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BlessingsGalore
03-11-2006, 02:05 PM
I'm being treated for severe esophagitis, but I'm leaning more toward it being Costochrondritis. It has all the markers, however I haven't heard anyone write about the pain getting worse when you BEND OVER. I'm almost to the point where I have to hold my plate up high to eat to keep from bending over.

Had a FULL CARDIAC workup this week and heart is good. It hurts just like a heart attack or angina. I'm getting some relief in the mornings but it cranks like the dickens in the afternoon/night. I'm putting DMSO gel on it and Biofreeze and I think that helps.

I'm not having reflux, or indigestion and nothing I eat affects it, so I just don't think it's Esophagitis. I had a bad virus only a week before this started and I understand a virus is one of the causes of Costochrondritis.

Anyone hurt when they bend over..............even to sit and type at the puter for a few minutes sends me over the edge ?

Sound like COSTO to you guys who have it ? :confused:

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BlessingsGalore
03-11-2006, 11:23 PM
Is there no-one here with Costochrondritis ? I'm really surprised. Maybe they're just off the board this weekend. Maybe someone will reply later. :D

browneyegurl
03-12-2006, 12:28 AM
Just saw your post. I have costochondritis also. Hurts like the devil at times. I had my first round of it about 3 years ago, but after a few months it went away. However, I started having problems again several months ago and am still dealing with it. Mine seems to run along the breast bone and towards the right side of my chest. I also feel breathless with it and like I cannot take a deep breath at times. I've had heart ultrasound, holster monitor, exrays and you name it they all came up okay. My doctor is convinced it's realted to the fibro.

I have found that at times moist heat helps and at other times ice. Tylenol seems to give me as much relief as any other pain med. Wish I knew what the cure was because if I didn't have this I think I could deal with the other aspects of fibro much easier.

I believe there are some older posts on this subject that you might be interested in reading.

goldenwings
03-12-2006, 02:41 PM
Hello Blessings,

I personally have started and responded to a lot of posts about the dreaded costochondritis. I have had this off and on for years and years. I can't take standard painkillers because of the interaction with my other drugs, for lupus and heart problems and endless other things, and the only treatment that works for me is steroid injections into my ribs. I am due to have more done next week. Yes, the pain is intense when I bend forward, and also any pressure on the rib cage when the inflammation is there can cause horrid pain. Even the pressure of wearing a bra can also be unbearable at times, your arms brushing the area, absolutely anything that causes the slightest pressure on your ribs.

I have had 2 heart attacks, angina pain and heart bypass surgery and this costo pain is nothing like that at all. Heart attacks are so horrendous and are a totally different pain to costo and present in a very different way. I am saying this because costo pain is nothing like having the pain from heart problems, in my personal opinion. I would advise and recommend that anyone who has chest pain has it checked out thoroughly.

Another thing, this topic has had lots and lots of different posts. If you go to the search section at the top of the page and type in "Costochondritis"
you will sea heaps of stuff about it.

Take care

goldenwings :angel:

BlessingsGalore
03-12-2006, 06:59 PM
Yes, I did the search and read all of them.

Does yours hurt in your back ? Straight through from my lower left breast (but right side of left breast) all the way through to my back. My whole left wing on the back hurts. The whole front did hurt but now it's just in that one lower area but my whole back wing is sooooooooooooo bad.

Does yours hurt through like that ? :confused:

goldenwings
03-13-2006, 08:59 AM
Hiya Blessings,

Oh boy does it hee hee !! The thing is, and I know it is hard to do, you must try to move the whole of your upper body is you need to turn around. Normally, when we not in a fibro flare or anything like that, we tend to just turn our necks. This will pull on your rib area more than if you move the whole of your body.

I know in my own case, I am having injections into my back because the inflammation has been identified as being there too. In a lot of cases the back pain can be secondary, because the front ribs are so sore the awful nagging pain spreads through to your back. Unless the doctor identifies the inflammation in the back area, then he won't inject it. As I said before this is the only treatment that I can have and it does work for me.

Thing is too that when the inflammation is raging, even taking anything but shallow breaths is agony. When this is happening, try to breathe through your nose gently but evenly. Also I know the tendency is to not move at all, but try to get yourself into a more upright position. If you are crouched over in any way, then when you come to move it is so painful. I do my utmost to at least try to move my neck from side to side and foward onto my chest very, very gently so that it doesn't get stiff. The gentlest of stretching exercises here Blessings. Only a very little at a time too.

As you know activity and exercise is not recommended. This always makes me laugh though, because you are in so much pain no way can you even think of doing this hee hee !! I am not making light of this as you know, I think if I don't have a giggle at times, I would go mad. Even though a lot of cases can be caused by trauma to the area, as you say even severe upper respiratory infections have been thought to perhaps play a part in some cases.

Sometimes too, because of the nerves that branch away from the chest, pain might be experienced in the shoulder or arms as well. This is why it is always best if this happens, to make sure you have a doctor visit to rule out any other more serious problems, as you have already done.

The other thing too is that when this cartilege inflammation is named as "Tietze's Syndrome", it present slighlty differently in that the pain is accompanied by redness and or swelling in the areas that are most tender.

I hope you are feeling a little better today.Take care.

goldenwings :angel:

BlessingsGalore
03-13-2006, 11:09 AM
I am some better today thanks Goldenwings. I have had ALMOST full relief for half
days now for 3 days. Then in the afternoon it kicks up.............and can get a lot
worse toward evening and night, probably because I am moving around a lot. I rested for the first two weeks, but have gotten more active this week with it. I'm bored to tears doing nothing, though in the beginning I didn't feel like it, now I'm hopping to get going again and know I must PACE as with all pain syndromes. The zanaflex helps a lot and I'm using DMSO gel and biofreeze. I think that has really helped. GENTLE, GENTLE, GENTLE rubs from hubby have helped back some too.

The gel has really gotten me through and I'm hoping in another week or two to be rid of this stuff as I do believe it's a 6 week post viral infection................at least, it's acting that way.

PRAYERFULLY...........it won't become chronic. Gotta gotta get better....going on a
cruise to Alaska first of June...gotta take care and be fit and ready for that big fun ANNI celebration. :) :):)

Thanks a bunch, will let you know how it goes.

debbie2862
03-19-2006, 04:14 PM
I found this post when I searched on rib pain. I have been having pain on the left side only starting in the front/bottom part of my ribcage. It then radiates around to the back (wing?) area. I don't have many sharp pains but more of a dull achy feeling which at times seems like it is my whole back that is aching (like when I'm standing doing dishes or laundry).
Do you think this could be costochondritis? I'm currently being treated for a neck spasm which was found when I went for xrays on my neck/shoulder because of pain I was having. How do they diagnose costo?
Any information would be very helpful. Thanks.

hangin
03-19-2006, 08:55 PM
You poor things with this terrible costochronidritis. :eek:

I am so sorry to hear that you are suffering so badly BlessingsGalore.

I have heard of this and really do not know what it is. If you feel up to it I would be interested to know what this is?

Hope you feel better as the days go on sweetie. It sounds like all you can do is rest and let it take its course. I really do feel for you.

Take care.

Peace and love, Hangin

BlessingsGalore
03-19-2006, 09:00 PM
Debbie, you described it to a tee. Does it hurt more when you BEND OVER ?

That's when it really painful, though mine has hurt constantly since it started.

I just had my first pain free day however, on Friday and it was back Sat. and today (sunday) it's much better.

My back is still very very tender.............more so than the front of my chest.

I think I got mine after a bad bout with diverticulitis. It can result from a viral infection like that. Hope you feel better.

THANKS HANGIN for all your compassion and kind words and good wishes.

I pray you are feeling :wave: well too.

goldenwings
03-19-2006, 09:03 PM
Hiya Hangin,

Just jumping in here, you know me hee hee !! Costo is inflammation of the cartilege that is between the ribs. It causes dreadful pain in the ribcage, and also makes the whole area tender to the touch. There is another name for the same type of thing but one that produces swelling and redness - that one is called Tietze syndrome. I postd a bit more info a couple of posts ago about it.

How are you doing?

Take care.

goldenwings :angel:

PollyGirl
03-20-2006, 10:15 AM
I have this also and it bothers my left breast area the most while in the upright position and especially when it is my "time of the month" but when I bend over to put on my shoes or pick something up...........YOWZERS!! I get a severe cramp under my right ribcage that is bad enough to send me through the roof. This cramping can also affect my right side and right back muscle.

I have had all the ultrasounds and heart monitoring tests also. Was always told tests were normal. My GYNE told me what this was and what I was experiencing.

I see my first rheumatologist next week.

jhartmac
01-16-2008, 08:16 PM
Hello,

I read all these and wanted to know if this sounds smiliar, about 3 months ago I started getting overall chest pain, achy just in the front and back area of my chest, recently now on my left side, I sometimes get a burning sensation, sometimes a prickly sensation all over my chest area, and then sometimes my chest area is soar to the touch, just a strange experience, Ive had this on and off for a few months, and recently was diagnosed with GERD but Im not sure if this is related..............





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