Has anyone recovered from years of severe rib pain without a clear dia

Hi everyone,

I’m in my 30s and have had severe chronic rib and spine pain for more than two years. The rib pain is by far the worst part, and lately I’m hurting every day again. I’m at a point where I really need to hear from people who have been through something like this and improved.

Early on, I was diagnosed with thoracic radiculopathy based on MRI findings and had a thoracic epidural steroid injection, which did not help. Later, I had a lumbar nerve block with another doctor, which also did not help. A thoracic trigger-point injection helped one small area, but not the larger rib-pain problem.

Since then, different possibilities have been raised, including costochondritis, somatic rib dysfunction, myofascial pain, and possible central sensitization/nociplastic pain. My newer doctors generally do not seem convinced that the thoracic MRI findings explain everything.

I’ve tried PT several times and am now starting another course that will include aquatic therapy. I’ve also tried OMT, massage, Backpod, yoga, swimming, stretching, chiropractic treatment, topical treatments, and multiple medications.

Some things have helped. An 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program clearly helped me. Backpod has helped at times. My first osteopath’s OMT helped a lot. Massage can sometimes give me a couple of better days. Tramadol, baclofen, and occasional hydrocodone also help to varying degrees.

One of my best periods happened when I was doing MBSR, using the Backpod, and not playing soccer. So I know my pain can improve — I just haven’t figured out how to make that improvement last.

I also have a positive ANA at 1:320 and am seeing rheumatology soon. Most of my more specific autoimmune testing and inflammatory markers have been negative, so I’m not sure whether the ANA will turn out to be relevant.

The hardest part has been what this has done to me mentally. I’ve had emergency-room visits during bad periods, have experienced suicidal ideation at my lowest points, and have had to take a leave of absence from work. I’m receiving psychiatric care, but the combination of pain and uncertainty has worn me down tremendously.

I’d especially like to hear from anyone who can relate:

Did you have chronic rib/chest-wall pain for years and eventually improve significantly?
Did you get better even without ever receiving one perfect diagnosis?
What treatment or combination of treatments helped the most?
If chronic pain once brought you to a very dark place but you’re doing much better now, what changed?

I’m not looking for anyone here to diagnose me. I mostly need to hear from people who have been through this and found a way forward.

Right now I could really use some hope.

Thank you for reading.