I have been suffering with pain in my chest/ribs constantly for over a year now. After numerous trips to my GP and rheumatologist at my local hospital, I was diagnosed with costochondritis.
Advice from my doc was "live with the pain, there is nothing we can do" so, at the moment, I am taking no pain relief (I haven't been prescribed any) but the pain is getting unbearable to the point I cannot move (even in pain sitting still!) or sleep at night as I cannot get comfortable in any position.
What do you find relieves your pain? Any ideas will be much appreciated!
You have my sympathy. I know the pain. My doctor prescribed a prescription ibuprofen. Even taking that I still have pain, but it's getting better. I also use a heating pad for my chest, and that seems to ease the pain.
Last edited by moderator2; 01-12-2011 at 06:45 PM.
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I was prescribed to take 4 ibuprofen a day for a month. This worked for about 2 weeks until I started getting stomach pains from the ibuprofen, and I think I became used to the painkillers because the pain in my ribs returned. Eurgh I hate nights because laying in bed is so uncomfortable, even when I don't necessarily have pain, it just feels weird and as though the left side of my chest is sticking out =(
Hi lve had it for years everythign l read says it goes after a few months well l found it dont!!! Everything l do eg. using hands arms sets it off the cold weather sets it off l can only be incertain positions l hate it so much! I have some diclofenac but try and just make do with paracetemol dont liek stomach irriitaed plus l got lansoprazole to help with stomach issues but l find they too come with side effects. Good luck all x
I have been suffering with pain in my chest/ribs constantly for over a year now. After numerous trips to my GP and rheumatologist at my local hospital, I was diagnosed with costochondritis.
Advice from my doc was "live with the pain, there is nothing we can do" so, at the moment, I am taking no pain relief (I haven't been prescribed any) but the pain is getting unbearable to the point I cannot move (even in pain sitting still!) or sleep at night as I cannot get comfortable in any position.
What do you find relieves your pain? Any ideas will be much appreciated!
Thanks for reading,
Best Wishes
When advil won't stop the pain I take one celebrex (prescription) and it's gone! Sometimes for long periods of time.
The Following User Says Thank You to smacwhirter For This Useful Post: Mareluvcats (10-10-2012)
My doctor prescribed 15mgs of meloxicam, generic Mobic. I works wonders, it works in a few days, i have had 3 flare ups and it really helps, such pain, I am so sorry you are in pain. I use a heating pad too, most of my pain radiates to the upper middle back area, its horrible. Take care
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
Posts: 1
Re: Costochondritis Pain Relief...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Smiler18
I have been suffering with pain in my chest/ribs constantly for over a year now. After numerous trips to my GP and rheumatologist at my local hospital, I was diagnosed with costochondritis.
Advice from my doc was "live with the pain, there is nothing we can do" so, at the moment, I am taking no pain relief (I haven't been prescribed any) but the pain is getting unbearable to the point I cannot move (even in pain sitting still!) or sleep at night as I cannot get comfortable in any position.
What do you find relieves your pain? Any ideas will be much appreciated!
Thanks for reading,
Best Wishes
Hi, ask your doctor for Capsaicin cream (prescription only). A pea sized amount rubbed all over the area of the chest above the pain (avoid the nipple and other 'sensitive' areas, as the creams active ingredient is the Capsaicin found in chili peppers). Use it twice a day and although you may not notice any improvement for the first couple of weeks, except when lying on your stomach (it'll feel like you're lying on a radiator). It will ease the pain, though you may still feel severe attacks.
I have been suffering Costochondritis for 15 years now and this seems to have relieved the majority of the pain.
I think soe of us have it that bad creams wont help basically lve been left to ge ton with mine if l think on first attack which was no where near as bad a s l get now was about 2000........... l get it that bad now it goes into my neck, using my arms for even a small lift of weight carrying shopping etc etc triggers mine off its horrible and l wish those docs would have a bad flare up and see what they say then! It restricts me! x
I like Naproxen (OTC) for antiinflammatory relief. I think it works better than Ibuprofen and is only twice a day. The OTC dose is 220 mg twice a day. It comes in prescription strength of 500mg twice a day. Heating pad works well too.
This is a suggestion that may help people who have chest pains that are NOT caused by heart problems.
I had a condition felt like costochondritis for 2 years. It was very scary and painful, and affected my life dramatically. It took that long to figure out that most of my chest and rib pains were actually caused by tense muscles in my back; this caused referred pain to my chest and ribs; weird, I know. Anyhow, if anyone wants to try simple, cheap, and non-medicinal remedies to re-occurring chest pains, here is what I would recommend: (1) get a back massage by a registered massage therapist and/or (2) use a tennis ball against the floor OR the Theracane to massage you own muscle knots in your back. These days, when I feel a sharp chest pain, I can massage it away by working on back-muscle knots in about 3-5 minutes.
Good luck, and I hope my experience can help someone.
Last edited by moderator2; 08-09-2012 at 06:29 AM.
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I have had heart issues for 15 years including a quintruple bypass back in 1995 and several angioplasties since then.
The operation created Costochondritis. So right now excessive lifting (suitcases going on holiday etc) triggers severe chest pain. All along the bottom of my ribs and less pain (centre back). Just recently my latest flare up is very painful and occurs when I watch TV in my comfee Lazee Boy chair. After a life time at my PC my posture is poor.
I visited a fine Physiotherapist in Victoria BC (Brent Hall). He confirmed the condition and prescribed a breathing exercise to use the diaphragm. Any Yoga site will show this. I will report back in a few months if it has helped reduce the pain.
Last edited by moderator2; 12-02-2012 at 08:11 PM.
Unfortunately my doctor didn't prescribe anything for pain relief, only methylprednisolone for an anti-inflammatory which doesn't work as well as it probably should...
When I flare, I flare BADLY. The pain is excruciating and any kind of anti-inflammatory takes longer than a day to kick in and help the slightest bit, so living with that kind of pain for even a day is torture. I think I'm going to seek a second opinion soon and see if they can give me anything for pain that I can take as needed. I was basically told to just suck it up...I'm going to take a guess and say my doctor has never felt the type of pain that can come with a bad costo flare.
Merry Christmas everyone! Costo is a real pain and incurable medically speaking - but - it's really just a chronic muscle pain kinda like tendinitis and other 'itus'-es. The same remedies for muscle aches help my costo: rubbing the affected area, heat, NSaid pain relievers, chiropractic, massage, glucosamine/chondroitin, etc.. Muscles tie up both from overuse AND underuse. I found that doing Tai Chi has been an amazing help to keep those muscles active and relatively pain free. There's a class in your area.
I've lived with it for 5 years now and I well know the pain you're talking about - believe me. But between regular chiropractor visits (twice a month for maintenance), my Tai Chi that I practice daily and ibuprofen - I rarely have bad flares anymore. With any chronic muscle inflammation disorder you need to be proactive in keeping it at bay. A sedentary lifestyle is your worst enemy with costo. I know it's counterintuitive to 'exercise' muscles that hurt. But that's part of what you must do. Gently - but daily. Don't overdo - don't under-do...
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Last edited by NewdestinyX; 12-25-2012 at 05:11 AM.
everythign l read says it goes after a few months well l found it dont!!! Everything l do eg. using hands arms sets it off the cold weather sets it off l can only be incertain positions l hate it so much! I have some diclofenac but try and just make do with paracetemol dont liek stomach irriitaed plus l got lansoprazole to help with stomach issues but l find they too come with side effects. Good luck all x
Costochondritis Pain Relief... 
