Have you had experience w/ costochondritis?

I have had costocondritis SP? several times. It was confined to my chest. The sternum was involved.
I had to diagnose myself when the ER Doc did not know what it was. Never in my back.
Did you do something really strenuous the day before? I can usually relate it to picking up something really heavy. Take it easy friend

@tess1055 this is not a reply. It is a question. Where did you find the article about foods to take or avoid?

I lost both my parents relatively young to heart attacks. I went to the ER a few times thinking I was having a heart attack. Now I know it is likely costochondtitis and wait and see. It can be very painful’

I have this periodically and it is the worst pain I have ever experienced. Starts like a dull stabbing knife pain in my mid -back and then wraps around the sides of my ribs. Severe stabbing pressure on my chest to the point where I am about to call 911. Even causes pvcs. The pain is indescribable it literally makes me cry. After about 1 hr and a heating pad it subsides. I have small fiber neuropathy and my doctor said it could be related to that. It could be an intense muscle spasm that wraps around my back and chest and be related to neuropathy.

@janstar61
Jan I am so sorry. I have nothing that severe. I'm glad the heating pad helps. I figured out what I had after my 2nd visit to ER thinking heart attack. But they agreed that my ribs were rubbing against my sternum. I try not to lift anything heavy.
Today I could not open one of those pull top cans with a place for your thumb. I got a huge bruise on my hand trying & my husband had to do it.
Freedom from Pain, me

@janstar61
I’ve had chronic costrochondritis for decades. It’s so frustrating, and very little relieves it. Wearing a bra is the worst thing in the world!

Yes! I have this for over a year and a half. It was triggered by dry needling. It’s mainly in my thoracic area, worse on the left side, and a bit of soreness on my lower ribs at the front. Every night when I lay down after a few hours it starts. It feels like a pinched nerve but spreads everywhere - sharp pain and tenderness everywhere. Apparently my muscles in the thoracic region are rock-hard. The sharp pain won’t go away until I am upright for about an hour, depending on how bad it gets, It can get so painful it affects breathing and slight movements. That sharp pain, some lasts longer, with soreness all day. Sleeping for 8 hours and un-disrupted is a struggle. I find sleeping upright on a foam wedge is the only thing that works. I have tried various medications, a cortisone in my lower back (I have issues with my lower back and they thought it might be referred pain) I have had numerous tests - X-ray, MRI, CT, radionuclide scan on the thoracic spine as well as on my lower back and sinuses, and they still can’t find the cause. 😞 I am now taking duloxetine and occasionally gabapentin to relax muscles and calm nerves and anti-inflammatories when I really have to. Gentle stretching and heat packs on it especially before bed, helps.

Diagnosed fibro in my 30s, had costochrondritis at age 70. I was packing dishware - I became stiff and inflamed. I was moving out of state, had lots of packing to do. Took the wind out of me, pain was a 10. Had to stop, pain subsided. I self-diagnosed it, but went to my dr and he agreed. Once re-locating and unpacking boxes, I would have to quit after 10 minutes, as the bending over and lifting seemed to set it off. Took me months to unpack!

I’ve move on - now having pain from other stuff - lol - am 77 now and have OA, bone on bone in one knee. OA diagnosed yesterday in wrist when it suddenly became stiff with lots of painful inflammation. On prednisone now. Also two UTI s have caused muscles in hip and left flank to super-glue clench, taking months to heal. Muscle relaxers didn’t work. Had terrible stiff neck a few weeks ago. Seems like more muscle tightness as I age. Exercising set off my wrist this week.

@jakefix82
You can't hug a guy if U R married
but that is a lot to handle.
Does the prednisone help?
I don't really get anything for my hands. But I have never asked - I just don't need another pill.

Many times as you describe, with a couple hours of wrapping and pain at sternum and rib ends when pressed. This is usually part of a flare and body soreness can last for days for me .. pressure points have been checked (and are painful) several times by my rheumatologist. My neurologist asks what is fibro?
And even more confusing, it is occurring along with other auto-immune disease.. Fibromyalgia, RA, Lupus, Hashimoto and Relapsing Polychondritis. The RP goes after the cartilage of ears, eyes, throat. I have asked what to watch for… like redness, swelling, inflammation and stinging, infection (sinus, or ear pain.) it isn’t easy and one never knows what is going to kick in. It can be scary when occurs. Can feel like the flu. Two others to check out that may relate to these area symptoms: MS and Scleroderma. MS has a hug that you will see described..
Had it occur day of /with echocardiogram testing and it was a normal test. So the costo flare part is tricky for me. Flare is part of other diseases too. I hope to learn more and that this helps others figure things out too.