costochonditis questions

I was to see the rheumy yesterday and mentioned how her associate said maybe it could be costochonditis. But she was not interested at all about discussing it.  Why do we have to struggle so to get doctors to listen and if they can't help then to suggest going to the right doctor. In my area I feel they are so out of the knowledge of updated ailments.  Along with the constant discomfort in my side bad into my front left side I now have pain surrounding my torso.  It's there all the time and when I lay down on my sides it makes things worse.  Is there anything anyone took for this that  might help?  I take 750 mg of vicodin now and it doesn't take it away completely, but I can do what I have to do, but not without discomfort.  I am so short of breath today, felt this coming on for the last two weeks.  I supposedly have asthma, yeah that's what I said and COPD although I have never smoked and husband doesn't smoke.  I am strongly thinking there is something going on with my lungs, unless my spleen or something has things going on.  I think I may ask for an MRI, they did a cat scan of my chest last week, but I don't know if they lungs show up if they are looking at the spine for things.

Hi debimum,

 Call that doctor who had the MRI done on you and ask the results of the MRI. If they give you the run around on the phone be presistant about your results and you need to know now!

Costochondritis is a syndrome of chest wall, pain that is due to inflammation of the cartilage and bones in the chest wall. Also called Tietze's Syndrome, costochondritis occurs when there is inflammation at the junction of the rib bone and breastbone (sternum). At this junction, there is cartilage joining these bones. This cartilage can become irritated and inflamed. Depending on the extent of the inflammation, this condition can be quite painful.

I've also have Costochondritis and the best thing for it is anti inflammatory medications and heat (heating pad). Restrict yourself from anything that deals with lifting, driving, vaccuming, pushing anything and stay laying down, more or less do not do anything til it passes. When my Costochondritis acts up I have to stay laying down til it passes which is about 3 to 4 days.

Now get on that phone and call your doctor and get those results ASAP

 

Keep us posted on what your doctor says.

 

Sabrina

Sabrina,

   Somehow I do not trust the radiologist at the hospital I was at.  They have missed many dx of my sons and some other peoples. Sadly I work there, but not as part of the medical personel.  I will be picking up my reports of the hospital stay I had,  Although I am however going to write a letter to the hospital from an employee's view point of how that doctor treated me in the ER.  It was appalling for a doctor to come in and say "what do you want me to do for you".  If I knew I wouldn't be in there.

And sadly, I cannot just lay for 3-4 days when I get this pain.  Although my job probably aggrevates it.  I sew the make the patient gowns at the hospital and I have a lot of sitting and moving of my upper body when I sew.  I also lift large rolls of fabric, not too heavy, but with my chest the way it is more then likely contributes to it.

Thank you for your input and help.

Deb