Chest pain

Question

I'm a 29 year old male, I've been suffering from pain in my sternum for about 7 years now. It's almost crippling at times and I've been to dozens of doctors and specialists about it. The day it first started, I was diagnosed with costochondritis and sent home with a bottle of advil. I won't take anything narcotic or addictive, but I've tried everything that they make OTC, I can get about a half hour of relief if I take 400 MG tylenol, 400 MG ibuprofen, 500 MG naproxen and a goody's powder. needless to say, I can't take all of that junk every 30 minutes. Rhuematoid tests are normal, no vitamin deffeciencies, I don't have an appendix, They checked for pancreatitis and gall stones, both negative.

Every joint in my body pops and cracks on a regular basis, but none of the rhuematologists think that there is enough evidence for me to see them for possible arthritic conditions, I went to an orthopedic doctor and he didn't see anything wrong with my knees.

does anyone have any other ideas for what I could look for? I have pretty good insurance and my doctor will usually humor me with any test I ask for.

This discussion is related to Chest Pain.

Tuckamore · Accepted Answer

Hello and Welcome to the Pain Mangement Forum,.

I am very sorry that you have been in pain for as long and with no diagnosis. Seven years is too long at your young age to struggle with chronic pain.

As you know there are no physician on this forum. It sound like you have gone the usual routes. Have you had a MRI or a CT of your chest, with contrast? If not it may give you reassurance of it is negative or pinpoint as issue. 

You also mentions pain at numerous other sites. Have your physicians considered Fibromyalgia?  Usually that does not produce painful joints but at this point I think everything should be considered....ruled in or ruled out.

I am concerned about the "cocktail" of OTC medications you are mixing. Is your PCP aware that you are doing that? If not please talk to him. I understand your wish to avoid opiates but beleive me there are worse things. 

Keep searching for answers. I wish you the best of luck.

Take Care,
~Tuck

Emperorgrahf · Answer

Fibro was suggested several times, but it doesn't really fit well. I just got an appointment to get cortisone injected directly into my sternum. We'll see how that works out.

Haven62 · Answer

Hi. I looked up your diagnosis in the search space under the medhelp bar and it said that should go away in a few days. Did you try the symptom checker? I typed in popping joints, got that, then you add more symptoms and you'll get back some tests or things that it might be. This website is a gold mine for info searching.