Costochondritis

[louise]

Hi,

I have been diagnosed recently with a new problem!! It seems when we have an auto immune disorder like IC we are prone to more conditions - just to make our lives more unpleasant. Anyway, the condition is called Costochondritis and it is an inflammation of the cartilage where the ribs join the breastbone.
It is severely painful and you feel like you are having a heart attack. I went to the ER and they did an EKG which fortunately was normal. It took almost three weeks to get the diagnosis of
Costochondritis. The usual treatment is NSAIDs which I can't take due to being allergic so the doctor told me to put heat on the area and rest and not overdo activities. He also said it can take a long time for this condition to disappear. I did some research on the Internet and phoned the Research Dept. at my library. They told me that it can take between six and twelve months for the pain and inflammation to settle down. My PT said I should be 90% better in one year. Great!!

I am wondering if anyone else has heard of or even been diagnosed with this terrible condition. Due to the shortness of breath caused by the tightness and fullness under the breastbone it is difficult to get a full breath and I find I am feeling very weak and fatigued. The cause is unknown but the literature says it can be caused by a viral infection or be associated with auto immune disorders so I am wondering if my fibro and/or my IC are the possible culprits. Thanks for any advice, info or support from anyone who knows anything about this problem or even unfortunately has also been diagnosed with it.

Thanks very much!!!

Louise

[yorkyloverx3]

Louise
I actually was diagnosed with costchondritis in October of 99. (before IC) It can also be brought on by a sudden jerk in the chest area. Mine was due to water skiing which I had not done in years and will never attempt again.
Yes it can be very painful and you feel like you ARE having a heart attack. I went to ER twice only to be given and EKG and told my heart was ok and sent home!! It took several months for a diagnosis for me also. Unfortunaly the PT is right it took a good year for me to get better. You need to be careful, I know it hurts to take a deep breathe but you can easily get phnemonia. (sp?)
That was the year everything started with me. The dr told me I had fibromalgia and was very depressed. Hormones were raging and could not get my periods regulated, early menopausal symptons.
First the costcshondritis, then I was in the hospital twice with pancreatitus. I was very sick for about 2 years (the only good thing about that whole ordeal I lost 30 lbs) THEN here comes the IC after that diagnosis I had a hysterectomy and now IC is in major flare. The pelvic floor muscles are spasming all the time and over the past few weeks I have started having panic attacks.
I am going to physical therapy now and it does help.
:dogrun: I wish I could run away from all this 'junk' and be well again.
I am so sorry this only added to your symptons. Hang in there and take one day at the time. :pray: I will remember you, just know you are not alone.
Denise

[Katrina]

(((((((((((((((((((Louise)))))))))))))))))) I have never heard of this disease but am familiar with some of the symptoms.....I am so sorry it will take you such a long time to be better...do take care of yourself. I will pray for you. I am multi diseased and very limited in my abilities and understand how upsetting it is to get another thing and have more problems. I hope you find relief as fast as possible.....always know we are here for you.


In loving Care:kiss:

[MAMASITA4]

Well, that was very interesting about your diagnosis. Makes me wonder now about me! I have several autoimmune diseases (IC, IBS, arthritis, Hashimoto Hypothyroidism). I went to the ER back in March. I woke up out of a deep sleep at 5:00 a.m. with a severe hurt (almost like a cramp) that would not go away. I tried to reposition myself...nothing helped. Was afraid to move for fear of dropping dead. I was downstairs sleeping on the couch and everyone else was upstairs. I fought this awful cramp-like feeling for hours. Finally got up once everyone else was up. Went to work. Went ahead and called my physician. They told me to come into their office. Had an EKG. Only thing it showed was that my resting heart rate was in the high 90's when my normal resting heart rate is in the 70's. They sent me straight to the ER. They kept me for 24 hrs...drew blood, did x-rays, stress test but no real diagnosis of what it was. Put me on an aspirin a day.

Let me tell you, with all the meds that I'm on for all my illnesses, other than the discomfort of having to pee, it takes A LOT to make me awaken! Sounds so similar to what you described. I am going to a rheumatologist again on June 23rd. I will be sure to talk about my adventure with them because they are also going to be retesting for additional autoimmune diseases.

Glad you were at least diagnosed and hope and pray that it will not take a year for you to get better!:pray:

[JAMIEL]

Hi! During my last two pregnancies (before IC) I had horrible pain in my rib area. The doctors thought it was my gall bladder and I had every known test to man to find out was wrong. The doctors could not find anything medically wrong. The pain was so bad there were times I felt like I would die. I was finally diagnosed by another doc with what he called "intercostal nuerolgia) Spelling? Could this be the same thing that you are talking about? After I gave birth it did slowly go away but once in a while I do feel a dull pain there. The only thing I did take for a short period of time was Neuronton but I did not like the side effects so I stopped. I never thought there was a connection with the IC but you never know!

[Mimi-in-Chicagoland]

Its a shame they can't give you a narcotic or something (maybe tylenol 3) else so you're not in pain. You should go to a pain management doctor. A heat pad for a year is absolutely ridiculous. I'm so sorry, Louise. My DH got a short term inflammation of the chest wall lining and it was unbearable. It went away in a week. Pleurisy was what it was called. It lasted about a week.

[Dragenj]

All of my troubles began following a bout of costo...in 1999...fibro and now IC. It took 9-10 months for it to settle down and occasionally it will return. The fibro is better for me now, managed with weekly massage, but the IC is unremitting. The pelvic pain that I feel everyday, even with narcotic pain medication, is more than any human should have to endure. It is very discouraging. Thankfully, I have found this site, and I have a good support system in place. Most of all, knowing that you are not alone can do wonders.
Do ask your doctor to treat your chronic pain...if you can't take NSAID's then ask for an opiate. Just having the cloud of pain lifted off of you can help you function better and not get so depressed.
Good luck.

[calmkiwi21]

hey there,
About a month ago my doctor diagnosed me with Costochondritis and told me the same thing you were told to put heat or ice on it and to have atleast 2 weeks of resting. So far it has disappeared for the time being, but you have to be carefull not to re-injure it like I also seem to do. I had the tightness in the chest happen after mowing the lawn and have been hesitant to do it again but will try once again hopefully this month :) . I hope you feel better soon.
From
Amy

[elsie123]

I also have this along with fibro and IC. I bumped my ribs against the arm of my computer chair on Easter Sunday and they are just now beginning to heal where I can take a deep breath without pain. I can usually think back to an incident like this when I innocently bump a rib, its something that wouldn't phase a healthy person. I know one other woman in my town that has IC. I saw her last week and she said her husband rushed her to the hospital in the middle of the night because she was having so much pain in her ribs. She really thought she was dying . They gave her a moriphine shot and diagnosed her with costochondritis. She also has lupus. It seems so bizarre to me how so many of us have a list of autoimmune diseases to go along with IC.

[sunshine_77us]

Last Feb. I was hurting right under my left breast. The pain kept getting worse each day. Finally, I told my supervisor that I had to go to Health Plus. When I showed them were I was hurting they called an ambulance and sent me to the hospital. I kept telling them that it was not my heart but they had to run all the tests anyway to make sure. All of the heart tests came back ok. The doctor did not give it a name but said I had inflammation. He gave me a shot for pain. I could not take antiflammatory drugs because of stomach problems. He told me to stay home from work the next day and keep a heating pad on it. After I started using the heating pad and taking some of my pain medication, it kept getting better. Now, I think I have a name for it. Thanks

[louise]

Hi,

I can't believe the number of replies I received about this latest diagnosis of mine - Costochrondritis. I thought for sure no one else would have heard of it and thought I was crazy for posting my problem. So my heartfelt thanks to all of you who responded and I am also sorry for those of you who also have had to cope with this other miserable condition along with IC and fibro. But it does warm my heart hearing from all of you and getting the feedback that I did. I am finding that I get short periods of relief from the pain but this past Monday and Tuesday I was at the hospital for a MIBI heart scan as my tests have showed something like a leaky valve and a heart murmur so I was there about three hours each day. I had told my cardiologist due to the IC and other problems in my pelvis because of many surgeries I could not do the stress test involved with walking. But when I got there yesterday my cardio wasn't there and I was very "stressed out" from the nurses AND the cardio wanting me to do the walking. I kept telling them this had been arranged with my own doctor and that instead of the stress test they would give me an injection which would micmic the effects of the walking. But this wasn't good enough for this jerk of a cardio and when I told him about the IC and how walking, etc. affect me he said he had never heard about IC. So I told him a little bit about it and said I would send him some material on it and he said that would be good.

I could not believe he had not even heard of IC. So for that reason he was less than understanding and compassionate about my not being eager to do the stress test. I am not a very assertive person so I found between the nurses and the doctor almost brow beating me about the stress test that this caused me MORE stress than the rest of the tests which included an IV so I have a beautiful big bruise on my right hand which I hate when they have to go there because they had difficulty finding a good vein. It has to be a really good day for my veins to be cooperative but of all days for them to be mischievious was even more stressful. The nurse was ready to put the IV into the area running straight up from the right thumb by the wrist. I have had an IV there before and still have a very small scar to show for it. It is a very painful area to have an IV.

Anyway, enough about my whining. Thanks again so much from all of you for your input. I am really concerned about this problem with the costochondritis and certainly don't want to have to live with it as another "chronic" problem to add to the list. So I am tryng to behave as much as I can and rest even more than usual.

You guys are great!! I haven't been on this site for a long time due to an experience where I felt a little disappointed in the support I received or perhaps the lack of support I received.
So I am glad I finally decided to break down and post about this conditiion. It was really worthwhile considering the advice and super support I received from all of you.

Sincerely,

Louise

:thumbsup:

[elsie123]

Yes, Jamiel, the more comon name for intercostal nueralgia is costochondritis.

[yorkyloverx3]

Louise
Aren't men, especially in the medical field jerks!!?:ignore:
not so much the dr but all the other people you have to put up with.
I just want to tell them to shut up, cause they don't know what they are talking about. Just once I wish one of those nurses or other "medical" staff could have the pain of IC just one day. That is all it would take for them to understand and be more sympathic.
When I was having my instillations, the nurses were rough and acted like they were doing you a favor by shoving the cather up in you. The nursing staff that work with IC patients need to be trained on how to deal with us.:idea:
So I just wanted to say...I am sorry you had to go through that as if you needed any more stress right now.
Hang in there girl
Tomorrow will be a better day.
Denise

[Sandy N.]

Yes I too had costochondritis, in fact twice and oh yes it hurts and feels like someting is cracking inside your rib cage.....:pray: for you Sandy

[crystilclear]

Hi all! i recently went to the ER because of extreme pain in my chest. Being 25 they didn't think it was a heart problem but checked anyways. It was fine they did a ct scan and tons of blood work. It's been like this for about 31\2 weeks. I'm being referred to a Rhuematologist. The ER was not very sympathetic gave me nothing for the pain even though I was crying hysterically and told me since I wasn't in dire need to take it up with my pc doc. I got some flexeral very reluctantly from my doc but it hurts really bad. How did you get a diagnosis? A blood check or urinalisis? I'm so glad you did post I've been going out of my mind. I have 3 kids and am in need of something so I can function better. It hurts too bad for them to even hug me but it's worth the pain. I can't tell my babies not to hug me. I just say gently please. Well I'd love if you could elaberate if you can for me please. I sure could use the advice. Thanks take care - Chris

[crystilclear]

Hi all! i recently went to the ER because of extreme pain in my chest. Being 25 they didn't think it was a heart problem but checked anyways. It was fine they did a ct scan and tons of blood work. It's been like this for about 31\2 weeks. I'm being referred to a Rhuematologist. The ER was not very sympathetic gave me nothing for the pain even though I was crying hysterically and told me since I wasn't in dire need to take it up with my pc doc. I got some flexeral very reluctantly from my doc but it hurts really bad. How did you get a diagnosis? A blood check or urinalisis? I'm so glad you did post I've been going out of my mind. I have 3 kids and am in need of something so I can function better. It hurts too bad for them to even hug me but it's worth the pain. I can't tell my babies not to hug me. I just say gently please. Well I'd love if you could elaberate if you can for me please. I sure could use the advice. Thanks take care - Chris

[louise]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for your very nice post and I am sorry you weren't taken more seriously at the ER. I had much the same treatment.

My chest pain started one evening about 10 p.m. when hubby and I were just relaxing in bed watching TV. It started with a sharp on the left side just under my breast and soon spread all the way across to the other side causing a tightness, squeezing, fullness sensation under my breastbone making my breasts feel like they weighed 100 pounds each!! I found it difficult to breathe properly due to these symptoms. I first phoned a Health link number we have here and talked to a nurse who soon told me to go to the ER. They did an EKG of my heart which was fine. When I told the ER doc I was seeing a cardiologist because previous tests have shown a leaky valve and murmur in my heart he said he would not do any further tests that night because I already had a heart scan booked for this past Monday and Tuesday. He said he thought the cause of the pain was a "pulled muscle"!!

The pain and symptoms continued and since my own GP was on holidays I saw a different doctor and he thought the problem was caused by reflux esophagitis which I do have a history of. He gave me some samples of Pantoloc for that problem and said I should feel better in a couple of days. Well, I didn't feel better after taking a week's worth of the med. And I knew myself it was not reflux because I know how that feels and this pain was very different. Finally when I got in to see my regular GP he examined me and when he poked and pressed my breastbone and in that area the pain was very severe. He is a very smart doctor; in fact after many years of living with IC undiagnosed he was the one who came up with IC as the reason for the terrible bladder and pelvic pain. He said since I am allergic to anti-inflammatory meds. to put heat on the area, rest and don't overdo activities and do some stretches to expand my lungs as there is a possibility of getting pleurisy or pneumonia with the costochondritis. He told me also to see my PT for acupuncture. When I saw him he said the acup. would not help and said much like my GP did. They both said it can take a long time for the condition to resolve and as I said earlier my PT told me I would be 90% improved in one year!!

So I have been putting heat on the breastbone and also the upper chest area because when my PT examined me he said the ribs in that area were also inflamed in addition to the ribs attached to the breastbone. I soak in a very warm tub and put the face cloth over the area as well. I am also taking Bromelain which is a herbal anti-inflammatory as recommended by a knowledgeable health food store owner. Other than that I am trying not to do anything to aggravate the area as it only makes the pain and other symptoms worse.

My GP did tell me to come back if I get worse in case of developing a problem in the lungs.

I hope this is of some help to you. If I can be of any further help, you can e-mail me at rsmonty@telusplanet.net.

Good luck and thanks again for your support and compassion.

Louise

:angel:

[crystilclear]

Thanks for replying. What are the thearapies used ? Someone said something about NSAIDS? What is that? I'm in the process of getting a referral but you know how annoying that can be. I need help now and all they do is say call this place and call that place. I noticed that when I lay back and take shallower breaths it is less painful. My pain is more above the breasts and across. Can that still be the same thing? It's wierd. But right now I don't know what's going on they think I have fibro but I'm in the process of eliminating other things first. I know it's not Lupus or RA so far. It's pain in the joints, all over achiness, tention headaches, heavy periods, cramping, off and on stabbing pains, extreme fatigue, heavy monthlies, wierd tingling feelings sometimes, diarria off and on, sometimes back pains espcially in the lower region, wierd pains like someones putting a needle in me. I don't know but it's making it so difficult to do the things I need to be doing now. My house is a mess. I use all my energy to do the things the kids need me to do for them but after that I am in so much pain and feel like sleeping while I'm still awake. I have actually fallen asleep with my head on the counter in the kitchen! It's so frusterating when I feel like I'm just getting pushed around again by the docs. They told me for years that nothing was wrong then bam I have such a servere case of IC all the sudden they believe me. But still they are so reluctant to help. I'm also sad because I go through 90% of all this pain without the aid of pain meds. I know it makes it so much harder for me but the doctors suck and just want me to come to all these app. which they charge WAY TOO MUCH MONEY for. I hate being at their mercy. It's not fair!!!!! I don't drive right now so everytime I do go in my hubby has to take off and watch the kids while I'm in there. Sorry I know we all have it so bad and I am very grateful for what I have. I just need to get it off my chest. I wish it would get rid of the pain too. How do we do it? I get overwhelmed so easily. Mu hubby has picked up the slack and I love him so dealy. It makes me feel bad because I'm not pulling my weight around here anymore. Isn't it enough to have IC? Why all this other sh**? Sorry gals just a very crappy day. Have a goodnight all take care- Chris :confused: :(

[Teri]

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I went thru this for about 6 months and thought I would NEVER get better. It was before I found a dr to treat my IC pain and dr-ing with a dr who refuses to give pain meds so I had to stick it out with darvoset and thought that I would die.

It ended up clearing up just as quickly as it came.....sending some extra prayers your way:butterfly:

[louise]

Hi Chris,

I think you expounded like a lot of us feel ALL of the time and I am glad you did because personally you saved me a lot of time and energy by doing so!! Just kidding! Seriously, I know a lot of us do feel exactly as you describe. I know myself lately I feel as if I am walking around in a fog, I am so weak and fatigued all of the time.

The pain I experience with the costochrondritis is BELOW my breasts where the ribs meet the breastbone and all the way across. But as I mentioned I believe in an earlier post when I saw my PT and he examined my upper chest wall, the ribs there were very painful when he pressed and he said those ribs are also inflamed but the pain radiates down to the ribs below the breastbone. NSAIDs stands for non-sterioidal anti-inflammatory meds such as Feldene, Anaprox, Vioxx, etc. etc. There are a host of them, if you can take them. I can't due to an allergy so that makes treating the inflammation a lot slower and a lot longer for the condition to improve and hopefully resolve altogether. So if you can take the NSAIDs and can get a prescription from your doctor that might help to relieve some of your pain a lot. You could also try OTC anti-inflammatores such as Aleve, Ibuprofen, etc. - AGAIN if you can take these types of medications.

I am seeing my GP this next week for a checkup on the costochondritis as I find I have developed a dry cough and a feeling of congestion in my lungs plus along with the weakness and extreme fatigue I want him to check out to make sure I haven't developed pleurisy or pneumonia which can also occur with the rib problem.

I hope this is of some help to you. As Denise posted earlier who also has this costo. condition, it took her 9 to 10 months for the condition to improve. As I said also earlier, my PT told me I would be 90% in a YEAR so it does take a long time for the inflammation to disappear.

My hubby and I had to make a big decision recently concerning our daughter who is getting married in Sept. First, because of my severe IC pain PLUS the fact that vibrations and turbulence irritate my bladder something terrible, we decided we could not make the trip to where the wedding is being held. Even my GP said the trip would be long enough for a healthy person let alone someone with my pain problem. And now with this latest diagnosis of costochondritis and the uncertainty that goes along with it and the danger of developing pneumonia which flying wouldn't help, we feel we have made the right if difficult decision not to fly to the wedding. But on the flipside, we will have a family celebration when the bride and groom return from their honeymoon which relieves me of a lot of guilt. Also, on my Mother's Day card, my daughter told me this was a very special year because this year I am the "mother-of-the-bride" and not to worry one more minute about not being at the wedding; all she wants is my love and support which she already knows she has. Whew, now that I got that off my chest (literally) I had better go and relax!! I feel the same way you describe, Chris, when I lie down or lay in a more prone position the pain in my chest, ribs and breastbone is not nearly so bad; it is sitting upright and standing that for me makes the pain severe and the breathing much worse.

Good luck and I sincerely hope your doctors are able to piece together your symptoms and come up with some answers. I also plan to ask my doctor to check my blood to make sure I am not anemic because with all this going on and mainly due to the pain level I live with constantly, my appetite is nonexistent so I am not getting much nutrition.

All my best,

Louise

:kiss: :angel:

[louise]

Hi,

I just wanted to clarify that when I looked back at the previous posts concerning costochondritis it was Denise who said it took almost the full year to feel better and DragenJ (I hope I got right!!) who said it took her 9 to 10 months to feel better.
Whichever way you look at it it sounds like it CAN take a very long time for this other miserable condition to disappear and hopefully it does completely disappear. That is my other concern with it - that it doesn't turn into another chronic problem that I can add to my list. But I AM trying to be optimistic that it will only last for a few months.

I would like to talk with you more about your experience with this condition, Denise, if you would like to e-mail me. That would be great!!!!!

Louise

rsmonty@telusplanet.net

:angel:

[Julie Smith]

Louise I also had when I was hospitalized with bleeding ulcers. Mimi- 2 infectious disease dr's. examined me and one called plurisy and the other called cotoco. and said it was the same thing. I was put on antibiotics and moist heat pad. I've had about 3 x since first time (8yrs) ago. It is painful and can last a long time. At times dr. also prescribed breathing machine which I hated....... Hope you feel better real soon, Julie :thumbsup:

[louise]

Hi Julie,

Sorry to hear you had this difficult condition also. I was interested to read that the doctor said you had both pleurisy and costochondritis and that they were the same. I wonder if he meant that with the costo. problem can come the pleurisy because breathing is very difficult with the costochrondritis therefore there is the risk of developing pleurisy or pneumonia.
I know I have had a dry cough lately and feel like my chest is congested. Do you mind my asking if you had any of these symptoms or other symptoms that would indicate the pleurisy diagnosis? Did you also feel weak and very fatigued? That is how I have been feeling and find I have to rest more than usual.

I have an appt. this Thursday to see my GP so I will have him check my chest to see if he thinks I have pleurisy as well.

Thanks for your post and your help.


Louise

:thumbsup:

[crystilclear]

Thanks you all for the information. I will have stuff to ask the doctor now maybe it'll help speed things up to get a diagnosis sooner. Sometimes I feel like I know way more than they do. We could diagnosis ourselves! Now I just need to get my pc doc to give me the referral. They have a stupid referral's dept that takes forever and never answers the da** phone. Take care all - Chris

[louise]

Hi,

I wanted to ask you gals that have dealt with and maybe are still dealing with this latest medical problem of mine - this rib inflammation. I am wondering if putting heat on the area is a good idea. I can't say I notice much improvement after putting heat on it and in fact I wonder if it isn't making it worse. I know initially when you have something that is inflamed you should put ice on it, but my physio told me since I have had the problem now for almost six weeks I should put heat on it. The only relief I get is when I lie down - sitting and being upright definitely aggravates it and it gets to the point if I do sit for too long the pain and tightness in my chest get very uncomfortable. I usually get some relief re my IC by sitting in a warm tub, but even that isn't helping now because of the sitting - it just makes the costo. get worse and worse.

Thanks for any help from you other costo. sufferers!! I really empathize with you guys that suffered through almost a year with this misery. I sure hope mine begins to improve soon - very soon!!

Thanks and lots of good wishes,

LOUISE

:angel: :angel:

[crystilclear]

I have no idea myself. How did they know you had it? I mean how can they tell if it's inflamed or not? Would it show up in a ct scan or by a rountine examination? I'm just not sure if that's what's wrong with me. Just wondering. It's is insaine trying to get in to see a specialist here. I won't be able to be seen for awhile. The doctors I do see don't like to perscribe me anything. This whole stupid process sucks. I feel like it will never get diagnosed. Well sorry I wasn't any help. I'm stressed out. Take care I hope someone else will be able to answer your question. Take care - Chris

[sunshine_77us]

When I was sent to the ER and they figured out it was inflammation, the doctor told me to put heat on it. I also took Aleve. He told me not to work the next day and keep the heat on it. That is what I kept doing and it felt lots better. Hope this helps.

[JAMIEL]

When I finally got diagnosed with "Intercostal neurolgia" which is apparently the same thing the doctor put me on neurontin. I did not do too well with that med so I started taking celebrex...it did go away...once in a while I do feel a dull pain there but it is nothing like I felt when I was pregnant.....I think that with any imflammation it takes time....Arent we all sick of hearing that...thats all I hear from my doctors "give it time" blah blah blah....how much time do they think I have???? LOL

Jamie:kiss:

[louise]

Hi Chris,

I am sorry about the wait - it's really bad up here in Canada as well. In fact, I have just been speaking to my son who lives about three hours from us who had an appointment with a specialist next week which he has waited months for. He asked me to phone the office to confirm the exact date and time and when I did they said that "the patient" had phoned and cancelled the appointment!! So he had NO appointment. They gave me a date in Sept. for him which of course he wasn't pleased with. He called the office and they fitted him in at the end of July. What a mess!

For me, the diagnosis was made by physical examination. When my GP and my physio both poked and prodded the ribs, they were very tender and painful. I was kind of expecting the diagnosis as I had done some research and came up with the costochondritis on the Internet and thought it sounded exactly like what I was experiencing. I am not sure but it might show up on an x-ray or it might need something more like a CT Scan. But for me I know the diagnosis is correct from the way I am feeling, but as I said I am not getting much relief from anything because I can't take anti-inflammatory medication. But I do feel it is related to the IC. One of the articles I read on the Internet said it could be caused by having another inflammatory disease.

Thanks for your post. When do you see the specialist? I hope it's not too far away. Take care.

Louise

[crystilclear]

I am still waiting for a referral from the "referral dept" of my doc office. They conveiniently don't ahve a number. I swear they suck. They did a ct scan at the hospital and didn't say anything about inflamation. My ribs don't hurt it is the area above my chest that hurts. I'm not sure it is the same as what you have descibed.. I think mine is due to fibro. But I won't get a diagnosis until I see the specialst. Oh well. Anyways thanks for the reply. Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later. Take care - Chris

[louise]

Chris, I think I mentioned in one of my earlier posts that my main painful area with this costochondritis is at my breastbone, between my breasts and refers to my back. But when I saw my physio a couple of weeks ago he also poked and prodded the ribs ABOVE my breasts in my upper chest area and they were also very tender and painful so he said they were inflamed as well. Fortunately for me I do not suffer from pain in that area; mine is all below the breasts as I described above. My physio said it is all connected and is part of the condochronditis condition.

If you want to check out some web sites on the condition, go to:

www.allsands.com/costochondritis_tv_gn.htm

www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/costochrondritis.htm

www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic116.htm

Hopefully this will help you to see whether your symptoms relate to the information described.

LOUISE

[Julie Smith]

Dear Louise,

I had costa about 6 yrs. ago and I can tell you it is very painful and takes FOREVER to heal. Since I was hospitalized at the time a pulmulnologist diagnosed me. Don't overdue, be patient, kinda like you've heard about ic. BUT this does heal 4-12 wks. depending how bad the case is. Also, once you've had, your prone to have again. I';ve only had once w/ sinusitis, ear infections, cough, you get the picture. It only lasted about 6 wks. and was not as severe as the first case, don't know why.

Obviously, I'm not an expert but this is just what I've experienced. We're all different so I can only speak for myself.

Take good care of yourself, heating pad did help me. But I love it for everything!

Sending warm hugs your way,
Julie:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

[Julie Smith]

Dear Louise,

I had costa about 6 yrs. ago and I can tell you it is very painful and takes FOREVER to heal. Since I was hospitalized at the time a pulmulnologist diagnosed me. Don't overdue, be patient, kinda like you've heard about ic. BUT this does heal 4-12 wks. depending how bad the case is. Also, once you've had, your prone to have again. I';ve only had once w/ sinusitis, ear infections, cough, you get the picture. It only lasted about 6 wks. and was not as severe as the first case, don't know why.

Obviously, I'm not an expert but this is just what I've experienced. We're all different so I can only speak for myself.

Take good care of yourself, heating pad did help me. But I love it for everything!

Sending warm hugs your way,
Julie:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

[blue]

I hope you are feeling better soon!

[louise]

Hi Julie & Blue,

Thanks for your posts. Julie, can you please tell me if you took any anti-inflammatory medication for your costo? I am allergic to them so can't take so I suppose that doesn't help with the longevity of the condition. I am taking Extra-Strenth Arthritis Tylenol for it along with the heating pad and soaking in tub.
I am at the six week mark with it and not much improvement.
It doesn't help that we have been having very wet, cold and windy weather which I am sure is aggravating the inflammation.
Did you have any physio, such as ultrasound, etc. for it. That has been suggested to me and I have a call in to a physio about that.

I find by the end of the day it gets really bad and the only thing I can do is lie down with the heating pad which takes hours to feel better. I find sitting (like here at computer!!) doesn't help either so I am trying not to be here as much. Also, do you mind my asking if you have Lupus? The research I have done on the Internet does connect costochondritis to lupus on a lot of different sites; but I imagine it is possible to have it as a separate condition on its own without having lupus. I only mention it because I have been tested for lupus as I had some symptoms but so far my blood tests are ok.

Thanks again for your help, info and support.

Louise

:angel:

[Julie Smith]

Dear Louise,

No physio, but if your dr. is recomening then i strongly suggest you follow that. yes anti, no lupus but as you have said i do have symptoms. yes to arthri and some other arthri. now i can't take anti unless it's that 7 day pack, not sure how many days, too long to remember. sorry being so short but today is awful. on top of ibs flare now i have a migraine. i could probably give you more info when i'm feeling better.

take care of yourself and try to stay warm, sending you warm hugs, julie :kiss: :grouphug:

[Calli]

About the original (first) post in this thread:

Could this be also if you feel pain sometimes under your ribs on both sides, or on the right side in the height of your bellybutton but it feels like its under the ribs?

I feel pain there sometimes (and then it moves also sometimes into my kidneys) and my Uro said that this totaly doesn't coinside with IC. I wonder now..... what do you think? Could I have an infection like this there?

Anybody?

[crystilclear]

I was recently tested for RA and I don't have that. I have symptoms indicitive to fibro but haven't had a formal diagnosis yet. Couldn't my chest pain be souly from the firbro or is it unlikely to be caused by that? Just wondering because whenI was at the hospital they did a ct scan and didn't say anything about inflammation. Can it be seen by a ct scan? Anyways I am at a standstill waiting for a referral. I can't go back to the uro either because we are disputing some outrageous charges. I'm going crazy because my monthly is just around the corner and I'm already in constant servere pain. I don't have anyone that will give me pain meds for this. And I can't afford to go to the ER plus they suck anyways. Sorry I just can't stand being in limbo. Take care everyone - Chris