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Bastarding costochondritis. Any tips?

6 replies

Hospedia · 20/05/2022 15:20

Disclaimer: I am not breathless, dizzy or lightheaded, not sweaty or clammy, no pain in jaw or arm, PulseOx finger monitor has me comfortably at 97-98% oxygen and a steady heart rate of 69 (immature snort), no sense of doom, etc. If I had any of that or was in any other way worried then I'd ring for medical attention.

I've had costo before and it's both uncomfortable and annoying. On Tuesday I made the mistake of doing some heavy lifting and what have I done? Set of another bout of it. Fucks sake.

I had some niggles yesterday that made me wonder then today it's started in earnest. A sort of stabbing/jolting behind my lower left breast, so around five or six ribs up from the bottom. Worse if I'm walking around but goes away pretty much immediately if I stand still or sit down. Pressed there because I can't leave well enough alone and gave myself a shooting pain (again, it went away as soon as I stopped pressing). Some referred discomfort a couple of inches below my armpit along the same line of ribs and occasional twinges in the bottom of my breastbone. It more or less goes away if I take my bra off and don't have the underwires pressing any more and goes away entirely if I lie down unless I'm lying on my back, then it's uncomfortable again.

Fun times and it really does a number on my PTSD so I'm fairly tweaked too Angry

Anyway.

I'm maxed out on anti-inflammatories and can't take any more until around 9pm, they're also upsetting my stomach so im trying to be sparing with them.

Any tips for relieving the discomfort? I've already jettisoned my bra but I've got to go out later and would like to not spend the whole time rubbing my chest. Had a hot bath earlier which helped a lot but I can't lie in the bath all evening.

OP posts:
Movingdreams · 20/05/2022 22:08

I had this when I had Covid a few months ago. It was pure agony and I’d put it as the second worst pain I’ve ever experienced after childbirth.

I didn’t see the GP because I mistakenly assumed they wouldn’t see me because I had Covid, but when I had another flare up about 6 weeks later she confirmed that it was costochrondritis and I should have contacted them for treatment because they were treating positive cases. However, she didn’t say what that treatment would have been sorry!

At the time I was taking co-codamol, hot water bottle, hot baths, propped myself up with pillows in bed or on the sofa and tried not to move. It was still agony even with the above but the co-codamol took the edge off slightly. Perhaps speak to the pharmacist or GP but I was told it would go away on its own in a few months (!).

SnotMikeUpPuffedHe · 20/05/2022 22:15

What anti-inflammatories are you using? When I had this the only thing which got anywhere near it was naproxen, which I think used to be available OTC but is prescription only now.

JasperJohnsPaintbrush · 20/05/2022 22:52

I have this constantly as part of fibromyalgia, and as you say picking up heavy objects or, in my case stretching makes it worse.

I would suggest to stop wearing underwired bras as they're the worst thing ever. Don't wear them at all when in the house. Bliss!

Voltarol works for me when I'm really bad, but be cautious if you have asthma.

Hospedia · 21/05/2022 18:20

I've just been taking ibuprofen for it. Felt better last night once I was in for the day and relaxing on the sofa, it's been better today although a few twinges when I was emptying the washing machine and towards the end of a walk to the shop. Hoping tomorrow will be better again, going to have a hot bath soon and going to cut the underwire out of one of my least favourite bras so I've something comfortable to wear tomorrow.

OP posts:
Phrenologistsfinger · 21/05/2022 18:50

A back pod, they are amazing for costochronditis! Got mine off ebay…

buybackpod.com/

Phrenologistsfinger · 21/05/2022 18:51

www.bodystance.co.nz/costochondritis

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