Hello ladies,

Pleased for any response to this,

Have just started AGAIN (it vanished for a few months??!!) it,s an achey/twingey moving around pain,not enough to take painkiller,but very annoying and worrying.

It can be so uncomfortable that going bra less is the only option(especially any underwired bra) sometimes it aches into my armpit sometimes under my breast (always left too) and then sometimes just the side of the breast twinges.

Had an examination several months ago to which Dr said it was chest wall pain?? and to take EPO 1000mgx3 a day,which I did and it subsided. Last month had awful upset stomach which I thought EPO had caused and now the pain twinge is back.
I,m back slowly on EPO just incase get stomach issue again.

Just want to know if any of you ladies have/had this.

It sort of migrates around into back,bottom of ribs upper ribs,wherever it fancies??

Anyone had this....

Many thanks for reading

KathS

Hey I get this too, DRIVES ME NUTS!!!!

I was told several years ago, after test, ekg's, echocardio gram, finally this one doctor said it was Costochondritis... She push down where I said it hurt, and I about came off the table... And yes, some days my bra does make it worse. I got it from a old injury, and sometimes I do things (that heck don't even know what it is that I did) but it makes it come back. I know for example, any time I move my sofa to vacuum under it, I am going to hurt for the next day. Then it is like once I have done something to make it worse, it take like forever to go away... Seriously like right now I have it back, even driving sometimes makes it hurt... Like you say, nothing to cause for pain med, but enough to drive you nuts... And yes I get around under my arm. It's like that whole side get's sore. You know if I am going to injure something, why couldn't it have been on the right side and not the left... Cuz even though I do know what it is to this day I have to remind my self that I am okay...

I can also feel it when I stretch a certain way... I literally feel you pain...

One thing that doctor told me, that I will never forget, if you can push down on it (your chest), and it hurts, then you know it is NOT your heart.....

I also have scroliosis (not real bad, but I do have it) (curvature of the spine), and I some times wonder if that makes it worse....

Aaah thankyou Becca,think we briefly spoke about this on another post,but it,s so reassuring when others have it,I always panic especially when it involves areas like breast etc,suffer with neck/jaw pain and NUMEROUS other things but seem to cope with them.
Does your pain radiate into breast like twinges?thats what freaks me out.
I can,t think what I have done recent to trigger it.

Why do things target certain sides of our bodies,my neck thing is always the right side.
Sorry you suffer with this and scroliosis I would imagine although I,m no expert that this condition would aggrevate the rib/chest thing.

Appreciate you replying thankyou

kath

I get all kinds of crazy sensations, some days different than others. Hey at least your's is on the right side, the left side always freaks me out cuz the first thing I think is my HEART! But I know it's not, cuz I have had it all checked. My will radiate down to like where my bra underwire is, and will radiate up to shoulder, my arm, drives me nuts sometimes... It's weird, cuz when I do something to it, I mean something like just picking up something to heavy or maybe just horsing around w/my son, it takes sometimes months for it to totally go away. Or it will go away almost totally, then come back out of the blue, which makes me think that I still did something, perhaps so little that I didn't even notice it when I did it...

As for the scroliosis, I have been very fortunate w/that, I do get occassional back pain, but probably no more than anyone else... But it would make sense that the scroliosis makes my chest symtpoms worse... Years ago, yes years, when this first started the one doctor took a chest xray (to check heart size), he too noticed the scroliosis, and said that it could be symptomatic of that sense it is in the thoracic area...

But yes, anything that is persistant these days, Drives me nuts.... Esp when you add the peri palpitations from time to time....

Just a thought though, if you know it chest wall pain, why not try taking a Warm Epson Salt Bath, when ever I can I take one and they do wonders.... Heck, may take one tonight....

Yes I have suffered with this since about the age of 40ish and I chalked it up to the work I did.

I was a negative retoucher and sat for hours in a hunch type of position with my arms on the desk and using my right hand to do the retouching on the negative with dyes. To make a long story short this didnt help.
Now I do believe it was the beg. of Peri with me to. I did all kinds of test and it was on my left side to.

It is COSTROCHONRITIS(spelling way off)

It in the recent years morphed and attacked my side rib waist area and after checking it out when the doc pushed on the breast bone it hurt very much.He said the side ribs and the upper are all connected and the muscles inside probably wore sore to.

Ok so here is what really helped.

HEAT HEAT HEAT, Heating pad, hot creams, TRAUMEEL is great and no smell.
There are chat rooms for this and I found something made from rannubulous flowers by hylands called RHUS TOX6X you can google it.

I used CAPZACIUM.

I unload my purse and keep it light,

You need to watch if you are bringing bags of grocerys be careful ask for help. It can trigger the pain.

Stretching OH SO IMPORTANT. Gram your left arm with your right hand and the pull slightly opposite direction do the same with the other.
Then use an eliptical or walk, exercise. SO IMPORTANT.

Basically you have to watch for triggers, watch your RED ZONES learned this from my daugher. When I scrub the shower walls, OUCH I can trigger a week of pain. So before I do this I put the Traumeel cream and stretch and watch it.

I am passionate about this subject because I suffered so long and docs just didnt have answers Only pills and I wanted my body to heal itself not to cover up the pain and it surely has.

Take care
God bless you
Tinks

Ooh so sorry I forgot one very important thing.

The BRA I use those bra extenders you can find them at walmart.

It gives you more give around the chest area where it hurts so much.

I try not to use underwire bras but when I do I add the extension.

Now they have cheapie stretchy sport bras that you can buy a size bigger or two and use those around the house. I felt when the ol girls hang without a bra it can hurt to.

Take care
Tinks

Oh Wow Tinks,

Thankyou for this info,I can tell you have suffered a long time,as you are a wealth of knowledge on it.
As you I want to know how to heal and help,not swallow pill after pill,have been told chest wall pain and sent on my way,with anti inflamatory pills.

I will invest in some bra extender straps too.can feel it now just under where the wire in an under wired bra would sit,just aching away,it,s when it twinges (feels like in the breast) that gets me.
Does your pain feel like it,s in there sometimes?

Will take all advice thankyou soooo much

And thanks again Becca for replying again,think I may just indulge in an epsom bath

Thanks again Kath

Kath, hi babe........yep I get it, sometimes really bad up under my armpit and down the side of my breast. I have to rub the area really hard to get rid of it.....I also get terrible cramps in my rib muscle just under my left breast.......it only ever happens on my left side. Sometiimes it is so brutal i think I am having a heart attack! It takes my breath away.......oohhh aches and bloody pains! I just wish they would all go away.......

Sorry babe, no answers but I know exactly what you mean......take care, sweets

Yes thank you, that was some great advise. I have been dx w/Costochrondritis, and yes, just like you said, even the groceries you carry can trigger it....

The funny thing.... I was sitting here earlier thinking, okay what did I do..... Ah dah, I was out last weekend, in the middle of the woods, lifting all kinds of stuff and on top of that, riding 4 wheelers....

But yes, that was some serious great advise... And yes, heat does do wonders.... THANKS!!!!!

Yes Kath, it does feel sometimes as if something in there aches but as long as I do the things I know I should do and try not to overdo it , it seems as if I am spared that pain.

You know I did buy a bra from Victoria secret its the push up one and it has polka dots on it, LOL, dont know the real name. Now it does have some type of an underwire but its not stiff. My daughter took me to buy it when I got tired of having droopy chi chi's (BREAST) but having them a bit droopy was comforterable.

When I go out I add the extender to this and loosen up the bra straps a bit and I can wear it just about all day, now when I come home I put on the older ones that feel real nice.
Now if I have had an episode I wont wear it at all, I will wear a black shirt or soft black t-shirt cause you cant tell what kind of bra you have on really.

That epsom salt sounds real nice to.

Oh almost forgot I take supplements and one that seems to also help is Calcium/Magnesium/zinc now the magnesium is a mineral that helps with palps, and also inflamation.

Take care,

You can always PM me if I can be of any help to you.

God bless you

Tinksaloonybug

Hi Kath,
I tried to post earlier but my post computer didn't wait until I was finished typing before it sent. Then when I tried to post again, the site kept telling me to wait 60 sec. I've finally gotten back to you! Yes, I've had this before myself and my Dr. says it's the same thing. I don't recall doing anything that would cause it or aggravate it but evidently I did. All I know is that it's like being stabbed on top of a severe muscle cramp. Hurts like hell!!! I have found that if I massage the area for a few minutes it lets up. Interestingly, I only get it on the left side as well. I KNOW it's muscular and not my heart but wow, it really gets my attention when it hits. Just wanted you to know you are not alone with this. Is this one of the 34 signs of menopause I wonder or do we have to add THIS to the list too ????

xoxo
Jan

Hi there, add me to this club! Isn't it the worst and scariest feeliing?

The only pain relief that worked for me was aspirin. Pharmacist told me that it can become a chronic condition and that aspirin is the only effective pain relief out there.

When it was at its worst for me, I slept at a 45 degree angle and I used ice packs actually on the left side under my breast. I didn't wear a bra either for a while - pretended I was at Woodstock - it was cool.

Take it easy and yes unload that purse! Maybe even buy a knapsack type of purse.

For added good measure, try restricting coffee for a while...seemed to help me a bit because my breasts got achey at the same time tooooooooooo!!!! Geesh it was nuts.

I wish everyone out there who reads about Costcochondritis gets some relief. I sure don't know if I spelled it right, had it but can't spell it.

I had a mini attack last week too...on the other side but it was due to helping someone move their boat! Yup, move their boat! I didn't panic though cuz I knew what it was.

The memories are so vivid of the first time I developed this, I was so scared. This is the time I came to this site for the first time, because upon googling this painful condition, I was directed to this site. It was reassuring to know that I was not the only one getting this sensation! The beginning too for me of the end of peri! I was a very harried peri person!!!!




Take care,
Suzanne

Aaaah Ladies,

You really are the best,this place is so lovely.

Can,t thankyou all enough for replying,get so worried about these things.

think it,s when these aches hang around for several weeks that start me off.
It was this same thing that sparked my health anxiety last sept,these random aches/sore spots/twinges achey boobs,and I always think why just one side,when I was pregnant both sides ached and that was hormones??

thanks lovely ladies

Kath

Dear menosisters.....In my case is in both sides, ofcourse one side more than the other. I would love to find the cure, cause this menomind game is soo bad not even the worse person deserved. And when you think your got the answered to the problem another start to show.

menosick

How true menosick,think thats the worst of this just symptom after symptom,and as you said find an answer to one thing then another swiftly takes it,s place untill the old ones rear their heads yet again.

Yes "menomind games" how true, i play at that alot...

How painful to have both though

KathS

Just wanted to join the party and say that I also have this. I am almost 43 and have had it for a couple of years on and off. Mine just came out of the blue, but it was around the time that I injured my shoulder so I always thought it was a muscle pull or tear. Doctors were convinced it was something digestive and sent me for all sorts of tests, but all were normal. I get it on and off and I haven't been able to figure out exactly what triggers it, but I do try to stretch every morning and night and at the moment it hasn't bothered me in a couple of weeks. Sure is weird.

Welcome to the rib/breast party Polly, I,m 43 also? must be something in that!!

Glad to hear you are free of it at the moment,lets hope it stays that way for you.

Thanks for replying

Have a good day

Kath

Hi all

I had my first experience with this last night and this morning.
Last night I had an ache on the right side almost between my breasts. It hurt to stretch and when I massaged that spot.
This morning it's the left side. Could be my imagination but it seemed to ease off when I burped about 8 times!!
Anyone experience that? Maybe it's a diaphram thing? trapped gas? Not sure if I should call the dr or not. I certainly don't watnt to go to the hospital but I want some answers. Deep breathing right now trying not to let my anxiety get out of control.

xo
Maura

You know it took me sometime to realize that when I would get chest discomfort, and I would get anxious, cuz if felt like something sitting on my chest. Well in about 10 minutes or so, I would burb, and feeling would be gone.

This is something totally different that what I get w/chest wall pain, bcz it is more of a pain, now you say when you stretch or massage that spot it hurt, which also leads me to believe that it something to do w/the muscle or strain...

I was actually doing a little research, cuz like I said, I was dx w/scolliosis(sp) as a child. Another weird thing that I have is some of my rib bones protrude just slightly than others, so I think w/me in addition to the costochondritis (which for me was due to an old injury on a scotter ), and having the scolliosis makes it worse. And yes when I have indigestion even worse... It is not a lovely feeling at all...

Just like yesterday I was mowing the grass (good Lord was it hot - heart must be good cuz oh my), don't laugh but I also cut my neighbor's yard (it's my weekly stress test LOL), within about 30 minutes the center of my chest was so sore, ah I hate that. Here you are out in the heat, heart pounding, then a few minutes later the soreness starts. That can really play w/your mind. But I knew what it was, it was bcz I was pushing the lawn mower (not self propelled I might add); and it made it sore. I am still al little tight today, but yes it can play w/your mind...

As for you Maura, I would get it checked, cuz it will give you peace of mind. I mean I thank God that I had all this stuff checked out, cuz it would literally scare the heck out of me. Heck I have been having it off and on for over 10 years...

Also ladies.... You know I was wondering, do you think Gluscosamine would help this at all. I know from my doctor, that mine is w/in the cartlidge of my sternum, so I wonder if that would help... Just a thought...

Thanks Beccca

I made an appointment with the Dr for Tuesday. I will have her check it out.
I do feel less anxious now though...since you are inclined to my thoughts that its indigestion and gas. Sorry...with all the symptoms piling on top of one another...I feel overwhelmed and sometimes can't stop myself from being anxious.

xo
Maura

Let us know how it goes....

Also when you go to the doctor, cuz hun, it took like 5 different appts and various dr's to FINALLY dx me, make sure you point out exactly where it hurts.

My mom always told me, to write down my questions before you go to the doctor, take them w/you so you get all your questions answered. I can't stand when you finally get the doctor, have the visit, driving home you think dang it I meant to ask him about.....

Good luck, let us know...

Mine,s been a bloomin nuisance today on/off aches sore patches,then it vanishes for 10minutes and hurts somewhere else!!!!!

Can,t believe you have had 10YEARS of this Becca ouch!!!


Kath

It does come and go... It does help though just knowing what it is...

BTW I will never ride a scotter again... It was one of those motorized owns. I should of known better already clutsy... I had both hands on the handle bars, lifted one hand, and seriously went end over end on the handle bar, right into my chest... Honestly I was lucky... But it did seperate the cartlidge from my sternum, and yea it hurt likes a @#$#$@$..... Knocked the wind right out of me...

Then it got better... Then I had my son, (and you know ladies I wonder just if being prego can bring it on, think how our bodies change while we are prego - i know mine did )... It started just about immediately after my son was born, I think from lifting him, esp in and out of the crib, and hello... my LITTLE man was 9.5 at birth... LOL

In the begininng it was SO SCARY, I swore i was having a heart attack. So I so get it...

Now I have good and bad days, but it helps just knowing what it is, it really does....

Hmmm interesting thought Becca,wonder how many more women suffered with this since being pregnant??
I had a brief bout of it a couple of years ago (my DD is 4 now) could be from this,being pregnant ribs etc have undoubtedly got to move,also as you said the continual lifting out of cribs,and just lifting them in general,think I spent months with DD glued to my hip.
Also leaning/stretching from drivers seat in car into back of car to retrieve,toys,bottles etc....

Good point Becca

Kath

Oh yea, I know those incredible stretchs to get something out the back seat...

Hun, you could of put a dining room table on my belly when I was prego, till this day I don't know how that fit... LOL...

Hey, I finally got down to the dress size that I was when I got married. I was like so excited. So i go I am going try on my rehearsal dress... LOL!!!! Got it over my hips, yep. got it over my waste, yep (which says lot for the floppy bellie) , that dress hit my back, and NOPE!! I mean good Lord like 5 inches at least, an hun it surely were not the breast, thats for sure... My rib cage all stretched out.... Too funny. To say the least i sold the dress in a garage sale (well no, let's see I tried to sell the dress in a garage sale, but down here in ole South Florida, someone stold the dress... go figure... don't matter it wasn't fitting on this figure any more...)

I have been reading your post and I am interested in your prespective. I am having pain on the top of my left shoulder and it goes down my arm and I have a hot spot on my shoulder bone. I also get jaw pain, and chest pain. It is all random twinges here and there. One minute my arm hurts and then it doesn't, then maybe my jaw will add to the party and out of the blue maybe my breast will get a ache or twinge. My arm doesn't hurt when I move it and it is driving me crazy. Short trip by the way !! It is very confusing. And I have benn to a cardio Dr and even pushed till they did a hearth cath, which came out very good, but dang these are classic heart attack signs. What is going on ? Could this be what you are talking about. One Dr told me it is stress, but that seems to be the pat answer to everything if you are meno and I am post !!!!!
Thanks for your time.
Glenda

You know before I actually dx w/this, I went thru all the heart test!!! And apparently so have you... You know that's crucial for anyone reading this, you have to get it checked out. I swore I was having a heart condition, cuz esp back then it just hurt so bad, it actually felt like someone took a knife and stabbed it into my chest. It is surely something to bring up to your dr, I was lucky enough that I FINALLY found a doctor that knew what she was doing. Like she said, if you can push down on it and it hurts, then it is NOT your heart. But I tell you ladies, you want to get it checked, if not nothing but for the peace of mind....

Mine flares up from time to time, various times a year, and by now had I not known what it was, I would of had heart attack just from the worry of what it was. Meaning the knowing is better than the NOT knowing...

It does seem that soooo many women have the same symptoms, and like I said, I often wonder how much prego has to do w/it. Now for me it was combination of things, but bare in mind that little scooter accident was years before the symptoms set it in. You know when the one dr did my chest xray you could see the scroliosis as plane as day, and I even asked him then (he was a cardio) could that be causing my chest pain, ah don't know, maybe ah... Then proceeded to his secretary... who was a friend of mine, that I was nothing but a hypochondriac, to say the least I only went back to him once. And that was to tell him, oh btw, you know all those years I had those chest pains, ah have you ever heard of costochrondritis... And then I proceeded to explain to him how easily the other dr finally dx it....

Surely this could be your issue, and you also took the best route, and you got your heart checked, cuz I never want to give someone advise and they think ahhh don't have to worry about it. As we always say, we are all unique, but surely it is a possibility....

Thank you ladies for sharing your thoughts, experiences and knowledge... finally all the pain I've had under the left breast area, the rib area, not breathing right sometimes - well, it know all makes sense.... Costochondritis.

On and off the last couple of years, my ribs hurt and sometimes difficulty breathing - Dr.'s kept saying it was my asthma...I've been an asthmatic since I'm born so I know what asthma feels like - and the pain I was feeling didn't feel like asthma. Anyway - last year, while having my GYN yearly checkup - it hurt so bad during the exam at the left breast area, I almost jumped off the table. I was sent to an immediate mammagram and an ultrasound to eliminate a breast problem...everything was normal...of course .

Family Dr. told me to switch bra's - no more wire bra's and that will take care of the problem - it helped a little bit. Then this January, I had a terrible cold, and my asthma really revved up and that terrible pain under the left breast and the rib area - and yet, when I was examed by family Dr. said my lungs sounded clear and yet, the rib and chest area hurt. After 2 months the pain was still on and off. Had a cat scan for the lungs - everything ...normal. Then I had a heart monitor...everything...normal.

Had my yearly GYN exam again this year, just this week, the same thing happened. Checking the breast, pain again on the left side, rib area - I didn't say anything - figured that's how it is...

And then Power Surge has this thread....and there it is - Costochondritis....a name for the pain. Checking it out on the internet it shows exactly what I've been feeling. And the difficulty of breathing...and how colds can make it far worse. The inflammation of the cartilage that connect a rib to the breakbone and it's connected to a rubbery cartilage. All that gets inflammed. Thank you, thank you, thank you for validating what I've been feeling .

Hi CML,

I,m right with you also on these random pains.

I,m in the "driving me crazy" club.
Had alot of twinges aches jaw/toothaches(no reason) shoulder pains/neck could go on and on and on.

Some pains fleetingly come and go then others like this rib/breast pain hang around and are scarey,hard to believe hormonal isn,t it.

Least you have had heart checked out which is sensible and reassuring that all is well.

This rib/breast thing though is just normally (for me) in this area,normally where bra sits(the wiring) and radiates into armpit and back,although it varies like so many symptoms from lady to lady,also get tender sore places that move.
I wonder if other ladies suffering with this get the neck/jaw trouble also

Hope this helps CML

Hi SugarNspice,
Can,t believe how many of us are suffering with this condition??
I also stopped wearing underwired bra,s did help, as it feels like these really aggrevate the problem,have definate sore spots where the wire sits under the breast and where the wire finishes under the armpit??
And as you mine can go on and on for several months,then vanish!!

And thankyou for sharing your saga with us.
Doesn,t it help enourmously to know others with the same things

Take care
kath