So I have posted here before. Heat pain going on a year and a half (really started after being t boned). I have been told what it isnt (heart). I feel it on the left side of my sternum, it is not deep, I feel it in my bones. Shoulder, back , and neck also get tight. My question is does this sound like Costco that maybe is due to a back injury?
Sounds like costo to me
Could it have lasted this long?? Almost two years?
Yes, it sounds very like CostoC. to me. A Primary Health Care Professional (PHCP) should be able to make the differential diagnosis as thereare specific ''trigger pain points'' that exacerbate on palpation and can provide the differential diagnostic. You may need to mention that it might be ''CostoC'' to your PHCP as they don't tend to see much of this condition i.e. therefore, there's a possibility they frequently miss the condition and people suffer unnecessarily. The PHCP seem to focus primarily on eliminating ''Emergency Cardiac Problems'' and once eliminated the consider the ''danger'' is over and don't do much to find out what exactly is happening.
Yes, you could have it for 2 years. I've had it for 6 years. Four years without a diagnosis. during this time I was crippled with pain, breathing was incredibly painful, so anykind of mobility was excrusiating. like you the pain followed the ''cardiac'' route and all the cardiac tests proved negative. after the NAD cardiac tests, the medics were'nt interested.
eventually I moved house and a new Doctor diagnosed me straight away and commenced successful treatment.unfortunately, however, a lot of nerve damage had occured in the ''undiagnosed interim'' and I'm left with a lot side effects that I now have to mange. Hope that's helpful.
Caitlin
Yes it can . I've had it for five years . What is happening to your neck if you don't mind me asking
Hey caitlin . I find with my costo that even when I don't get severe episodes of pain that it's always present
Even mild pain is there . Whether it be ribs sternum or back it's still there. Lately it's started affecting my neck . Pain down left side of neck and tightness at the front . Have you ever experienced this
It feels like something is pinched in the upper back and is causing tightness in trap and back on the left side. The chiropractor said I have some verbra out of place which cases the tightness on left side. I've had so many test but just struggle accepting it's not cardiac. I'm 27 by the way.
Hi Ray
Yes, before treatment I had the pain all the time whether at rest or on movement. it always got measurably worse on movement, frequently to the point it was excruciating on movement and I became house/bed bound. with the treatment, I'm mostly pain free.
Caitlin
What treatment did you have?
Hi Runmore11.
I'm on ''Nortriptyline''. It's a new generation of the ''Amitriptyline'' drug group. this medication group was originally used to treat treat depression, but with little effect. however, they found that it worked very effectively for inflammatory nerve pain and has been used for this ever since. I've had to experiment to get the optimal dosage. I'm on 40 mgs at night which is a relatively low dose but very effective. i've had no side-effects and it's a medication that the body doesn't get used to. some people, however, can become drowsy on it. i've been told to take it at night and the 40mgs lasts for 24 hrs.
hope this is helpful
C
Wow that's great news . Which treatment have you had .
The pain in back and neck is a horrible thing . I have it in my neck too . A tightness and also it seems to tighten round front of neck too at the moment . It's getting me down so much lately so I know how you must be
I'm sorry you have felt with it for so long! Have you found any relief with any treatment? It is such a mental battle and I wish I could over come it
I know the battle you mean and I wish I could too. I have tried diazapram which does help but is way too addictive so couldn't stay on it . I still take one occasionally when I know something that day is going to make me far worse . I am going to try relaxion vids on YouTube to listen to as they might help . Maybe you could try too . Are you on any medication
I still haven't been put on any treatment though . Still waiting for physio
Hi ray
I'm on ''Nortriptyline''. It's a new generation of the ''Amitriptyline'' drug group. this medication group was originally used to treat depression, but with little effect. however, they accidently found that it worked very effectively for inflammatory nerve pain and has been used for this ever since. I've had to experiment to get the optimal dosage. I'm on 40 mgs at night which is a relatively low dose but very effective. i've had no side-effects and it's a medication that the body doesn't get used to either. some people, however, can become drowsy on it, therefore i've been told to take it at night and the 40mgs lasts for the 24 hrs. My sense is that some Primary Health Care Practitioners may need ''nudging'' to prescribe this medication for Costo/C. some of the less informed ones seem at a loss as to what's going on with Costo/C.
hope this is helpful
Caitlin
Hi caitlin. Thank you so much . You have been very helpful and I appreciate it. I'm certainly going to be pushing my gp into letting me try it as the drugs on on like tramodol are a waste of time and very addictive . I just hope they have it in the UK but once again thank you
Yes ray, it's availabe in the UK. I live in the UK.
Caitlin
So you think this is what really helped you get over the pin on the left side ?
Hi Runmore11
I've cut and pasted my last communication to you.
yes, without any doubt,(i.e. there's NO think about it) the Nortriptyline stopped the pain. After 4 years of debilitating and sometimes pain so excurating that it kept me bedbound. the day I was diagnosed I was commenced on Nortriptyline in ascending doses. it kicked in within the 24 hrs.
Caitlin
Hi Ray
Immediately diagnosis was made I was commenced on Nortriptyline . It's a new generation of the ''Amitriptyline'' drug group. this medication group was originally used to treat treat depression, but with little effect. however, they found that it worked very effectively for inflammatory nerve pain and has been used for this ever since. I've had to experiment to get the optimal dosage. I'm on 40 mgs at night which is a relatively low dose but very effective. i've had no side-effects and it's a medication that the body doesn't get used to. some people, however, can become drowsy on it. i've been told to take it at night and the 40mgs lasts for 24 hrs.
hope this is helpful