costochondritis(spelling)

[deb25426]

can anyone tell me their experience of this please.. where their pain is and how they deal with it.. the doctor says it could be this I have.

[Schnoodle2017]

I think I know what you mean. I was diagnosed this after visiting A&E. I thought there was a problem with my heart. I’d have the pain on the left side of my chest initially. I was given the all clear at hospital. They didn’t tell me what it was at the time. My doctor did, a year later, when I went to see her about palpitation and psin in my chest. At that time the psin would be at various place in my chest. She told me I was diagnosed with Clostchonditis (sp). I had all minor of tests on my heart to fine out that it is perfectly fine. No changes in my chest x-ray compared to the previous year.

That helped enormously as I was no longer anxious and deal with the pain. Funnily enough, I don’t get the psin quite so often now. When I do get it, it’s a dull pain. I have used muscle rub on my chest. I was told by doctor to stop doing that and take aspirin. Don’t know why as pain is localised.

It certainly isn’t life threatening I’m glad to say. I hope you can find a way to manage the pain. It can bring us down at times.

[deb25426 in reply to Schnoodle2017]

thank you for your reply. I have been to A&E twice with chest pain. Been told muscular skeletal, but also referred to cardiologist.

My pain now is all mostly in my ribs ( I call it the grisly bits in between each rib) which is a different pain that I went to A&E with! The nurse practitioner says that she wants me to sort out the cardiology app first to rule out it’s not that before she refers me elsewhere. I sort of understand that. Then she got costo up on her system and everything it said was like the pains I’m in.

Some days I have to take pain killers some days not, but carrying on as we do.

[Schnoodle2017 in reply to deb25426]

I hope the heart app goes well. I hope you get to a point when you can manage the pain. I found after having tests and given the all clear, that I was less anxious the pain seems to be less achy. As I say, it’s a dull psin from time to time. Less frequent than before. Wondering if anxiety/stress aggravates the skeletal muscular pain. Mind you, if your muscles are tense at any time, that really does aggravate the condition.

[Hephzibar in reply to Schnoodle2017]

Just found this whilst researching atypical chest/ shoulder pain. It is interesting to find others who seem to be going through the same thing!

My story - ended up in A&E in Jan with atypical left sided chest/ breast/shoulder pain!! Heart rate and BP were up on admission so went down the cardiology route. All bloods, ECGs, chest X-ray and rhythm test has come back with no concerns and cardiologist does not think the pain is cardiac related. However eight weeks later I still have mild intermittent shoulder, chest and ? breast pain mainly on the left, but occasionally on the right side. I also have a long standing history of back problems, tachycardia and palpitations!! I should a wreck 😉

My osteopath has found trigger points in my shoulder and back and the Accupuncturist was horrified at the tension in my shoulders!! . I am also very tired at times although that might been related to the Bisoprolol that I now take to lower my heart rate.

Seeing a GP in two weeks time for a post A&E/ pain review. It feels all so vague, but something is not right.

[deb25426]

I hope we all get a definite diagnosis,,,

[auntysue]

Mmm be careful with this diagnosis, I think it's used when they haven't got a clue. I went through all the heart tests, xrays, they sent me home twice with this diagnosis, I went to another hospital as the pain was absolutely chronic, turns out I had a displaced fracture of the sternum, then 2 weeks later huge painful lumps appeared in my left breast, I'm now waiting for surgery, they missed twice broken sternum, so just trust your gut, and don't always accept the 1st diagnosis.

[Schnoodle2017 in reply to auntysue]

thank you for this advice. I’ve become a great believer in listening to my body and trusting my gut instinct through what I experience. Sadly, things can get missed in diagnosis from time to time. We should be able to get second opinions and final retests as well.

I hope the medical staff can finally give you the treatment you need. I hope you get better soon.

[deb25426]

so sorry you’re having to go through this. Sending healing prayer x

[Purplegloss]

I had all the cardiac checks carried out when I had pains in my chest that were pretty extreme, all clear on that front, and Costochondritis diagnosed. The only thing that helps me with the pain is to sit on the edge of the bed first thing in the morning, and stretch the painful area as much as I can bare. There isn't much you can do about it other than this, and I don't usually use painkillers, as I find the stretching works pretty well. The pain is sometimes right across the sternom area, and other times just one side or the other. The pain also goes right through to my back as well at times. I can usually get rid of it within a week by stretching, and then go quite some months before it happens again, Hope this helps as it is pretty unpleasant at the time.

[Schnoodle2017]

yes, gentle stretching is a good idea. I’ve done this when I’ve been uncomfortable. It eases tension. I’d recommend everyone with this do gentle stretching.

[Imagine1]

Hi deb25426, I was diagnosed with this condition many years ago, like you I was worried and didn't know what the pain was, I thought it was something to do with my heart, luckily it wasn't. My pain is when I am anxious, it get's worse then. The pain is across my collar bone, where the bone sticks out, my bones are very prominent, that is why I know it is there. Luckily it is not life threatening and it is something that I live with, with my other ailments. I hope this helps you. xx

[deb25426 in reply to Imagine1]

thank you xxx

[Northwest63]

Hi I get pain in my ribs from the back around to the front, I am going for acupuncture in a few days, I will put on here how I get on with it. K

[deb25426 in reply to Northwest63]

that’d be great thanks x

[Karengregory]

hi, I’ve had all the tests done and got diagnosed with costochronditus, my pain is normally in the sternum and if I press on it it is very tender and painful. My GP also guessed it was costochronditus by pressing on my sternum but sent me for all tests. I have fibromyalgia and unfortunately this is something that generally goes with fibromyalgia.

[deb25426 in reply to Karengregory]

I’m glad you have a diagnosis. (Not glad you have the horrible pain and tenderness…) my bad pain is in my ribs mainly but my breast bone (sternum) is very tender too.. and I know about the pain of fibro too, as my friend has this. Sending healing thoughts x

[Karengregory in reply to deb25426]

I hope you get something that gives you less pain, sending gentle hugs x

[deb25426 in reply to Karengregory]

thank you x

[25clai]

is this something that flares in some or is it isolated events? Mine started 3 yrs ago and always flares when I am ill. I’ve been sent to a and E a couple of times when I went to my gp. I was aware it wasn’t my heart, but at times the pain in my chest is so intense, I can’t sleep and so wanted a follow up outside of emergency Dept. Unfortunately, as soon as you say chest pain to drs, and I have balance issues - it sets off a protocol of treatment checks etc. it feels like bruising when pressing down on the area of pain, which reassures me there is nothing more serious going on.

my regular gp tried to refer me for physio for it, but I have struggled to find a specialist in this. I am interested in stretching, what sort of movement? I am willing to try anything holistic to help.

Every time I get ill, it kicks off, and I’ve had a lot of viral infections over the last 7 months. Seems chronic now, oh well, just add it to the list, then 😂😂😂

[deb25426 in reply to 25clai]

it is/was a bad flare. I think I’m coming out the end of it. It is so painful to touch my ribs cage. And my breast bone. It usually starts evening time. But 🤞 it’s calming down

[25clai]

bad flares are indescribable, glad you are coming to the end of its path

[Blondie12345]

i get flare ups of this if i have been wearing a heavy rucksack or pulling a heavy case.