Costocondritis Hell 😖

[valleylaydee]

Hi Everyone! A quick question for any costocondritis sufferers or experts...

Of all my fibro symptoms, costocondritis is the one that has been around the longest. I've suffered with it for well over a decade and although it flares up badly at times, it never actually goes away. It's constantly there to some degree and nothing I've tried really works. At times it's truly agonising. In recent years I've found that some movements actually cause the joints in my chest to 'click' and 'pop', much like the rest of my joints and this does seem to give me a small amount of relief...

My question is whether anyone else experiences the 'popping' sound I described? I can't find much info about it online...

Also, I'd appreciate any suggestions for pain relief as I'm having a particularly bad flare up at the moment and the things my doctor suggests lead me to believe that he doesn't know much about the condition as they either don't work, or make things worse...

Thanks in advance for any advice

[Hidden]

I haven't got the popping you describe, but the costochondritis hell is familiar.

Have you had everything else checked ? Xray or scan, ECG, & blood tests ?

Shortness of breath can be a symptom of B12 deficiency ( and poss other vitamin deficiencies) Is your thyroid normal ?

Only things I've found that help are rest and heat. I put a warm hot water bottle on my chest and one against my back. Apart from that I've not found anything that makes it ever go away.

[valleylaydee in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for replying. My last thyroid test was borderline underactive, not enough to warrant medical intervention. I have to have a follow up blood test in a few months... I'm not sure about my B12 levels, I often have iron deficiency anaemia, not sure if they are related...

I think an x ray is long overdue now. I think I'll request one from my GP next week.

Thanks again

[VintageMustard in reply to valleylaydee]

Can you post thyroid results inc the range? Who told you it was borderline under Active?

[valleylaydee in reply to VintageMustard]

My GP... I don't think she used the word 'borderline' but she said it was slightly underactive, not enough to warrant medication and said I'll need to be tested again in 6 months (which will be some time in April). I may phone and ask for my results tomorrow. I'm very interested to know what they are now.

[Marz in reply to valleylaydee]

Sorry to say but if you were told you have a borderline under-active thyroid then you need to have a copy of the results with ranges. The NHS only test the TSH which is a Pituitary hormone. To confirm you are borderline you need testing for T4 & T3 - Antibodies TPO & Tg. This illustrates why it is so mportant to have copies of all test results so you can monitor your own progress and check what has been missed ...

thyroiduk.org

Low thyroid can be involved in over 300 symptoms in the body so well worth checking correctly. 😊

[valleylaydee in reply to Marz]

Thank you for that... I'm quite shocked about this. My doctor was well aware of my concerns regarding my thyroid. It is a big problem in my family and I have been exhibiting symptoms of underactive thyroid for a while now. I'll definitely bring this up... Thank you for the info

[Marz in reply to valleylaydee]

I have been on Thyroid UK here on HU for over seven years. Everyday we read of the horror stories with poor testing and lack of ability to interpret results. If you can obtain your results with ranges ( labs differ) - you could post them on Thyroid UK where 100's can interpret them for you and suggest a way forward. The GP'S have their hands tied due to Guidelines and will not be able to do the tests I have suggested. Some but not enough for the full story. Even if the GP requests certain tests the labs can refuse ... shocking.

Private Testing is available through the link I posted for you above. Thousands on Thyroid UK have testing that way in order to receive a diagnosis and have the correct treatment.

If you wish to check me out you can click onto my username and read my Bio. Posts and Replies too. There are over 94,000 members so lots of brains to pick ...

[valleylaydee in reply to Marz]

Thank you. I have had a strong feeling that my thyroid isn't functioning properly for a while now, I just assumed I could rely on my GP to identify any problems. It's clear now that isn't the case. I'll do the things you suggested and also sign up to Thyroid UK so i can pist my results. Thanks again for all of this info

Very helpful 👍

[Marz in reply to valleylaydee]

You're welcome - will look out for you there 😊

[Marz in reply to valleylaydee]

Did you manage to collect copies of your results ? 😊

[Hidden]

ask g.p to refer you for some physio intervention, they will advise best way to help and stop the"clikcing" they will probably scan or xray the areas too.

[valleylaydee in reply to Hidden]

I was referred for physio last year for my hip and back pain (I told them about it then but there wasn't enough time to cover it in the first session), after I attended my initial appointment my father passed away. His funeral was the day after my second appointment but I was in such a daze for a few weeks that I completely forgot to call and reschedule and as a result I was discharged. I intend on asking my GP to refer me again... I'll be requesting an x ray next week also, I'd be interested to see what shows up as I can feel that the joints there are inflamed when I touch them.

Thank you kindly for your reply

[Hidden in reply to valleylaydee]

ask your g.p to prescribe some anti inflammatory meds for the time being to see if it helps

[seren1970]

Naproxen help with costrondritis I don’t get the popping get pains in my ribs like a crushing xx

[Don_in_midlands]

Hello!

I also get popping/clunking from my chest wall - I have hypermobility (EDS) so I put it down to joints shifting and resettling. My shoulders also ‘pop’ out, as well as elbows, knees, hips, ankles and jaw.

As for the thyroid issue, I have hypothyroidism. Going from the groups on here, GPs in the UK don’t like to treat it, until the TSH level is above 10. However, a TSH above 5 is abnormal and the optimum level is between 0 and 1 for most people. If you can get your previous thyroid blood test (with reference range) from your GP, join one of the thyroid forums on this website & the people there will be able to help.

Returning to the costochondritis, I find that anti-inflammatories such as naproxen or ibuprofen help, along with heat. I use the deep heat stick on pads that I just stick it to the worst areas of the chest and they provide approx 16 hours of heat.

Wishing you the best of luck with everything!

[moo196]

Osteopath were my best help with this issue.... And yoga breathing exercises regularly thereafter.

Good luck

[cockneysparow]

Hi, i suffer from this also. Paramedics called out a couple of times, one recommended taking Aspirin and laying as flat as possible. Not much else they can do. Dr gave me a anti spasm med. Had xrays and ecg. Good luck hope it helps

[BeezyB]

Like Don_in_Midlands I too have EDS which causes my ribs to pip out. My cost has declined by not using my upper body so much lifting things & tossing them up or for instance in back of trunk or bed of a truck. In doing so hyper extends ribs & tissues & brings on Costochondritis flair along with rib out. Basically lay low...slow down to snail pace. Physically you'll feel better, not so much emotionally cuz you want TO DO!!

[KateMaguire]

It's awful isn't it? I agree that it's one of the most debilitating little extras that fibro shares around,I have always been an optimistic person and most of my days I manage to laugh at myself but the costochondria can and has reduced me to tears. No popping but my pain management team prescribed lidocaine patches which I find help, naproxen used to be ok but the patches are much more effective as you can stick them on the most painful place. Also hot water bottle back and front as advised by someone else. Hope you manage to get some relief. Xx

[valleylaydee]

Thank you very much to everyone who took the time to reply... lots of really good advice and support. I'm very grateful

[Westlife22]

Hiya a suffered soo bad with this have been admitted to hospital on few occasions in agony couldn't lie down do or do nothing without the pain a was prescribed a tablet called nicorandil been on them for over a year now 1 morning & night and not suffered any pain since worth asking your doctor about these see if they help xx