I've been having a lot of back pain for the past few weeks, and where my ribs come together belong the breast bone is very tender, as are my lower ribs. My doctor says that I have costochondritis. He says that the pain can wrap around to the back. Does anyone else have this problem?
It is the most horrible pain. Makes you feel like you're having a heart attack. Ibruprophen and hot bathes help it. Hang in there, it goes in about a month most of the time.
I get this pain as well but I have had it for 10 years, it just varys in degrees. I also find that if I glug a drink it tends to get stuck. I was told it is like two sides of a coin, when the back is inflamed it wraps around to the front.
I am new here today, so just feeling my way a little
I had Costochondritis off and on for a number of years (more on than off). The best relief I got was when I had steroid injections into my ribs. Yukky I know, but it worked for me.
Hi, I was diagnosed with costro about two years ago, but am sure I had it longer. Some people have it for a short while and it goes away, others have it and it becomes chronic.I get severe rib pain that seems to start at the base of the sterum along my lower ribs on the left side. The pain radiates though my breast right up to the shoulder and into my back. Sometimes it is in the bra strap area goes into my breast or into the under arm and down my side. My ribs below the breasts and above are always sore as well as my collar bone.
From my understanding a lot of Fmers have both conditions as well as myofascal pain sydrome, I sure meet the criteria I have all three.
Hugs to you and everyone, Linda
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pa235
Fibromyalgia
Myofascal pain syndrome
Costochondritis
Arthritis, cervical and thorastic
I've been having a lot of back pain for the past few weeks, and where my ribs come together belong the breast bone is very tender, as are my lower ribs. My doctor says that I have costochondritis. He says that the pain can wrap around to the back. Does anyone else have this problem?
I also have it. Right where the ribs cover the heart.. I even went to the emergancy room with chest pains because I wasn't sure what it was. One time I took 2 Vicadin and 2 Tylanol and it barely touched the pain. Prednisone or Relafin( not sure that is the correct name) because both are strong anti inflammatories. Yes it is terrible. Doctor said xrays won't show problem because cartilage will not show up.
I've had this for 9 months now. I just don't understand it. My back hurts left side mid way down & down my flank everyday. It's a very sore area in my back that just kills. Also my ribs are all tender entire left side & it hurts left side up to under my left breast. I've tried steroid injections & trigger point. None have worked for me. I can't believe they don't have a way to make this go away. Does anyone know what causes it anyway?
I think arthritis of the cartilage is a perfect description. I am continuing with magnesium, calcium, zinc, massage and moist heat and seem to be getting big relief finally.
I have had FM for over 25 years but have only recently (say past 4 months) had the costochondritis pain. I also had heart tests performed to be safe, but in the end it was related to the FM. It is a tossup between the costo or my hip pain as to which is most disabiling. At times each has its moments when moving at all seems like a bad idea. The stress test and blood tests with a cardiologist settled the heart issue which is comforting.
Hi Diane,
I had a bad bout of chostochondritis a few years ago after having the flu. It sort of crept up slowly over a few days, and I kept checking in the mirror thinking my ribs had big bruises on them (that's how it initially felt). It became intolerable for about a week (I actually passed out from the pain ). The doc prescribed motrin, and told me to apply heat. I also wrapped a giant ace bandage around my chest (a little difficult with boobs, lol! ) which helped, especially while sleeping. I was sore for a a couple of months after, and still get the occaisional flare up, but not so bad as the first time. I hope you feel better soon!
Lynne
I posted a while ago re: costochondritis. Since then I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I am really annoyed about this as I suffered (and I do mean) suffered with costo, and the only relief was steroid injections. I can't have them now as I have had open heart surgery so it's a bit tricky.
Maybe I had the fibromyalgia all along, I don't know. It all comes back to only seeing what they want to see I'm sorry to say. Perhaps if they had looked into my symptoms a bit more it would have enabled me to get treatment for the fibromyalgia and therefore the costochondritis would not have been so bad.
A tip for those of you who also suffer from bouts of costochondritis....medical supply stores (or the internet) should carry what is called a 'rib belt' which is much more effective than trying to bind the rib cage with an ace bandage. A wide stretchy band that connects with a velcro closure. It helps me tremendously when ribs are aching.
You can buy a mans or a womans belt, (to compensate for breasts of course) and they're sold in S M L or XL sizes. I bought the first one without first trying it on in the store; bought a small which was too small; and they happily allowed me to exchange it for a medium. I also have fibromyalgia so the 2 sometimes go hand in hand and is hard for me to tell which came first.
Hi, I have costochondritis. I have been to an oncologist, rheumatologist, pain specialist, heart surgeon, and 4 MD's. I found out I do not have cancer and narcotics are not the answer. I have been in severe pain for 5 months and still not getting better. I have found that I will just have to live with this. I am only 25 years old and this has effected my whole life. The pain is not only in my chest, but radiates down my arm and back. I now live with my heating pad. I would love to have more suggustions on how to live with this.
Oh wow, do i know what that feels like. I just went to the doctor on Monday, cause it started around THanksgiving for me. Not sure if it was all the work, lifting the turkey, flipping it over to spice, then picking it up to put in bag, plus cooking everything else, then cleaning. Actually i started feeling bad friday morning when i got up and just got worse. By Monday I couldnt take it and they worked me in. She said it was the fibro, since i cant take aspirin (im allergic to it), she instead started me on a low dose of cymbalta for the pain. She said it would take a while to kick in, but i also take 4 lortabs plus 4 muscle relaxers per day for the pain. Hope it goes away soon, sure makes it hard to breathe and wears you out physically more so than usual.
Jen
Well I live with my heating pad constantly too. I do take Lortab 10 - 3 times a day & it helps to take the edge off, buts thats all I know to do. Mine hurts in my back real bad too and around my armpit my entire left ribcage to under my left breast.
Mine lasted about two weeks, but ive had it before and im sure i'll have it again. I cant say that all the pain is gone, so maybe its still there, just that the intensity level has gone down alot than those few days i couldnt even GET out of bed and i was so out of breath from shallow breathing. I am also on lortab 4 times a day plus soma 4 times a day so im sure that has helped me alot. I cant take anything for inflammation since im allergic to aspirin and such, so couldnt take anything just had to make it thru the rough part.
Jen hoping you feel better soon!
I've been reading this board about Costo for awhile, and wondered about it, cuz it sounded like what I had been feeling off and on. I was already told by my GP that rib pain is a symptom of FM, but yesterday I got the in depth report and diagnosis from my rhuemy (is rhuemy spelled ue or eu? LOL) Anyhoo, I explained my symptons, and she said it was definately costrochondritis, and that treatment was anitinflammatory meds, i.e. Celebrex, Mobic, Relafan, Aleve, as well as the world famous injections. But we all seem to know that it comes and goes without warning. My rhuemy said that people who have FM most likely get Costro, and that it is, like you all have said here, an inflammation of the cartalidge (sp?). There is no cure, of course, just treatment.
I also found out yesterday (just thought I'd update you all since I haven't been posting for awhile) that I indeed have bursitis in my right hip which was treated with an injection, but I refused the Celebrex, Aleve works just as good for me, my rhuemy also said that surgery on my back is more of "there is basically no other option". I have a couple of herniated discs and one with a annular tear that were dx in Oct. of 2002. She told me that I have waited so long now, that most likely surgery won't fix all the damage, that I probably have permanent damage. I told her I just couldn't afford the surgery, especially now that my husband has recently been unemployed, and his work right now may only be temporary. I was lucky enough to afford to keep my health ins. thru COBRA. My newest symptoms are not being able to raise my legs or my foot, she said that is because of the damage done to my lower back. I also experience pain in the front of my shin, again from my lower back, and I have pain that runs from my right hip and wraps around my right knee, that is caused from the bursitis in my right hip. So, I've got a bunch of stuff going on, ontop of the FM, that has to do with my lower back injury and the bursitis in my right hip. Whew! So that's the update on my physical condtion. My rhuemy said that when I was ready for surgery they would order another MRI just to see what additional damage has been done to my lower back.
But, on a lighter side, I have decided to go to Texas to see my grandson for the first time. My husband is going to drive, and I'm going to lie in the back seat ontop of my feather bed! LOL My grandson, who I lovingly call Poopie Face just turned a year, and I haven't met him yet. So, I'm excited. We'll be there from the 23 through the 26th. Short time, but my husband has to get back to work. Also, one of the women who I used to chat with when I first came online (shes from Canada) is coming to Florida for the holidays, and I will get to meet her this coming weekend. It'll just be for a short visit, as they want to head on to Ft. Meyers, but I'm right on the way, and I live just across the stateline of Florida, so they will pass right by me on their way! I'm so excited, I've been "chatting" with her since 2001, and as many of you probably know, online friends can become very close and special people, so I'm so glad to finally meet one of the very special people that I have meet via the Internet over the years.
Well, that's a pagefull. I wish for all of you from the bottom of my heart, a very happy Holiday Season. I hope that your special holdiay can be experienced with as little pain as possible. This is for the ladies, don't over do, if possible, get someone else to make the dinner, and for the gents, don't over do it getting those lights up on the house! LOL Basically, all of you, have a wonderful holiday.
I suffer from Fibromyalgia and lupus. Sometimes when I am heading into a flare-up it presents as costochondritis. I guess it is chronic in my case as this has been going on for years and I always have some degree of discomfort and other weird sensations on my ribcage. It always hurts in the morning when I first get up and take a deep breath.
But, it can get to the point of excruciating with a flare-up and make breathing extremely difficult. There are loads of nerves in that area of the body. Always, there is extreme pain on touching or laying on the affected area. I think that is hallmark of costochondritis.
Best to get an x-ray to be certain - costochondritis can mimic more serious problems such as heart problems, pleurisyor pneumonia. The best way to treat it is with warm compresses, antiinflammatories and sometimes a narcotic is warranted. In my case, my prednisone or metheltrexate is increased for awhile.
). The doc prescribed motrin, and told me to apply heat. I also wrapped a giant ace bandage around my chest (a little difficult with boobs, lol! 
) which helped, especially while sleeping. I was sore for a a couple of months after, and still get the occaisional flare up, but not so bad as the first time. I hope you feel better soon!
Re: Costochondritis 
