Sunday, August 16, 2009

Costochondritis- How long will it last?

We all want to know how long will it last. Or how long can Costochondritis last....

For those who are really blessed with early diagnoses, combined with the fact that the condition is costo alone and they really take it easy (stop lifting light/heavy objects or doing activities that irritate it/ keep your posture up and chest open, and take care of themselves)- it should last up to 6 weeks in a minor case. (some costo sufferers have fibromyalgia or other auto-immune problems and costo is merely a symptom)


Major cases can be chronic and last up to 30 years or longer.
=(

For those who say no matter what, it will go away in 6 weeks. My friends, they are wrong. It is different for everyone. I only say that because if you are newly diagnosed...please please please take care of yourself. You do NOT want to be in the same position as many of us are. You want this to be a distant memory!!! So take care of your costo. Do not expect it resolve without your help.

I have met several women who have had it over 30 years and many who have had it for only 6 weeks....take my survey on the right hand side to see the results of different cases.

Hugs and healing to everyone!! I hope with all my heart your case is short lived!

115 comments:

  1. Under my breast I have pain most of the time. Years ago when I first started it would last a wk(bad) then go away. I did not know what it was. As I get older it is worse and lasts longer. Last Dec I had to sleep sitting up in a lounge chair for 31/2wks,. Is this unusual???My email isthelmajo47@aol.com

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  2. Yes, VERY normal symptoms of Costo. I'm so sorry you are in so much pain!! It's such a tough condition to have.

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  3. I was a cook in a deli.I had to lift large, heavy pots and bend over deep sinks in order to do dishes. I was wearing under-wire bras at the time. I started noticing pain under my breasts. I thought I was having an anxiety attack, so I brushed it off. Later that week I was rushed to the hospital b/c of the pain. My doctor diagnosed me with costo in July '09. Said it would last 6 weeks. (ha-ha) The pain is under my right breast, but tends to go down my right side Wearing any bra is difficult. The pain increases after I take my bra off. I have been terminated because I could no longer do my job. Sitting in one position for a long time, such as on the computer, causes the pain to increase. Reclining in a chair makes it worse. I'm post-menopausal, have grandkids and puppies, and it really bothers me that I can't lift them as often as I would like. Dr said no more than 10lbs. Thanks for listening, I just get really down sometimes when it seems like I am not getting any better.

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  4. Oh sweet annoymous,

    Thank you for sharing your story. I'm so sorry for your pain. Sounds awful. I can relate. I pray you have read through the entire blog in hopes of finding a tip or 2 that helps you. Many soft hugs to you and your journey.

    You hang in there and do NOT give up hope. Keep digging, resting, and being kind to your body. I know you are, just want to encourage you to keep going.

    Lucy

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  5. im 18 and just found out today i suffer with Costochondritis and it hurts so much first i thought it was nothing and ledt it for a while but the pain got worse and worse, and now i am in constant pain all the time and it takes alot out of me, i get tired alot more and dont have has much energy i used to and have to stop alot to get my breath, first when i got told i had Costochondritis i didnt thing it was really that bad and there would be nothing like this on the internet making it this big and it really does help alot and hopefully fingers crossed for me and everyone out there it shall go sooner the expected xxx

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    1. My daughter is 11 and she has been told that she has costo and I didnt have clue to what it is and I read some the stuff about on here and she has some of the same symptom as you all but she has been suffering from it since November cause back in july she got pneumonia and then again in October so she has back and forth to the doctor all the time and er. and now she has a redness that will appear on her chest that looks just like sunburn and she will not let you touch it and you cant feel bumps or anything but its just she is a child and I'm a parent and just dont know what to do

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    2. Thats tieze sydrome which is similar to costochondritis i have had costochondritis for nearly two years where the pain is constantly there tried every pain killer nothing has worked some days its worse then others had chest x rays everything comes back normal but blood test confirmed there is inflammation and doctors told me mines caused by a viral and i have to wait til the conditions goes

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  6. Thanks for sharing that with us, hope you get to feeling better so soon.
    Lucy

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  7. I don't know if that is what I have. It all started out of nowhere, with a very sore and tender spot on my lower left rib, lke I got hit with a hammer and I could not figure what this intense sore, bruised feeling was caused by. I didn't have a bang or a fall but yet I couldn't touch the lower edge of my left rib. The doctor sent me for rib x-ray and abdominal sonogram, showed nothing, perfectly fine. That was 2 months ago. The soreness is gone now but that area feels wierd, some pain,just not right. Please share thoughts.

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  8. I have costo its aburning and stabbing pain under my right rib, sometimes in my back from sitting in a bad computer chair at work, they had to order me a new chair. I hope it goes away eventual now im taking a month off work no choice to rest it the pain is just wow!

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  9. After several trips to the doctor with bronchtis and chest pain a stabbing pain and ache under my right breast they finally determined that I hav Costo. I am happy to know what it is now my doc said it was caused by viral infection or my constant coughing. It has been almost a month but the pain is a lot less now than it was. I just hope it will go away and stay away.

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  10. My boyfriend has been recently told he has costochondritis and ive been trying to figure out more about it. Can costochondritis have anything to do about him coughing up blood sometimes?

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    1. If your boyfriend is coughing up blood he should reually seek medical attention, that is something that really needs investigation

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  11. I'm 16 years old. My doctor diagnosed me with Costochondritis one month ago. I wasn't given any medication and I've only been taking Ibuprofen for the pain. A friend of mine who had pleurisy suggested an anti-inflammatory. Would that help me? Any helpful tips to keep the pain at bay or defeat it? Please and thank you!

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    1. I was just given an anti inflammatory drug for it so i guess so ! I also have fibromyalgia so that may have been why ? i thought a few days and i would be ok so reading these posts is a bit worrying ... all the best ..

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  12. I have been diagnosed with it too. Its in my upper right chest, above my right breast.I am a 33 year old female. It started several months ago. Worsens if I bent over and pushed and pushed on my chest. I saw a rheumatologist and after a few different meds he put me on meloxicam. IT HELPED ME! So if anyone is having the same problem, please ask your doctor about that. I was put on muscle relaxers, ibuprofen, nothing worked. I have been taking meloxicam for 30 days with a great improvement!

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    1. Well I just found out my self they put me on PREDNISONE to see if that help I go back in a week to see if muscle relaxers work for me. My first attack I was only 7 and came back now 32 after two wild kids. We don't know what set it off. I have no energy I don't sleep good because the pain so bad. I still work 12 hours. I wish I could quite but cant. Hope you get better

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  13. Hi everyone. I'm a 32 year old male and have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia for almost 5 years now. However I also suffer from costo symptoms and my G.P tellsme that it's part of the fibro. Aswell as all the sharp stabbing pains on the ribs & sore sternum, I was wondering if anyone experienced other symptoms like tight chest, feeling of heavy weight on your chest, if you do any physical activity you get shortness of breath and pain radiating up to shoulders? Get well soon all. Thanks

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    1. I also have fibro and just got diagnosed today. I have all of the same symptoms. I got put on mobic. The pain is so bad, i wish i would die sometimes. I even have lost weight over it because I thought it was heartburn and actually don't have an appetite. I don't know how long it is gonna last but hopefully not to long. How long does your flar ups last you?

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  14. Sorry also forgot to mention, I also get a clicking sound in the centre of my chest, is this also common with costo suffers?Thanks

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    1. Hi, I have Costochondritis. I did get a clicking briefly while at the ER. The doctor did not show any concern when I showed him. He heard it too.
      Good luck. I pray everyone will feel better soon.

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    2. Wow the clicking in the chest happens to me to. I had the flu in march an was diagnosed with pleurisy now its September an im still in pain my gp said its constro, but i had to self diagnose nothing helps my left side near my breast an ribs feel like I've been hit with a bat omg CONSTANT PAIN primary doctor gv me some steroid cream lol this pain is so deep inside i dont know what she thought that was go do, narcotics, advil, HEATING PAD NOTHING HELPS

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  15. please help me. im 11 year old girl and for my regular check up i told my doctor about this pain in my chest. he asked me some questions and said i had costochondritis. he said in my case it couls have been caused by my growing or my rapid growing (groth spurt i guess)he to wait it out and at the time that didnt seem like a problem. bu then it started to REALLY HURT. and im starting school in less then 6 weeks and i dont know what to do becaus i have to play soccer and move around all day and i just cant do it! someoen please help me.

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  16. I have had this for 15 years.. and im only 25. It has been chronic since june 2010. somedays i can at least deal with the pain. but i just had a baby 6 weeks ago and since then it has been the worst! i think its because of the labor and delivery. i also suffer from post pardum depression and so i am crying everyday for no reason so i am sure that makes it worse. I am finally going to a pain specialist. all my dr would give me is vicodin and ibprofen. it works and brings it down to a tolerable level. but once i am off of it for a few hours it comes right back! i have 3 kids now and i dont see it getting any better in the future.

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  17. i am 19 years old and i was just disgnosed with costo 2 days ago. at first i thought i was having a heart attack because the pain in the center of my chest was so bad. each breath i took caused extreme pain and when i moved around or laid back in a chair/bed the pain became throbbing. i was told to wait it out and take ibprofen by the doctor. im glad its nothing very serious like my heart or lungs, yet it is still very painful and i dont feel myself. now that im reading it could last months, or even years im starting to feel helpless with this condition... =[

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  18. Ok. Diagnosed with costo 2 months ago, with pneumonia and pleurisy. Does anyone's boobs hurt soooo bad they can't stand it from this costo? When it subsided for a week, I had no pain in breasts and no pain in center of chest. It seems they go hand in hand. Please, anyone, let me know if you've had the breast pain with it. Thanks...

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    1. I have had it almost 2 months and my left breast hurts bad some days its scary, but im told its part of the costo, although i am goin for a mammogram to be safe.

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  19. I have been having this sternum area chest pain for about 2.5 months. I have gone to many different doctors to figure out what is wrong but they can't see anything in my chest x-rays. I thought it might be pleurisy as I went to Spain this summer and had terrible allergies there and felt sick most mornings. I am 21 years old and was totally healthy before I left for Spain. I can hardly walk up stairs, cardio exercise is out and trying to stay healthy is a big challenge for me. I have gained about 10 pounds from this issue. I honestly feel like this immobilizes me. I constantly have to catch my breath and when I am having the chest pain it feels like someone is standing on my breast bone. Lately it has gotten worse with the cold weather and I find myself very fatigued and sleepy all the time. Does any one else feel these symptoms? I don't know what to do anymore.

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    1. Hi Morgan,

      I know this was a long time ago, but your symptoms sound alot like mine. It's really horrible, I was just wondering if you ever had any luck with shifting the pain?

      Thanks

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    2. Hi Morgan,

      I know this was a long time ago, but your symptoms sound alot like mine. It's really horrible, I was just wondering if you ever had any luck with shifting the pain?

      Thanks

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  20. I was diagnosed with costochondritis about a month ago after experiencing chest pain for a couple of months. I have had numerous scans, xrays, blood tests etc however nothing showed up!! My sports dr confirmed the diagnosis nearly 2 weeks ago and has out me on stronger prescription antibiotics? For the first few days I was feeling good but now ive gone downhill again! This is doing my head in, I am normally a fit person but have not done anything for just over 3 months! To anonymous with breast pain, yes I get breast pain as well. Anti-inflammatories are doing nothing for me and I am extremely frustrated. Has anyone just started exercising and just PUT up with it? I'm going CRAZY!!

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  21. I was very active and woke one day with sharp pain right lower rib. No injury, nothing! The pain got so intense that I was seen in the ER and had labs, CT, Ultrasound and Chest Xray- nothing showed. Had RA labs negative. Had Xray of spine thinking it could be a pressed nerve from there. NOTHING! I was told that I had costo calcification but that can be normal. Told it was just Costo and given motrin, steroid pk and pain meds. It continues now 7 months later, and after month 1, it spread to pain across both lower ribs, front and back, tender to pressure. I was given steroid shots in the "hot spots" that helped some. But they (4 Doctors now) still insist it's just costo and wait it out. I hurt ALL the time. I cannot lay on my side, it wakes me sometimes if I roll on my side at night. It's terrible. I am 40 and was in great shape working out 6 days wk. I cannot do major housework, let alone workout. I am frustrated! The MD just gave me a new drug used for fibro and nerve pain to try. I too feel like I am a crazy person and can't seem to get them to understand just how bad it is! I worry that it's more and something terrible and I just can't get that out of my head. I asked for a bone scan (seems like this would have been a #1 test0, but he just says they would have seen it on the other tests. I'm not so sure! Any tips from anyone?

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    1. hi im exactly the same i suffer with chest pain on both sides more too my left wich is scary im only 25 and feel like i have an elephant sitting on my chest ive had it a few months its eases off then cums back and the pain gets too me i feel like im haven a heart attack :(

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  22. ive had costo for 3years and the pain can get very bad. ive gone to the er more times than i can count! they keep telling me take ibuprofen and use heat and ice....that does nothing for the pain! hope to find releif soon cause i want my life back!

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    1. I know how you feel. I've even asked my doctor for referral to see a cardiovascular specialist. 2 Er visits, urgent care trip and.digestive liver disease specialist, and they all say it's costo. I really need this pain to go away.

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  23. Hi, I have costo and I don't know if you've answered this before but I wanted to know if costo is something I will have for life, as in it might get better but then worst again. My mum put it down on a form for a school trip but I don't fully understand it, is costo a desease? Also does having it mean I might have fibromyalgia? My mum and nan have fibro so it could be a possibility.

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  24. Seeing all these comments have definitely made me feel more helpless. I haven't been diagnosed with costo but have had all the symptoms: Sharp pain in chest, pain in shoulders and back sometimes, shortness of breath and heavy chest. I spent last summer in doctor's offices and hospitals. I've had this pain now for about 9 months and its only gotten worse! What's frustrating is that I'm only 17 years old and a serious runner. I haven't stopped running, but I've finally realized that if I want to get any better, I'll have to stop and that really hurts me.

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  25. im glad i came across this site, reading all these stories ,,i know a i am not alone,,,its a scary thing ..ive been told i have it too, but im convinced and scared its my heart n there missing something,,even though i had all the heart test,,it just feels like the heart is stressing an its heart related pain,,but it makes sense,,,is there anything else the doc will try to give for meds for the pain besides ibprophen ;(

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  26. Hi guys, I was diagnosed with costo 2 weeks ago after a trip to A&E, I too like some of you thought I was having a heart attack even though I'm only 26. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one out there feeling this rubbish. The doctors made it sound like no big deal and that it would go away in a couple of weeks but after having done some further reading I am really gutted to find out that it may not truely ever go away. So far I am managing my pain with Diclofenac and Co-codamol and find my days consumed with 'when can I take my next dose'. I hate taking pills so this is the most irritating part of this condition. There are plenty of other anti-inflammatories out there that the doctor can prescribe, I know this because I am a pharmacist. If it is really bad they can offer you steroid injections but do not offer these routinely as they can damage the costochondroital muscles.

    I notice that some of you are also getting the difficulty breathing and 'an elephants sat on my chest' feeling so I guess we're all in the same boat.

    I really hope we all feel better soon

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  27. My symptoms started early as a teen while I was on the swim team. Those are the times where the pain was sharp/stabbing in ribs and felt like something was caught making it difficult to take a breath. At 25, the pain was unbearable and I couldnt breathe, move lie down or anything. Years had gone by with only a few minor flare ups until this past year where it has come on harder than ever. I don't understand what causes being short of breath, and the NSAIDS do nothing. I requested prednisone from my Dr. At first it seemed to work miracoulsly, but still has its moments of unable to catch breath, and pain in neck and shoulders. This is unrelentless and an unforgiving condition. I truly have empathy for anyone experiencing this. I am posting because It helps me feel like Im not going to die when I read other people's comments, and I know Im not crazy, lol. Oh and this current episode keeps coming and going for the past three months, the last episode it has been about 2 1/2 weeks striaght without any good days in between. Ice and heat w/ icy hot and hot showers are somewhat helpful to take the edge of the pain off. Moving other than to go to the bathroom is pretty much when its at its worse. The pain alone can make you naseaus, not to mention it causes me to feel anxiety.

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  28. My symptoms started early as a teen while I was on the swim team. Those are the times where the pain was sharp/stabbing in ribs and felt like something was caught making it difficult to take a breath. At 25, the pain was unbearable and I couldnt breathe, move lie down or anything. Years had gone by with only a few minor flare ups until this past year where it has come on harder than ever. I don't understand what causes being short of breath, and the NSAIDS do nothing. I requested prednisone from my Dr. At first it seemed to work miracoulsly, but still has its moments of unable to catch breath, and pain in neck and shoulders. This is unrelentless and an unforgiving condition. I truly have empathy for anyone experiencing this. I am posting because It helps me feel like Im not going to die when I read other people's comments, and I know Im not crazy, lol. Oh and this current episode keeps coming and going for the past three months, the last episode it has been about 2 1/2 weeks striaght without any good days in between. Ice and heat w/ icy hot and hot showers are somewhat helpful to take the edge of the pain off. Moving other than to go to the bathroom is pretty much when its at its worse. The pain alone can make you naseaus, not to mention it causes me to feel anxiety.

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  29. hi i am dorota i just found out i had it by my doctor i am only 23 years old all it did was take a item of the table and got this one sharp pian go over my chest then it started that night a pain over me then it sat in the lower part of my sternum for like 3 to 4 days and moved to the right side of breast bone felt like haert attack then after 2 three days the pain under my breastbone moved away and now the top of my sternum hurts when i press on it or touch it and yesterday i felt like many neddles pricking me everywhere today that neddles are gone but sternum still hurts i just went to doctor on tuesday and he told me he thinks that this is it i dont really have that much shortness of breath just when i walk to long or go put stairs sometimes or i work to long and do to many things at once it gets bad as of sharp pian when i breath not much maybe once or twice a small pain will happen when i cough no pain laughting no pain but my body does feel like it aches all over my chest and arms and elbows feel heavy i just want my life back its been a week but now i will start to take diclofenac sod er 100 mg and i hope for me it wont be for rest of my life because i am a happy outgoing cartoonist artist and for this whole week i just feel down and hate it i like me back

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  30. its dorota just wanted to know something everyone if you do have it is there any special dieat you have to fallow can i drink soda because i have been drinking hot tea and water this whole week i like to drink soda again and eat some sweets i mean i do eat now but my apetie has gone down i feel like i chew one bite for 5 mintues and swallow can any one just tell me what can you eat or can you eat everything

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  31. Hi everyone, My 15 year old daughter has just been diagnosed with this after 8 years of awful pain and many visits to paediatricians and doctors. Just wondering has anyone ever had the pain in their sides and abdomen too as this is how her pain first started although now she has it in her sides she also has constant pain in her chest she has been taking medication for the last 8 years and this is quite concerning. She is finally being referred to a chronic pain specialist but i dont see how they can say it only lasts a short time as i said she has had it since she was 7

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  32. Hi, I'm 18 and just been diagnosed while studying year 12, I cant even study for my exams for any time over 30 minutes without feeling completely exhausted and having to catch my breathe. Each breathe i have to think about carefully making sure its not to Sharpe of deep to cause so much pain, never thought breathing would take so much effort and time out of my day. Been off school for 2 weeks now and no improvement. is there anything that helps as in 3 weeks i have 4, 3hours trial exams i have to sit before my big ones and i dont know how im going to be able to in this amount of pain.

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  33. I am a 40 year old female & was diagnosed over 2 years ago. I have undergone pain management in the last 12 months which has eased the pain, but it never totally goes away. I had a bad episode last week & got the treatment again which has helped with the chest pain, but since I am exhausted and have pains in my muscles. I am so sick of costochondritis, when I have a long drive or when I fly it gets worse for a while.. Will it ever go away?

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  34. You don't know how happy I was to see that I was not the only one dealing with this for what feels like forever. Hearing a Dr tell you it will go away anywhere between 6 weeks to 6 months and then a year and half later I still have it causes a lot of anxiety (which I'm told contributes to it as well) I don't take anything for the pain, infact I don't have the pain unless I and bent over or am pressing on my breast bone itself. But it is one of the main causes of my anxiety. but knowing that it isn't uncommon for it to last this long does ease the anxiety a bit. I would however like to see it gone, start to feel normal again, I don't even know how I got it honestly I'm a stay at home mom, I only cook, clean and take care of my kids, I don't really lift anything heavy.

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  35. Has anyone gotten over this, I've been dealing with chest pain since june and I just got diagnosed with Costo now I'm freaking out even more.

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  36. Im 29 f. I Was diagnosed with costo bout four weeks ago. They did a x-ray, didnt see nothing The pain is on my left side right under last rib or behind it. Sometimes behind left breast or back. Couple times i had pain on my right side of last rib. Ive been taken anti-inflamantory pills almost daily. Its uncomfortable to sit up or lay on my side in bed or if im cleaning and doing to much. In november I was diagnosed with pheumonia on left lung. I rested well and took my medicine and healed good. Im thinking I got this from having pneumonia and coughing real bad. I feel like the pain just comes sometimes thru out day. Really worries me. Also been feeling a rattle in chest. Wtf.

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    1. did you recover from this or do you still experience the pain

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  37. Hi everyone,
    I started with costo about 1 year ago..lasted 4 weeks (I had a bad cold with a terrible cough) I have also been diagnoised with fibro. I have experienced 1 episode(light) within the year. then started on Dec 23rd after working in the garden with a BAD case and it is still hanging on. FYI I read on another site that just about all costo suffers have Vitamin D deficiency. Which I have also and have not been taking my Vit D like I should. I have used heat/ice and ibuprofen..and anytime I do anything it starts hurting. I am a nurse and I have got to work. Costo has really impacted my life and I feel bad all the time because of the pain. It hurts in the center of my chest and all the way around to my back bone (L) side but, the pain kinda moves around. I too am starting to get a "little bit out of wack" on my thinking ...Maybe something is really wrong. I am also starting to feel anxious and sick to my stomach from the constant discomfort/pain..and all activities are OFF..My doctor just keeps saying I will have to ride it out as the shots are just a temporary fix. Thanks for listening.

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  38. I'm 16 and ive had costocondritis for about 5 months now. I have a constant sore achy feeling under my right ribs due to an injury a while back. If i bent a certain way, i feel like i can't breathe or if i sit bent over for a few minutes i feel as if my air is cut off. I found that the medicine Alieve helps a lot more than tylenol and ibuprofen with the pain.

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  39. I was in a motor vehicle accident about four years ago, I was in the passenger seat when we went off the road and hit a tree. The air bag went off and the seat belt got jammed under my left rib, since then I have had horrible chronic pain in my left rib, it is sharp, throbbing and doesn't go away. I was laid up in bed for a very long time, and the doctors seem to think its costrocontritis.,which I've been told doesn't last this long. I am now 20, and pregnant and it got 10x worse, I'm afraid this will never heel. Is there a certain doctor I should check into seeing? I've been doing absolutely everything I've been told too and nothing seems to help. Please someone, I needs answers!!

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  40. This site makes me feel good to know that I'm not the only one going through this. Being a male and having pain on the left side gets ya thinking. Then that just seems to make it worse. I am a chiropractor, it seems to help. But my job is taxing on the body and makes this problem seem never ending. Thanks for all the responses. A big prayer goes out to each and every one if you.
    Patrick

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  41. My husband actually started searching the net for me when the Dr's said it was Chostochondritis. I am going on my 5th month now and this really, really sucks! I am so glad to know that I am not crazy and this pain does exist in other people. 2 days ago I was admitted to rule out my heart. I tried to tell them it wasn't but I had stress echo & ekg's all night long. Glad to know 100% not my heart but I already knew that. I'm a 37 y/o female that is a nurse that is getting really frustrated here. I have experimented with different meds since ibuprofen is like eating candy by this point. The Nitro they gave 2 night ago worked, muscle relaxers, and benadryl all work for me because they relax smooth muscle and this helps me.I I started with left side pain only but now it had progressed to the right. I have had a Mammo, numerous chest x-rays, and stress echo all of which were normal. Anything I can do to help anyone else with tis yucky syndrome or whatever crap you want to call it I am glad to help.

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  42. Hello, I have had this strange illness for 9 years. It all started when I was 12 or so I had sharp chest pains which resembled a heart attack. Over the years I have seen dozens of doctors, specialists, etc. And they all tell me the same thing "there is nothing else we can do". It is starting to look hopeless and the pain is just getting worse. I have been diagnosed with both fibro and costo and at this point I dont know what i have all i know is i need help. I have had steroid pills and injections, tried TONS of medications all with maybe temp relief but nothing that lasts. Any suggestions? And i cant use my heating pad anymore burnt my breast skin:/

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    1. Try using a hair dryer. You can warm the site for a while, then move the dryer away. Also breathe in the warm air, that helps me. Be careful when outside, especially if it is cold. Put a scarf over your mouth and nose. That helps. These things have helped me. Good luck. Elizabeth

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  43. Please help me!! I'm a 13 year old girl who was diagnosed with costochronditis 6 days ago, I have a rare genetic disorder which affects my soft tissue and joints. I was taken into hospital last Thursday during PE(first thing). I had woken up with the same bruised feeling in my lower ribs that i'd been having all week and thought nothing of it as my ribs often displace while i'm asleep. As soon as I started running I got a sharp pain in my ribs, but because my condition is so limiting I ignore the pain a lot of the time. The pain got worse and worse and was starting to spread across my entire ribcage, I struggled on for 500m before I collapsed struggling to breath and panicking as i'd never felt pain like that before. I was sent to hospital where they kept me in for 3 days, the doctors weren't helpful at all, they sent me home and just told me to take painkillers. I am in constant pain, I cant get comfortable standing, sitting or lying down. It's unbearable at times and is agony when I breathe in sharply, cough, sneeze, laugh or even hiccup! I found this site whilst looking for the answer to how long it takes to recover from costochronditis, and some are saying it can take up to 30 years. I'm so so so scared what do I do?

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  44. Hi I have had this costochndritis for about 2 years .About every 6 months I go for the steriods injections .Which dose help .But .The pain does come back
    .I did"t realize that there was a lots of people suffering with this as I did not hear about this until I got this


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  45. I have had costochondritis for about 12 years now. It took a long time to be diagnosed. Initially, I went to the ER because I thought I was having a heart attack. I went a few times. My pain occurs under my left breast. The pain can be excruciating. I am given pain pills to deal with it. I take them daily. Not for a high, but to help alleviate the pain. I also use both heat and cold to ease the pain. I am wondering it back and throat pain can be associated with this illness.

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  46. I've just been told that I have costochondritis. I've had it for over two months now. I've tried pain pills, anti inflammatories. Don't work. I've gone to physio he tells me he cant help. I am off work for a few weeks but I need to get back to work to make money. Does anyone have suggestions on getting better, or am I going to have to consider quitting my job?

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  47. GOOD Freakin Luck with this terrible disease Have had it 6 months
    every single day mostly bad days. Have to work since hubby died and
    on my feet all day. Taking care of my 89 year old Mother that still
    lives in her own home and is 10X healthier than me. I am an only
    child so I do everything for her. Sometimes if it wasn't for my
    two living children, grandchildren and great grandchildren I would
    stick a gun in my mouth and pull the trigger because I virtually get
    no enjoyment from life any longer

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    Replies
    1. Omg im praying for you, i understand the pain but dont harm yourself i have constro also an i am in pain now but please try to enjoy life

      Delete
  48. Im 17 years old, 4 months till 18. On July 14, only 2 days ago, at approximately 2am i realized my chest hurt at the cartilage just above my breasts. It hurts when i try to lift my arms straight ouy and breath at the same time. Also when i try to straighten my back. Or when Im laying down on my side it starts to hurt sometimes. But i am constantly conscious of the sore chest, and get tired easily just from talking. Of course this is only with 2 days of pain, but I believe is it costochondrosis. I have no swelling on my chest, it is sore with pressure.

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  49. I'm 23 years old and I have just been to the ER for my second time with this pain. It's bad because I will not go to the ER unless I know something is wrong. The first time they could not find anything wrong.. This second time the Doctor diagnosed me with cosotchondritis. The first time it happened around May 2nd and went away within a week. This time however it is sticking around longer...and longer... I can't do anything I want to do because this pain nearly brings me to tears. I can't lay down and I can't recline. So I've hardly got any sleep at all. It hurts when I try to do anything at all. The doctor told me it would not last very long, but everything I'm reading states otherwise. I cannot live with this pain for months. I can't even be lightly active doing things I love to do with this.I can just sit up in a straight position 24/7. Is there anything that makes the pain go away?

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  50. I'm 16 years old and I have had terrible chest and rib pain as well as shortness of breath for the past two years. At first my doctors thought it was asthma (which I do have, but only mildly) but after my system didn't respond to the Methacholine challenge they ruled it out. They then tried to convince me that I had Vocal Chord Dysfunction, which still wouldn't account for the rib pain or my complete lack of any symptoms alike to those of VCD. The pain has come and gone but always hurts worst in the morning (I suppose it's because of the pressure I'm putting on my ribcage by lying down on my side while I sleep). My worst days for shortness of breath are always rainy, and if I do any physical exertion I'm sure to feel the effects of it the next day. From what I've read this seems a lot like costochondritis, and it doesn't seem to be going away any time soon. Is there any way I can deal with it just so that I'm not totally incapacitated? I start my junior year of high school in September and I don't want to be wincing and wheezing the whole way through because my ribs don't agree with the weight of my backpack.

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  51. I've had Costochondritis for a year and a half now and I'm 18. Some days I can't feel it, only I can but it's not as painful and it's durable. Other times... I hesitate to breathe just to see if the pain will stop. Before diagnosis, I was convinced I had some sort of arrhythmia and that whatever I did to make my heart the way it was terrified me. The first time it happened, I was just sitting there on the computer. It's affected my swimming to the point I just won't do it. Sometimes the pain will attack my entire chest and make even sniffing or breathing hurt my shoulders and chest. I wish there was a way out of it. I've also been affected by my heavy backpack over the year and I lost a friend Junior year in High School because she was convinced it was fake when the level of pain differs from time to time. I've only been to the doctor once and that was for diagnosis, and the medicine he prescribed me, he was positive it wouldn't work, but it might have, but didn't. It was Prilosec. I'm just -- hoping and praying that everything will be okay.

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  52. Hi, I am a 90 year old lady. Grew up on a farm lifting everything. Last month I had the pain and thought I was having a heart problem. I have a pacemaker. The ER doctor told me what I had and said to go home and use heat and rest. The pain is right over the pacemaker. I got to wondering and asked my doctor and he said to use moist heat. Can you imagine waking in the middle of the night hurting so bad you think you can't make it to the bathroom, and trying to make up a hot wet pack? Finally, I thought about my hair dryer. So now I go to the LR to a comfy chair, hook up the dryer, and also breathe in the hot air. I can almost feel the muscles relaxing, and the pain goes away quicker than when I used the heat pad. It has been a month since the pain started. Sometimes I can go a day without pain, Whee!! But it does return. Hope not too long. Best luck, everyone, Elizabeth

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  53. I have spoken with my doctor over the phone told him of my symptoms he suggested costochondritis and I come in for testing, I have made and missed two appts now cause I am scared to death he is going to find something horrible, I have terrible anxiety and that isn't helping, is there anyone out there experiencing pain in the left breast by sternum? My pain also is exactly where your hand would be if you were pledging the alegence, it has been coming and going for 2 years now usually worse in the mornings and goes away during the day but lately is sticking around all day, I have an appt on the 10th and need the strength to go,

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  54. Had a very bad sinus infection came down with 102 fever & fatigue. Severe coughing for almost 2 weeks & then a very sharp pain in my left chest. Back to the doctor I went 3 times in 3 weeks. Was given 3 different antibiotics, steroid shot & prednisone for 10 days.I was so bad i was given a nebulizer treatment & told to go to the ER if it got any worse. Well it got worse & back I went & was told my heart rate was elevated as was my pulse because I was breathing so hard & my left lung could not expand to get in breaths. Now I am in physical therapy for costochondritis with electrode therapy & infra red treatments as well as ice packs wrapped around my chest twice a week. The pain isn't as severe as it was before I started but it is worse after P.T. & in the mornings & yes there is very severe breast paint with this & sternum pain. I have been sick 6 weeks & still get winded walking up the stairs or doing any physical activity wears me out. As I'm writing this it just burns in my chest like fire.I've been taking Aleive & Arthritis Strength Tylenol & sure hope this improves. I'm tired of everyone telling me how tired I look.I know how tired I look & feel.

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  55. Does anyone feel like your your chest is cramping? I have fibro and costo, for 6 months.
    It isn't too bad until I do exercises, like even walk too far or too fast. Yike I can;t think of this lasting forever!! Sometimes when it hurts I have to vomit
    Good luck too everyone. Let me know if you feel like you are having labor pains in your chest..

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  56. I have just been diagnosed with costo...its terrible i have had this for about a year now and i have to say its just awful...The first time i had a flare up i thought i was having a heart attack at my Mother in laws wedding!! I was 360 miles from home and panic stricken at 32 and a smoker at the time yes i have to say craping it!! The Hospital said that it might be Pleuricy!! second time i went to hospital they thought I had gallstones i never went back the next couple of flare ups because i thought i was going crazy and didn't want to waste hospital time or have them think i was a hypocondriac, but at the moment i'm still in the grips of another painful bout which is just as bad if not worse than the others but at least i have a diffinitive answer to the cause now as i had to go back to hospital on Monday as its been getting worse. I am quite tough for a woman with 4 kids and a busy life but the pain is getting unbearable nothing helps not even the naproxen and codine they have given me . I hope we all get over this soon and it goes away for ever!! Good luck all!

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  57. I was diagnosed with costochondritis last week but pretty sure I've had it since gallbladder removal surgery a couple of months ago as I've had a tender sternum at the bottom and clenching or stabbing pain under my right ribs since then.. maybe caused by the surgical process on that side? It makes me feel highly anxious. My doc has put me on an anti-depressant, a muscle relaxant (a benzodiazepine drug so should only take it short term or becomes addictive & hard to withdraw from) and Nurofen (Ibuprofen), an anti-inflammatory. The muscle relaxant helps most but only for a few hours before it wears off and I need another dose. I spend a lot of time just sitting around and lying in bed as I don't have the energy to do much and I'm scared to overuse my ribs and bring on a flare up. I had a bad one over Easter where it hurt so much it was like an iron band right across my ribs and I couldn't breath, felt like a heart attack. I sure do hope this only lasts weeks or months. Getting over surgery and now coping with this pain is really hard. I can empathise with other sufferers here.

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    Replies
    1. I was just diagnosed with costco a few weeks ago, but my pain also started in my sternum right after I had my gallbladder removed. THAT was 6 months ago! The pain is horrible. I found that deep breathing helps and little else. I also just got blood test back that shows I have positive anti ccp. So I'm off to the rheumatologist. There is a link to RA and costco. All I really care at the point is for the pain to stop!

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  58. I was told yesterday by a doctor that I have costochondritis. I had pain in my chest for about a week and a half and when I went for a physical yesterday I asked the doctor about it. He pushed on the area and it hurt so badly and told me that's what it it. He gave me some pain meds and said that I should be fine in 3-4 days. He made it sound like it was not a serious thing thought...but all of the stories on here make me think otherwise.

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  59. Hi everyone. I'm a 22 year old female and I was diagnosed with costochondritis about 2 weeks ago, but the pain has been around for nearly 4 weeks. There are days when I can't leave my bed, as the pain is too much. I've had a few days off work here and there, but I can't keep taking time off work because of it. The doctor told me I'd have it for up to six weeks, but after reading through all of these comments, I'm becoming more and more concerned that this will be a lifetime thing. I feel so helpless. I want to start a family but I'm worried that this might affect that, and I'm worried my husband will resent me if we can't have kids or if I have to quit work to manage this. If anyone has any ideas on how to manage costo, I'm all ears. I don't feel so alone knowing there's so many people out there who do have costo, and I feel sorry for anyone who's had it for such a long period of time. I just hope it'll go away quickly, although I'm running out of hope here.

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  60. Hi everyone, I'm 22 and had costo for a year, then I went to someone who does structural integration/ Rolfing and it made my costo go away for 7 months! I just woke up today and have pain again but I'm hoping if I treat it really well it will heal... But I highly recommend structural integration. The guy I saw is in Pittsburgh, mike Duray, but there are ppl in lots of cities!

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  61. I was told almost 8 months ago that I possibly had costo, at 21. I knew I had trouble since I was 16. I was marching in marching band the first time I had a major episode, I felt like it was a heart attack. After a night at the emergency room, a pediatric doctor and a heart doctor, I was told it was nothing and most likely a symptom of having large breasts (I've always been about a 38H). Got another major episode when I was turning 21 and it's been non stop pain since. I'm now 22. I can barely dance anymore, and neither inflammatories or cold laser has helped that much. It's so frustrating, especially when explaining it to my folks, since they think it's caused by everything from cat litter to soda to even being in the sun too long. I'm this close to thinking getting a reduction would help manage this pain.

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  62. March 15. 2015 got costo from push ups....have severe snapping hip syndrome and chiropractor worked art on both sides and after right side treatment my side hurt...I was going to strengthen front because old back surgery was acting up from chiro problem on march 2 ..the pushups gave me costo....nervous cause ropy tendons give me problems with left knee and right hamstring and now the rib cage stuff. I keep setting myself back....I have a bad neck and did one crunchie...another day I vacuumed a small amount..have dogs and all the hair on carpet....on day nine in morning it didn't feel too bad after eight days of straight horrible pain and ;like I said..a set back...I don't know how people live like this....the pain is in middle of rib cage and all the way across pain and tight..sometimes burning..well...I will figure this out...I want to solve it and then tell people what I did so everyone gets over this awful thing....hang tough everybody...we will figure it out together!

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    Replies
    1. Did you ever get rid of it? As you're going through hell

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  63. Please can anyone tell me how long costochrondritis lasts. I had a really severe attack for the forst time on holiday in april this year. In Spain the medics immediately tested for heart attack and gave me a steroid injection. The pain went. As soon as I was at home again so the hot fist in the centre of my chest seemingly squeezing my heart started again. It always happens between 3 am and 7 am. But the tenderness and general feeling of being unwell lasts all day. My GP says I cant have the treatment I received in Spain in the UK. She can not advise how long it will last but suggested I lose weight, I weight 8 stone and am of slim build. My chest feels like its burning all the time, its only the degree of heat that changes. The only thing that gives me relief is a hot water bottle, but you cant spend your life with a rubber bottle strapped to you chest. The pain makes me feel sick and I sweat like made. Can anyone offer any ideas?

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  64. I just learned how to rid myself of the pain from
    the costochrondritis, and would like to share with
    you here as I feel your pain...literally!
    I go to a homeopathic center...which we're blessed to
    have in our town, as I've seen first hand even in my own
    family those who are well and/or getting well.
    You need to find a tub of UTI Cleanse as we're full of
    toxins, etc. and the only way to release them and rid ourselves of Lymphatic Congestion (which my tests show) is
    to flush out the toxins through our kidneys. Drink lots of
    water, too. I'm starting today with one scoop of UTI Cleanse in 8oz of water, twice a day until it's gone. Drink lots of
    water in between. Should start improving within a few days.
    I'm praying you all find relief, and me too. God Bless. :)

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  65. I'm so glad I found this website, this is so frustrating and really immobilizing me. Thankfully I am retired but it's so hard to keep still I'm not doing anything. The pain is excruciating, doesn't help that I'm a type 2 diabetic as I can't get steroids. Have tried hydrocodine and high doses of the naproxen and nothing really alleviates it. I have had blood work X-rays, and sonogram. Tomorrow I am going to get a CATscan just to make certain it is not anything. This is so stressful and I'm sure that doesn't make the pain any better. I get tired and out of breath if I go upstairs or walk too much. Does anyone have any homeopathic remedies? To tell you the truth, I feel like making funeral arrangements, I've already told my children what arrangements to make. This isn't funny.

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  66. After one year I have finally recovered from costochondritis, from a point where I would get immense pain from even taking deep breaths, to now, where I can do a full push-up workout without my chest giving me pain. For those interested, read the following:

    1. Who my recovery plan will help:
    This will only help people who experienced the same onset of costo symptoms as I: a GRADUAL build up of pain, rather than a sudden onset. When my pain first started, I was doing exercise with gymnastic rings and there was a reasonable (6/10) pain in my sternum. I continued to do the same exercise and the pain increased to 8/10, but still not so noticeable whilst not doing exercise. I then avoided chest exercises completely, but the pain remained largely the same and then began to get worse. I made a point to strictly avoid doing activities that could be annoying my chest, but the pain continued to get worse, and all activities became painful, even just deep breathing and twisting my torso. If this type of gradual pain onset sounds familiar, then I am almost entirely sure that you will recover in the same way that I did, as I describe below.

    2. What I did to improve:
    First note that I found all types of antiinflammatory medicine (turmeric etc) to be ineffective, my recovery was purely exercise based.
    It appeared that the pain seemed to get worse as I did less exercise, but this did not seem likely since when I tried exercising and doing more for a few days, the pain would come on worse than ever. I went to a couple of physios, who both told me to rest till the pain had gone (I now see in hindsight that this is completely the wrong approach). So I rested for months and nothing changed. Desperate, I then went to a new physio who gave me the following advice, which is the rule that I have stuck to ever since and is all I needed to know to improve:

    ''Do as much movement/ exercise as you can, but staying below 4/10 on the pain scale''

    When following this, the following are important:
    - 'exercise' can be absolutely anything that gives you a small amount of pain (< 4/10) - aim for about a 2/10 pain. For the first two weeks, deep breathing was enough to give me pain and so every hour I would cause myself some discomfort forcing deep breaths. The following couple of weeks, I began doing light pec stretching, and pushing out my chest etc. In the following weeks and months, exercises would gradually become more intense as the pain allowed. Note that my pain only initially got worse when I was doing dips because these were v painful (ie. significantly more than a 4/10 pain), and I was not doing enough light exercise (< 4/10 pain) on the chest otherwise.
    - the pain gets WORSE for a few days before it gets better: this is the tricky part, and the part that had stopped me from doing this kind of thing in the past. Once you do 'exercise' for one day, the chest is a lot more painful for following 2-3 days. During this time, it is fine to ease off with the 'exercise'. But after this flare up, resume with the 'exercise'. There is therefore a cycle of exercising and subsequent flare up. After 2-4 weeks however I found that on the days that I was exercising, I seemed able to do slightly more with my chest without as much pain. 1-2 months after, improvements were definitely apparent (albeit slow). It then took me about 5 months of this to doing my first pushup without more than a 4/10 pain. And a few more months more till I could do a pushup with no pain.

    For those suffering with the same kind of pain as I had, I cannot emphasize how much I recommend following this plan, paying attention to the long time-scales involved. Don't expect immediate improvement.

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  67. Hi Lucy,

    I'm so thankful for this whole blog. Seriously. I had costo flare up for the first time a year ago when I was hiking in the mountains. I still have no idea what actually caused it because none of the things I've read that typically cause it really related to me. But, I've had constant pain ever since then. I started thinking I was insane because I would go to doctors, they would say it was a muscle spasm, give me some pills and say it'll be better in a couple weeks. Of course it never got better, so I just quit going to the doctors and decided I'd just live with it because I had no idea what to do and didn't have the money to keep searching for answers. But, after going to the hospital last weekend thinking I was having a heart attack because of the pain...I finally accepted that I have costo and am trying to figure out how to live life with it. I'm seeing a cardiologist now and I also found out I have a mild case of Pectus Excavatum (maybe that has something to do with the flare up of all this?). Anyway, after all the craziness I was just really frustrated with all the people in my life who can't understand what is going on with me or why I can't do certain things. Somehow I stumbled upon this blog while looking for relief ideas on Pinterest one day, and I'm so thankful. Just to read through all the posts and know that other people get it and have some ideas of how to deal with it...yeah, it's great.

    Just wanted to say thank you.

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  68. I had this pain in my sternum and upper ribs (the part of the rib that is near the sternum) after i gave birth to my first boy 4 years ago. Sometimes i get relief if i managed to move my torso in away that that i can stap my ribs or sternum. Pain is sever or low and i am pain free for few hours or days then back to pain. I did all kind of tests on earth including x ray and CT scan, i even took radio injection then they scaned all my bones for any unusual activities all is normal. I've got breast sonar scan also i've got echo testing for my heart. Thanks God All normal. After i had my second son now and the pain is still the same. I am 32 and this is so frustrating.

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    Replies
    1. Snap not stap writing error. I can hear the sound of my ribs snapping then the pain is gone for few hours

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  69. I had this pain in my sternum and upper ribs (the part of the rib that is near the sternum) after i gave birth to my first boy 4 years ago. Sometimes i get relief if i managed to move my torso in away that that i can stap my ribs or sternum. Pain is sever or low and i am pain free for few hours or days then back to pain. I did all kind of tests on earth including x ray and CT scan, i even took radio injection then they scaned all my bones for any unusual activities all is normal. I've got breast sonar scan also i've got echo testing for my heart. Thanks God All normal. After i had my second son now and the pain is still the same. I am 32 and this is so frustrating.

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  70. What a wonderful site to discover. I will get back to you and post a reply. My first attack was 2/20/2015. Second attack 12/25/2016 the day after a TIA attack. Feels like there must be some kind of a bug that moves thru out the body. Will explore more comments. Maybe, together we can reach a solution to end this!!!

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  71. Certain types of Costochondritis Natural Treatment with herbs may help bring down cartilage inflammation. These natural herbs include: Noni Fruit, Arnica, Ginseng, Serrapeptase, etc.

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  72. I have not been officially diagnosed but I have had pain for several months in the center of my chest and a little to the right. I discussed my pain with my father in law who is a neurologist and he told me I need to just deal with the pain and it will eventually go away. I used to be able to crack my sternum which brought some relief. I can not do this anymore. Now it just hurts pretty much constantly. Are there any stretching exercises that can help or would this just prolong the healing? Good luck to all!

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  73. My costochondritis has returned after a break of about 15 years! -I am now 60 but extrememly fit, & active doing Zumba salsa etc but the pain under my right bust is very painful especially in the morning- heat packs help & Naproxen, but strangely by the evening the pain has subsided- anyone else find this???A recent shoulder op meant I`ve been away from gym for several months, so I`ve probably put some weight back on, so could this be relevant?? I wonder how long this present relapse will last-very painful!

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  74. Today I went to the ER thinking I was having a heart attack. I am a 37 yo with a history of Lymphoma and was given radiation to treat it 10 years ago. My pain is under my left breast and moves up to my shoulder and neck area on the left side as well. It hurts to take a breath.I was given Tylenol with Codine and an anti-inflammatory. So far no relief. The ER doc said it was Costo but didnt really give me a lot of other info.

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  75. Today I went to the ER thinking I was having a heart attack. I am a 37 yo with a history of Lymphoma and was given radiation to treat it 10 years ago. My pain is under my left breast and moves up to my shoulder and neck area on the left side as well. It hurts to take a breath.I was given Tylenol with Codine and an anti-inflammatory. So far no relief. The ER doc said it was Costo but didnt really give me a lot of other info.

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  76. For me, I'm almost 3 years in ( I really aggravated mine early on because my wonderful doctors never mentioned this - thanks guys!) and I have no pain in normal life. I still get some if I do certain things, like certain types of strenuous lifting (some doesn't impact it at all). But it has been getting better, if you take a very, very long lens, it does seem to get better.
    my only fear is that it will stay in this sort of half fixed but stil flaring up stage forever.

    It will teach you faith, you have to stay off of it and give it time and have faith that it will go away eventually.

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  77. I have Costadritus, got diagnosed two weeks ago. I have had three months of pain. I am in so much pain. The rib cage, sternum and cartilages. My breasts hurt as well. I have had physio and acupuncture which have helped. The doctor said it won't cure it but has helped. I am doing some very gentle exercises, got Chinese tiger balm patches, herbal tablets, co-codamal tablets and recently had five days of rest from work, used some holiday days. I felt OK still ached and had sharp pains but went into work and ached even more two hours in my shift. I work in a cafe where I need to keep lifting items. I work alone. I did need to push a trolley(only 5 mins away) with milk, potatoes, drinks etc etc. Someone else pushes it now for me. I don't know whether to go on the sick or get an office job. Would it go away if I had some time off sick or would an office job be a better way of working as well as sitting down and resting?

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  78. Okay so um I'm 15 and coming on 16 in less than a month. I've had this since I was 10... is there a way to tell when it well go away? Will I have it for life?

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  79. I am in a lot of pain and can't sleep on my left side. I get it once in a while but this time it was and is awful. Is there anything to get rid of it for good?

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  80. It hurts if I try to take in a deep breath. There must be some anti-
    inflammatory drug that would work. I thought I was having a heart attack and it started after my surgery under my left ribs. Can't lie on left side. Please doctors out there share some kind of cure.

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  81. The pain started in my back under my right shoulder blade, then around my spine (thoracic area). Now my ribs hurt and terrible pain around my sternum. My ribs "Lock up" sometimes. Doc says is costco & thoracic problems. I cant sit or lie down at all with out unbearable pain. I have to sleep in a recliner to control the slant. It is constant nothing I take helps.Does anyone else have this?

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  82. Stress will make my pain worse and I found out there is an injection to put right into the nerve that is in question. It only lasts a short time though. It is the most painful problem I have ever had. I
    can't take pills because of my kidney function being low. I can't sleep at night. If I turn the wrong way it is so painful. Do doctors respond to this site? Please any answers out there?

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  83. 40 year male. No known cause for costo. I have had it on my left side for 12 years. I work in a hospital so I have seen every specialist on the planet (cardio, rheumatology, every radiology test known, pain, etc...) My flares last for a couple of days now. but they still hurt like the beginning. I have had a couple of cortisone injections which help but no fix. Chiro has helped over the years. accupuncture helped as well then some reason I got immune to it. Exercise if you can was the best thing for me. I was in the gym from 2010 to 2014 when i got a massive sinus infection that stopped me from going to the gym. I try going back now and then but it's harder. I bike and run when I can but end up triggering a flare. Stress sucks as it causes more flares. Diet as well plays a big role I think in this condition. Omega 3, ginger, turmeric, eating clean has helped me out. Hopefully one day it will go away.

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  84. Went to Chiropractor for adjustment. Lying on my stomach being adjusted and heard a pop under my right breast. Didn't hurt at the time but as the day went on it became really sore. 5 days later it's still sore when taking a deep breath or picking up something from a bent over position. Not sure if this is what I have bit closet thing I can find. I know it's not broken but maybe a tendon popped in that area. It's not a bad pain just sore. TIA

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  85. Diagnosed with Costochondritis 7 yrs ago and had for a couple of months. Unfortunately returned in March of this year that's 8 months ago and still have it. Last 4 months Doc put me on Diclofenic and Amnitriptyline and this does make a considerable difference between not having flare ups and sleeping in bed to having flare ups and sleeping up right as being in an elevated position was a nightmare.
    Attending Docs every couple of months as 60 yrs old and need to monitor regular use of meds. Watching diet and taking exercise is important. Frustrating not knowing how long it will last some days I can still feel an ache however the meds help me to manage the symptoms as having frequent flare ups was just awful.

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  86. Stress and the cold have a lot to do with the pain I experience. Even turning the wrong way or reaching for something sets the pain off. Hate having this when no on seems to have any help for it.

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  87. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  88. Hi. I found out yesterday that i have it. I there anything i can do to help with the pain to go back to work?

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  89. It is worse in the winter but there doesn't seem a lot out there to help the pain.

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  90. Its been 3 years that I have this chronic pain under my right breast and between the breasts, whenever I press it a little. Sitting in certain positions, lying down on my stomach or side can aggravate this pain. I have had an MRI twice in these 3 years and my doc fails to understand what it is. I didn't even know about costochondritis as my doctor never talked about this condition. After reading all these comments I feel its this what I have, but I can not be sure or treated for it till a doctor diagnoses me with this. Should I see an osteopathic physician?

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    Replies
    1. Read a site by Steve August a New Zealand Physio its very good

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  91. I have been diagnosed with Cost0 and have pain around my front and back rib area, I have found a site by Steve August a New Zealand physio and his explanation about the mechanics of costo and rib pain are very good. He also tells about a device called the Back Pod which l have ordered it as brilliant reviews and after months of pain , medication and visiting an osteopath lam wiling to try anything, watch this space and l will let you know how l go on with it.

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    1. Hi Christine. Hope you're doing well... Have you been using the BackPod and has it been working for you? I too have Costo.

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  92. Hi Christine, and everyone was wondering how th3 Backpod worked for you? I’ve been battling this for a year since a bad virus and Pleurisy. Retired from a 35 year hairdressing job and finally getting back to some yoga walking and stretches. I’ve had some luck with CBD cream for the pain but The pressure under my left breast that inhibits breathing is what really bothers me. I too have had ct scan chest X-ray full heart work up all negative.

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  93. It was 2 1/2 months before I was diagnosed with costo. Going on 5 months now, I'm 19 and in college. The pain literally never goes away, it's constant 24/7 pain. It has caused severe breathing problems to where I have to constantly catch my breath every few words. I won't be doing anything that's strenuous and need to catch my breath which sends extreme stabbing pain all throughout my chest now. I've had 3 ER visits and 5 clinic visits, presidone and naproxen didn't work at all for me. I'm barely even stressed out. My last er visit, my heart rate was fluxating and the doctor didn't like the look of the first EKG, he didn't believe that I was only 19. I don't know what else to do..it is extremely painful all the time. Lately a lot I've been needing an inhaler to help because it literally takes my breath away. The pain had spread throughy chest, lower ribs, upper back, neck and shoulders now

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  94. Hi! I have been suffering from costochondritis for 2 months already after doing vigorous cardio exercises. It started as pain on my left breastbone and left breast which felt like a pinched nerve. I went to the doctor and he told me to have x-ray. The results were clear. I was given muscle relaxants for a week. It has helped. Lying on a lacrosse ball between my shoulder blades have also helped a lot. And stretching exercises that help open the chest. I also drink ginger tea every morning to relieve the inflammation.Right now the pain is barely there. And I am hoping to fully recover from costo soon.

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