Oh boy… My body is fighting with me right now and I’m exhausted. Sound familiar? Who has had or knows about costochondritis? It feels like someone is pressing on my chest. My sternum and xyphoid process are very tender and have been this way off and on since I had my appendix out in December. When I move, my chest hurts. Over a year ago I had a similar pain, ended up in ER and was worked up for a heart attack. Everything came back normal. I have been having Fibro flares every night for several weeks. Why??? Why is this mostly happening at night? I fall asleep and then I move while I’m asleep and the pain wakes me up. I don’t know what to do. I’ve tried everything I know to help. With costochondritis, has anyone, women, felt like their bra was too tight around the lower part of your chest? It would be under your breast and wrap around to where the clasp is. Is that tightness and dull pain costochondritis? Has anyone had these symptoms? I’m going to stop writing. I’m so tired I can’t write anymore.
Dear Freedom, i am so sorry to hear your pain because i know just how awful it can be. I have costochondritis also, but thankfully not all the time.
When it is happening, i do not wear a bra, just a cotton undershirt mens’ “U” kind.
Stress worry and tension make it worse for me.
Breathing exercises help settle me down as i have to focus on the breathing and the counting.
The two best tools in my personal healthcare toolbox are distraction and ignoring. That sounds either facile or silly but it is not.
If i can distract myself with something that needs mind and body attention and action, i can successfully ignore anything up to about 8 on a scale of 10.
Reading doesn’t because i stiffen up if i am still too long.
Anything over 8 is a pot of hot, sweet, strong tea, an epsom salt soak, and a nap with heating pad.
I hope that this bout passes soon and you get some rest and relief.
Do take care! ra🐢
I too have had tge unrelenting pain which makes wearing a bra feel like a cruel form of toture. From the pain in the center of your chest yo the pain that intensely wraps itself around your body and crosses the center of your back. I’m not sure what its called but it does make sleeping extra extra challenging. Sorry to hear you suffer as well hun. Prayers for you 
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I completely get the whole bra thing. Yikes! When I got home today,I had shortness of breath which has been occurring off and on for a month. I am under the care of a doctor and only get it with activity. I Have recently wondered if I gained so much weight that my bra was too small. But I’ve lost 35 pounds. I have rib pain, chest pain and that crazy I can’t get my bra off fast enough pain. I know it’s not cardiac in nature. I was was worked up and all the tests were fine. It’s the whole fun with Fibro stuff. I’m sorry to hear other people are suffering with this type of pain in addition to fibromyalgia pain.
I’ve had costichondritis off and on for years. It would last for about 2 weeks and then ease for about 6 weeks to 2 months,but this last time it lasted from the early part of nov. until around the first of feb…I don’t know what changed but none of the usual things worked. I don’t know if it was simply time or the volaran cream and untrared massager helped but it’s been better. It seemed poised to return and I immediately used the cream and massage and it hasn’t returned.I hope something I’ve said helps .I know you’re miserable. God bless you .
Hi yes I suffer with costochondritis periodically… I first thought I had pulled a muscle as it seemed to start in my shoulder then my back & worked round to my chest… the pain was terrible… went docs & he confirmed it was that… since then when it comes on it is like you say a band as tho your being squeezed… I also get jaw ache & what feels like indigestion but the feeling of it is all the same. Not a nice feeling x
Costochondritis is one of the things that people get from some kinds of inflammatory arthritis, like Psoriatic Arthritis. It’s horrible, and makes dressing like a lady very difficult!
Seenie
my ex-husband used to get this often. Doc told him it was “harmless, but painful” - not helpful to hear. The heating pad oh his chest at night helped. He had a heavy lifting job and doc wrote a note that he was to do “light work”. I remember that ibuprofen didn’t help much, but Aleve did. the condition has a lot of inflammation in the rib cage. You might go to WebMD and check out what it says. sorry you hurt. i’ve had fibro 40 years, and some days all i can do is think Well, it’s NOT fatal, just painful. And that makes me mad! this is not going to sound good, but this condition can last for months. We have a local hospital that has an Ask A Nurse hotline. do you have anything similar? I remember my husband saying he had to pretend at work that he wasn’t dying of pain and couldnt wait to get home. someone mentioned distraction…can you find time to put in a favorite DVD movie, or just sit outside and listen for birds or something? prayers for you from me and others
Hi Carolyn! I hope you get this. My heart goes out to you and everyone who has had to deal with fibromyalgia for years and years. I was diagnosed July 2018. It hasn’t even been 2 years and there have been many days I contemplate whether I want to continue in this world. My life changed that day. And not for the good. I was a full time registered nurse. But that day… Well, I don’t know what to say. I’m on social security, I had to sell my house and car. I now rent a room from a friend because I couldn’t afford to pay my mortgage, my large car payment or medical bills. I am 52 years old and I was independent. I walk as fast as a snail. Almost every time I go to the grocery store, I wonder if I’ll make it to the checkout because I’m exhausted. I can only pick up a few items at a time. I do not want to use an electric cart because I need to move. I need to walk even if it’s painful. Sometimes the fatigue is worse than the pain. Carolyn and all the long time warriors, I’m sending you big hugs! . You are strong. You are courageous. You are compassionate. You are special. 
Yes I am just getting over my second bout, first in may taken to AE suspected heart attack, all ok told to rest take pain killers, this time round was aware of it coming on pain in all ribs/ chest short breath, hot sweat,any pressure makes worse including bras, sleeping, lifting, Told by pain clinic to apply tiger balm which I do at night as very smelly!!! Hot water bottle in day and rest and seems to go in about 5 days but very miserable and frightening to deal with.
I get this all the time. It was actually my first symptom. It’s been coming at me on and off for 5 years. Wearing a bra is absolute torture sometimes! I have a massive collection of bras from trying to find one that is comfortable. I do find that Advil/Tylenol seem to help. Wearing a bra seems to aggravate it so when I’m having a flare-up I only wear one when I have to and get it off as soon as I can. I also bought some bra band extenders that I use on bad days…makes the bra really loose but it’s more bearable to wear that way.
Chameleona, welcome to the community!
I get these type of flares from time to time, as well, but, thankfully, not to the degree you are describing. I can easily ignore mine, due to the other body parts that are aching worse!
Sending hugs and prayers your way!
Hi…I too have this pain. And I’ve had it for quite a while now. How did you get it diagnosed? My Dr. seems comfortable with running other tests and then telling me I am fine.