Pain and Costochondritis

[Angina42]

Hi All

Just putting this diagram out there to see if others feel pain in these areas. Circles are where I feel pain the most, dotted sections are occasionally popping up through the week.

I haven’t been diagnosed with Costochondritis by my GP yet but my osteopath has said that yes he thinks I have this issue. Im booked into a pain specialist and management centre for August so I’m hoping they can help.

I can’t take anti inflammatory medication due to heart attack, blood thinners and other medication. I do use nurofen gel and other topical creams. Ice packs and heat packs.

I recently had a heart attack 16 weeks ago so this pain has caused so much anxiety and stress.

My pain is pretty constant medication helps a little but generally always there. Sometimes sharp, dull, in different locations and just makes me feel hopeless.

Anyone else suffering ?

Any help with what you have been doing to conquer this pain ?

Thank you so much

[OSTEOARTHRITISRA]

Hi it must be hard for you specially limited to meds Not sure if tryed or allowed

Pregablin

Have you been checked for

Fibromyalgia

Small possibility

[Angina42 in reply to OSTEOARTHRITISRA]

my gp has been on holidays and back end of this month. We did all the tests CT, X-ray, stress test and blood test. The heart is working fine and my doctor has said it was always musculoskeletal but never actually diagnosed me. We have to do all that when he’s back in the office.

[Blackwitch]

I just posted about my day in A&E with the same. It’s so painful and I believe it’s connected to my Rheumatoid Arthritis and fibromyalgia. I can still hardly move. A cough, sneeze, yawn or even trying to take a deep breath is so painful. I’m even sleeping on two doubled over duvets because my back is so painful. I’m lucky that my pain didn’t go down my arms but went from the middle of my chest, ribs, back, shoulders, up my neck and into my jawbone and a headache. It really is alarming when nobody knows what to do with you. I’m carrying on with my usual meds during the day. I usually take 7.5ml morphine sulphate just to help me get up and out of bed in the morning, paracetamol and diazepam (usually take 5mg at night) have upped to 3 or 4 a day. I’m intolerant to so many meds, it’s unbelievable. I do have hypertension but so far my heart (touch wood) is OK. I think my pain is gradually improving but I know it can last for months.

I know we’re told to exercise but this is one thing I think that any exertion makes worse. Lifting, reaching, stretching or pushing can make it worse. All the best. Nic

[Angina42 in reply to Blackwitch]

The pain is awful

I get different pains like dull aching, sharp electric nerve pain and then severe pain that just doesn’t seem to budge.

My sternum, ribs, stomach, side and back are mainly involved and occasionally will go through shoulders, jaw and neck that then usually causes headaches.

After a having a heart attack it’s been hard to rationalise the pain. It’s mostly on my left and can mimic a heart attack. I feel my pain is just getting worse and not going away anytime soon. Even resting is sometimes painful. I find it hard to sit in a comfortable position or lay in comfortable position.

I’m on palexia, panadine forte and Valium but I’m still in pain and at my wits end it’s been about 13 weeks with this pain and it just seems to be getting worse not better.

Can’t work, don’t want to leave the house and everyday is Groundhog Day for me.

Wake up take pills be in pain take other pills continue to be in pain take more pills and go to sleep.

I’m a choreographer/ dance teacher this has really stopped me from doing my job and it’s very debilitating and depressing.

My normal GP has been on 3 weeks holidays so that’s also been difficult seeing other doctors that don’t get what’s going on.

I wish you the best of luck with this.

[OSTEOARTHRITISRA in reply to Angina42]

Any fatuige

[Angina42 in reply to OSTEOARTHRITISRA]

No not really. resting yes but I wouldn’t say fatigued.

[OSTEOARTHRITISRA in reply to Angina42]

Hopefully doc gets to bottom and find right treatment for pain under control

[Angina42 in reply to OSTEOARTHRITISRA]

Well CT scan had shown multiple compression fractures in my spine.

I had cancer 13 years ago lymphoblastic lymphoma. It ate away at my vertebrae and so I had screws and rods all placed in to keep my spine up and strong.

The doctor today was concerned about these fractures and that my pain medication wasn’t helping even though I’m on a high dose.

I’ve been sent for blood tests for cancer and I have a bone scan tomorrow.

Honestly petrified. I didn’t think that cancer was ever a thing for me again.

My osteopath said they can definitely be old fractures and not cancerous. I’m a dance teacher and I went back into teaching after 6 weeks of bed rest after the heart attack so fractures could have easily happened then too.

I’m positive yet scared but I’m hoping that it’s not anything too serious.

I’d like to think my osteopath is correct with chostochondritis even though it’s painful it’s a much better diagnosis than cancer.

Thanks for your support !

[caringkriket in reply to Blackwitch]

My rheumatoid arthritis makes me hurt all over and feel like I have the flu. I do take humaria injections every other week which is finally starting to help some.

[tomc]

I have the same areas painful as you describe but, It also goes down my back and affects my legs also.

This has been ongoing for some time. I, and I stress ( I ) AM NOW in a wheelchair .

You just have to get on with things and do the best you can When you can.

I am sorry you are experiencing this.

[Angina42 in reply to tomc]

In a wheel chair ? Due to the pain ? I’m finding hard to do daily activities and I can’t work. My pain is maybe from a 6-10 on the daily even with plenty of pain medication. I’m booked into see a pain specialist centre where they can do laser treatment, injections and pain management. I’m hoping to get some relief there. After having a heart attack it’s very stressful because all the pain is usually in my left side and is around the heart area. I’m doing all I can with heat / ice packs creams and gels and just trying to move as much as I can daily. Anxiety and depression is slowly creeping in and I’m just so frustrated and snappy due to the pain.

I’m also sorry you’re experiencing this I can’t imagine it also going down into my legs. It must be very difficult.

[tomc in reply to Angina42]

I am an OLD BOY and many years ago I had an accident where a heavy beer keg fell off the lorry I was unloading (no jokes folks) i was in a lot of pain and had to leave my job.

This went on for many years after the accident, I was sent to a specialist hospital (no not for the insane) who done all the tests and came back saying two vertebrae in my neck and lower back were degrading / degraded.

and the outcome is this is lifelong and debilitating.

Thus I wound up using a wheelchair but, i do what I can to keep myself (young fit and beautiful) OK, maybe not all that but I jazzed up my wheelchair 🦼

Don`t dare put yourself down NOR let other people put you down you are dealing with the problem and you are ACE. 👍💖

[Angina42 in reply to tomc]

Sounds pretty hectic mate. Lots of pain over many years. You’re still here and going strong by the sounds of it. Love your spirit !!!!

We are all ACE I think !

I guess it’s how we deal with what we have been handed is the key.

[Marylyn]

I suggest you ask Dr to check your vit d , folate , red cell magnesium, iron , active vit B12 , homocysteine levels .I know from my health issues these can be abnormal causing bone & nerve pain .High homocysteine above 8 can cause blood clots , heart attacks & strokes in any age group.I hope you receive some answers.