Greetings- I've been reading the posts here for a couple of weeks but just joined & wanted to introduce myself and thank this group for the great info! I was diagnosed with Costo about 3 months ago. I won't go into all my experiences because they are similar to most of those here.
Just one question for now: does anyone experience upper stomach or abdomen pain from Costo? My doctor determined that it isn't gastro, that is, I do have some upset from taking NSAIDs (I don't take much) but when I get a bad flare up of Costo it often extends to my upper, middle abdomen. I assume this is the Costo affecting my sternum area but if affects my appetite and even digestion I think. I haven't read about others having this (or maybe I've just not read them yet).
The Costo has changed my whole life and I feel determined to beat it. I've gotten many great ideas here & am implementing some of them: exercises, diet, Omega 3 from high-grade fish oil, etc. But often the pain is so bad that I have to take something for immediate relief. All the NSAIDs hurt my stomach too much except for aspirin. Surprisingly aspirin helps a lot, but I’m worried about taking too much. I tried Diclofenac pills and they worked like a miracle and I thought I had the answer for immediate pain relief, but the next day my stomach was devastated. So my doctor just prescribed Diclofenac 1% gel. Hopefully it will work without hurting my stomach.
Well, I did not mean to go on so long, I will post more in future. Thanks again to all here! Like so many have said, this is a baffling condition and very, very frustrating. I’ll suddenly have almost no pain for like 2 days, then it hits hard again! And contrary to most medical literature on the subject, it does NOT go away in a week or two, as I was told & read on ‘official’ sites, and as everyone here knows as well. Every day is a challenge & it really affects your rhythm and flow, even with the most ordinary functions. Well thanks again for this group!
Hi Stephen,
Long time sufferer here!
I too have stomach issues so use voltarol and ibuprofen gel but that sometimes gives me an upset stomach anyway!
I find that eating plenty before taking anything helps or if in a rush a big glass of milk... Avoid anything high in iron and keep an eye on your vitamin d levels as taking painkillers over a long period of time can affect your ability to absorb nutrients (I ended up severely anaemic)
Hope that helps!
Marie
Thanks so much! It definitely helps! I want to start on vitamin D but there is so much info out there I don't know what kind, a good brand, etc. Do you have any suggestions? Also, are there any other supplements that could help ? Thanks?
Was diagnosed about 3 years ago. Naproxen helped me a lot. It started flaring up again and am also having issues with my stomache. Hopefully will go away again.
Hi there,
D3 and if youre in Britain, the best I have found is Baldwins own brand at about £17 a bottle. They are high dose (10000mg I think) so more useful than the usual rubbish. I'm sure you have read it elsewhere but the Backpod was the best thing I ever got to deal with Costo. All the best.
Thank you! I'll check out the Baldwins and I'm definitely going to try the Backpod as so many people have gotten good results from it. Thanks again!
Thanks! Yeah, nothing would be better than to simply get rid of it!
Hi,
What is the Backpod you're talking about?
thx
Yeah I get that alot.. Not sure why stomach gets pains aswell with costocondrits.
From what I've researched, it seems that some of the stomach pain could actually be coming from the sternum area, which is in the center and above the stomach area. Costo affects the sternum as well as the ribs, so it may be radiating out from there and only seem to be the stomach. But I'm certainly not sure about this. Costo is such a strange condition that I'm not 100% sure about very much... except that it hurts like hell!
It sure dose hurt i cant even tense anymore ive noticed it causes pian on and below my sternum its called the xiphoid process its a small bone down there aswell it also causes pain and that is right at the start of the stomach. Maybe thats where the stomach pain is radiating from i will see my GP on Thursday and post back what he says to me mate.
Thanks, I would definitely like to know what your doctor says.