COSTOCHONDRITIS question

Finally! It took five weeks of constant pain and a couple extra weeks of pain here and there but the costo pain is gone! i went back to my normal routine. it is still triggered when i get into a very hot car (i live in the southwest, so the cars get really hot) and it appears that heat triggers it, but then it goes away. i can't believe how much better i feel. i stopped the pain meds and remained on anti-anxiety meds. i am working on panic attacks now (the first one happened the day i went into the ER with the costo pain thinking it was a heart attack). Anyway, it seems i am much better now. i wanted to update this board because if people end up here after their first costo attack and they don't know how long it will last, i want to give them hope and a time line. trust me, it will go away even though weeks have gone by and you see no improvement.

thanks for all in the forum for your support!

Hi there! I am new here. I saw a post somewhere about someone with Endometriosis and all of the same problems I have had. Can you e-mail me so we can set up a time to chat? I used to run a chapter of the Endometriosis Association. In Walnut Creek, Ca. I founded that chapter. It was interesting to me that you had Endo and have now gone on to develop all of the same problems I have. did you know that Endo is an auto immune disorder? I wish I could find your post! My e-mail is [email protected] I have this darn costo thing too, and recently saw something about someone haveing breast microcalcifications and then developing Costo. Turns out it was Cancer that spread to the bones. Anyone know anything about this?

Take care,
quiltbydesign

Hello to everyone in forum.

I am a 38 year old white male and I live in North Mississippi.

Can't tell you all how much better it makes me feel to find this site, and boy oh boy do I have a costochondritis story for you.

Never had a problem with this at all until 12/2004. Granted, I have a pretty serious problem with GERD, but that never compared to the incident on 12/31/2004

I'm an avid hunter, was sitting in a stand with my son, having a great time. Then I leaned  wayyyyyy back in my chair, extended my hands over my head and behind my back and got one of those goooooood ole stretches. It was at that instant that something popped in the center of my chest (either over or under my breastbone) and the pain was terrible. I immediately threw my arms back down to my sides, but it was too late. The pain was already radiating to each side of my chest. IT SCARED ME! I know little to nothing about medicine, but since the pain began when I stretched, I felt that maybe it was muscular - but I didn't care - cause it hurt!

I turned to my son and told him that we had to go now! We walked back to our home (1/2 mile) and I made it fine - but still hurting. I drove myself to the ER. The MD on duty diagnosed me with an upper respiratory infection, gave me roceftin (IM) , some tordal, and sent me on my way. I pulled it, or whatever, 2 times after that in the next month and finally an MD friend of mine diagnosed Chronditis.

THAT WAS 9 MONTHS AGO!!! STILL HAVE AN EPISODE AFTER I LIFT SOMETHING HEAVY!!! I CAN'T JUST QUIT! WE OWN SOME LAND - ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO ON THE PLACE. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO WORK HARD AND LIFT HEAVY OBJECTS ON A REGULAR BASIS.

CAN ANYONE OFFER ANY SUGGESTIONS? I'M ON NAPROSEN. IT HELPS, BUT SURE TAKES A WHILE TO WORK. I'M POSTING THIS ON 09/17/05 @ 8:00 PM CENTRAL TIME. SOMEONE PLEASE RESPOND. SURE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW LONG TO EXPECT THIS TO GO ON THANKS FROM MISSISSIPPI.

Mississippi,

 

Welcome to HW!  Very glad to have you..but unfortunately not too much of a nice way to  meet people under such circumstances eh??

I know what you're talking about with the big "POP"!  ooh BOY I bet it was bad.

I have the costo from RA.  I try my best to resist that stretch...because pop pop pop and crunch crunch crunch.

You've got some inflammation going on here especially since it is still persisting.  It's good you're taking an NSAID.

It sounds like it is inevitable to NOT lift things!  The best advise I can give is to use your biggest joints to lift and carry and hold things.  Try to hold the object close to your body (better control and less strain trying to hold something away from your body) kinda like grasping it like a hug!  With bags I like to hold them using my elbow joint or shoulder rather than around my hands.  Also, bending with your legs rather than straight downwards helps.  When I bend over I get the cracking and then chest pain. 

Sometimes premedicating helps too...taking some noprexan BEFORE work.

When it's terrible I find that heat pads work to relieve it a little.  As does LidoDerm patches by Rx.  Menthol rubs on the chest I've done often.  Also I make sure to not get too much out of breath.  Breathing too hard and talking too long gets the costo aggrevated.

I wish you good luck. 

Do you have a history of arthritis?

And remember...when in doubt, CHECK IT OUT!!!  Chest pain could be something else if ya know what I mean...If the pain ever gets real real bad and intensifies to anywhere like your jaw...don't hesitate to get to the doc.

There are a few costo threads...we all hate it!!!

Sincerely,

Erin 

Hi Mississippii,
I too have costo. I went through physical therapy and my therapist actually recomended I do small stretches every day. He said it helps heal the cartilage. Dont stretch hard enough to were it hurts, just kind of put your hands behind your back and stretch your shoulder/ arms back a little. (but like I said DONT push it to where it is painful. also try to keep good posture. Sometimes that helps. I have continued doing them but I honestly havent felt any improvement. Of course, my MD says I have one of the most severe cases of costo that the has ever seen. So every case is different and doing stretches might help you. Let me know how it goes. I wish you the best and welcome to the family. I am also new to HW but everyone here has been very nice.
Jay-L

hey there,

a while back there was a member that had a bad costo flare after a bad bout with GERD. it might just be that any sort of inflammation will get it going.

in my experience, eating/chewing too long makes my costo flare up as well as walking and talking for an extended amount of time.

sometimes it gets so bad that i cannot breath in fully.

in my opinion, i would say that acid reflux and GERD may contribute a great deal to chest and rib inflammation.

wishing you well
erin

Does anyone ever experience chrono when the pain radiates all the way to the outer side of the breasts?

Thanks,

Mschron