Fibromyalgia & Costochondritis: Pain in the Chest & Ribs

My first bout with costochondritis was approx. 30 yrs. ago. I tried to find information about it, but there was very little available. All I knew was it had something to do with my breastbone/ribcage that made it hurt when I coughed or when touched. This was one of many symptoms of fibro. as a teenager. I actually thought I had pneumonia.

My first bout with costochondritis was 23 years ago, when my younger son was an infant. The first thing he wanted to do in the morning, and the last thing that I wanted to do, was stand up. I would pull him out of his bed, which was right beside mine, and let him stand on my chest, where he would flex his knees and bounce.

One day at work, I was suddenly unable to breathe, with crushing chest pain when I tried to inhale. My doctor thought at first that I had a collapsed lung. He later diagnosed it as costochondritis, but we were mystified as to the cause, until Austin awoke the next morning, and I stood him up on my chest.

This was 12 years before my official fibro diagnosis, but nearly 20 years after the onset of odd pain, stiffness, and unexplained apparent injuries in elementary school.

Hoy he vuelto a saber mas sobre la costocondritis y la enfermedad celiaca (intolerania total al gluten:trigo, cevada, centeno,avena).Resulta que el calcio(Ca) no se asimila si falta la vitamina K2 que se encuentra en la flora intestinal(los celiacos que toman gluten eliminan la vitamina K2 de la flora intestinal asi como el magnesio)),por eso lo primero que se inflama son los cartílagos.La función del magnesio seria la de antiinflamatorio, como tambíen se elimina es por lo que duelen las articulaciones y se produce la tendinitis(inflamación de los tendones) que nos lleva el dolor hata la mano pudiendo quedar esta dormida ó con hormigueos,a esto se le llama parestesia.Fijaos si notais tambien hormigueos (parestesias) en las piernas ó en las manos ó si os despertais con la sensación de saltar en la cama.Un saludo yo os aconsejo exigir a vuetro medico que os pida las pruebas GENETICAS de celiaquia es muy importate para vuestra salud y la de vuestra familia.

I feel some pain right in my ribs joint to breast bone – even i can hear the bone sounds as well – i dont know the reasons – but so doctors view point is different such as its a lungs disorder, muscular pain due to long hours working on computer, posture disorder, and more….. but i feel there is something in junction where ribs and chest bone meet

I’ve had fibromyalgia for 24 years. I’m 57 years old now. I get an episode of costochondritis about every 5 years or so. My first episode happened about 7 years before I had fibromyalgia, so I would say it’s definitely a separate condition, but we may be more prone to costocondritis than the average healthy person. When I’ve had these episodes, it’s usually around the same time that I’ve had a cold, so for me the rib inflammation has been related to viral infections. I got my flu shot already and I try my best to avoid colds each fall/winter season.

The pain is so sharp it takes my breath away. I get it when I’m reaching for something on the other side of the bed or car, or wherever I’m straining. Can’t talk through it, it’s so hard and fast. comes on like gangbusters. But then it doesn’t come around for a few weeks. Nothing new, just the old fibro keeping me on my toes, not to get too comfortable with how I’m doing. there’s always a surprising pain waiting in the wings.

I only have pain in my ribs when touched. I have had this since I was a child (I am now 59) and only lately have I suspected that this was my early introduction into fibromyalgia. I also had many of the aches, tender points and fatigue that are common with fibromyalgia. No one knew what was wrong or what to do. I was always the kid who couldn’t stay awake at slumber parties. Guess who discovered her bra in the freezer the next day?

Yours is the first article, blog or post that included the lump! I diagnosed myself with costochondritis last year. My doctor really had no idea what the pain was. The lump ( that sometimes moves) is a new symptom this year, and I have been fighting with my husband over going back to a doctor. I no longer allow them to “practice” on me! I have bookmarked this page to show my husband. None of the other info on costochondritis mentions the lump and he’s sure it’s something fatal. The worst part has been trying to find a comfortable position to shave my legs, and having to give up long car rides. Both of those are guaranteed to make me scream in agony! Thank you so much for easing my mind!

my costochondritis was diagnosed in 1977. It was explained to me that it is an arthritic condition in the cartilage between the breast bone and rib. Only hurts when I stretch or someone or something touches the spot. Hard to hold a young child on your lap to read a story when their head wants to rest on your chest.

I had been to numerous drs before ending up at a rheumatologist in 1997. I had every tender point (and then some) and had begun to doubt myu sanity. He touched me between my chest bones and I flinched. I looked straight at him and said, “You know what’s wrong with me!” Fibromyalgia! A diagnosis and a curse-costly in every way. That’s not all it ended up being but that was the first time I had heard of this baffling illness. Hope more answers than just more questions are in our future.

I have this as well as fibro and its recent for me…I do have chronic pneumonia after a collapsed lung during a surgery. After a recent bout I had the pain in my chest and convinced I still had pneumonia went back to my doctor. He knew right off that it was constochondritis and said it would heal but would take quite some time, up to six weeks because its a tearing of the cartilage between the ribcage and breast bone. What you need to rest obviously you can’t because you breathe. And the fibro makes it worse and will lengthen healing. When I researched it seems once you’ve had it you are prone to have it again.

I recently was diagnosed with Fibro after 2 long years searching for answers which in all comparisons I have learned is not that bad. I had a bad illness more than a month ago they told me I had early pnuemonia and costochrondritis. The pain in my chest was so severe and sharp and with every breath I too thought it was my heart. I got so bad that I even was having sharp pain every time I urinated? My acupuncturist said we have a channel that connects the chest area to the kidneys. Well here I am a month later and still having pain and convinced that this is truly linked to fibromyalgia. I have always remembered having tenderness in my chest wall and even a couple of incidents as a child with inflammation being diagnosed by my pediatrition after a fall or something as a kid. I just am trying to rest no strenuous exercise and anti-inflammatory, and just being thankful to be alive!

Im only 19 and my first episode with Costochondritis happened about a year ago. So needless to say this is fairly new to me. My doctor gave me painkillers and anti-inflammatories which worked, but i still get it every once and awhile. Does it ever completely heal or should i expect more episodes?

I was diagnosed with Costochondritis a few years ago and believe me, when it hits you it’s not fun. The left side of my chest gets very tender and it can’t be touched. One time my grand-daughter leaned on it and I had to push her away because it hurt really bad. It comes and goes for me and I was told by doctor that I must have made some kind of movement and that’s what triggered it. So to make it feel a little better, I put on a hot pad and take some Ibiprophen. Sometimes it helps and sometimes it doesn’t but I just have to keep doing that I guess. If anybody has a better solution, please let me know.

Every fibro patient I know, myself included, has at one time or another gone to or been sent to the emergency room on account of pain in the ribs and/or chest. In NONE of us was it our heart. In all of us is was “just this pain in the rib cartilage.” Got ibuprofen (without being asked in an IV) and were sent home. All doctors mystified, all fibro patients shrug and left to deal with it on their own. Much fibro pain can be relieved with proper use of amino acids. DLPA (dL-Phenylalanine) is a great pain reliever if you’re not on SSRI’s. Doesn’t harm the liver or interact with anything but SSRI’s. Ask a pharmacist or look it up on line from a good source. You don’t need a drug dependency on top of fibro! I used it for twenty+ years, and the longer you use it, the less you need. No side effects ever.

I was diagnosed with costochondritis 2-3 years ago. I’m currently 17, and I experience small episodes of my condition almost daily. Unlike most people, exercise actually helps. I’ve also figured out the better I eat, the less it hurts. I recently found out my mother has fibromyalgia, and that fibromyalgia patients can reduce their symptoms by eating lots of foods with malic acid. This to me shows that the conditions are hereditary, and unfortunately, tend to go hand-in-hand.

Hi, I recently just got over dealing with the symptoms of Costochondritis. I wanted to give some advice to which really helped me deal with all the pain and frustration. At first I had the flu and had 103-104 fever. After my temperature went down, I developed severe pain in all my rib cage from the front all around to my back. It was extremely agonizing and would not let up for anything. At first, the hot shower numbed it only while in the shower and for a max of 30 minutes after getting out of the shower. I was unable to sleep, eat, move, or stay still (those of you experiencing this know what I mean by that). I went in the shower and hot tub about 50 times a day and night. The heating pad only helped my back, I would lay on that after getting out of the shower hoping for a little sleep. The pain would wake me up each time. I went to many doctors because I was convinced this pain could not just be costochondritis. I was prescribed pain medication that worked but not entirely because I could still feel the pain but not as bad. The pain medications made me sick and I would throw up all the time. I finally got nausea medication to help that department. I was prescribed antibiotics just in case which did nothing. Before the pain meds I had prescribed IB pro fen but that upset the lining of my stomach as well. My best advice is to get the pain medicine and the nausea medicen. I found that acupuncture helped a little but not as much as I was hoping. (It takes more than 1-2 times for it to help) I went to the chiropractor and they used an ultra sound machine that I believe really helped break up the inflammation in my ribs. Wearing a compression shirt helped a bit, and also taking baths with the special soothing salts (you can get at any drug store) helped a lot! Mainly it takes a lot of time and positive thoughts. Hope this helped.