Costochondritis

[Sir Alec]

I was diagnosed a year ago with shingles, but I think it was this as I now have a recurance with exactly the same pain. The pain is unbearable at times, especially when I sneeze. Even inhaling deeply is very painful.
I wondered if anybody else has come across this, as no painkiller i've been prescribed, have worked. Wiki mention the fact that sufferers think they are having a heart attack. I initially went to the doc with possible reflux and/or the family angina. I was sent to hospital as I was in so much pain. I was there for 3 and a half hours, they were excellent and gave me every test under the sun.
I am clutching at straws, as there seems to be no reason for having it and no cure, but rest. I can't be resting all the time as I'm a full time carer for my Dad.
If you know anything about this, I would be grateful for any input.

[Sir Alec]

Jenna 1978, I am taking double the dose prescribed. I know I shouldn't but they literally do nothing. Even doing double gives very little release.

I am off to Mamya's thread. Music takes my mind off it. Please forgive me it you think that this is a 'cop-out'!

[lady-janine]

Sir A please be careful. what are the side effects of doubling up on your pain killers? please ensure that they will do you no lasting harm. wish i could think of a safe easy solution as it sounds most painful for you.x (another air kiss)

[Sir Alec]

All air kisses are much appreciated and I am saving them in a bottle for hard times. I have left a little something on Mamya's thread for you lady-janine. Lovely lyrics!

[Sqad]

I am confused....your heading is Costochondritis, but you start off your post with shingles and then costochondritis isn't mentioned.

Shingles presents with stabbing pains followed by a typical rash..... is this what occurred one year ago? ........i

Has this same pain been recurring intermittently since your attack of shingles?

How long ago did you go to hospital and have all those tests which were normal?

Prejudging your answers and i may proved to be too presumptuous, but Google "post herpetic neuralgia" and get back to us when convenient.

[Sir Alec]

Sqad, I am in a lot of pain, so please bear with me

I was diagnosed with shingles a year ago. I doubt that I ever had it as no rash developed. But I had severe rib pain.

Two and a half weeks ago I was in so much pain that the doctor sent me to hospital. They were very thorough, did an ECG and blood sugar test. Chest xray, the lot. They proclaimed it to be Costochondritis and dismissed me with diclofenac, which did nothing. After that Ive been prescribed Naproxin, which is also doing nothing. I sneezed once tonight and was rendered helpless with pain. What can I do?

[Sqad]

Thank you for that full reply.........it is extremely unlikely that you had shingles one year ago and hence my suggestion of "post herpetic neuralgia" goes "out of the window" and the diagnosis of costochondritis is confirmed.

May be difficult to treat and i assume that there are no signs of infection in the ribs themselves.......swelling, redness etc.

Take 600mgms of ibuprofen and place a pack of frozen peas over the painful area for 20 mins and monitor the response. if there is improvement then one can repeat the procedure.

If there is no improvement then make an appt to see your GP as an injection into the affected area may do the trick.

I am off out for breakfast now, but will check your response on my return.

[Sir Alec]

Sqad, sorry to put a downer on your excellent suggegtions, but I was prescribed the NSAID's because Ibuprofen makes me vomit.

[Sir Alec]

I am going to try to go to bed now. Lying on my left is the only reasonable position. Thank God I'm not in a relationship, he would have left me by now!

[boxtops]

Not if he were a decent bloke, he wouldn't :-)