costochondritis

[Pongo13]

is it possible to get this condition just be leaning sideways over a waist high fence? The pain I am in is terrible at night particularly exacerbated by covid. What can I do for this other than rub voltarol and take paracetomol? I’m on 2 steroids a day (for poly myalgia). Thank you

[SnazzyD]

Hello, are you sure it is costochondritis? Where is the pain?d

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If something happened after leaning over a fence I'd be more inclined to suspect a muscle injury or even a damaged rib. Costochondritis is an inflammatory condition, not an injury.

Is that 2mg pred or 2 tablets - of what dose?

[Pongo13 in reply to PMRpro]

2 mg - very small dose. My guess is they can’t do anything for me! Thanks for speedy response.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pongo13]

You could try a bit more and if it helps speak to the doctor though I doubt it will

[strawclutching]

This may or not be related, but since my GCA diagnosis 3 years + ago I've had quite a few intercostal injuries from leaning or twisting in certain ways. Recently, after pulling a back muscle and chest muscle within days of each other I was learning to move around the bed in a less painful way, and caused a few more intercostal injuries. Because I have muscle & collagen wastage with the Pred, I would assume this to make me more susceptible. Also, my lower ribs tend to rub and catch against one another unless I sit bolt upright in a chair. This could be slipping rib syndrome and I'm finally seeing my GP concernining this on Friday. I did have morphine for the back & chest muscle injuries but only in 2.5ml doses, which did very little for the excruciating pain, but it did fade over 2 months. Avoidance of twisting movements, leaning over bins that may cause pressure in those areas, etc is something you can train yourself to do, but it is such another nuisance to endure.

[alangg]

I had quite acute chest pain during the last stages of my PMR. The Physiotherapist reckoned that it could be a result of subconsciously using muscles in my chest to do things that normally would be done by other muscles if they weren't affected by PMR.

She gave me exercises to strengthen the chest muscles but the condition lingered for a few weeks before slowly becoming better.

Just don't try and cough or sneeze without being able to hold your chest tightly!

[Missus835]

Hi. I have to go to GP regarding this tomorrow. To be investigated. With osteoporosis, I may have leaned too hard over the sink while washing my hair and cracked or bruised a rib. It could also be one of my many spasmed muscles. Pain is not excrutiating, but there. To the right and then to the left of my breastbone, which is tender to the touch. Worse when I lie on my side. Get it checked out because it could be other things.

[Jbobby]

I’m with PMRpro… I’d guess muscular or possibly damaged rib. I did very similar thing simply by leaning accross and slightly to grab something from passenger seat in my car. Made movement slightly too violently and pressed side of ribcage heavily on bulky side of car seat . And even though it was SOFT material I was in pain in that area for several weeks. Checked with doc. Even had xray. No fracture. Just muscular. I’m sorry for you coz it’s horrible pain and really inconvenient. I found Nuromol best help. And took lots of Curcumin. Bon courage.