HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Question about costochondritis

Support Forums
>
Fibromyalgia
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/28/2009 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi dear fibro family,

I am wondering about costochondritis. I've never been officially diagnosed with this, but I have been experiencing some odd symptoms and am wondering if this could be what's going on?

I keep getting this awful pain in my ribs. It's primarily on the left side and it goes from the backside of my ribs and curls around to the front side of my ribs, right under my breasts. It feels like a stabbing, burning pain and can not be touched without me wanting to cry. It also sometimes shoots along the entire rib cage under my breasts (like right along where the bottom band of a bra sits) and if I turn the wrong way, will shoot up my side into my shoulder. EDIT: I should also note that the pain in the front side almost feels like hunger pains-if that makes sense-and when I press on the front side, I can feel referred pain on the back side. Does this make any sense to anybody??

I don't know what this is, but I have been having this pain on and off for awhile now and it is soooooo awful. I feel absolutely terrible today from it. To make matters worse, my hiatal hernia is also acting up, so I am just one big mess!

So, what do you guys think? Could this be costo? Or maybe something else?
Posted 3/28/2009 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
It could be Danielle. I'm not sure what is fibro and what is costo anymore, I have had a sore place on my sternum for going on two years that never goes away, probably costo. But even if I lift something that is a little too heavy my ribs will get sore, you don't think about what muscles affect what til you have fibro. Clear around me where bra goes stays sore and has been for a long time so I don't wear a bra unless I have to and than I buy them big so they really aren't squeezing me. Sometimes it feels like I have a tight bra on and I haven't even wore one for days. Oh, and under my arm pits,where the bra goes, I have sore spots that if anyone touched I would probably scream that never go away.

 

Referred pain is very real, where you can push one place and have pain another, that is from the fascia being connected clear through our bodies. I have a place on my neck that when pushed causes lower back pain, how crazy is that???

 

I have had many broken ribs which doesn't help either cause old breaks tend to hurt when the weather changes etc.

 

I can't take nsaids so it doesn't matter for me if it is inflamed or not.

 

Our weather is crazy today with rain, thunderstorms and 3-5 inches of snow in the forecast by morning so there isn't a place on my body that is not screaming.

 

Get better.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 3/28/2009 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with costo, some 18 years ago or so. I was then diagnosed with fibro 2 years ago. I have lots of sternum and rib pain. I call it all fibro because it's gotten much worse since right before I was diagnosed with that. I have many pains in other places, but the rib thing is something that hurts tons for me. Hope you can find relief. Mine just seems to stay the same no matter what I do.
Posted 3/28/2009 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Denise,

I am right on your bandwagon!!! You described my rib pain as if you were in my body. I cannot even bend some days it hurts so bad. MOST of the time I am just very sore but the pain can strike too. I believe this is a very big part of Fibro. Studies show it is the second vertebrae on the left side that is the main culprit and pain radiates from there. I can feel it go right in to my back too. I find some relief with Ben Gay or better yet my towelettes. I am careful to rub very lightly and use little ointment b/c the skin there is very sensitive.

Oh I hope this helps. Also mine can totally disappear but some little tenderness can always be felt. Even if it is costo it is a part of Fibro.

For me it is legs, feet, toes and ribs. It moves constantly in my body. Fortunately (I guess) I have no back or shoulder problems. Fibro does seem to have some main targets in each of us.

Marlee, what the heck is this snow about???!!!! Come on it's Spring!

Patsie
Posted 3/28/2009 8:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Danielle...

I'm not sure... I have costochondritis, that's what took me to the hospital last Oct. and mine was mostly in the sternum area.  But last year I had pleurisy which felt entirely different from the costo.  It was more of a stabbing pain around the same area that you're talking about.  Have you had a recent cold or flu?? I seem to remember you and your family had been sick a few weeks ago.  Hopefully I'm 100% wrong.. but you might want to get it checked out.  Do I remember correctly that you have a doctors appt. next week, with a new doctor???  Or was that a female Dr appt??  Either way you might want to discuss it.  If its costo or pleurisy you'll have to take some kind of pain med.  But if its pleurisy you'll need an antibiotic too.  Does it hurt when you take a deep breath, cough or sneeze??  If so that would fall under the pleurisy catagory.  I usually know I've got a flare just around the corner when I feel the costo pain, flares and costo seem to be best friends.. atleast in my case.

Sorry you're hurting, Sweetie.  But I'd definatly talk to the doc about it.  Chest pain is nothing to take too lightly.

Gentle hugs....

Posted 3/28/2009 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Patti,

That hits a point with me. I have had a bad bout as you know and the rib pain is there. In the past I had not known what a real flare was as I just have about the same level most of the time. Not this time, so the rib thing may be a big part of that.

Great point about pleurisy. If the pain is that severe Danielle, check it out. Oh I hope you feel better soon. March has been terrible so we are due for the wind to change course:).

Patsie
Posted 3/28/2009 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, we did have a cold bug running around, but I don't have any pain with breath, coughing, or sneezing. I wouldn't say it's chest pain exactly, either, as it doesn't affect the chest area at all except for when I touch the ribs along the bra line. It's more rib and back pain. Oddly enough, it seems to get better when I eat something (which would explain the gnawing, hunger like pain I described) so I'm wondering if it might be an ulcer or somehow related to my hernia or GERD.

I am going to the Gyno on the 3rd. Not sure how much help she would be for something like this, but I will mention it to her. Also, I have an appointment with the new low income/no insurance clinic the next town over towards the end of the month, so if the Gyno can't help me, hopefully they can!
Posted 3/29/2009 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I was dx with costo 23 years ago. It always seemed to get really bad if I had a cough but the soreness is always there. In the last 2 years I have had pluerisy a couple times a year and once I went to the ER and the doc said that between the pluerisy and the costo he could see why I was in so much pain. I thought I was dying. They gave me pain meds and told me to stay in bed with a heating pad for a few days. Thats all the helps me. Now when I feel it getting worse I just use the heating pad all day and night. I hope you feel better soon....:)
Posted 3/29/2009 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Renee,

I was just about to come on here and tell you all that I don't know what's going on, but I've been using the heating pad this evening and it's really helping a lot! I don't know if that points to costo or what, but all I can say is oh sweet relief! It's not gone completely, but it is sooo much better with the heating pad. I will still be talking to a Dr. about it, but now at least I know there's something I can do here at home that will bring me some relief!
Posted 3/29/2009 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
HI Danielle,

I am so happy the heating pad is helping. I love mine so much my husband is jealous of it....lol It really becomes your best friend...:)
Posted 3/29/2009 5:11 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Danielle!!

Glad the heating pad helped!!  Could be stomach related, too, since you have a lot of problems there.  When hubby had his ulcer problem he couldn't decide if it was in his back or chest area.. turned out to be a huge ulcer.. about 25% of his stomach. 

I know the GYN might not be able to help too much .. but ya never know.. it's worth a shot!

Keep me up to date on how you're feeling.. I'll be thinking about you.

Hugs..

Posted 3/30/2009 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
Patti,

Yeah, I don't know if it was stomach related-I think it might have been a little bit of both. The heating pad did help, so I'm guessing there was something muscular going on there, too.

Whatever it was, that particular complaint has quieted down today. Unfortunately, everything else has started screaming! Everything's burning, achy, heavy. I'm exhausted and cranky and have a headache. I've taken 3 hot baths today, and that gives me some relief, but only temporarily. The heating pad works some, but again-only temporarily. Yup-I'm now in a full blown flare! Ugh!!!!!!!!

On the plus side, though, my hubby had a total fibro fog moment today! He went to fill the salt shaker and forgot that duh! when you poor the salt into the bottom, it's going to come out of the top where the little holes are. hahaha-he ended up making a nice little pile of salt on the floor. We both got a big laugh out of that one. It was just a small thing, but when I'm feeling this awful, it's those small things that get me through!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply