletal effects that attacks can have.

I often find that after an attack my back and chest are sore and can feel a lot better after treatment. It can calm down the pain of it even if my lungs are still a bit dodgy! It might be worth looking into if you do want to try different route!

Hope that helps

Emma

[Scoobs87 in reply to EmmaF91]

Thanks. I went back to work yesterday after 3 months of, and I was in constant pain. The chest pain was unbelievable.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Scoobs87]

No fun 🤕. If you want to try osteopathy I’d advise seeing if there is a ‘functional’ or ‘cranial’ osteopath in your area (normally says on their website - or if they have a busy baby clinic this is the treatment they tend to use).

It’s a calmer sort of treatment to get the tissues to relax rather than the prodding and poking like most people think of as massage - can sometimes feel like they’re doing nothing, but afterwards there can be a hugh response! (Speaking as an osteopathic student here!)

It doesn’t work for everyone, but it’s worth a try if nothing else is helping!

Hope you start to feel better soon x

[Scoobs87 in reply to EmmaF91]

Excuse my ignorance, but what do you mean by cranial or functional osteopath, ps I don’t think it helps when my asthmas bad, not a great combination. X

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Scoobs87]

No worries (get it all the time - I’m now shocked if someone knows what an osteopath is full stop!!! 😅) Osteopathy has 2 main branches - structural and functional.

Structural looks at joints muscle etc (tissues) and sees how they work/ where they’re stuck. Typically treat with joint articulation, soft tissue work (massage), manipulation (‘clicking’).

Functional looks at the tissues texture/function and the nervous system, and in essence treat by ‘talking’ to the tissues and seeing what they want to do, calming them down or ‘releasing’ them. It’s usually a calmer treatment, good for people who have ‘hyperactive’ systems (like asthmatics whose lungs like to do they’re own thing and stress out their owners!). (Sorry of the vague description - I know it may sound ‘hippie’ but I swear it works!!!)

Both work well (in my opinion) but some treatments suit more than others depending the patient! Most osteopaths will use a mixture of the 2 but will focus predominately on one type and use the other as ‘supportive’ techniques and some only use one type.

Yeah costochondritis and asthma flare ups is not a good mix - luckily mine only tends to flare up after a run of severe attacks

Hope this helps a little

(If you want you can DM me the area you live in and I can see if I know anyone in the area - not offended if you don’t want to or if you don’t want to try at all 😉)