Costochondritis/Tietze's in pregnancy

[Peaceloveandbiscuits]

After lots of drama I was diagnosed with costochondritis or Tietze's syndrome today. The doctor said it could clear up in a few weeks, but anecdotally it seems to vary and some people still suffer for years.
I'm sure that if I were able to take anti-inflammatories now it would ease it up sooner, but obviously can't due to the pregnancy.

I'm 32 weeks tomorrow and I'm wondering if anyone has had this pain so late on in pregnancy and whether it affected delivery? I can barely breathe without horrific pain, so panting and pushing is going to be impossible if I'm still feeling the same as I am now. I hope I'm worrying unnecessarily and that the pain will ease up (hoping it peaked yesterday/today) and I'll be back to normal by 37 weeks, but reassurance from anyone who has experienced this would be marvellous!

Thanks

Not quite what you're looking for but I had it in early pregnancy (8ish weeks). It actually cleared up on it's own within a few weeks. I've had it before, a few years ago. I feel for you, it's horrible. No advice but thought I'd bump for you.

Thank you Gottobe! Obviously Google only shows the extreme end of the scale, so it's great to hear from real people who did feel better within a short time!

Oh and Gottobe, when it was healing did it ease gradually so you could slowly get back to business, or was it just gone one day?

It eased off fairly gradually, then one day noticed it just didn't hurt anymore! Fingers crossed for you

Cheesecake I know it's not serious, but my god, it's seriously painful I'll never take ibuprofen for granted again.

Relaxin production during pregnancy makes ligaments softer and joints more flexible. This is a reasonable explanation for you developing costochondritis recently. It is very painful. Maintaining good posture might help (don't slump or hunch as this will compress the joints/cartilage), it's slso worth thinking about sleeping positions to avoid compressing the breast bone. Underwiref bras can sometimes aggravate it. Unfortunately thats pretty much it when you're pregnant.

If it is down to your hormones it may improve/worsen as level of relaxin changes throughout your pregnancy, and should completely resolve once you have the baby.

I had before pregnant with ds1 now 4yrs was admitted to hospital as was having pain on breathing and they didn't know what it was and then diagnosed that n I am allergy to anti inflam drugs so had co codamol which is safe in pregnancy with medical agreement

Is it chosto or tieztz as the latter means the lining is infected as well as inflamed whereas chosto is just inflamed.

Bloody painful n hope you feel better soon although sure baby position won't help too much.

Eastmids I'm not sure which I've got as the doctor used them interchangeably, though I know from reading that there's a difference.
I also spent all night in A&E being tested for heart attack/blood clot in lung, but they didn't diagnose this, just told me it was muscular and to go home. Went to the GP in the morning as I was in so much pain I felt suicidal, and he diagnosed this.
I'm on 30/500 co-codamol though it's not touching the pain, it is at least making me drowsy now it's accumulated a bit.
Thanks for all the advice and sympathy! I'll just hope that it clears itself up before delivery; I'm scared of not being able to breathe through labour pain because of this chest pain!

Ah just remembering that the hospital mentioned that my white blood cells were up, so that could signify an infection. Could well be Tietze's then? Bleh.

Tietze's isn't due to infection. (Not as far as I'm aware ) It's inflammation and swelling of the cartilage.

Yeah the NHS website says the difference is swelling. I don't know. All I know is pain.

No chance you could have a chest infection is there?

I had a chest infection recently Bellyrub; the GP said that and the six-week cough I had probably contributed to the inflammation?

Definitely, especially combined with the effects of relaxin. A pp mentioned ice, I'd second this actually, or maybe something cool. And posture, keep your chest open.

Yy sitting up with a straight back is the only comfortable position; assume that's because my ribcage isn't being crushed or leant on.
Fingers crossed it clears itself up in enough time that I'm back to normal before delivery. I've got so much still to do!
Thanks for all your comments :)

Did you ever find relief? Or did your Costo subside after pregnancy? Feeling so hopeless and in agony.

Hi I know this thread hasn't been posted on in quite some time but if the original poster or last poster Katejudgemusic could give me reassurance that it is possible to deliver a baby after developing costochondritis in late pregnancy please. I'm 38 weeks today but living in pain and agony with a fortnight now with this diagnosis. Nothing I can safely take will relieve the pain on my left ribs, right shoulder blade, right underarm and right front chest. Miserable with pain right now I don't know how I am going to welcome this poor baby into the world very soon with no delivery plan to date with hospital

@Crystalyx - Hi there! Im int he exact same position you were in back in Jan 2022 - how did everything go for you?
How did delivery go?
Im getting so worried xx

Now I'm wondering if either of the last 2 posters have info to share on their experiences? I'm only about 25 weeks but also have some other issues. Pain suddenly started last night. I've just had a long day and am trying to lie down to rest and it's so painful. As if sleep wasn't hard enough. Lol
Any updates? Hope all is going well