Costochondritis - anyone ever had it?

[SarzWix]

I've got a really horrible burning sensation around the area where a v-neck would be, that feels like sunburn on the inside. It's been suggested that it might be caused by 'Costochondritis', but when I've googled that, it says acute pain that migth be mistaken for a heart-attack! I don't think this is anything like as painful as a heart-attack would be, more discomfort, and it's slightly more on the lung-side than the heart anyway.
Obviously, if it doesn't go away, I'll be off to the docs. But with it being bank holidays etc., that means either emergency clinic, or wait til Tuesday...

But if anyone has had this condition, and it felt like sunburn on the inside, I'll just take some 'brufen and wait...

[Jeanied]

Not quite the same thing, but one Christmas I was rushed into A&E with chest pains and breathing problems - it turned out to be Bornholm's disease which is an inflammation further down.
Treatment? Painkillers.
There are some nasty viruses out there. Hurts like hell at the time but hopefully the body gets over them asap and is ready for any new onslaughts.

[SarzWix]

I've a nasty suspicion that sitting at my desk is making it worse, whatever it is...

[Nicos]

Pain can refer from the back and along the ribs, following a nerve distribution.

ergo.......posture!!!!!!

[Jeanied]

Painkillers, a nice hot bath, rest - that is about all that can be done for a viral inflammation. That and some tlc - difficult to arrange long-distance I'm afraid.

[Glutton4...]

Sounds very uncomfortable - hope it eases, and you get to the bottom of it.

[its hilly]

Oh Sarz, big hug
Dad's had the costo one I think..believe me it wasn't like sunburn. He was almost crying with the pain and barely able to breathe, the doctor was as white as a sheet let alone my dad.
Mind you he has had two heart attacks when younger so they naturally thought it was a third.
If you've been spending a lot of time on the comp, is it possible that you have a trapped nerve/muscle tightness. It can be sooo sore and a rather prickly, nettle-sting sort of pain. If so doc for sure to stop it getting worse, but for now a warm soak and painkillers will help. Good luck sorting it anyway.

[binley100]

Sympathies Sarz, I think I had it earlier this year but the pain was more to the side and into me boob. Very painful ......I just took painkillers. I think its something to do with the ligaments between your lungs and your ribcage.

[buzzingtalk]

Ive had costo for 6 years on and off and it is never around the v neck area.

if you press on the rib cartilage about 4-6 ribs down (in between your boobs basically) does it feel tender? thats one of the easier ways to find out about costo but not conclusive. symptoms for me are sharp, stabbing pains mostly on the left side but sometimes right, and sometimes radiating out into my shoulders/arms etc. it doesnt sound like costo to me, but if you are worried, head to the docs.

binley - costo is inflammation of the rib cartilage, often mistaken for heart attack/failure or lung problems.it can take for a month to infinite time to heal (6 years is as long as my doctor has heard of it, but i have spoken to a woman in the US who has had it double that!) so could very well have been. mine quite often radiates to my boobs, at the left side and made my breasts hurt as well as the rib, cartilage and shallow breathing.

put some warmth onto it, take some painkillers and maybe iboprofen if you can take it (i cant, hence why my pain won't go away!!) and take it easy - no lifting!! go easy on strenuous exercise and watch your posture - try not to stay in the same position too long. if it is costo, this will help the pain to subside, if not, then it should pass away - if not, go and get checked for your own assurance

wishing you the best

[buzzingtalk]

although thinking about it, a vneck is about where im taking about, and i imagine sunburn feels like how my ribs feel every so often - its not always sharp pain but sometimes dull, relentless pain- much easier to deal with but still annoying. go for a short walk and sit up straight. my costo is worse when i sit about a lot.

[SarzWix]

Thanks folks. Sounds like the docs is needed one way or another... It does feel tender, and it's going downwards, but is mainly going up towards the collar bone, and just feels like it's burning. And it definitely feels a bit better if I make sure my shoulders aren't hunched up/forwards.

[Florence Fennel]

Just seen this Sarz, hope you're feeling better today. My friend has costo and has to have prescribed anti-inflammatories from her GP.

[SarzWix]

It's been bearable most of the day while I've been busy, but now I've sat down it's niggling again. To be honest, I'm more worried about what it might be if it isn't that, than worrying that it is! As it's associated with fibromyalgia, which is closely related to HMS, it wouldn't be a big surprise.
Docs on Tuesday for sure.

[Florence Fennel]

Good girl, you know it makes sense. Hope you're completely well soon.

[buzzingtalk]

hugs to ya!

I didn't realise about the link to HMS - I was diagnosed with hypermobility a few years back once all of my joints started wearing out, i quite often am in lots of pain (at the minute, my ankle won't sit normally when I'm in bed and it keeps clicking and grinding then causes lots of pain)

I didn't realise it was a proper medical condition though - I was sent to a rhumetologist who ruled out arthritis at that point but said that my hypermobilty from birth was causing the pain, but he said it was nothing to worry about and there was nothing he could do?

Do you have HMS? I am intrigued, as the problems with my joints and costo all started at around the same time.