Costochondritis or Tietze???

S

sza

New member
Hey,

I am a 26 year old female and about 7 weeks ago i went to the ER as i was suffering from extreme pressure on my chest. Slight pain just more pressure / tightness on the left hand side! I had all the test done for my heart (ECG, ECHO, stress test) and lung (CT Scan and xrays) as well as blood test (all clear)

They believe it is Costochondritis or Tietze, my concern is that im not really feeling pain just pressure. Everything i have read on both conditions say extreme pain. i do have some tender under my breast and under my left arm.

Has anyone just had extreme pressure on the chest and only slight pain (not much at all)? im worried that this could be something else due to the lack of pain (not that im complaining about lack of pain just wondering the right diagnosis was made!!)

Thanks
 
Hello,

Yep still have my gallbladder. I am not experiencing any of the symptoms that you have described just constant pressure and a few tender ribs.
 
Costochondritis should be distinguished from Tietze syndrome, a condition involving the same area of the front of the chest. Costochondritis is not associated with swelling, as opposed to Tietze syndrome where swelling is characteristic. Tietze syndrome is an inflammation of the costochondral cartilages of the upper front of the chest.
Patients with Tietze syndrome develop tenderness and swelling over the ribs and cartilage near the breast bone (sternum). Redness, tenderness, and heat can also be present, but a localized swelling is the distinguishing finding. The pain is variable, often sharp, can be confused with heart pain, and can last from hours to weeks. It can cause difficulty with sleeping and even rolling over in bed is sometimes painful. Blood testing (sedimentation rate or C-reactive protein test) can show signs of inflammation in patients with Tietze syndrome, whereas patients with costochondritis alone typically have normal tests for inflammation.
 
Hi Melobious,

I was diagnosed with costochondritis at the beginning of march.I have never had any chest problems before and while I was sat at my desk at work taking calls I started getting really bad chest pain..I thought it was just summat that would go away so went home had a bath to see if it would help,and then by the time I got up in the morning to go to work I could barely breathe the pain in my chest was horrendous..I had only ever felt chest pain like that before when I was diagnosed with gallstones 10 yrs ago.

Me and my hubby were both worried so went straight up to A & E to get it checked.They were very thorough with me I had bloods taken,chest xray,2 ecg's and a thorough examination,and luckily the doctor that was dealing with me had a lot of experience in this field and she knew just where to touch to check and she was correct.

I was told to just take it easy for a couple of days and take some ibuprofen etc..unfortunately the symptoms got worse and worse and I ended up back at the hospital,they told me that it would be a minimum of 3 mths before I noticed even a slight improvement,and he prescribed me some 'NAPROXEN' and advised to take with co-codamol,which to be honest only just touches the sides.

I have had to give up work because the job I did was very stressful and the slightest bit of stress and I can be doubled up in agony,and they weren't happy with all the time I was having off.

I was at the doctors last week and he has now put me on naproxen and codeine and I also take 1 ibuprofen and 1 co-codamol at once..it is helping and I do have good days but there are normally more bad days..and in about 5 weeks my gp is going to start me on the cortisone injections..so will let you know how that goes..

So I completely and utterly sympathise with you,and if you want to keep in touch for support then feel free.
 
Hey Mrs Wah,

I am now past the 3 month mark and still have the same horrible feeling....... i THINK its better but now i don't know anymore!!

I have developed anxiety because of this and i think i have made it worse due to all the worrying!! Stress makes this condition worse!! my mistake was looking up "chest pressure" on the net!!! i convinced myself i had all these serious issues!! most if not ALL have been ruled out..... so i guess its a wait till it goes away type thing. its so frustrating

All i have been given is strong pain killers but they don't seem to be doing much!!!

i have given myself Reflux as well...... so getting an endoscopy this Thursday (apparently chest pressure can be caused by Acid Reflux) so this is another thing i will rule out.

I hope you feel better and let me know your progress!!!

Thanks for writing me!!!!
 
I've been diagnosed with costochondritis also- OCT I noticed it and it is still there. I've had tons of tests done also to rule other stuff out- CT Scan, XRAYS, Blood work, and ultrasounds. They cannot find anything with my chest/ribs, even though I feel a hard spot on the rib bone on the left side. It is painful when I lay on my stomach in bed and bending over hurts and sometimes just sitting does if I have tighter pants on. I hate COSTO. I don't think Motrin works either, nothing does for me. Some days are worse than others.
 
Was diagnosed with CC about 3 months ago. Thought I was having heart attack. Was given EKG/Echo/xrays for heart/lung/sinus. Internist diagnosed as CC. She prescribed Flector patches which I am not out of. I saw where some use the Salonpas so started with them although I didn't read the directions thoroughly and left on more than 8 hours and burned the dickens out of my upper chest..waiting for healing to begin using again.

I have such fatigue with this ailment, have to nap about 2-3 hours in the afternoon. Can't watch TV at night as always fall asleep, very unusual for me.

I feel I am some better. Mine was pretty severe in my right area, before that area right below my right breast gave me tremendous pain (had more than one GB scan which was negative so attribute to the CC)..mine seems to have localized with the pain above my left breast area and moves to the center, wake up with it during the night at times and certainly gives me pause when I bend over, phewww...

Was so hoping this would go away with time.

Jan
 
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