Guest guest Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 Actually, I believe, we are both gave good information and I hope it helps some folks. The information I passed along came directly from one of the national fibromyalgia groups. I've also read very similar information on several other sites. True, the primary medical terminology for pain is " -dynia " and/or " -algia " and " -itis " specifically deals with inflammation. Perhaps I didn't explain well through my " fog " ..... " costo(rib) chondr(o){cartilage} itis (inflammation) is a specific condition that does indeed mean the inflammation of the cartilage around the ribcage. If I remember my surgical and medical text books properly...I believe it most commonly effects the 2nd through 5th intercostal spaces and the junctures of the 2nd through 5th ribs with the sternum (breastbone) and the junctures of those ribs with the spinal column. Inflammation anywhere in the body can, in and of itself, cause pain (though it does not always cause pain). While it is not a condition specifically linked to fibromyalgia and it is not seen only in fibromyalgia patients; some fibromyalgia patients do have costocondritis. When fibromyalgia patients do have costochondritis, it seems to be commonly found in the cartilage which connects the second rib to the sternum...if I remember correctly from my research regarding fibromyalgia; that is also considered one of the " tender points " many doctors use when trying to make a Fibromyalgia diagnosis. Fibromyalgia can also mimic costochondritis. Approximately 2/3 of costochondritis patients are women...so a definate predominance there (I used to see it in our patients from time to time). The good news is that costochondritis is, as a rule, a benign condition which can (and in many instances does) clear up by itself. It can give one a good scare though! Chest pain is a frightening experience. If anyone would like to do some more reading specifically on costochondritis, I have a list of links I would be happy to share..just give me a shout off list! Blessings, Pixi > Hi all, > > I also have costochondritis which is inflammation of the > cartilage around the ribcage. And it can cause pain in the > chest area too sometimes making people think that they are > having a heart attack but it's not as Pixi said. When they > talk about pain in medicine the suffixes used to describe it is > dynia or algia. > > I asked my Pain Management dr about costochondritis also being > something to tie in with fibromyalgia as Pixi and even a friend > of mine mentioned and she said that no not really. Meaning that > yes it can be related to fibro but that it is not the case for > every patient with costochondritis. Also costochondritis is > something that primarily affects women. > > When I started having problems with the costochondritis I felt > it in my breast as well as the side of my ribcage under my left > arm. When it acted up here about a couple months ago I felt it > in the lower part of the ribcage right under the breast. I just > made sure to manage it with meds. It got into a flare b/c of > all the coughing I was doing thanks to a cold I had. > > I hope this is of some help to everyone. > > Kristy > (moderator) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2004 Report Share Posted May 15, 2004 i have what feels like catches in my ribs, usually i will also have fingers, hips and feet that cramp up at the same time. when i take the quinine sulfate it goes away or eases. could this be the same problem or just more fibro pain? nancy > > Hi all, > > > > I also have costochondritis which is inflammation of the > > cartilage around the ribcage. And it can cause pain in the > > chest area too sometimes making people think that they are > > having a heart attack but it's not as Pixi said. When they > > talk about pain in medicine the suffixes used to describe it is > > dynia or algia. > > > > I asked my Pain Management dr about costochondritis also being > > something to tie in with fibromyalgia as Pixi and even a friend > > of mine mentioned and she said that no not really. Meaning that > > yes it can be related to fibro but that it is not the case for > > every patient with costochondritis. Also costochondritis is > > something that primarily affects women. > > > > When I started having problems with the costochondritis I felt > > it in my breast as well as the side of my ribcage under my left > > arm. When it acted up here about a couple months ago I felt it > > in the lower part of the ribcage right under the breast. I just > > made sure to manage it with meds. It got into a flare b/c of > > all the coughing I was doing thanks to a cold I had. > > > > I hope this is of some help to everyone. > > > > Kristy > > (moderator) > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2004 Report Share Posted May 16, 2004 Thank you. Sometimes I have things, but no names for them. Then I go, " Oh, that's what that strange thing my body does is called. " Lynn Re: Costochondritis > Lynn, > Check out post #12297 and others right around that post. I also have > an extensive list of links about it if you would like to read more. > Just give me a shout off list and I'll send them to you. > > Blessings, > Pixi > > > > " Lynn Esty " <mlesty@a...> wrote: > > Ok, I'll bite - just what is that?? Lynn > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: " Deb " <dmhummel@w...> > > > > I have costochondritis... NO FUN... and the ONLY relief I have > found is a > > > chiropractor! > > > Deb in NW Ohio > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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