Costochondritis??

[HBpencil]

Hello.

In agony again today. And for the last couple of weeks. Just not sure what these feelings are?

Feel like an elephant is pushing my back, each of my ribs are being crushed and pain under my armpits...also a very tender sternum. Is this what costochondritis feels like?

I am awaiting an ultrasound on my gallbladder as l have had a lot of digestive issues. I know that pain goes through to my back but this is my complete torso!!!

Anyone out there with the same problems? And perhaps advice??? X

[YASMINTINA FMA UK Volunteer]

healthunlocked.com/fibromya..., hello there sounds very painful for you, hopefully some members with the same condition will respond and friendly advice for you, if you would like to lock your posts I’ve posted a link above , it gives you more privacy as only our community can see and not open to other engines on the internet. Take care hopefully someone will pop on and read your post

[HBpencil in reply to YASMINTINA]

Thank you. X

[Hidden]

I was just going to post about the same.

Started as full blown costochondritis, pain in the breast bone radiating out through my chest. A constant pain in the ribs on my side ( right side only) was in fierce competition. This pain then moved up to my shoulder and the right hand side of my head and face was so painful yesterday. Today it's the left side of my head, my ear and the costochondritis has died down a bit.

Do you think it's worse with wet weather ? I'm beginning to think living on the coast isn't such a good idea as its a damp atmosphere and now with heavy rain.

Sorry I've no ideas to stop it. I had hot water bottles on my chest and back, tens machine on my shoulder and ribs and heated wheat bag on my neck and ear.

Painkillers aren't doing much. Sorry you're in so much pain, too.

[HBpencil in reply to Hidden]

Hiya.

I live by the coast too so you never know!

Have you been diagnosed with costochondritis? I had a diagnosis years ago of intercostal neuralgia. But this is a whole other level! Mind you l cannot take painkillers (apart from parecetamol )as l only have the one kidney.

God! What a wreck l am!!

You sound like you're really going through it too, so sorry to hear it. X

[Hidden in reply to HBpencil]

Ive never asked my gp about costochondritis as they're pretty useless. The pain I have fits the description exactly and as heat helps I'm 100% sure it's costochondritis. Heart and lung problems were eliminated by a heart consultant so I'm not worried about it being anything cardiac related.

The pain has certainly reached a new level today, worst I've had I think. I've always had side effects of meds so I've tried paracetamol and ibuprofen today with cocodamol a few hours later. Not doing much though. This is a very miserable illness !

[HBpencil in reply to Hidden]

How are you today? Any better?

[Hidden in reply to HBpencil]

Yesterday I felt fine --- barely a twinge. Went out for 4 hours, did 3 short walks with my dogs.

Today I'm a bit like the tin man but not too bad. Couple of slight flares of costo but painkillers working. Fibromylagia is like the hardest University Challenge of illnesses !

How are you today ?

[HBpencil in reply to Hidden]

Oh good to hear you're a tad better....

I am so so, complicated as l have several things going on. I heard about my ultrasound appointment at least. It's next week. Been having a few digestive issues, that's why l get confused as to what is causing my back pain. So here's hoping something shows!

I think most of us with fibromyalgia could qualify as doctors with all the research we have to do!

Take it easy. X

[Hidden in reply to HBpencil]

Good luck with the ultrasound. I hope it gives you some answers.

[rosewine]

Such a pity that you can't take antiinflamatories as they can help take the edge off. I have suffered with it for 8 years now it was the first sign of full blown fibro so bad that since then I haven't been able to wear a bra. I actually find that heat draws the pain so I put on a layer of freeze gel. Try not to make any sudden large movements with your arms or reach up or too far down as those movements make it worse. Before we moved and we only had a shower when the pain was at its worse I used to soak in a bath with several big handfuls of Epsom salts and relax as much as I could as the more tense you are the worse the pain gets, I would then gently pat myself dry and smooth on the cook gel. Sometimes Lidocaine patches (have to be prescribed by the doctor) can help with the worse patches of pain. I find a Tens machine makes mine worse but of course everyone is an individual so what works for one doesn't work for another. You have my sympathy hope it eases soon.x

[HBpencil in reply to rosewine]

Thanks for the reply. I have tried the lidocaine but has no real affect,tends to numb the skin but not the muscle...

I do use heat and let the shower run into my back.

I could just about put up with it if l could have a timeline and know it will improve. It just feels like I've been in having a flare up for ever. (About 3 weeks)

How long do your flares usually last?

I even had to defer a knee replacement op which I'd been waiting 6months for. Just couldn't face it feeling like this.

Thanks again for the reply and the advice.....x

[rosewine in reply to HBpencil]

The bad flares tend to last about 3 weeks so if you are like me hopefully soon you will be over the worst of it. I can totally sympathise as even propped up on a V pillow or a soft pillow it is so difficult to get comfortable because of the pain. I am in flare mode with it as I had the flu and have managed to get a severe chest infection so at the moment if coughing was an Olympic sport I would be a Gold medallist so hoping we will both see the light at the end of the tunnel soon.x

[HBpencil in reply to rosewine]

Let's hope so..poor you. Coughing when you feel like this must be hellish! Moving is bad enough.

I wish you a speedy recovery too. X

[WF2k]

I'm always suffering from my ribs/back/armpits just lately :/ I was wondering if I had this.

[HBpencil in reply to WF2k]

I gave not officially been diagnosed. All my symptoms just seem to fit the condition.

But then again so do other things like myofascial pain syndrome etc.

Always best to check with gp l suppose.

Hope you're not suffering too much. X

[WF2k in reply to HBpencil]

Mines has been pretty bad, I've not been able to sit back properly at times, very sore.