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Costochondritis
Mar. 10th, 2015 09:51 amFINALLY
I had a total of 3 torso attacks last week, one lasting 9 hours again, and I woke up at 2am this morning with another one getting started. Luckily, it was still going by the time I woke up at 7:30 and the doctor's office was open. It's the first time this thing has EVER coincided with her being in the office, as it usually occurs evenings, nights, and weekends.
I called and got an emergency appointment to come in immediately. After double checking the cardiologist and GI results, the doctor came over and pressed hard on my sternum, which felt like something breaking at my rib for the next few minutes. She was able to finally give a diagnosis of costochondritis. She had to rule out other issues first, regardless, and with her getting to actually see me in pain rather than just hearing me tell her about it, she's now positive of the diagnosis.
I got a shot in the office and a prescription strength anti-inflamatory for future flare ups. Considering I've been having these flare ups for years now, there's a great chance I'll still have them, but now I know what it is and what to look out for, and hopefully the medicine will now actually help, unlike the other pills I have. I also know now that ice is better than heat for the area, and luckily I already have a big ice pack in the freezer somewhere.
I have to go back there after I get a shower to have blood drawn (forgot to do that before leaving) so they can check for signs of swelling (sed rate) in order to diagnose/rule out Tietze syndrome.
Things to look out for: possibly a new mattress (I've needed that for a while now), decrease the weight of my purse, consider a rolling office to replace the carry container I'm currently using for work. There's always the "start working out and weight lifting" thing, which I have started with getting on my elliptical again after a few months of ignoring it.
I had a total of 3 torso attacks last week, one lasting 9 hours again, and I woke up at 2am this morning with another one getting started. Luckily, it was still going by the time I woke up at 7:30 and the doctor's office was open. It's the first time this thing has EVER coincided with her being in the office, as it usually occurs evenings, nights, and weekends.
I called and got an emergency appointment to come in immediately. After double checking the cardiologist and GI results, the doctor came over and pressed hard on my sternum, which felt like something breaking at my rib for the next few minutes. She was able to finally give a diagnosis of costochondritis. She had to rule out other issues first, regardless, and with her getting to actually see me in pain rather than just hearing me tell her about it, she's now positive of the diagnosis.
I got a shot in the office and a prescription strength anti-inflamatory for future flare ups. Considering I've been having these flare ups for years now, there's a great chance I'll still have them, but now I know what it is and what to look out for, and hopefully the medicine will now actually help, unlike the other pills I have. I also know now that ice is better than heat for the area, and luckily I already have a big ice pack in the freezer somewhere.
I have to go back there after I get a shower to have blood drawn (forgot to do that before leaving) so they can check for signs of swelling (sed rate) in order to diagnose/rule out Tietze syndrome.
Things to look out for: possibly a new mattress (I've needed that for a while now), decrease the weight of my purse, consider a rolling office to replace the carry container I'm currently using for work. There's always the "start working out and weight lifting" thing, which I have started with getting on my elliptical again after a few months of ignoring it.
