Costocondritis anyone?

stacey2930
stacey2930 Member Posts: 210
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

Anyone develop costocondritis months after radiation? if so what were your symptoms?

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  • BethNY
    BethNY Member Posts: 2,710
    edited March 2008
    I got it without radiation-= I think it was from my reconstruction. Mine is in my rib cartilege. Some days it hurts really bad...but it can be managed with advil. Mine used to hurt more when I would sleep on one side, so I switched the way I sleep.
    It's tough, cause the pain is real, and sometimes it's scary, and makes you worry about mets. There's not too much you can do for it besides ibuprofen.
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  • NancyM
    NancyM Member Posts: 289
    edited August 2007

    I had it before radiation, too. At the time my doctor said it would resolve within 3 months without any intervention, and he was right. Thank goodness for that good ole ibuprofen!!

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited August 2007
    Hi, Stacey,

    Breast or chest lymphedema is another possibility for pain in the area, even months or years post-treatment. Symptoms include pain (sometimes very intense), but because it is caused by pressure on nerves it is generally unresponsive to simple pain relievers. There may or may not be noticable swelling, but a thoroughly trained and experienced lymphedema therapist could diagnose it by physical exam. Any breast or chest surgery and/or radiation puts us at risk for this. Recent studies in Europe put the rate of breast lymphedema following SNB and lumpectomy at around 23 percent, but in this country it often goes undiagnosed.

    Do let us know how you're doing with this!
    Binney
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  • nycmom
    nycmom Member Posts: 61
    edited August 2007
    I read this too quickly and thought it referred to going to Costco too much after diagnosis
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2007
    HA! Forget Costco....we deserve frequenting Neiman Marcus!

    As for the actual topic, I probably have costocondritis and have just always called it my "post-radiation pain" but it started several months after rads and has just been a nuisance. Ibuprofen does help if I'm feeling particularly bothered by it, but it's so minor that I always forget to mention it to my onc.

    ~Marin
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  • MillieM
    MillieM Member Posts: 7
    edited August 2007

    I have had pain in my upper ribs for 7 months, ONC orderd breast ultrasound, CT Scan, Bone Scan, all came back negative, ONC said possible Costocondritis or infection from the implant, another cancer site I was on Dr said not likely an infection but possible the implant is putting pressure on the ribs, I've gotten so many possible diagnosis I don't where to turn. HELP

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  • biondi
    biondi Member Posts: 223
    edited August 2007
    Quote:

    I read this too quickly and thought it referred to going to Costco too much after diagnosis



    HEY, I THOUGHT THE SAME THING!
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  • biondi
    biondi Member Posts: 223
    edited August 2007

    PLEASE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE IMPLANTS. THEY CAN CAUSE A MIRIAD OF PROBLEMS. ONE ONC EXPLAINED MY CHEST PAIN LIKE THIS: WHEN YOU HAD YOUR MAST,. THE NERVES GOT MAD AND WENT TO SLEEP, AND YOUR CHEST AREA BECAME NUMB, NOW, ONE YEAR LATER, THEY ARE WAKING UP AND COMING BACK TO LIFE, SO THAT'S WHY I HAVE THE PAIN NOW, THE NERVES ARE REBUILDING. KIND OF MADE SENSE TO ME. NO RECON HERE.

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  • rrlover
    rrlover Member Posts: 8
    edited August 2007
    If you have costochondroitis, check out taking gabapentin.
    It's a nerve block and works really well. Also it has a
    great side effect - it has reduced my hot flashes to
    almost nil!
    Lucy
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  • MillieM
    MillieM Member Posts: 7
    edited August 2007

    Thanks to all for your advise, I go to see my PS today, we'll see what story she gives me.

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  • Shirlann
    Shirlann Member Posts: 3,302
    edited August 2007
    Well I am 8 & 1/2 years post radiation and have had Costochondritis, but now it is still with me so they think I have "bone death" or "rib softening". Only me, shoot!

    Anyway, one way Dr. Susan Love talks about in her book to diagnose Costochondritis is to grab a hunk of rib meat, it it hurts like 60, it is probably Costochondritis. Not mets.

    Hugs, Shirlann
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  • MillieM
    MillieM Member Posts: 7
    edited August 2007

    Well, PS says it's Costochondritis, she offered a cortizone shot but said it was to close to the implant and it may rupture, she then gave me an rx for steroids-Medrol?????

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