When my rib cage tells me it is splitting open, I heat up my flax seed pad in the microwave, lie down on my bed with a small rolled towel under my knees, one under my ankles, put the heat on my chest, turn on the deep breathing CD, put on the headphones, and relax..The guided imagery helps me; as I am led to fill the empty, sore spots inside me with healing breath. Fill the space with your breath..As the areas expand, you can feel the air filling the gaps..I call the painful areas "gaps" of wellness.
I started out tense. Gradually I relaxed more and more..Now I sometimes fall asleep and wake refreshed and less achey....

Yes I get them. They started about 6 months ago. What a surprise. I've NEVER had this happen before and I was all kinds of athlete. I didn't know this could even happen. The first time, I first thought I was having a heart attack, it was so sudden and hurt so much.

I get them in my ribs, front and back, and in my belly, around my right hip area.

The second I start to feel it come on (sometimes it just blasts, full on) I start stretching. I have nothing else but it seems to work ok for me.

I asked about movement because I've been extra sedentary this past year and wondered if that could be it.

I'm 50 and have had been ill for the majority of 20 years or so. Perhaps this is because of progression?

I employ deep breathing with the stretch.

The first two really bad times I had this happen I happened to be in the hospital for something totally unrelated. The pain usually hits me mid sternum. Well any complaint of chest pain got the whole heart attack workup even though I was only 44. Of course they didn't find anything. I did my own research and found the costochondritis connection to fibro also. When I spoke to my internest about it he agreed it probably was the costocondritis. Since this is an inflammatory condition try taking an anti-inflamatory if you can.

Wow I have been wondering if many had this too ...Thanks for all they suggestions!! I will try most of them and thenks for giving me the name of what they "think" this is...Good to know it is side condition of Fibro...I have 2 moist heating pads that I plan on using a lot more...

THANK you ALL ,,and i am sorry you all suffering with this Ribs spasms,, yes its very painful,,first time i had it was gone after one hour,, and for the last 6 years it comes and go no cause or sighn for it,, i use Lidocaine patch or Myoflex cream it ease some of the pain ,,but i use Fentanyl patch 100mg every 48 hours i am also on tramadol 50mg 6# tablet a day but those pain killer doesn`t touch those ribs pain,, i had laminectomy on 10/12/2009 on L3- L4- L5 and since the surgery any thing i do around the house just light work ,,i get those spasms and very bad back spasm and i get painful trigger point on my sides and hips and around my back i wish if we all try to find any thing to ease this suffering ,,when i have it i stay in bed can`

I am sorry i mean i had the surgery on 12/10/2009 and i didn`t finish what i was writing any way i was saying when i have the spasms i can`t get up from my bed for few days if any one find any idea plz let me know i am still suffering and with my trigger point too thank you all again for your reply

i was told I hadchostrocondritis, too. Then, i was told i didn't have it. I use the Lididerm pathes for some relief, but they aren't 100% effective. I gave up on underwire bras. Too painful to be perky!
Ali