Inflammation In Ribs That Keeps Coming Back

[cristiana]

Hello 

 

I was told under a year ago that I had inflammation in my ribs, left side.   

 

It has flared up again quite badly, in fact now I would say it feels more like descriptions of Costochondritis that I read on line rather than the Tietze syndrome I was diagnosed with.   I feel it around my sternum, to the left side: it is very tender and seems to be spreading to my ribs.  

 

The cold, a bra strap (not underwired), carrying something heavy, certain movements - and ouch.  Other days I hardly notice it.

 

I am not allowed NSAIDs.  I will go back to the doctors if it goes on much longer but I am already in the throes of other tests so would like to try a few home cures first if possible. 

 

Has anyone else out there have this recur and is there anything I can do to make it go away?

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

 

[bartfull]

According to the Mayo Clinic, the only difference between the two conditions is that with Tietze there is also swelling. Open Original Shared Link

 

I also read that Tietze often comes back. Sounds like your doctor is right on with the diagnosis.

 

I can't take NSAIDS either so I take Tylenol. And I take grapeseed extract. It is an anti-inflammatory that has done wonders for me. I get mine at Shopko. If there is no Shopko near you check at a health food store. You can either check with your doctor or look it up online to see if there are any other meds you take that it may interfere with.

[cristiana]

Thank you so much.  It is one of those weird almost itchy pains (kind of feeling you get when your muscles feel sore) except it is along the ribs.  I have never really understood the difference between the two conditions but thankfully mine has never felt as bad as some people get it when it mimics heart pain.  Everything I read says take NSAIDS so it is good to know there is an alternative. I never know about grapeseed extract.  Great tip, much appreciated.

[bartfull]

It is an antioxident too. As far as I can tell the only thing you might have to watch for is that it thins the blood a bit. That's not a bad thing for most people though.

 

And it is amazing how it works. I have been taking 100mg a day, but when my chronic jaw problem arises with pain and swelling, I double up on it. The pain and swelling is gone within two days. Before I started taking this it would last for weeks.

 

A friend of mine suffers from gout. He has tried cherry juice with some success. Then he was taking celery seed capsules and they seemed to work wonders for him. But the health food store here stopped carrying them for some reason. Now he is taking the grapeseed extract and has had no gout flare ups at all.

 

I'm usually pretty skeptical about the wild claims made about some supplements. But after trying this for the past six months I am a believer.

[KEMB]

Have had this problem for years, flares up when I get glutened.  I mentioned it to the person doing my mamogram once and she said fibromyalgia often starts in the chest, so I was glad I became gluten free before anything further developed.  I stretch, yoga, massage, use ice/cold packs and Biofreeze, sauna sweats, sometimes heat packs.  I excercise regularly.  I've recently started using Tumeric.  Not sure how much it's helping as it comes and goes anyways so it's hard to link it to supplement intake.  Stretching/yoga and massage therapy helps the most.  Everything is connected so stretching and massage for adjacent areas is key.  

[cristiana]

Thank you for your further input, Bartfull.   It sounds a marvellous thing - I used to be skeptical too of so much, but when my B12 and blood iron was so low and I started to take supplements I could not believe the difference it made and so quickly.  Just a few tablets or a few drops of this and that... amazing.

 

KEMB - I am so grateful for your input here.  I have my annual mammogram next week and I have requested an ultrasound as I cannot believe how the pain affects not just my chest, but also the breast area and now my armpit and my upper arm.  I was told last year it was musculoskeletal after my last mammogram and ultrasound but it took a while to get the Tietze diagnosis after that and even then not all the doctors could agree.  A couple of doctors even hazarded it might have been shingles without the rash. Not very reassuring as a woman.... I feel that if I were a man I could at least have some better sense of what was really going on but with one's bust in the way it isn't easy to know!

 

Did your pain refer in the same ways?

[KEMB]

Thank you for your further input, Bartfull.   It sounds a marvellous thing - I used to be skeptical too of so much, but when my B12 and blood iron was so low and I started to take supplements I could not believe the difference it made and so quickly.  Just a few tablets or a few drops of this and that... amazing.

 

KEMB - I am so grateful for your input here.  I have my annual mammogram next week and I have requested an ultrasound as I cannot believe how the pain affects not just my chest, but also the breast area and now my armpit and my upper arm.  I was told last year it was musculoskeletal after my last mammogram and ultrasound but it took a while to get the Tietze diagnosis after that and even then not all the doctors could agree.  A couple of doctors even hazarded it might have been shingles without the rash. Not very reassuring as a woman.... I feel that if I were a man I could at least have some better sense of what was really going on but with one's bust in the way it isn't easy to know!

 

Did your pain refer in the same ways?

Yes, primarily on one side.  I've found that inflammation can spread from the sternum outward into my armpit and even my back if I let it get away, and if I'm already having pain when I get a mammogram, it seems to trigger a broader flare-up.   I haven't had problems with my mammograms for several years now as  my flare-up's are infrequent and I always make sure I don't go if I'm having one.  I don't really have a diagnosis so don't know if it's the same as your problem.  The doctors never got past calling it inflammation of the chest wall which at times has seemed to originate from my sternum.  Stretch, sauna, then biofreeze (and sometimes ice while in the sauna) has been my approach (usually right after exercising) for many years for all kinds of joint and muscle issues.  Time consuming but seems to help recovery and keeps me going. 

[cristiana]

KEMB - interesting, it seems to me that that area is a junction for a lot of different muscles, nerves, tendons etc so I guess this is why it is so complicated.  I do have a friend who has been thoroughly checked out but has almost constant pain in her left breast - she was told, 'Its your ribs'.   

 

I really appreciate your comments, you have really put my mind at rest.  I think it is one of those situations in life that the pain isn't anything serious - but is hard to believe it isn't!

 

Many thanks again.

[janpell]

I had this for years. At first it was diagnosed as anxiety and then arthritis. It isn't comfortable, I thought I was having a heart attack or something when it first started up. For years I just lived with it. I haven't been diagnosed with Celiac but after going on an elimination diet and finding I don't do well with dairy, gluten, tomatoes, potatoes, high carb (not no carb just high), sugars, soy, everything changed. I am totally gluten free (gluten causes me to lose a lot of hair) but sometimes slip with the others I can get a case of costochondritis. It is pretty mild compared to the past but I still get that feeling that I can't get a nice full inhalation. This helps me get on track really quick with my diet and the symptoms ease up again. I think all symptoms of inflammation should be addressed in the body. I am tired of this dismissive reaction from the medical community.

[cristiana]

Thanks so much - I ought to try eliminating some of these other foods as I don't think gluten is the substance that makes me sore, I really don't have it in my diet at all now unless it is CC.  

 

Couldn't agree more about needing to get on top with the inflammation problem. 

 

Yesterday I was in bed with the early stages of what felt like flu and I tried to head it off as I have an appointment a couple of hours drive away on Friday that I mustn't miss.  All I had was just a tiny bit of pain by the end of the day in my lower ribs near the sternum.  I am quite convinced that my bra is a massive aggravator, as well as driving - none of this yesterday and it really helped.   Do you find any particular physical activity/tight straps/seat belts, carrying bags etc sets it off too?  Or prolongs it? And does your pain ever feel sort of itchy-sore rather like tired muscles?  Sorry to ask all these questions!  I am just trying to make sure I am feeling the same pain, maybe to try to help doctors troubleshoot.

[janpell]

It has been years since I truly experienced it and once I remotely feel any tightening I really go hardcore on my diet. I remember always yawning and almost gasping (slight exaggerated but not sure of another word for it) for breath. I was checked for asthma, my heart and then given a prescription for anxiety. My dr said I was too young to have arthritis so it wasn't joint pain? (It was arthritis)

Overall I find that I do have a "delicate" body and can injure my joints if I'm not careful. Stretching definitely helps. I can get quite physical, I just have to build myself up first before jumping into an activity full force. When things are going very well for me I rarely get aggravated joints, only when I'm off course and lazy. I used to think it was my bra too but I don't think that anymore. Same thing stands - poor diet, lack of exercise bra bugs my ribs but when I'm on course, it's fine and I always have a bra on - even at bed. Weird, I know. I feel it down the whole sternum when I do feel it. If you are getting the flu, that probably doesn't help matters either.

[cristiana]

Janpell - thank you again.  I have had my annual mammogram and ultrasound today, the pain over the last year has been so bad that I was really glad the radiographer was prepared to go the extra mile and give me an u/s as I was so sure they had missed something last year.  But no, clear tests, thank the Lord.  I did notice after they did the side shot it affected the muscle group that has been causing some of the pain.  So  I think my next step will be to see my chiropractor again.  I have read a lot on this site about people suffering with rib pain and sacroiliac joint pain and I have had both since DX.  I think there is an association with celiac.  Reading your posts really helped, thank you.