Anyone got Costochondritis?

[PoohBearsHole]

I have been diagnosed with Costo and every time it flares up I manage to panic myself into thinking it’s something worse. So my questions to you fellow sufferers are to put my mind at rest and just generally find out what you do to ”ease” it 😊.

So what are your symptoms? I often find myself getting dizzy/feeling faint in addition to random moving pain in my sternum/back. I say moving as it isn’t always that thwack in my chest but under a boob, middle of my back and it doesn’t stay still. Often my wrist hurts 🙄 and weirdly my throat seems to tighten but that could be panic!

So any tips on managing it (usually post an illness/excessive exercise!) that I might not have thought of?

Also just for general support? I couldn’t find a great deal here in mn that discussed it (3 threads over 7 years!)

It's a misery isn't it. I find that heat helps a lot, so I use a wheat pack when it's bad, or have a hot shower. Ibuprofen helps too.

Maybe you could try some calming techniques as well, if you're worried about panic? So lavender essential oils, soothing classical music, that kind of thing.

Ooh good idea thanks

I was heavily reliant on a hot water bottle and hot baths for months! Interestingly once I gave up giving in to it and decided I needed to turn my health around I joined a gym and started weight lifting - I haven’t had a flare up in over a year.
Took me a while to get to that point, though, and lots of supplements - garlic, fish oil, vitamin c. Fairly sure mine was triggered by a virus. Pain was always in my chest and ribs.

I have had this occasionally for years, ended up in A and E the first time! If it's any consolation, it has never been as bad as that first attack. If I feel it starting I concentrate on getting some heat on it, and it generally settles. What with my IBS as well, I often sit with two hot water bottles! As regards the throat sensation, sympathies for that too - I get very tense jaw/tight throat when I get stressed. It's no wonder your throat feels tight if your chest is in spasm! Also, could you be hyperventilating due to shallow breathing? I also try to stretch out my ribcage lying on a foam roller, maybe try that when you are feeling better? Hope you feel better soon!

Stretches! Yes stretches also really help. Lie draped on a foam roller on your back, or lean in to your armpits with your hands on the top of a doorframe. Yoga moves are all good, lots of salutes to the sun.. get some mobility in to the area. It will be painful at first but it helps in the long run.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I have it too! Thought I'd got some weird cancer or tumour til the doc examined me, my pains tends to be at the bottom of my ribs and I have to stretch to relieve it - feels like I am being crushed.
Nice to chat to others with it...not sure if mine flares up because of anything or just randomly

I have it too as part of fibromyalgia, blooming sore.

Doesn’t help that I recently fractured my sternum too

I know I’m unwell when mine flares up - my mystery virus has gone away and so has the Costo for the moment. It’s a catch 22 as i need to lose weight but exercise makes it worse 🤬 sooooo arghh. It’s flared down now so am working on diet (lots of garlic interestingly) with fresh food and fish. I’ve lost a stone and it has definitely made it seem better.
Hope everyone doesn’t suffer too much!