I'm so sorry sweetie. I wish I could make this go away. I'd take a fibro flare any day over the costo-chon-crap stuff.

When my costo gets bad, I try to hop in the shower and stand under the hottest water I can tolerate for as long as I can stand there.

Somehow this helps me. What do you do that works for you?

I'm with Wonderbaby. Best thing is to shower in hot water. also, I have one of those showerheads on a hose and it's great to take it down and put the spray right on the sore places. Good luck to you.

Long hot shower, loose clothes, heating pad, comfy place to kick back on and a glass of red wine, good book....(Dark chocolate!)

Egad I know how this feels for sure! I was diagnosed with costo in 2007 but I'm pretty sure that I had it for a few years prior to that, I just never realized what it was as all I knew was pain! Mine has never really stopped although there are times when it's more painful. It's a dreadful pressure that always starts in the middle of my chest or just under my left breast and the pain spread to my jaw and my left arm. It always makes me think that I'm having a heart attack which is exactly how I ended up getting diagnosed with costo back in 2007! I went to the ER thinking that I was going to die right then and there and then the ER doc poked at a few places on my chest and I nearly climbed the wall! She said ''oh you have costochondritis that's all''.. as if it's not a big deal! Gah. But yeah, I completely understand the pain of costochondritis.. it's dreadful to have that along with fibro! Rude, just rude. But it helps to know that there are others here who understand us! =)

As far as anything helping to ease the pain.. well I think it's a personal thing.. I can't stand heat sometimes.. and I can almost never stand cold.. so I stay away from both when I'm having bad pain from costo. In general I just try to take it easy, distraction helps to.. like with movies.. books.. music or even coming on here.

Best of luck! ((gentle hugs))

Heat doesn't help me. When it is this bad I use ice/biofreeze, stretches I learned at PT, muscle relaxants, and pain meds if the Dr is willing to subscribe and still get little relief. I have tried just about everything in the past when it is this bad including steroid shots into my sternum. I sneezed and cried this evening - that sure did not help.

I get this pain too. Sometimes it is under my armpits, high up in the ribcage. It took me forever to figure out that it was the ribs; I told the doctor I thought I had swollen glands!
Aspirin or tylenol work wonders for me.

I'm sorry to read that you are in so much pain. I get severe costo flare-ups, too, from time to time. Heat does not help me at all. I find that the ice feels good, but only because it numbs it some, not because it's making a difference. Stress can make it worse too, so hopefully you are able to take it easy and also not do any lifting. Also, I hug a pillow to my chest, which seems to comfort me some when I cough or sneeze; and hugging a pillow in bed if you are a side sleeper, is a must, to keep the weight of your arm off of your chest. Gentle hugs.

I went to the Dr yesterday and she was kind enough to prescribe a muscle relaxants and some pain pills. Very painful. I have been taking it easy and laying around with an ice bag. Any activity makes it worse. Thanks for your support.