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costochondritis?!

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Posted 1/28/2010 12:13 PM (GMT 0)
i know that alot of us get joint pain with our disease, but i was wondering if anyone gets costochondritis (pain due to inflammation in the joints between your ribs and breast bone)?!  I developed costochondritis at the same time as the anaemia, which lead to my colonoscopy and eventually my crohn's diagnosis.  I suffer with pains in my knees and occassionally wrists, and i was wondering if the chest pain was linked to the disease too?!  I think it is as it seems to get worse whenever my crohn's acts up, but i've never read about anyone else having this chest pain.  am i the only one?!?!
Posted 1/28/2010 1:09 PM (GMT 0)
I believe I have seen posts from at least one regular on here noting chronic problems with costochondritis. Hopefully they will come along soon. It makes sense that if you have joint inflammation problems with Crohns -- as many do -- that the connective tissue in the rib cage would also be susceptible.
Posted 1/28/2010 2:05 PM (GMT 0)
I suffer with bouts of Costochondritis myself. I am not sure if its related to my Crohns or my Fibromyalgia. It really is painful and sucks that we can't take NSAIDS like Ibruprofen to help ease the pain.
Posted 1/28/2010 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
I have problems with costrochondritis also; it's a real pain. It probably is related to CD in a way because we tend to have higher levels of inflammation. I know my costochondritis has been flaring pretty bad lately and my Crohn's hasn't exactly been quiet either.
Posted 1/28/2010 6:09 PM (GMT 0)
I have costochondritis as well. It sucks since, like Gail said, we can't use NSAIDs. I find mine is worse if I am trying to sleep in a recliner versus sleeping in bed. Not sure why that is, though.

You're not alone.
Take care,
Posted 1/29/2010 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
Goodness, I get it too!! I wonder if it is related somehow??? Mine even swells up a bit. A doctor wanted to put me on a short course of prednisone for it but before I could get the prescription filled, it went away almost overnight. Now, it is back for the first time in about a year.
If anybody knows what works for it, fill us in. I wonder if some antidepressants work for it? Mine seemed to come back when I started back on zoloft.
Posted 1/31/2010 10:05 PM (GMT 0)
hmmm... I was diagnosed with  costrochondritis when I was in high school and it was horrible! I have had several bouts of major chest pain since, but wasn't diagnosed with Crohn's until 3 years ago.  I wonder if the two are related?  All I know is that it was sooo painful and I had to sleep on my back for several weeks.  Its the WORST!
Posted 2/2/2010 4:38 AM (GMT 0)
I have the chest pain too, one doc says its inflamation in my chest other says its anxiety.  Although I never had until recently.  My CD is in a flare that doesnt want to go away so they keep uping my Asacol.  I never had till they upped my Asacol.  So I am thinking it is either from the Asacol or my CD.

This is what is listed on the Asacol websit for side effects for the Professionals

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects have included chest pain of unknown etiology (3%) and vasodilation (up to 2% or greater). Infrequently, tachycardia, hypertension, hypotension, palpitations, pericarditis, pericardial effusion, myocarditis (rare), T-wave abnormalities (rare), severe symptomatic sinus bradycardia (at least 1 case), and pleuropericarditis (at least 1 case) have been reported. Angioedema, myocarditis, and pericarditis have been reported during postmarketing experience.

So I ask this how many of you are on Asacol?

Posted 2/2/2010 5:07 AM (GMT 0)
I have the same pain which always hurts during a CD flare but I thougth it was due to my Fibro ... I knew why this forum was so good ... thanks!
Posted 2/2/2010 5:36 AM (GMT 0)
I have fibro and costrochondritis. I have "non-specific ileitis" so I'm not sure if I have Crohn's.
Posted 2/2/2010 7:14 AM (GMT 0)
wow thanks for all of the replies! i thought i was the only one!! :)

it does appear that there is some sort of link, since so man of us suffer from it and it is worse around the time of flares!  I'm not on Asacol.  In fact, if the costochondritis is related to CD (and i think it is) then it was actually my first symptom, along with anaemia! 

Posted 2/2/2010 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
I really feel like mine is related to my Fibromyalgia as I still get the attacks occasionally and I am in remission with my Crohns. JMHO
Posted 2/2/2010 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
I also forgot to mention that my primary doc told me that for some people drugs like mesalamine (Asacol/Pentasa, etc.) can actually cause your symptoms to get worse/increase them. So this is one idea I have that maybe I have started with the chest pain or I looked at Pentasa's website for side effects and it too can cause chest prob. So I am assuming that all mesalamine drugs prob. do too. will we ever know the pain of chest.

To those of you in remission what meds are you on? Just wondering, for those who say they have chest pain while in remission. I do not have fibro, they are getting ready to test me for cd related arthritis because of low back pain feels like my back is fusing, plus my hands swell in the morning and I have eye prob in one eye and I have tendenitis in one foot which I guess can be caused by the cd arthritis. So I think maybe its a cd realationship or a drug relationship with the chest pain. But I'm no phar or doc. I just like to read up on stuff or bother my family that know, lol
Posted 2/3/2010 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
Gosh, I have never heard of that term but my daughter does complain of pain in her chest.
And she takes pentasa too.
Posted 2/3/2010 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
Before I was diagnosed with Crohn's I went to the ER because my chest was hurting so bad that I thought there was something wrong with my heart. It turned out my heart was fine, but I was severely anemic, and eventually was diagnosed with Crohn's. After several episodes, I learned that my chest hurts whenever I am anemic, and it is my sign to get my blood levels checked. I have been told that the sensation in my chest has nothing to do with anemia, but maybe it is inflammation...I don't know. I have been given the chostochondritis, and anxiety explanations, but honestly, I don't think the docs know. I am in remission and not anemic and taking Pentasa...no chest pains, so for me there doesn't seem to be a relationship with the chest pains and Pentasa. My best guess is that the chest pain has more to do with the Crohn's disease process and not medication
Posted 8/15/2013 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
I have been struggling with a terrible pain everyday since being hospitalized in Jan 12 for a severe Crohns flare. Since then, my GI put me on weekly Humira and prednisone and continued my asachol and 6-MP. I told my doctor over and over that the pain I was experiencing was nothing like my typical crohns pain but was assured they would find out what was causing the problem. For the last 18 months I have been taking daily pain meds and "dealing" with this excruciating pain and the doctors telling me that they were at a loss since all of my tests showed my disease was healing. Alas, today I went in for my second appt with my new GI and with two presses on my ribs, and a pain I can only describe as a knife in my side, he tells me I have costrchondritis and the pain I have been experiencing for the last year and a half has nothing to do with my crohns. I was both relieved and mad. Relieved that I finally may have a name for what had been plaguing me but mad that no one had cracked the code before now. My only question is, if this is costochondritis, why is my pain not in my chest but in my left upper abdomen (just under my ribs and circles around to my back. Can this affect all parts of your ribs? Please help me understand how to relieve this pain and finally have some normalcy after these last painful 18 months.
Posted 8/15/2013 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi CDay,

I'm sorry you've been dealing with so much pain; your story sounds a lot like mine, as I too have been deadline with chronic chest pain since January. Costocondritis is inflammation of the chest wall, which can include the area around the sternum as well as all of your ribs (to my knowledge). A lot of times you will experience the wrap-around pain in your back as well; my guess has been that it is at least partially because I'm tensing up from all the pain in my chest.

The most annoying thing about costocondritis is that you really have to let it heal on its own. I basically stopped working out completely for months and stopped lifting anything heavy (as picking up even the laundry basket could cause a flare up in the pain. After ruling out GERD as a cause of the chest pain, my GI eventually put me on Lyrica, which has helped with the pain but I unfortunately am now coming off of because the side effects were too severe. Obviously, you can take pain meds for it like Tramadol or whatever you are taking, but I would avoid any NSAIDs if possible because of your Crohn's.

Interestingly enough, my rheumatologist said that my chest pain is not costocondritis (which is chest inflammation in the absence of any other symptoms), but rather due to my hypermobility. I had no idea that being hypermobile could cause so many issues, but I've been having joint pains for many years, and in his opinion, the chest pain is because of it. I'm still not sure I believe him.

I hope you're able to find relief soon for this pain, but at least know you're not alone in this!
Posted 9/9/2013 3:23 PM (GMT 0)
So I've never had any tests done or anything, but my doctor says I have costo. I've been having pain like this since i was about 13 but never thought anything of it. I am 23 now, and am so glad to have what I think is the right diagnosis, but now I need to figure out ways to deal with the pain. I had an "episode" about two weekends ago, then continuous aching and soreness after that. Then on wed night, I had another "episode" and have had continuous pain ever since. My chest is also sore to the touch. I currently have Tramadol and 800mg IB's. I am so sick of being a zombie when I take these pills, and don't know if I can handle a higher dose of anything else. I really don't want to take steroids either. I would really love to exercise, but pretty much have pain every time I do high intensity workouts. I do apply ice packs, but it often becomes uncomfortable. ANY advice/ideas of things I can do at home??? I'm going to talk to my new doctor, but am kind of dreading it, because I'm not sure what to say anymore.
Posted 9/9/2013 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
I am sorry and glad to see all these posts about costocondritis. My costo. will flare up at anytime not just with cd flares and disappears just as quickly. I have pillows all around my house (ever tried to sneeze or cough or take deep breaths and your whole chest and back shoulder blades freeze up.) Take pillow and hold to your chest and it helps alot. Have any of you had moments when your sitting down and just think about getting up and your chest and back lock up? Again mine will last 2-3 days and go away and come back for 7-14 days. Right now I am in a bad CD flare but no costo....... It makes no sense to me how it comes on like a lion and after days or weeks of pain, you wake up one morning and it's all gone.
Posted 11/27/2013 6:48 AM (GMT 0)
I am relieved to know I am not the only one plagued by this pain. I just googled anemia and costochondritis and found this. I keep trying to find an answer as to why this pain happens as I have had it since 2004. I am (knock on wood) not on meds for my Crohn's since 2006 (shortly after diagnosis) and it is well controlled by diet and supplements so the pain doesn't correspond with meds or flare. I do however have a lot of joint and tendon pain that seems to switch back and forth. I am anemic so I wonder if there is a connection there?Thank you for the squeezing a pillow tip when sneezing. I will have to try that as sneezing is the absolute worst.
Posted 1/28/2014 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hey UCer here! I've just been asking people about this on our forum. How relevant!
Did your doctors do chest x-rays or blood work? I went to urgent care and all the doctor did is feel around and then prescribed me 60mg of pred and a muscle relaxer... and I'm on Imuran. My GI said I could take it but was worried that they misdiagnosed me and if I get sick (fever, mucus etc) to go straight to the ER and now I'm nervous.
I definitely didn't strain anything. I've been unemployed since October and not doing anything. (Not anemic and not flaring).
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