Costochondritis

[hus1996]

Can anyone give any tips/advice with Costochondritis please? The pains started about 3 months again and after several visits to a&e and my GP, they advised that I have Costochondritis. The pains started off in the middle of my chest and mainly my left peck area, then it passed onto my shoulder, back arms, belly etc. I’ve been referred to physio and a further specialist for investigation by my GP. The past few days I have had less pain my chest area however it seems like the pain has passed down onto the left side of my belly by my ribs and just in my lower back area. I am really struggling with the pain in that section, can anyone recommend anything? The only thing that kind of helps is co-dydramol as naproxen causes burning and doesn’t help at all. Would tiger balm help with this? I would appreciate any help anything to help with pain. I’ve also had to take time off work due to how bad the pains get.

Sympathies! It really hurts Presumably there's an infection - is that not being treated?

I did think that too, but I’ve had every test possible. Urine, blood etc surely an infection would’ve flagged in those? Only thing that I was advised was that my Vit D level was slightly reduced and that I should take some tablets for those which I’ve been doing for about a week or so now.

Try ibuprofen cream/gel ? I take pain killers for chronic health issues and also get costochondritis and sometimes just the extra of the cream helps, also a heat pad or something?
deep heat doesn’t really help me, just heats up and then cools down to have done nothing for the pain.

I hope you get some relief soon, it’s horrible

It's essentially the inflammation of the lining of the cartilage of the ribs and sternum.
Take a quick Google.
It can be temporary or chronic.
Personally, I've dealt with it for many years. I've only had to have antibiotics when it resulted with a fever.
Heating pads and anti-inflammatories work wonders.
Taking off work is not necessary bc between medical intervention and personal research,it's absolutely treatable.
Good luck to you.

You have my sympathy, it's a really painful condition. And I disagree with what a pp has said (Taking off work is not necessary bc between medical intervention and personal research,it's absolutely treatable), I've missed my best friends wedding because of it, been hospitalised because my oxygen level was low as a result of it, the pain was interfering with my breathing so if you need time off work don't hesitate to take it. I have fibromyalgia as a result of a childhood infection and costochondritis is part of it for me (this year is the 40th anniversary of my first fibro symptoms so I've plenty experience of it), heat is helpful and along with rest its my first step in dealing with it, steroids and anti inflammatory meds are next and then antibiotics if gp recommends them, gp has made sure I have anti inflammatory meds and steroids at home at all times so I can start them asap to prevent it getting worse, it can be extremely painful to the extent that even wearing clothes hurts, walking near impossible and standing for any length is not going to happen for me. I've fainted in the early days when I wasn't as switched on to dealing with it. Mine is actually visible when sore because my breast bone protrudes as a result of the inflammation. I recommend heat first to ease the discomfort, I've a plug in shawl type thing that I got in aldi of all places that really helps, then anti inflammatory meds, ibuprofen is otc and can help until you get a prescription for something stronger. And rest. Proper rest. Don't let anyone trivialise this condition, you'll meet people who have had minor bouts of it and say its nothing and you should be able to carry on as normal but not everyone is lucky enough to have such mild cases, mine have been quite severe, where every single movement hurt. Take care, I hope you feel better soon.

I’ve managed to buy some tiger balm to see if that helps and some heat pads, thank you. The pain is horrible honestly

@Doggydarling Thank you so much for explaining all and your guidance, I hope you are better now. I think people don’t realise that everyone’s symptoms are different, mine have been so severe to a point where I can’t even stand up or move at all. Today I’ve managed to buy some tiger balm (which I’ve used and I’ll see how I get along with that). I’ve also bought some heat pads that I will try and will continue with using pain killers as naproxen, ibuprofen don’t seem to help.

Focus on natural treatment for strengthening collagen and reducing inflammation

I have chronic costochronditis, started when I was 21 and it was awful. For a while I wasn’t able to work as the pain was so bad. I could barely sleep as lying down put too much pressure on my chest. As a result on the inflammation and infection, my rib cage has remained swollen and sort of sticks out.
Ive been able to manage it better with very strong paracetamol and heat patches. I can feel the pain getting bad and try to prevent it from getting worse. I do find it’s quite painful when the weather turns colder. I also now have a range of different pillows at night time, some soft and some firm. I try swap about when I’m getting uncomfortable and find sleeping slightly sitting up helps too.