Costochondritis pain and discomfort

Bones, joints and muscles
1

I am a 39 yr old mother of a 5yr old daughter. I live in Newry, northern Ireland.

I was diagnosed with costochondritis 2 years ago this month. Like everyone elses case I have read on here I was totally convinced there was something more serious wrong with me and argued with my Doctor for a long time about it.

It started when I got a flu while on holidays and the only thing that I can think may

have brought it on was the coughing. It comes and goes every couple of months but there isn't a day that I don't get some kind of pain in my back or chest area. Just

before Christmas last year while driving to work I took really sharp chest pain and

felt like my heart was jumping around in my chest. This panicked me as I thought I

was having a heart attack. I pulled into the hard shoulder as I had my little girl in the car with me and I was finding it difficult to breath. The panic stopped after a while and I went straight to A&E. They did numerous tests, ECG, chest Xrays, blood tests, you name it and in the end they said they agreed with my GP that it was

costochondritis. They put me in Diclofenic tabs, which are anti inflammatory. They did help and the condition eased up after a few days but it wasn't long til it reared its ugly head again. so for me its 2 weeks of severe pain and maybe 4-5 weeks of bearable pain then back to severe pain again.

I am down at minute but this time its really bad, it seems each time I get it It is more severe. I am now on naproxin which to be honest I find useless. Pain killers are not working and even the hot water bottle which I found great is no use this time.

The majority of my pain in in my back between my shoulder blades and travels up into my neck and shoulders, sometimes down my arms. Although I have chest pain the worst is in my back, though if I were to press on my ribs at the front I could scream with pain.

I find this time with it being worse it is affecting my moods. I am snapping at my little girl all the time which I feel terrible about, and I just dont want to do anything. Work is just a nightmare recently. I am normally an upbeat person and very little gets me down, but it is really taking its toll. I have had this condition now for 2 years and it really in not understood. Most people I talk to have never heard of it, so when I found this forum and so many people suffering like myself it was a God send. So hopefully I can gain some knowledge from other people and anyone panicking about the pain they are feeling and thinking its something bad, can take some reassurance from my story.

Does anyone feel the pain is in their back more then their chest area. And if anyone has any advice or anything, please do share with me.

Sinead

2

I have had probllems as you describe. Mine were caused by my internal defib firing and when this happens the arms get thrown back and it pulls the muscle where the

ribs join the breasbone. After 3 visits to  A&E the doctor who used to work in the heart department  new exactly what the problem was. He put me on a 5 day course of

two 500mg parecetamol 4 times a day and 400mg of ibrufen 3 times a day.

He said that if I get any twinges after that to take paracetamol. You could ask your doctor for oramorph; The problem takes upto a year to clear but get a second opinion if not happy with the way it is going.

3

Hello Sinead, Years ago I developed a terrible pain like yours when a chiropractor over corrected me. It lasted nearly 6 months and I thought it was heart problems, pleurisy etc It eased up a little when I was active (and warm). It was so painful one Sunday I saw a physiotherapist who worked on a nerve firing in my neck. Two visits and the pain was gone after 6 months of feeling I had dislodged my shoulderblade. I called her the healing hands. Good luck.

4

Hi Ina,

My Doc has now referred me to a physiotherapist so I am just waiting for an appointment. She did say it could take a couple of weeks though. Have had it bad this time round and nothing seems to be working. I am eating painkillers along with anti infalmmatory tabs. Seems to be lasting alot longer this time too. Pain is alot worse when sitting. When I am up and about it doesn't seem to bother me so much.  I hope it is something like a nerve in my neck, that can be fixed easily. The only thing is the pain can be anywhere from my shoulder blades and upper back right down to my hips. Pain seems to move on a daily basis. 

Feeling really crap at the moment as its been going on so long now and this time like I said more severe. Healing hands I need.

Thanks for the reply Ina.

Sinead

5

Hi Sinead34836

​I hope you are feeling better. 

I am male 26 years of age and I am having some of the symptoms you mentioned - pain in the chest + pain in the shoulder blades + back of the arm. I went to the doctor and he diagonized me with Costochondritis as well. He prescribed anti-inflammatory tablets. I have been trying them. Exactly like you said, my condition got better for a week and then got worse. I would like to know what you did, if your physiotherapist worked or if there's something else that's clicked, if that's okay.  Were you able to pin it down as to what was causing the pain ? 

Thanks. 

 

6

I have had this for 5 months. It is the worst thing possible. I have the pain in my rib cage on both sides, it started with just my left side but now my whole chest, sternum and ribs hurt. I also now have pain in my back, shoulders and down my arms. I find that stress makes it worse. I had a break from the pain for about a week but it came back strong! I take ibuprophen every 4 to 6 hours and sometimes a painkiller caled tramedol which does nothing really. the medications just upset my stomach and I dont feel like eating. I use heat as often as I can but even that isnt doing much. I agree with you that this makes me irritable and I also finf myself snapping at my loved ones. Like you, I welcome any advice I can get as I also go to the chiropractor 2 times a week for laser treatments and still no relief!

 

7

Hello my name is Karen and I've been dealing with this same kind of pain for well over a yr now,  I've went to the e.r flight it before a long time ago and the Dr told me it was costocondritis and I kinda didn't believe him.  But it's been extremely bad lately and nothing I do seems to help with the pain and now my Dr thinks it's my gallbladder cause it hurts after I eat alot. And the pain is mainly in my back.  Please help me with what to do for the pain cause it gets like you say unbearable. Thank you

8

Hi,

I have just been diagnosed with costochondritis after having ECG and Endoscope checking heart and stomach which was the original diagnosis, however all proved  OK.

The chest pain has been terrible at night and has lead to loss of sleep etc.

I play tennis 2-3 times a week and put it down to the exertion of this, but have found some exercise has helped.

With this in mind I went to a sports physio this week, who massaged my back and clicked a few bones and hey presto, pain has subsided substantially and I now sleep through the night. Just a mild pain in the morning.

I have decided to avoid tennis for a few weeks to limit any stress on my spine and/or chest and will go back to gentle exercise to see if cured.

I hope this helps other sufferers.

Garry

9

Hi Sinead

i was diagnosed with Costochondritis a few years ago. After many trips to A&E with bad chest pains and many tests later they diagnosed Costochrondritis. It was a relief to to get a diagnoses t as I was always thinking I was having a heart attack and panic set in which made everything much worse. They told me to try various pain killers which didn't really help. I learnt to deal with it myself and soon realised that any form of strenuous exercise would set it of again. Moving furniture or other heavy objects would also have impact on it. Now when I feel pain I rub pain gel or cream on the chest and wear good sports bra to support the chest. I have sessions with a pyhsiotherpiest which also helps. I know Costochondritis is very stressful and very painful so I hope my experience helps. I live in UK but I am from Carlingford near you. Good luck.

10

Just an update on my previous posting a few months ago. I started taking Omega 3 fishoils 2 x 1000mg capsules with meals in January and have found the effect on costocondritis amazing.

I no longer have pain at night and am back playing tennis regularly. A simple stretching excercise helps too by extending my arms out wide and turning head from left to right. It helps to stretch out the chest and alleviates any pain.

Costo is under control and I hope this may help other sufferers.

Regards

Garry

11

the heart attack feeling is because the inflammation is on the heart side.

i had it both left and right. It's not the heart. I had regular massage on my chest to dissipate the knotted tissue and muscle and knotty rib joints and Chinese acupuncture to re align the blood flow. This stopped the stabbing pains and heart attack feelings. Visit a chiro to stay aligned and if they find sore rib joints they massage them and they unlocked the jammed up bits mid chest with air impulse.

doctors will prescribe NSAIDs that's all. You have to help with alternative therapies and I rub cold freeze gel on my ribs when they hurt and rub my chest with it at night if required. You have to help yourself it's not a thing dr are interested in to be honest.

its inflammation and swelling, it's painful, it's life quality inhibiting, it makes you ratty but you can get in under control with time, effort and I hate to say it but you need to spend money on it. Good luck everyone. 

 

12

Wow thats bril news.  My daughter (18) has just been told she has this.  she has been in awlful pain for weeks and comes home crying from work most nights.  the doc didnt send her for any scans or tests.  he has just said to come for blood test next week.  he has also said its down to anxity and she is now on medication for the this.  

I think I will get her some of the fishoils capsules and see how it goes.

How long would you say it took to notice a change and did you notice any side effects to the fish oil tabs 

13

The pain subsided within a week of taking fish oils. There are no side effects except sometimes fishy burps!! But, make sure they are taken with food and this is not so bad. I checked on websites and there is no evidence of any side effects that I know of.

Anxiety is possible and I believe this has something to do with my problem too. I now try to relax more about minor problems, eat more healthily and continue with the stretching excersises and tennis. Just a slight twinge every now and then reminds me to keep calm and carry on!

Hope your daughter recovers as well as me.

14

Hi Sinead,

I can completely relate to you. I am at 7 months now and have experienced all types and levels of pain. And becasue this condition has symptoms of many more serious illness I have an extensive work up which always comes up negative beause this condition rarely shows up on scans. That in itself is extremely frustrating!

Everyone I mention this to also has never heard of it so these forums are extremely helpful and they soothe me a little.

I have now decided to stay off the anti-inflammatories as they either don't do anything or they ruin my stomach and bowel system. I'm down to Tramadol pain-killers. I just got 8 costosternal injections done 3 wks ago but not seeing a great improvement so far... 

Like yourself it is now taking its toll on me emotionally because I see no end to it and it is persistently bad! Hence I am thinking about taking nortriptyline, low-dose, which was suggested months ago but I said no desiring to stay away from anti-depressants and nerve drugs... Alas I may have beaten on this on and think it can only helo.

The constant daily pain wears us all down in the end.

I see your post goes back a year so if you read this let me know how you've progressed. This nonsense is supposed to just "go away." I'm still waiting...

Julie

15

Hi I am female 60 years old and have developed the chest bone pain you describe, I have had this pain for years but actually had a heart attack 18 months ago. The pain is very similar but feels more muscular sharp pain when I press the breast bone the pain is severe. This latest attack has given me pain in the back and difficulty breathing in getting very sharp pain in the back. I have had clots in the past and have been on warfarin for 10 years so cannot take anti inflamitory medication.

   I have an appointment today with doctors and have not been diagnosed with a condition but having read your description the pain I am in sounds exactly the same.

16

Hello 

im so glad I've found this, I've been diagnosed with this and have had it for 9 weeks. I had physio on sat and its been worse for the past few days...past few days have been really bad and I'm now convinced its something really bad.although if physio masked it worse then perhaps it is costo and not internal organs......I'm taking co codomol and ibruprofen which takes the edge off a bit but not loads....I've had ultrasound on abdomen which was clear but now convinced they missed something,the reason is the pain on pushing my ribs is going but it's kind of radiating around my side from the bone under my left breast where it started....there isn't a lot of pain pushingribs but I that creates the pain a second later....this is really worrying and getting me down 

 

17

Hi. 

That's the frightening thing about this, the pain radiates everywhere!

My most intense pain is on the right but I get it both sides. And it radiates to the sides and I get a lot of back pain too especially shoulder blades...

After 9-months of this I still cannot tell you if it's skeletal pain, nerve pain, or both. I tried PT also at the beginning but it was too early and made it worse. It just takes a really long time if you have a bad case of it and all you can do is rest and build up your strength and excercise levels slowly. Trust me I've overdone it so many times and pay the price for the next two days.

And I understand the fear that you have something worse going on internally... Been there! I've had MRIs, CT scans, ultra sounds done on everything. And every blood test we could think of as I was convinced a virus was destroying my body. I say get tested if you're concerned...

18

Hi, yes i've had blood tests for ovarian, lipase, amylase  and abdominal ultrasound, all clear.  My biggest fear is pancreatic C  as typing left side rib pain into google it was the first topic it brought back, so that has sent me into a spiral of anxiety. I do have a history and this is driving me mad ... . The physio made my whole rib cage ache like a band was tied around it about 2 hrs later on sat, its funny as the day before I nearly cancelled as it felt ok, so it has set me back with the anxiety too. I went back to GP for a referral on private healthcare which i've got for next week , but i don't have any other symptoms really, a 2 week period of wierd bowel movements and a bit of loud stomach after food about4 weeks ago, but everything else seems ok at the moment. The pain was getting better I think so i'm hoping the set back after physio means its more muscular/costo ie rubbing the ribs thatn anything else. ..but i just don't know

9 months sounds absolutely awful. Id me a total wreck

19

Thank You Garry,

I am going to take the Fishoils as soon as I get off here.  This is the 3rd time having it.  I'm pretty sure thats what it is.  Doc said it was inflammation and told me to take Advil. Helped, but this time it is worse.  I have R A and I'm doing really well with it but this Costochonodritis has me down. Thank You again Garry. I'll let you know how i'm doing. Thanks :-)

 

20

Hi Sinead  I really can sympothise with you my symptoms are just like you pain in my back between shoulder blades my doctor told me in November what I had mine started in June I had been to my chiropractor and it was quite an intense session on my back and shoulders a few days later I went on holiday abroad I felt like my heart was going to jump out of my body I ended up at a heart hospital found no problem they were very through I came home not rested as this was there all the time I went to a hospital at home and they did a 24hr tape on my heart when the nurse put on the sticky pads I was so tender that's when I told my doctor  the pain is very tiring and I find it hard to get comfortable at times I feel like I've got a ton weight pressing on my chest caused me severe anxiety attacks but like you after reading the people with it I'm much more relaxed I try to rest as much as I can but I have to work and my job is physical care worker my doctor told me it would go in a few weeks but find at times it's much worse even doing housework agrivates it my description feels like a very hard heart beat that's felt I the ribs and across the tummy hope this helps anyone out there with this I'm going to see a new chiropractor to see if I've got a displaced rib as I'm told this could be the source of the problem