Costochondritis

[Guest guest]

On Wed, 15 Aug 2001 rjp440@... wrote:

> Last week I was diagnosed with costochondritis - an inflammation of

> the cartilage that attaches the ribs to the breastbone. It is caused

> by trauma, viral infection or part of an inflammatory disease process.

I had this too, at the tender age of 16. I'm 17 now, and it's gone. Not to

fear! I polevaulted with this condition (and a fine crack on my spinal

disc)! Yeah it hurts and I'm stupid, but let me get to the point.

To make it go away quickly, I would (DON'T CREAM ME IF THIS IS WRONG! IT

WORKED FOR ME!) refrain from stretching your ribcage. I used to raise my

arms, interlock my fingers, and try to reach as far back as I could. Then

one day it just " popped " , and I had the whole costo whatever thing.

And the benches and full range dips will have to rest for a while. Oh, not

six months. If you rest it, should be gone in a month. =)

--

--------------------------------------

Anton C. Sevilla

Ateneo Cervini-Eliazo Networks (ACENT)

email : anton14@...

web : http://cersa.admu.edu.ph/

phone : 63(2) 4266001-5925/5904

[Guest guest]

lHello all,

I am wondering if anyone on this list has experience with or been diagnosed

with costochondritis. It is looking more and more likely that that is the

cause of the terrible chest pain I have, which is a big relief because it

doesn't kill you (as some of the nastier lung diseases can, which I feared I

had) but it can -- in my experience -- make you wish you were dead. I've

heard, though, that Vioxx is very helpful and my pain is better just from

taking coated aspirin the past few days.

There is a costo website and I'm learning a lot about it but would be very

interested to know if anyone with CFIDS also experiences this.

Bonnie

[Guest guest]

Hello Hud,

Yes, my pain is often between my shoulder blades, too. It is so bad lately

that I am taking percoset. The costo website is helpful -- you might want to

look into it.

Does anything help your pain? My plan is to see the pulmonologist to rule

out another cause of the pain (I have had breast cancer and have to look out

for metastases; also a history of mycoplasma pneumonia, which was the

beginning of this nightmare). If the pulmo. is unable to help then I'll go to

a pain center. I can't live this way anymore.

Working at the computer is hard for me, too, but not impossible. It's ironic

because the computer is where I'm learning about my various maladies, yet

spending any time on it exacerbates the pain.

Take care, Hud, and please stay in touch.

Bonnie

[Guest guest]

To Hud and Bonnie(and all with pain);

It is just dawning on me that I rarely hear about massage on this list.

I used to be a massage therapist, and, after I got sick had tons of massage.

It is one of the most powerful things I can do for myself re: pain and also

overall well being. iT DIDN'T CURE ME, BUT IT SURE BROUGHT THE LEVEL UP.

I could reaLLY GO on at length about the value of it, but not at the moment

:-).

Adrienne

(Excuse the caps, please)

[Guest guest]

on 2/1/02 5:07 AM, bonnieraepoet@... at bonnieraepoet@... wrote:

> I am wondering if anyone on this list has experience with or been diagnosed

> with costochondritis. It is looking more and more likely that that is the

> cause of the terrible chest pain I have, which is a big relief because it

> doesn't kill you (as some of the nastier lung diseases can, which I feared I

> had) but it can -- in my experience -- make you wish you were dead. I've

> heard, though, that Vioxx is very helpful and my pain is better just from

> taking coated aspirin the past few days.

>

> There is a costo website and I'm learning a lot about it but would be very

> interested to know if anyone with CFIDS also experiences this.

>

Bonnie,

I don't have a typical case‹I'm led to believe‹but I was given the diagnosis

of costochondritis by my pain treatment doctor at my local pain Tx centre.

I don't so much have pain in the chest; rarely do I have chest-type pains.

For me the pain is felt more in between the ribs and up my shoulder blade

and even all up the neck, if things get bad enough and muscles all spasm in

the area.

My understanding of costochondritis is that it's an " -itis " : which implies

" inflammation of- " ... the costo-chondral region of the body (which I think

is where the ribs meet the sternum and related areas).

My problem is pinching of the intercostal nerves (between ribs) caused by

ribs which frequently slip out of proper alignment. It hurts like hell and

makes computer work impossible.

Hud

[Guest guest]

Hi Adrienne,

I've had lots of massage, physical therapy, shiatzu (the best), reiki, etc.

All felt great but none helped the chest pain at all and some made it worse.

Besides, it's hard to pop for $50 bucks an hour or more when you're living on

disability.

Bonnie

[Guest guest]

Dear Hud,

Thanks SO MUCH for the information about oxycodone. I have been really

concerned about taking percoset because acetaminophen has been implicated in

recurrence of breast cancer according to some holistic practitioners but my

pain has been so bad that I've just thrown caution to the wind. I will

definitely ask my doc for oxycodone when I see her next week.

Today was sunny and dry (I live in Southern Arizona) and I felt much better.

I didn't make the connection until a nurse I work with mentioned that all her

patients felt well today -- when I asked why, she looked at me like I was a

fool and said well, of course, because of the weather!

In fact, I will print your message out and save it for all the useful

information in it. It's funny. I worked for a hospice for over 10 years

(I'm a social worker) and was a big advocate for the patients getting

adequate pain control, yet when it came to ME I've let this go on for much

too long.

Best wishes,

Bonnie

[Guest guest]

on 2/3/02 8:47 PM, bonnieraepoet@... at bonnieraepoet@... wrote:

> Yes, my pain is often between my shoulder blades, too. It is so bad lately

> that I am taking percoset. The costo website is helpful -- you might want to

> look into it.

Bonnie,

Yes I will look into it, thanks for the website info. I think i've been

there before; it's probably where I also learned about the condition as more

than just an indecipherable name. But there are many places on the web!

I used to take percocet, which contains 5 mg oxycodone per tablet, I

believe. Then I became aware that it was possible to get actual oxycodone

tablets without the acetaminophen or ASA (in percodan). They came in 10 mg

tablets so I could split them in half and get the same dose as a percocet.

That was 4 years ago--when I decided to go on daily opioids to control pain

and Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). So I have been taking opiates round the

clock pretty much for 4 years. When I moved from BC to Ontario I found out

they didn't cover the oxycodone tablets here. So my doctor put me on

Dilaudid instead, as it is covered by the provincial health plan. It's also

quite a bit stronger than oxycodone, although that practically means that

you can simply take less and risk fewer side effects than if using a weaker

agent (like e.g. codeine) at higher dosages.

So opiates have become a mainstay for how I deal with the pain problem.

The most effective treatment for the intercostal nerve pain/pinching is

local anesthetic (e.g. 1-2% lidocaine) injections by a skilled professional.

For me, that's a pain clinic MD who's incidentally also a neurosurgeon, so

he really knows his neuroanatomy. Specifically, the most effective pain

relief technique he's used when I'm in a lot of pain in the ribs and around

the shoulder blade is what's called a 'scapula block': he injects lidocaine

at various points in the muscles around the shoulder blade. he knows where

the nerves are that service the region, so he injects the lido into the

muscle area right next to the nerve so the lido infiltrates into the nerve

(thereby 'blocking' it).

This doesn't hurt unless he uses marcaine, in which case the solution

stings. Also, the injected area doesn't really feel much

different--certainly not anesthetized like at the dentist. It may sometimes

be even slightly more sensitive for the first few hours after the injection.

But usually the relief is quite rapid and lasts for up to several weeks.

Another treatment that seems to hold great promise is called prolotherapy,

which I just learned about recently on the web. It also involves injections

around the rib area. But in this case: into the ligaments not muscles in an

attempt to ultimately strengthen the ligaments. I don't know where to find

a prolotherapist in my area but in the US there are many more than in Canada

here.

Best,

--

Hud

>

> Does anything help your pain? My plan is to see the pulmonologist to rule

> out another cause of the pain (I have had breast cancer and have to look out

> for metastases; also a history of mycoplasma pneumonia, which was the

> beginning of this nightmare). If the pulmo. is unable to help then I'll go to

> a pain center. I can't live this way anymore.

>

> Working at the computer is hard for me, too, but not impossible. It's ironic

> because the computer is where I'm learning about my various maladies, yet

> spending any time on it exacerbates the pain.

[Guest guest]

I got costochondritis about 7 years into being sick. Yes, it hurts...it even

hurts if you are hugged, bumped..whatever. At the time the doc put me on a

hefty dose of NSAIDS (remember..this was 15 years ago) and it did get better

over time. I found that limiting arm movements helps a bit. I get it now

whenever I do too much with my arms, usually in an up and down or side to

side movement, like painting or washing windows (which I haven't done in a

very long time!) I also find that carrying a purse can aggravate it.

I'm afraid once you have it, it can keep coming back. I had it on both

sides, not just one. The cartilege where the ribs connect to the sternum is

what is inflamed with costochondritis. It's rarely ever totatally gone..much

like arthritis..it keeps coming back.

I also have had recurring pleurisy throughout the years. That's a nasty

chest pain too...sharp like a knife...

[Guest guest]

Katrina -

Many thanks for telling us about your rib muscle pain and the term

Costochrondritis. I have the same pain, which ranges intermittently

between my upper and lower ribs, and also changes sides. I blame it on the

variable and traveling Fibromyalgia-type muscle pain that many

CFS patients have.

My doctor has tried many times to attribute this pain to angina, and heart

trouble, when it is in my left upper chest. But despite his best attempts

to find something wrong with my heart, it always checks out perfectly

good.. The pain is positional and also increases with a deep breath, which

I think proves it is intercostal muscle pain and not heart.. Light exercise

seem to lessen it and it goes away in a few days.. Only to return again in

a month or so..

Almost all my CFS friends have mysterious muscle pains coming and going,

which convinces me even more that CFS and Fibromyalgia are the same

disease, with many diverse symptoms. The fatigue end of the symptom

spectrum produces a CFS diagnosis, while the victims with more pain get a

Fibromyalgia diagnosis.. Just my humble opinion after 8 years with CFS and

knowing many people with CFS/Fibro..

Mort Caldwell

CFS since 1994

----------

From: katte48[sMTP:REVIVE2000@...]

Reply

Sent: Tuesday, July 02, 2002 6:30 AM

Subject: Costochondritis

I hope I spelled that correctly.This is what happened: Knowing I have

vascular and nerve compression (prob. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome), I became

concerned with progressing both diffuse and sharp pain in left shoulder.

With use or in heat, it feels like one or two spots are going to explode or

pop. Making no progress with PCP and concerned with it being a blood

vessel, I went to the ER. The Dr. became totally convinced I had Angina.

With consultation with a Cardiologist,they admitted me! Under the cardio

and talking possible damage already, angiogram and angioplasty and stints.

Oh, I am so sure...It all happened pretty fast. Blood work showed no

damage, monitoring , EKG OK. Next morning stress test. It nearly killed me

but they pronounced Heart OK,she can go home.

On the way out, nurse said my DX was Costochondritis...inflammation

between ribs. I was aware of this lower down, but not in shoulder. Has

anyone had this

up there and what did you do? It can be viral.

The infamous left side weakness, vascular/nerve compression already is

rendering that arm almost useless and painful. Now more...don't know if

that's the right DX. But, it all hurts like hell...is taking on a life of

it's own.

So, 2,3,4 different things? My whole body is going numb,aching or pins

and needles. Feel doomed and defeated going back to PCP for ??? or dead end

referral attempts.

Katrina

This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each

other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment

discussed here, please consult your doctor.

[Guest guest]

Hi Mort,

Very interesting!Yes, those migrating mystery pains sound very familiar.This

Costo thing might be worth looking into...very painful.there was a discussion

once by many PWCs on cfs.alt.med...probably in archives, or known by those

there. Now, my PCP and Osteopath do not agree w/ this dx currently for me...see

next post.

Thanks,

Katrina

CFIDS/ME since 1985

>>>Katrina -

Many thanks for telling us about your rib muscle pain and the term

Costochrondritis. I have the same pain, which ranges intermittently

between my upper and lower ribs, and also changes sides. I blame it on the

variable and traveling Fibromyalgia-type muscle pain that many

CFS patients have.

My doctor has tried many times to attribute this pain to angina, and heart

trouble, when it is in my left upper chest. But despite his best attempts

to find something wrong with my heart, it always checks out perfectly

good.. The pain is positional and also increases with a deep breath, which

I think proves it is intercostal muscle pain and not heart.. Light exercise

seem to lessen it and it goes away in a few days.. Only to return again in

a month or so.<<<

[Guest guest]

Costochondritis is one form of rib type pain...since it affects the ribs

where they join to the sternum it's pretty easily recognized. Another form

or rib pain that is common to CFS/FM is the muscle pain that occurs between

the ribs. They can hurt just like any other muscle in the body and it mimics

heart pain, etc. Usually you can put your fingers on the offending muscle

and, yes, this type is helped by gentle movements....to stretch the muscles.

The muscle tenderness can affect the back or the front ribs or both.

Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage..it's not helped my

exercise..etc..in fact you can make it much worse! With costochondritis you

feel as if a hard ball hit you square in the chest! Your sternum is sore as

well as the ribs near it. You have problems being hugged! If you can take

some type of anti-inflammatory medicine, natural or otherwise it will help

the inflammation..otherwise it's best to avoid arm movements when you have

it or you can further scar the area. It does recur, usually when you do

something like wash walls, windows or paint..anything that uses your arms in

those types of motions.

Also..there is pleurisy..if you have sharp stabbing pains that make you not

want to breathe...and they come and go for a few days or more..you may have

pleurisy. Inflammation of the covering of the heart feels much like

pleurisy, except that it " beats " with your heart, and doesn't get affected

by expanding your lungs.

I hope this helps some of you with lots of the chest type pains we can get.

I've had all of these..and some other, as yet unexplained chest type

pains..like pain directly ON the ribs..(One doc said it was much like shin

splints on the ribs....all I can say is ouch!) That one usually affects the

lower ribs at the bottom of the rib cage but it can also affect the upper

rib near the clavicle.

[Guest guest]

Georgina

how are yall doing? catching up on email here my hubby got better he was moving around better and no more pain

what are yall doing for thanksgiving? here my sister is moving to atlanta from asheville on thanksgiving so most of my siblings will be helping her i will be cooking then going to the hospital to see my hubby wish he would get out before thursday

talk soon

Robbin

[Guest guest]

I've read that it is frequently found in PBC'ers. The Ultram I take

for fibromyalgia helps a lot.

Sandy C.

[Guest guest]

> I too had costochondritis before my transplant. It would come and

>go. You may take a low dose of Tylenol ( 325 mg. )for it. But,

Advil >Aleve etc. are not good to take when you have liver

disease.AND high >doses of Tylenol can in itself cause liver

failure. Don't .lift >anything heave and a heating pad is good if

you have air >conditioning or it isn't too hot out.

>

> Jj Cathcart

Ultram for fibro and Vicodin for my knee keeps the pain away.

Limited to 2 doses of Ultram due to nausea, and 1-2 Vicodin per

day. Ibuprofen is out due to previous bout with h. pylori. My GI

says no NSAID's - period.

I found a heating pad at CVS that has a removable " sponge " type

filling you can wet to create moist heat. Works great to relax the

chest muscles.

Sandy C.

[Guest guest]

Becki, I feel for as I have endured this and it quite painful. I was

given an 80mg shot of prednisolone and after several days it was better, but it

was several more weeks before it was gone. I sure hope gets some

relief soon!

Hugs and prayers coming your way!

Donna

[Guest guest]

Hi Lorilee, yes is is a really painful condition that makes you feel like

your having a heart attack. Although in my opinion, one who has had a

heart attack, I believe costochondritis hurts worst than a heart attack.

I truely feel for anyone who is dealing with costochondritis.

hplta

Rusty

[Guest guest]

Hi in TN, I have also been diagnosed with costrochondritis. I have had it for a really long time now. I have pain in my ribs and a lot in my upper chest. Sometimes it hurts me to take a deep breath or breathe good. It is very tender to the touch and always is hurting. My rheumy has given me a script for Celebrex but I do not find that it helps. She told me it is an inflammation problem. I take Ultram ER 200 for pain but that does not help it either.

Good luck with finding pain relief for this painful problem.

in NJThe year's hottest artists on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards. AOL Music takes you there.

[Guest guest]

, In 1999 I had a back accident on black ice, someone rear-ended me and pushed me into the busy intersection and my car did a half a turn. Anyway, when I tried to get out of my car the stupid seatbelt/lapbelt had tighten up on my chest/shoulder area and I could not get the seatbelt off. It did take a few minutes to get it to unlock. Anyway after I saw a GP about my chest hurting she told me that I bruised from my left shoulder all the way down to my right hip. It was very painful and she told me it would take like 6 months to heal and not hurt me. I could not sleep on my chest because of the pain in the area. I think this also has an impact on my costrochondritis too. To this day my chest still hurts in that area.

Hope you get some relief from this pain.

The year's hottest artists on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards. AOL Music takes you there.

[Guest guest]

-

Thank you for responding. Seems like everytime I turn around I find

out I have something " new. " I appreciate you letting me know that I

am not alone with this either. I agree, it is very painful. My

doctor gave me a very low dosage of narcotics to help. Seems to help

the pain, but I am very, very drowsy... not sure if it's such a big

help after all with that. But, I'll give it a try.

I hope you find relief as well.

Take care,

>

> Hi in TN, I have also been diagnosed with

costrochondritis. I have

> had it for a really long time now. I have pain in my ribs and a

lot in my

> upper chest. Sometimes it hurts me to take a deep breath or

breathe good. It is

> very tender to the touch and always is hurting. My rheumy has

given me a

> script for Celebrex but I do not find that it helps. She told me

it is an

> inflammation problem. I take Ultram ER 200 for pain but that

does not help it

> either.

>

> Good luck with finding pain relief for this painful problem.

>

> in NJ

>

>

>

> **************The year's hottest artists on the red carpet at the

Grammy

> Awards. Go to AOL Music.

> (http://music.aol.com/grammys?NCID=aolcmp00300000002565)

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Hey all...

> Have any of you been diagnosed with costochondritis (rib

> inflammation)? The right side of my ribs have been hurting severly for

> several weeks now and when I went to my family doc the other day, she

> diagnosed me with that.

> Just wondering if it was a " me " thing or if by chance

> other " fibromites " may have experienced this as well.

> Thanks!!!

> in TN

>

Hi ,

I have also been diagnosed many times with costrochrondritis and, yes

it is very painful. I don't know how long you have had FMS, but don't

ever think or let anyone tell you it's a " you " thing. If it's a

problem for you, then you have the " right " to be treated and with

dignity!! I found that out many years ago!!!

Just a suggestion, if you Google costrochrondritis, you can find some

ways to relieve the pain. I just did and came up with a couple of

holistic sites along with many others. Hope this helps!!

Barb from MI

[Guest guest]

hi karen in tn,

It's a "me too" thing. LOL I think it just goes along with FMS & MPS,

Blessings,

Barb in Tennessee

-------------- Original message -------------- From: "" <funny_dumplin@...>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Barb.

I was afraid of that. This just keeps gettin' better and better.

LOL. Thanks for letting me know though. At least I'm not alone with

it.

Blessings back,

in TN

>

> hi karen in tn,

>

> It's a " me too " thing. LOL I think it just goes along with FMS &

MPS,

>

> Blessings,

> Barb in Tennessee

>

> -------------- Original message --------------

> From: " " <funny_dumplin@...>

>

[Guest guest]

Barb,

Thank you for your encouragement. You and other fibromites like you

help keep me going when I don't feel like it.

Many blessings,

> >

> > Hey all...

> > Have any of you been diagnosed with costochondritis (rib

> > inflammation)? The right side of my ribs have been hurting

severly for

> > several weeks now and when I went to my family doc the other

day, she

> > diagnosed me with that.

> > Just wondering if it was a " me " thing or if by chance

> > other " fibromites " may have experienced this as well.

> > Thanks!!!

> > in TN

> >

>

>

> Hi ,

> I have also been diagnosed many times with costrochrondritis and,

yes

> it is very painful. I don't know how long you have had FMS, but

don't

> ever think or let anyone tell you it's a " you " thing. If it's a

> problem for you, then you have the " right " to be treated and with

> dignity!! I found that out many years ago!!!

> Just a suggestion, if you Google costrochrondritis, you can find

some

> ways to relieve the pain. I just did and came up with a couple of

> holistic sites along with many others. Hope this helps!!

> Barb from MI

>

[Guest guest]

Barb,

Thank you for your encouragement. You and other fibromites like you

help keep me going when I don't feel like it.

Many blessings,

> >

> > Hey all...

> > Have any of you been diagnosed with costochondritis (rib

> > inflammation)? The right side of my ribs have been hurting

severly for

> > several weeks now and when I went to my family doc the other

day, she

> > diagnosed me with that.

> > Just wondering if it was a " me " thing or if by chance

> > other " fibromites " may have experienced this as well.

> > Thanks!!!

> > in TN

> >

>

>

> Hi ,

> I have also been diagnosed many times with costrochrondritis and,

yes

> it is very painful. I don't know how long you have had FMS, but

don't

> ever think or let anyone tell you it's a " you " thing. If it's a

> problem for you, then you have the " right " to be treated and with

> dignity!! I found that out many years ago!!!

> Just a suggestion, if you Google costrochrondritis, you can find

some

> ways to relieve the pain. I just did and came up with a couple of

> holistic sites along with many others. Hope this helps!!

> Barb from MI

>