I am wondering if O have this as well. I do get chest pains sometimes but my big problem right now is my back. The back of my rib cage always feels bruised so bad that when I take a deep breath it hurts. It has been that way nonstop for a couple of months. I don't know what to mention to my Dr. anymore. All they do is send me for
more tests only to find there is nothing wrong with me. I'm so tired of being poked and prodded! Does this pain sound like what you are talking about? Someone mentioned coati chondrites to me before.

I have it and lately it has been a lot more of a problem. My ribs get really sore especially when my stress level goes up. Wearing a bra is a nightmare when I have to leave the house. The "perks" never end...

I get it all the time and I have fibro but I have been taking Cymbalta and it is making a wonderful difference in fibro pain. But I get breast pain under my arm pits and through the breast. Like a knife stabbing into my chest .thanks for any info squarely I am new here.

Yes happy face that does sound like you have it, my chest and back hurts and if you push on your chest or back in several places it should be painful if you been checked out and everything else is alright then that's probably what it is

Rosie I get the same pain underneath my armpits on my breast and underneath my breast get really sore besides my chest and it goes to my back

Fantod, I completely understand I have a more bra in a year

Yes, when I press on my back it kills! I also go for massage therapy and when she first starts working on me it really hurts. I feel good for about 2-3 hours afterward but the pain comes back. This is actually the most painful of my symptoms.

I thought I was having a heart attack the first time and headed to ER. It was not my heart, the ER doctor touched along the sides of my sternum and dxed costo.

My ribs, etc painful and tender. I try hard not to overdo with my arms esp overhead,
The chest gets so tight it is a scary feeling but eventually goes away. I haven't had it has bad lately but we know fibro moves around,

I have tried heat and ice and usually matter knowing it won't last forever.

Hi Squarley,

I have two docs that suspect I have it; my Internist & Pain Doc. Since my heart got better (I had persistent angina pains but no longer), and we ruled out recently my spine being the problem, they are thinking it's an inflammatory issue; sternum pain which is dead center of the chest but also it feels like my ribs are still broken and I have pain all the way around my chest. Is that what it feels like for you?

I am scheduled to follow up with a Rheumatologist and my Cardiologist.

After reading the other comments, please anyone chime in.....

So, yes, I have tenderness and wondering if that is a consensus w/Costo; It is like an inflammatory pain if that makes sense....painful to touch, like Magic said; tightness in the chest (I thought that was my heart problem). I actually went to have a breathing test done because of the tightness in my chest and inability to breathe. We ruled out asthma so this is an ongoing concern for me with the amount of stress I have. Thanks for the topic!

I have chronic costochondritis - 5 to 6 years now . Went to the ER twice and had the usual work up and all was negative - they also gave me morphine for pain to calm it down. Can't wear a bra - which is a real problem in the summer - I have a couple tank tops with shelf bras in them but it gets too warm in the summer.

For me a combo of ice pack or biofreeze, pain med and muscle relaxant help the best . Also, stretches I learned at physical therapy. PT also made me realize my upper body posture was very poor - people in pain tend to round their shoulders in and slouch and guard their painful body. My experience is if your ribs or sternum hurt when touched it is the costochondritis - but I am comfortable with that because I have had the work ups and my Dr agreed . I am not saying ignore chest pain .

Also, I have had broken ribs that are slow to heal since January and now I have been coughing bad for 10 days ( thank you son for sharing your illness with me) , so the costochondritis and the ribs where the breaks are , are just so painful I can barely tolerate it.

Also, a recommended treatment for costochondritis is anti-inflammatory meds - I can't take those so I don't know how well they work.

I have some pain in chest now and then, but experience more pain in my shoulder blades lately. Will mention it to the rheumatologist in July. So many different symtoms of fibro!

I too suffer with this. I try not to overdo it like others have mentioned as well. And when it come on, I take some advil (600mg) of it to help with the inflammation.

But when the pain is so intense where it hurts to breathe, I found that standing in the hottest shower I can tolerate for as long as possible helps break it up for some reason.
Heating pads soothe it, but nothing helps like the hot shower.

I have been to PT for it and I learned how to stretch out my chest wall. Laying on the floor with a rolled up towel aligned under my spine. Then just simply taking really deep breaths imagining your filling 4 quadrants of your lungs. (first upper area, then lower area).

And posture too, is important. It's our body's normal reaction to curl up when we are injured or sore. But keeping this pose for any length of time shortens your muscles and puts you at risk for more complications.

As for discussing this any further with my doc, I don't. There is no other treatments out there for it other than what I've been doing. Or at least that is what has been shared with me so far.

I'm sorry you're living with this too hun.

Hi JPTexas, yes this diagnosis can be very confusing but I've had several times sometimes it can be a little different I have pain in my store I have rib pain even under my arms and my ribs and my back and my shoulder blades just plain scary it gets tight and feels like a heart attack I get so much anxiety from it sounds very much like you have it's very painful rest is the best thing trying not to move too much a lift anything heavy have to kind of take your time with it it's may last some weeks or months can go away and then come back hoping you feel better good luck with that say a prayer for you to stay touch if you can nice talking to you hugs very light hugs Shirley

Yes I get this, I hate my bras!!! If I don't have to go anywhere I don't wear one at all. It hurts across my back and on my ribcage and I hate it!! Please someone out there, make a bra for FM people!!