Costocondritis?

[MTV]

Anyone suffering from costocondritis?  My doc seems to think I have this.  I have pain mainly down the middle of my sternum that goes straight through to the back.  Sometimes radiates across my upper chest.  Also have some pain and burning in my neck.  It hurts mainly durning the day and it takes me awhile to get comfortable and go to sleep.  It does not wake me up at night.  How long can this last and is there anything I can do to make myself more comfortable where the pain is concerned?  The doc gave me Celebrex to see if it helps.  Thanks!

mtv

[Chayce]

A related discussion, costocondritis was started.

[Fornshell]

I was told I had costocondritis about 8 years ago.  I though I was having heaart trouble. I was told to take 1000 mg Asprin for the pain.  It hurt in my chest and back.  Somehow it went away.  then 2 weeks ago I started hurting again but on the other side of my chest and back.  Again I thought I was having a heart attack'  same thing constocondritis this time it really hurts-I cant stand to wear a bra or pants because of the pain.  some days are better than others=it seems to me the more I use my body the worst it gets but I do filling at work and I have to work.  Right now typing this I am in such pain-do any of you keep thinking i must have something elses wrong with me?  It helps to know others understand our pain. I have been going to a chiropractor which I am not sure is helping at all.  I was told to take Celebrax this time.does any one get sharps pains in your right arm. thanks

[Twiggie83]

i didnt realize how common costocondritis was. I never even heard of it until i was diagnosed with it last xmas of 02, Mine was Triggered by Stress. I've actually had it for a year or two but i didnt know it was that. Id get sharp pains in my left side of my chest & my stomach, like i had swallowed an Air bubble. It would come and go every few months so id take some IBprofin and go on with my day, then last Dec it started as like i had swallowed a rock and it was just sitting in my stomach and wouldnt go away. Then it went away, then at nite was when it flared up real bad. I had to take Hot baths And throw hot pads on me. Then i was fine. The next day on the 23rd it was so bad i was short of breath and could hardly lay down or move my left arm. So i was freaking out and had my brother & my b/f drive me to the hospital at 4am. It took them hrs of testing to figure out that i had costo. It was scary cuz i didnt know what was wrong w/ me. But they prescribed me Naprosyn (aleve) and Darvocet. I use 700mg every 12hrs of naprosyn every day, otherwise it'l flare up again..I also take naprosyn for my arthritis cause i type alot at my current job..Then this past January i was also diagnosed with early rhuemetoid (sp??) arthritis, in my fingers, elbows, wrists, it was a very cold winter in michigan, that didnt help my body either..but its summer time now and i feel like my self again. Im too young to be feeling this old, Im only 19...im not looking foward to this winter at all..Sorry i type so much.

[carriebeth]

Hello. I've been battling with costocondritis on and off for more than two years. I am only 19 and was just recently diagnosed with it. I have tried muscle relaxers, ibuprofen 800, naproxen, voltarin and recently I've started a new medication, indocin which is an Nsaid that is suppose to help most with costocondritis. I was just wondering to the people who are on celebrex or have tried it, if it works or successfully relieves costocondritis?

[spidy]

Does anyone have more of a problem with pain or breathing when sitting or lying down?  I find that i get short of breath at night (most likely when the celebrex has worn off some) and catch myself with short breaths.  Driving in a car also is not a good position for me regarding the above.  Does anyone get little shootng pains from the center of their chest, too.  I don't know if that is a separate condition for me.  I'm currently exploring that with tests.

[dd_real]

Yes. I too have suffered from this.  I was diagnosted with this condition when I was 25.  At first I did feel like I was having a heart attack.  It was very scary.  At the time, (7 years ago) they didn't give me anything but Ibuprofen. My job at the time was a cocktail waitress. This didn't help because of the constant lifting. I was in pain all the time.  Finally, I went to a pain managment specialist.  They gave me about 10 shots in my chest.  It worked but I was so bloated from the steriods.  Since, I have a different job that doesn't require any lifting.  I took celebrex for a while and it really helped me.  I only feel the pain now every once in a while if I have lifted somthing heavy.  However, I still have a bit of a breathing problem.  It is hard sometimes to take deep breaths.  I thought for a while that maybe my lungs were bad.  But they are fine, it is just the Costocondritis.  I think that this can be contolled and it does get better overtime.  I feel your pain, and stick with the Celebrex...It will help.

[spidy]

I've been diagnosed with costo also and am going on 2 1/2 months.  I am on celebrex (& take nexium in the a.m. so that the celebrex doesn't upset my stomach).  I have been through ekg's, blood tests, cat scan, echo cardiogram, & bone scan. It tends to come in waves - some days it really aches in the center of my cest (or just to the right of it) and somedays it is like a dull pain.  I also get short of breath at times.  I ice it (bags of frozen peas) and heat it. I can only wear string bikini tops at this time because they don't put pressure on my chest like bras do.  Does any one have any other helpful hints to "make it disappear" or reduce the pain?  I'm scheduled to see a rheumatologist at the end of the month, but am afraid that he/she will recommend a cortisone shot (those kill!).

[Cutiegrl]

Hi,
I have Costocondritis. I get really bad chest pains which usually spreads to my left side. Including my back, left arm and arm pit. My doctor gave me IBprofin to take. That seems to help a lot. The pain usually comes and goes like when I'm under a lot of stress or I'm really upset then I get it. I went to the doctor for it in March so i've had it since then. Do you know anyone who has it? I don't. Except for my father.

[RichardsRebekah]

Hi Everyone , I am a single 34 year old mother of two I have two kid's one is a sisxteen year old daughter  . Eveytime me and her disagree I start throwing up and My tummy , right side of ribs my shoulder and ribs on the right side start hurting really bad it seems like it starts swelling up also. I went to the hosipital they first pump my stomach to see if I am bleeding in my stomach then they did a ultasound and of course ran blood work and took my urine sample . At first they thought it was my gallbladder then they said I had costochondritis also, known as tietze sydrome and a ulcer that is not a bleeding ulcer yet .
Is there anyone that can tell me what to expect and if it ever get's better I can't see my pcp until the 17th so , the hosipal gave me some motrin 400mg . Is there anything else, that can help me ? My e-mail adress is ***@****.
Thanks , Rebekah

[RichardsRebekah]

I am a 34 year old mom of two one girl 16 and a son that is 13.
Evertme , My daughter upset me I noticed I would start throwing up and geting a really bad pain in my belly and my ribs would get real sore so , I went to and they ran some test for along time my right side would swell up and hurt really bad So , I thought it was my liver . Then the hosipitol told me I had costchondritis . I still don't know what I should expect and how often it will hurt . Does anyone know any thing I can do to make it better ?
Thanks, Rebekah

[veleanne]

I have this horrible thing.  My doctor says it can be acute (hit after a bout with bronchitis or something) or chronic (in my case because of so many broken ribs).  Apparently that is very little that can be done.  I also have osteoporosis and my bones break very easily.  I was having a bout with the costocondritis and broke my back.  Unfortunately, I got pneumonia before they could fix the break (I have the vertiplasty -- cement -- and it works great).  To make a long story a little shorter, I was in the hospital 30 days (I don't remember any of them)and at one point my children were told that nothing more could be done except to try to keep me comfortable. I am not in rehab learning to walk again so I feel very fortunate.

[0x00000dcc]

Had what the doc thought was costo. Took Vioxx, went away in 3 days. Might have gone away with or without the drug, I m not sure, because the doctor said it sometimes jsut goes away on its own. He said it's very common in young adults, and doctors typically do not know how to treat it becuase it does go away sometimes on its own. My case moight be different though - mine was very mild.

[The old lady]

Sorry you have the pain.  How have you been recently hurt or did you over exercise-big ball game or such? A nice site to check: www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic116.htm  [costocondritis].  I have an employee just diagnosed with costocondritis and gave her prints from that site.  Go ahead and cry, it might help.  Most of all, have faith relief is out there, believe in yourself, be patient and watchful and get better soon.

[The old lady]

Sorry you have the pain.  I had a 'bout' so long ago I don't remember the meds. I probably was given more than aspirin for relief but more remember my learning to identify with the pain level. Pain level told me to stop doing something. Knowing a right time to 'work through the pain' I could do light exercises a nurse suggested-babystep short sessions with a can of peas--elbow on table and make wrist curls then to forearm lifts,elbow still on table until you could hold your arm out in front and curl for short periods.  Work up to overhead & sideout straight arm lifts.  Avoid twisting your upper body for quite a while-no quick fix here.  How have you been recently hurt or did you over exercise-big ball game or such? A nice site to check: www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic116.htm  [costocondritis].  I have an employee just diagnosed with costocondritis and gave her prints from that site.  Go ahead and cry, it might help.  Most of all, have faith relief is out there, believe in yourself, be patient and watchful and get better soon.

[The old lady]

Sorry you have the pain.  I had a 'bout' so long ago I don't remember all done to help live it out.  I do remember a rough water boating day caused me to heave up and then quickly down with my upper torso.  The downward result was like squashing my ribs together.  I wanted only to 'cave in' when doing everyday things like reaching for a glass of water or trying to lift my young daughter. I probably was given more than aspirin for relief but more remember my learning to identify with the pain level.  Understanding my own pain level told me to stop doing something [get good at the recognition and you will not even try-or put off some tasks] Knowing when it was a right time to 'work through the pain' I could practice good breathing and gradually increase my chest expansion.  A nurse suggested babystepping into strength by short sessions with a can of peas--elbow on table and make wrist curls then to forearm lifts,elbow still on table until you could hold your arm out in front and curl for short periods.  Work up to overhead outfront & sideout straight arm lifts.  Avoid twisting your upper body for quite a while. No matter what its going to take more time than you may want to give it so get over a quick fix notion.  How have you been recently hurt or did you over exercise-big ball game or such? A nice site to check and then maybe discuss new options with your doctor: www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic116.htm  [costocondritis].  I have an employee just diagnosed with costocondritis and gave her prints from that site.  Go ahead and cry, it might help.  Most of all, have faith relief is out there, believe in yourself, be patient and watchful and get better soon.

[shawna 28]

hi i have costocondritis this started suddenly about one year ago i cant tell you how many times i went to the er thinking they was wrong and there was something wrong with my heart  i thought it would never go away but eventually it did but i will tell you what that is one of the wrost pain i have experinced and i have three children so that tell you alot  at first i thought i was going crazy cause i had never heard of this before i was so worried that it was an affect of being overweight so i went on a diet and lost 100 pounds (good for me) well theres one thing to say dont be like me and worry about everything because its then that you feel everything with your body that was there before but you never set your mind to the worry mode   keep worring and youll feel every nerve jump muscle jump  your mind is very powerful dont worry about whats wrong just worry about whats right  and ask GOD to help you overcome whats going on and he will help just ask          GOD BLESS

[NancyV]

I was diagnosed with Costoocondritis a year and a half ago and like so many other people with Costo, I was misdiagnosed and almost had a hiatal hernia operation I didn't need.  When my Gastroentologist told me I had Costo, he laughed.  I thought it was some kind of joke -not a real illness.  It was re-confirmed by my GP, also with a laugh.  I found a chat room at that time and it was my salvation.  Through that, I was advised to take Glucosomine w/Condroitin (sp?), which I believe has helped a lot.  I also find that when the pain goes around to my back that the only thing that eases it, is to lay in a warm bath.  Pain medication helps, but can't get a doctor to prescribe it for Costo (I had it for something an absesses tooth and found quite by accident that it helped the Costo pain subside.  The only difference I've found in my case (found only one other person with same problem) is that eating and/or constipation triggers an episode.  I also take Celebrex.   Hope someone finds this info helpful.
NancyV.

[cantwalk]

This is the same type of chest pain I've had for the last 7 years, more severe the last 3 or 4. It was suggested to me that maybe it was
costo but I now know it is ankylosing spondylitis. I finally went to a
rheumatologist and he confirmed this by viewing my x-rays and
symptoms I was having. I did have all the cardio tests,angiogram,
gastrol barrium swallows(twice), tubes down my throat thru the nose
to check swallowing causes, endoscope down past the stomach,etc.
The thing is -did the pain start around 20ish-mine did,lower back and
it hurt. I developed iritis around 25 or so, lasted once or twice a year untill I reached 55, then the "chest" pain started and the iritis left.
I'm taking celebrex and doing physio last 3 months-still can'twalk
more than block without having to stop and rest until the pain subsides.
Lately, it's developed into a "dagger' in the back as well as the angina
in the chest. By the way, my ECG shows a false ischemia which scares
the doc into thinking I'm going to have a cardiac episode. luckily, so
far this is not the  case-the angiogram(heart x-ray) was normal.
So have all the tests if you can and make sure you know what you
are up against. I really can't say which I would rather have-costocondritis
or AS

[cantwalk]

This is the same type of chest pain I've had for the last 7 years, more severe the last 3 or 4. It was suggested to me that maybe it was
costo but I now know it is ankylosing spondylitis. I finally went to a
rheumatologist and he confirmed this by viewing my x-rays and
symptoms I was having. I did have all the cardio tests,angiogram,
gastrol barrium swallows(twice), tubes down my throat thru the nose
to check swallowing causes, endoscope down past the stomach,etc.
The thing is -did the pain start around 20ish-mine did,lower back and
it hurt. I developed iritis around 25 or so, lasted once or twice a year untill I reached 55, then the "chest" pain started and the iritis left.
I'm taking celebrex and doing physio last 3 months-still can'twalk
more than block without having to stop and rest until the pain subsides.
Lately, it's developed into a "dagger' in the back as well as the angina
in the chest. By the way, my ECG shows a false ischemia which scares
the doc into thinking I'm going to have a cardiac episode. luckily, so
far this is not the  case-the angiogram(heart x-ray) was normal.
So have all the tests if you can and make sure you know what you
are up against. I really can't say which I would rather have-costocondritis
or AS

[holli5944]

i was diagnosed with pleurodinia when i was 13, then rediagnosed with costocondritis a few months later.  my doctor told me this condition usually occurs in women whos chest develops more quickly than the rest of the body.  i was given some tylenol with codiene for a week and told to use a heating pad on my chest for 6 weeks and quit all my sports and it would go away.  yeah, that didn't work, i'm 17 and still get chest pains.  it's usually when im stressed out or do strenuous activity.  anti-inflamatories usually work to relieve the pain somewhat.  i think working the chest muscle helps too in the long run.  it builds up the strength so it doesnt have work as hard.