Costochondritis - anyone else had this?

[HyacinthsBucket70]

Been in utter agony since last Monday, by Thursday I couldn't take anymore and ended up seeing GP and going into A & E. Basically been in and out of hospital since, chest x rays, ecg's and bloods - and today a CT scan all to rule out blood clots in my lungs. Doctor said it was costochondritis after I cried when he pressed into my chest and back!
They've given me Naproxen 500 mg twice a day and told it will go of its own accord. I won't lie, it's taken me to the edge of my pain threshold and it's utterly miserable. How can inflammation be this painful?? I honestly thought I was on my way out Thursday night. On top of all this, it's our 25th wedding anniversary this week and we should be in Switzerland right now in a 5* hotel overlooking Lake Geneva. I was told not to fly in case I did have a PE. Feeling very sorry for myself tonight and hoping others have positive tales of it going as quickly as it came

I have and was also given naproxen. Was diagnosed much more quickly than you have been though.

It was scary as it just seemed to appear out of nowhere - sudden chest pains with all the associated worry that causes.

It's a while ago now but my memory is that the naproxen sorted it. in fact I don't think I even finished the box.

DS had this last year - he was given 2 weeks worth of ibuprofen which sorted him out.Sorry to heat about your cancelled holiday - as an emergency measure, can you catch the train?

Me! I have it. Not as bad as you though...mine seems to come and go a bit but seems to be here more often than not recently. I have also developed a pain in my shoulder which means the top of my arm is quite numb. Gah. And my chest feels quite tight all over so I have been coughing a lot.
Am off to docs again next week but ibuprofen made me sick at the weekend - maybe I can get some different medicine to try and clear it up?

My mum had this last year. She had lung cancer about 5 years ago so it really sent the anxiety levels soaring! She was in agony. Naproxen sorted it.

I don't feel remotely well enough to travel - even walking from the car park to the hospital today made me feel awful so we've given up even trying to go away. It seems fairly common reading these stories - I'd never even heard of it before. Fingers crossed for the Naproxen

How are you feeling this morning OP?

I had this for weeks once and had to work

I found ha ing a hot water bottle on my chest for a while settled it down and was much more comfy and it relaxed the muscles

Literally tucked up under my top, worth a try?

Dd gets it but an attack only lasts about 30 mins.

I had this last year and it gradually subsided over a few weeks. The swelling has persisted though and I still get bouts of tenderness above my left breast though before my period is due. Yours sounds a million times worse than mine, OP. I found ibuprofen more effective than naproxen though. Hope you're feeling better soon.

I had this when I was pregnant and couldn’t take any medication for it. I was in agony for months. It resolved as soon as I had my baby. Sympathies op.

Been awake since 4am in agony. Really sharp pain in front of chest, but trying to stay calm with it. Hot water bottle helping, thanks for that tip. They did say it takes about 7 days for the Naproxen to work so I'm counting down in hope.

I had this a couple of years ago, turning over in bed or getting up was agony. It died down over a couple of weeks after the initial flare up. I do still have a sore spot that I can feel sometimes in the region, but nothing like the original pain.

Mine started in 2013 and seemingly like everything in my body went chronic,

What helped me?
• Heat packs
• Ice packs
• Lidocaine patches (these have saved my life),

So every morning for the past 5 years i put one on over my left rib and the lidocaine seeps in doing its work, no numbing like the dentist but quietly doing its work. approx 12 hours later i remove it and next morning rinse and repeat,

However some GPs dont like prescribing due to cost as off the top of my head for a box of patches is approx £75 to the nhs

Topicals may help -

Just ideas Im taking 1st from Tesco groceries but if you can get to a Poundshop you will get a lot more for a lot less money and with the same ingredients but not as fancy packaging -

• ibuprofen rub,
• deep freeze spray,
• deep heat spray (warning this stinks),
• tiger balm (its £7 in Tesco but Poundland sell 2 in a pack for £1),
• deep heat patch (for heat on affected area without the stink),
• deep freeze cold patches (numb the area with cold)