Costachondritis

bluearbo · 09-15-2004, 02:25 PM

Hi Everyone

I have been diagnosed with the above condition, I've had it now for nearly 3 years, but nobody else seems to have heard about it, and I just wondered if there is anybody out there that has this condition, or at least heard of it. Please talk to me !!!

kentuckywoman · 09-16-2004, 05:16 AM

I was just diagnosed with this same condition on Sep. 1. I have only had it since April. I have been seeing a pain management physician for this. He gave me a cortisone injection in between my ribs where they hurt most, and he said I may need another one. The injection was quite painful, but it did help some, but the pain is getting worse again. The next injection would be done under xray so that he can guide the needle deeper without puncturing the lung. I am trying to get the courage to go for this. I may request he sedate me, although he has told me I would not need sedation for this procedure.

The PM Dr. also prescribed vioxx for mr, but at my monthly check-up with my primary physician, my blood pressure had gone up 20 points and he said it was the vioxx so he changed me to celebrex. The celebrex does not seem to be doing anything. Other insaids are out as I also have bad reflux.

Actually I had just described my symptoms here on the boards and many told me it was likely costachrondritis before the Dr. diagnosed me. It seems there are many here on the boards here with the condition.

How are you being treated for this?

snaplife4life · 10-26-2005, 05:40 PM

I have had costachondritis for 2 and a half years now. I have been given all pain killers to try and rest this problem. The offer of surgery has been offered with a 50% chance of living through it. I have thought about the cortisone injections, but I am too scared to take them. My ribs feel as though they will explode when the seizures do happen. God please someone tell me that they have had this and they know what to do to get rid of it.

goldenwings · 10-26-2005, 08:44 PM

Hello,

If you go to both the lupus and fibro boards and scroll back, you will see this has been discussed in depth. I too have it and have posted lots about it. My best treatment for it was steroid injections. I haven't had these for a long while because I had heart surgery and of course that area is too tender now.

I am just getting through a full rib cage flare of it which was brought on by having stomach surgery, with the pushing and pulling about on the table, and as I can't take any painkillers because of medications I already take for lupus and heart problems, then I have to take it very easy when it happens.

Hope this helps.

goldenwings