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Original poster

Chostocondritis?

21 replies

TwinMummy1981 · 08/10/2018 20:54

Hello, I’m new and desperate for answers! I’ll try and keep this brief!

I went to the doctor about 5 months ago as had a swelling around my lower left ribs since Christmas. It feels like either the bone is swollen, or the ribs are protruding due to something being swollen inside. It’s not painful, but can ache sometimes and feels a bit congested... like there’s inflammation in the area.

The doc sent me for an ultrasound of my spleen and pancreas and a chest x ray, all fine. I was also sent for an endoscopy due to heartburn which showed a hiatus hernia and then I was sent for a lower chest, abdomen and pelvis ct scan due to pain in the area (assume caused by IBS). The ct scan showed a slightly bulky uterus and a slightly fatty liver. Still nothing shown for the rib swelling

Doc then sent me for a nuclear bone scan which showed inflammation in lower left ribs - diagnosis of chostocondritis.

Has anyone had this like me? With no stabbing pain? The doctor just said if I don’t have the severe pain I’m lucky, but I’m worried my diagnosis is wrong. My ribs seem so swollen in the area, they really stick out and it feels very hard when you touch it. It’s significantly larger in the evening.

I’m worried it’s something else as I don’t have the normal symptoms. But I don’t really want to insist on more tests as I’m already convinced I’m going to get cancer from the nuclear bone scan, the ct scan and a previous ct scan I had years ago!

Thank you to anyone who has read this far! And thank you if anyone can offer any insight!

OP posts:
Sal1977 · 09/10/2018 22:35

Hi
Do you happen to have health anxiety?
X

TomHardysNextWife · 09/10/2018 22:42

I've also got Costochondritis OP, and have been admitted to hospital twice with suspected cardiac events as the pain has been so bad. I've got swelling but am having lots of other tests still to rule out angina and pericarditis.

Your journey to diagnosis sounds a very different one to mine, I must admit. But all of my pain is in my upper chest and mid sternum - and I can feel when it is swollen. I think it sounds very fortunate that you don't have the pain, and my GP has said it's often one of those conditions that seems to disappear into thin air one day just as it arrived. That day can't come soon enough, tbh.

Oddcat · 09/10/2018 22:46

I’m a radiographer and have xrayed lots of people with this. One particular patient has returned many times because they think the diagnosis is wrong . It’s not very nice to have at all but it is a condition that resolves itself in time .

Singlenotsingle · 09/10/2018 22:52

I get the pain in sternum and upper chest as well, but no swelling. It can be quite nasty especially if I cough or sneeze. Cardiac tests say heart is fine. Looks like there's no cure but I'm told it will just go. When though?

MaisyPops · 09/10/2018 22:54

It took me over a year to get over it when I had it. 6 months was horrible with on and off aches and pains for a year after.
It's a pain, can feel like awful chest pain but it does resolve with time.

Original poster
TwinMummy1981 · 10/10/2018 06:40

Yep, I do most definitely have health anxiety :(

OP posts:
Original poster
TwinMummy1981 · 10/10/2018 06:43

TomHardysNextWife
I love the fact that you say yours is swollen too as no one has ever said about swelling before and it made me wonder if I actually had Tietze syndrome. But if you have chosto and swelling that does give additional support to my own diagnosis.
I say mine isn’t painful, it can be sometimes but never heart attack type pain. It feels a bit bruised sometimes.

OP posts:
YeTalkShiteHen · 10/10/2018 06:43

I had that when I was younger, I was very swollen and sore but didn’t have the stabbing pain. I could feel the swelling in my ribs and even see it when I breathed in.

Original poster
TwinMummy1981 · 10/10/2018 06:44

OddCat, thank you for your info! I’m definutely like the person you’ve seen multiple times!
Mine wasn’t picked up in an x-ray, I had to have a nuclear bone scan unfortunately x

OP posts:
Original poster
TwinMummy1981 · 10/10/2018 06:46

YeTalkShiteHen, that sounds exactly like mine. Really very swollen at the bottom of my ribs and feels bulky when I breathe.
I feel a bit better knowing others have it. No one has ever heard of it!!
So I’ve had it for at least a year now and hoping it’ll go soon.
Did anyone do anything to help it go?
Thank you to everyone for replying xxx

OP posts:
INeedNewShoes · 10/10/2018 06:48

I had it and most of the time it was just uncomfortable but was worse if I took big breaths in (I play a wind instrument so deep breathing is unavoidable).

I can't even remember mine going. I had it badly for 3 or 4 months and it had definitely gone as year later.

YeTalkShiteHen · 10/10/2018 06:49

Mine just went, after about 7 months I think.

Original poster
TwinMummy1981 · 10/10/2018 07:29

Ahh fingers crossed it’ll go sometime soon then. I feel like it’s now starting to get worse! But then that could just be because of my own anxiety Hmm

OP posts:
TomHardysNextWife · 10/10/2018 10:28

I've found a hot water bottle to be really helpful, OP, and heat patches. And ibuprofen gel opposed to the tablets, although I do wince rubbing it in. I can really feel swelling today, and it's a dull ache - feels like something has really stretched inside, if that makes sense.

I hope you feel better soon Flowers. And like you I'd never heard of it before. Most people say "what on earth is that" when I tell them what I've got!

Original poster
TwinMummy1981 · 10/10/2018 11:07

Thank you TomHardys Flowers
I bought some nurafen gel yesterday so will give that a go xxx

OP posts:
Original poster
TwinMummy1981 · 10/10/2018 11:07

Hope all of you improve soon xx

OP posts:
Flossie44 · 10/10/2018 20:37

So
Glad to have found this thread.

I too have it!! Was diagnosed years ago. It comes and goes. Worse in times of stress. I think because I tense up. It’s on bottom left ribs and is sooo tender to touch. I’ve also got it in sturnum area and tender on right ribs in middle. I too have got health anxiety and sure this has exasperated it. It’s a horrid pain. Like a swelling from inside. I tend to feel it in random spots. These can change. But generally it does cover the entire rib cage over time.
I went for a massage and it was excruciating to be touched.
I have it currently and can’t wait for it to ease again.

Does anyone else get it coming and going?

Original poster
TwinMummy1981 · 10/10/2018 20:54

So pleased to hear from someone else that has it bottom left of ribs as everything I’d read seemed to say middle of rib cage!
I’ve not noticed mine come and go yet as I’ve had it pretty constantly since this time last year. But I would say some days feel worse than others xx

OP posts:
Amani · 12/10/2018 12:29

I’ve suffered on and off for years. After various bloods I was told I have severe lack of vitamin d deficiency and was put on a super high does for 8 weeks and been on a maintenance does for years. It helps - however do have flare ups when I exercise or feel stressed. I have been sent to a&e several times as my gp first reaction is ‘is it cadio related?’ and also refered for heat scans ...

Amani · 12/10/2018 12:29

Heart not heat scans ...

LondonLassInTheCountry · 12/10/2018 12:33

Yep. Iv got it...

I have chest pain and rib pain ALOT

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