COSTOCHONDRITIS - help!

[Excusemyfrench]

Hello,

Ive had Costochondritis for over a year now (Im 31) and its really bringing me down. It started after a stressful Christmas and hasn't left since. The pain varies in severity and places and often wakes me up at night.

I had a chest xray that showed nothing.

I m having to regularly take anti-inflamatories to help.

I just had an appointment with my doctor who was very dismissive and told me there was nothing I can do.

Any other sufferers out there with some advice? I read online you can have steroid injections?

Im so sick of it !

I think they do give steroid injections for this to take down inflammation and a friend found that some physio stretching out the area helped but might be a coincidence

I had it. I had capsicum cream treatments, plus physio which helped, and Pilates but also a chiropractor randomly helped me. I’ve bern free of it now for 14 years. Best of luck. It’s agony. Have you been referred to a pain clinic? Feel free to PM me 😊

I've had this for years, took 2 years for doctor to give me codeine to take on flare ups. Won't do anything else, say it will go away.

It's stolen my job as I couldn't do it (24 r shifts, and I'd be lying in foetal position for 6hrs rocking crying with the pain.

So sorry to hear from another sufferer, it's the worst thing that's ever happened to me health wise.

Hi ! Thanks for your messages

Ive had it for so long its causing me so much stress.
I did some reformer pilates which didnt help.
I started running a year ago and this hasnt helped (or worsened the symptoms). I saw a chiropractor which did nothing. I was referred to the pain clinic but it was a time it had calmed down slightly so they suggested mild exercise to strengthen my back when I felt better but I cant do anything right now as is just got worse.

My doctor was SO dismissive and told me there was nothing he could do, why wouldn't he suggested the injections?
Might see a physio again. How long did you have it for @Reallyreallyreallytired ?

Could you go to a private gp to talk about injections?

Thats a good idea @bloomed. I might do that... The gp told me today he wasnt a 'priest' and to basically stop calling. Even though my last call for it was in June !

I have costochondritis as part of my fibromyalgia. I find even clothes painful to wear.

Have you tried replacing your bra with a soft, non underwired bra? Wear non constrictive clothes.

I use a heat pad or hot water bottle. Heat is soothing. I wear a haramaki to retain heat in the area.

I take opioid medication for other conditions, but it does not really help with the costo. Anti-inflamatory rubs such as capsaicin cream help in the short term. I have had it for about 10 years. Diagnosed whilst being scanned for a breast lump.

@firstbornforbread thats awful Im so sorry.... Have you considered the injections?

I havent worn a bra since Christmas 2016, which is very frustrating !

Ive never tried heat but I have tried ice packs which have helped a tiny bit. Ill try heat too.

What an idiot he is OP. I'd probably complain and change gps.

hi Excuse ,

                             this may not be something you have considered , with regard to your problem.      Have you had a  Vitamin D   blood level check.  ?  

                             It is distinctly possible that the symptoms you describe may be attributable to a Vit D deficiency,     in particular if it is worse around wintertime.  You cannot make vitamin D in wintertime ,   in the skin , because sunlight is too weak.   Mid- Oct  to  Mid -April , the suns elevation is too low,  the UVB radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere ,  at the latitude of the UK.   Vegetarians are even more susceptible .... are you vegetarian?  ,  -  there is very little  Vit D  , in veggie food. 

 It seems your doctor is rather dismissive,    so this may be an avenue of investigation.   You can get a  self check , blood spot test sent from this  NHS  lab , in the West Midlands. You send it back, they will analyse it, and email the result within a week.  <a class="break-all" href="http://www.vitamindtest.org.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.vitamindtest.org.uk/</a>  .        Unfortunately they do charge  £28 , if the test is not doctor ordered. 

         Have a look at these couple of threads ,  where I  tried to explain why Vit D  could be the problem. 

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/2878131-costchondritis

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/3160226-Long-Term-Costochondritus

      If you think it is worthwhile ,   if you need any more information ,  then get back to me.   I have posted quite a bit here on Mumsnet about  Vit D ,  search my username , lots of info. 

best of luck

BTBH

.

Sorry for slow reply. I had it for about a year in total it was horrendous and I hope you feel better. I didn’t have the injections x