Costochondritis pain from sternum to side

cfdr

I'm posting this in case anyone else is trying to figure out why they have pain in the middle or outer part of their rib cage. I've been having awful pain for a few weeks, I get a sharp pain right below and slightly to the outside of my breast if I lie down, bend forward, sneeze, cough, open a heavy door....lots of things do it. I also feel tenderness in several places along my lower ribs.

I didn't figure it was costochondritis because EVERYTHING I read about it says it is specifically an inflammation of where the ribs meet the sternum. So I didn't think that explained my situation since my worst pain was quite some distance out along the ribs.

I had a physical therapy evaluation today (after meeting with my surgical NP and having an ultrasound); the PT said that what was happening with me is a inflammation and "tightness" on that side of my rib cage; likely a from the surgery & radiation, compounded by my not being able to do much upper body exercise lately due to some unrelated shoulder issues. I asked her (because I'm a Google freak) what the official diagnosis was, and was surprised when she said costochondritis!

I'm meeting with a physical therapist the next 4 weeks, and he is supposed to help "break up" some of the stiffness so that my rib cage will expand normally on that side. Also been given some exercises to do.

BLinthedesert

cfdr -- this is such an important topic.  I had severe adhesions from surgery and radiation too.  I literally couldn't breath, and thought it was shortness-of-breath, but instead was muscle tightness from my collarbone to the bottom of my rib cage.  I really think that ALL women who have breast surgery should have an automatic prescription to a PT -- just like they do for shoulder surgery!! It makes complete sense.  Breast surgery is invasive to the chest wall (whether it be lumpectomy or mastectomy) and this is compounded by radiation.

Good luck to you, and thank you for starting this thread so women will know that it is not "serious" but a real problem.   

cinnamonsmiles

I spent about 5 months in occupational therapy in the summer and fall of 2011. My ot schedule was usually Mondays and Thursdays. My adhesions were terrible. Once the myofascial release and home stretching exercises starting working, I could tell them that they were tightening up again by Saturday and Sunday. 

A year later, I am still having troubles with scar tissue adhesions, I stretch every so often, but I find that my home stretching can't get them like actual hands pulling on the skin and scars. 

cfdr

I went to PT for the costochondritis, but the PT who is doing the treatment disagreed with the one who made the diagnosis! He says he thinks it's more a matter of adhesions. He did some myofascial release as well as some massage of the scar tissue, and showed me how to do that latter at home. My guess is I probably have both going on, plus a little bit of truncal lymphedema. What a mess! I seriously did not think I would be dealing with so much pain 16 months after surgery and 13 months after radiation!

ahdjdbcjdjdbkf

li still have endless annoying symptoms and side-effects but it feels like a dream to be back to a relatively normal life. I could use less stress though and an achy sternum and lymphedema flare-up aren't helping.