Costochondritis - back and so annoying@

i have posted before about this condition - but yesterday and tonight it's bothering me again.  it causes anxiety because pain in your sternum is concerning.  i have been to doc before and i have some indomethican(?) i think it's called - an anti-inflammatory to take - i will try today - one doc gave me prescription GERD meds and i tried that yesterday with no help.  it stopped for awhile last night but i just woke up with it again after lying on my back.  it's like a shart stabbing pain in the middle of my sternum.  i hate it! 

Hi Hazelnut,

I soooo feel your pain.  I have been having costochondritis pain for about 5 months now.  It comes and it goes, but it just never goes for good

I have been up since 3 this morning because the pain kept waking me up.  We'll see how quickly I fall asleep at my desk today at work...  At 3 I went to get an ice pack which always helps the pain for a little while.  I can feel around and find all of painful spots which are causing the problems.  There are quite a few today!

I also find that my anxiety peeks when I'm havint his pain.  I think it's in part because of the shooting pains in the chest and in part because I always have a hard time getting a deep breath when it's really bad.  I know that shallow breathing is the worse thing for anxiety, but my body won't let my lungs take in a good deep breath. 

I would say to try ice and heat. I can't take any NSAIDs or antiinflamatories and the tylenol doesn't even touch the pain so I'm such using non medication options.  I'm also going to try sleeping in a more sitting up position tonight.  I can't do either side because of the pain and sometimes on my back it still kills.  Maybe a different position will do the trick?  I hope you find some relief soon!

I actually have been tested for celiac.  Twice actually, first time 4 years ago when the Fibro came on and then a few months ago with my 6 month long flare up.  They are retesting me for everything!  Ugh.  Anyway, I'm don't have celiac thank goodness.  My IBS has been so bad lately that breads are the main staple of my diet.

I had never heard that about celiac and costo... Interesting.  I do think though that when my IBS is acting up it impacts the costo, especially my lower ribs.

By the way, I tried sleeping kind of sitting up/wedged up.  I used three pillows and kind of built a fort around my head neck and shoulders and I slept really well.  I did try and roll over a few times but quickly went back to my back and back to sleep.  I think this is the ticket to being able to sleep with the pain!  I'm still completely exhausted this morning, but I think it's because I slept so well that I just want more

Hazelnut,

 

I know it well, I was in the ER with it twice, once the actually kept me and ran several tests. Then they just let me

go, it can be so very painful, and it scares you...especially anything in that upper area, so then the anxiety comes in and it is down hill from that point.

I'm really sorry that you are feeling this right now. I hope it goes away quick and leaves you alone for a long time.

No pattern or anything when it strikes....its just yuckity...(my word for yucky stuff)

 

-Monica