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Costochondritis *grumble, grr* vent

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Posted 9/16/2011 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
Yep, I got hit with that vile "C" word..........Costochondritis. Finally when things are calming down with my other health conditions, now I got to deal with this. So far, it's mainly located on the right side of my sternum, sharp shooting pain - sometimes random, other times when I take a deep breath. I've had Costo before in the past where it hit directly on my sternum (or felt like it anyway) and it was way way worse. But this is still pretty annoying!

Oh and not to mention I'm in a fibro flare at the moment - striking mostly my legs and neck.

I can't take Nsaids and it's been a while since I've had to deal with this, any recommendations to stop the pain? Do heating pads or ice packs work?
Posted 9/16/2011 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
Thats alot of extra pain and discomfort to deal with ti would use magic bags. pop in nuke for a min and half and you hopefully get instant relief. I hope your flare settles down quickly.
Posted 9/16/2011 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
Awwww, Sherry~

I'm sorry you're suffering so much. I hope the trailing days of summer will bring you some comfort. This is my favorite time of year and I look forward to the cool nights. Might not be the best for fibro muscles but it's wonderful for the spirit when the fall color begine.

Warm hugs!
Chutz
Posted 9/16/2011 4:32 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry for your discomfort. I have to use heat for my pain. I know you know that already. Think of a happy place you would like to be and imagine how nice it's. I have to use those kind of techniques to help me through pain and anxiety. Hope you feel better soon.
Posted 9/16/2011 12:07 PM (GMT 0)
Chutz, funny you should mention that. We have had a long period of rain here (not good on the ole muscles) but than our weather got chilly - so double whammo! No wonder I'm flaring at the moment with my fibro.

The Costo is a little better this morning. It's still there so I think I will try a heating pad. I always get confused on what is better on what in regards to heat or ice.

Thanks all!
Posted 9/16/2011 1:45 PM (GMT 0)
What about a TENS machine? I think that I have something similar, but mine (going on 8 yrs now!!) originates in my thoracic back and snakes around to my sternum. Most of the time, it stays only in my back. Mine is definitely related to an irritated nerve root. The only times that it has completely disappeared, in the last eight years is with my two pregnancies. No pain meds, no anti-inflammatories have ever gotten rid of it.

I think that it is important to try to calm things down - careful how you move, how you use your arms, how deeply that you breathe etc.
Posted 9/16/2011 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
I also can't take NSAIDs which is the biggest bummer when it comes to Costo pain. I've had it for about 10 months now and have given up all hope that it is ever going away. I have to be very careful as to what movements I do to keep from the really horrible pain.

I find that ice helps me more than heat when it comes to Costo. I think that since it's inflammation the ice helps calm it down a bit. Just try to take it easy and I also find that by sitting in somewhat of an upright position helps. I would wake up in the middle of the night with severe pain from rolling over. I basically built a fort of pillows around me to stop from rolling rolleyes

Good luck and I hope the pain continues to subside!
Posted 9/16/2011 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, Red, I'm sorry you have costo, too.  So do I but I can take Nsaids so far.  But, I see a massage therapist and she gives me a product called Sombra.  The one she gives me is the Warm Therapy one and it's in a gel.  She uses this on me when she is done massaging me and it's wonderful.  It's warming like Ben Gay but it doesn't stink like Ben Gay.  It isn't greasy and it's all natural too.  If you google Sombra you will see sites that sell it.

 

I have very painful vericose veins on one leg.  They almost bring me to tears when they start hurting.  But, I rub Sombra on them and the pain goes away!  This could be of help to you.  You can put it on and go places without smelling like a medicine chest.  It smells like grapefruit to me.  It's very pleasant.

 

Sherrine

Posted 9/16/2011 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
Ooohhh that sounds awesome Sherrine! Thanks for telling me about this. I will Google it later! A magic rub :)

Thanks for the replies Chloe_s_mom and Frankey. I do notice that when I sit straighter or not twist it doesn't hurt as bad. When you press on your rib or sternum, is your pain localized or is it random?
Posted 9/19/2011 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
I had to go look that up and surprise surprise, I have had that too. Didn't know there was a name for it. Pre-Fibro diagnosis, I told my doctor about it and he basically said when we are upset (ie mental) that if there's nothing wrong with our body, our body will "invent" something wrong with it. Just another doc saying I'm crazy. I knew I wasn't.
Posted 9/19/2011 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
There is a whole link about costochondritis in Fibro 101.  It totally explains this.  Many of us have this so that's why I put the link about it. 

 

Sherrine

Posted 9/19/2011 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
Mine seemed like it kicked in when I got my feelings hurt. My solution was to work on not being so sensitive and I haven't had much trouble with it in the last couple years, but for awhile there it was getting very bad! Does that make sense at all? Do you ever have it when your feelings get hurt? I thought that was really weird.
Posted 9/19/2011 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
Someone has to do something major to get my feelings hurt.  If anything, I dig my heels in, so this doesn't affect the costochondritis.  I get it in flares and also if I cough too hard.  I pay for at least a day with a hard cough. 

 

Sherrine

Posted 9/19/2011 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
Heat definitely works the best for me. I've been known to sleep with my heating pad tied across my chest. I usually get it really badly along the bottom of my ribs and up my sternum and it makes wearing a bra absolutely impossible when it flares. Next time it flares I'm going to try the Tylenol Precise patches that I have. They work really well for my neck pain when it gets bad.
Posted 9/20/2011 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
Mine came from my having bronchitis that evolved into pneumonia for six weeks (last December). So, all that hacking coughing tore the muscles from my ribs and the pain is severe to this day. The fibo seems to exacerbate it as well. My massage therapist massages my ribs which helps temporarily. It can truly be an excruciating thing to bear!
Posted 9/21/2011 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
My Costco is mainly on my left side near the armpit and it goes up to my neck, and can even effect my shoulder blades from the back...grrr... I constantly feel like I have to feel my pulse in case I'm having a heart attack:s It least my tail bone, for the moment, isn't hurting, LOL!!! ;)

I'm not 100% sure what aggravates it, but I know from work today that mean people sure don't help:s

Go banana!!
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