Lori
In September I was diagnosed with Costrochondritis. I was suffering from sever chest pain, mostly over the sternum, and around the collarbone area. First, i was afraid it was cardiac related, but my doctor palpated, and could tell it was musculoskeletal. She put me on vioxx and said to do ice treatments. In three days it was worse, way worse, I was a mess, blood pressure high, anxious, high heart rate...scared to death. To ease my mind a cardiac physician evaluated me, and affirmed, yes it was musculoskeletal. So, I went back to my doctor, who then gave me Relefan...which did little good. A week to two weeks later, I went back, this time she prescribed physical therapy. The heat felt good, the exercises, made it miserable...in three weeks I was referred to a manipulative medicine osteopath...this maybe did some good at the time of the treatment for a couple of days. i went once every two weeks. Finally in january 2002, I saw her for the last time.. It has now been three weeks, and I continue to take the celbrex she ordered, but the pain is back. This time in my left and right chest regions, and arm pit regions. It aches, and really feels awful...in fact even though when I change positions, or massage it, it hurts; I still worry about it being cardiac or something. I really hate to go back to my primary family doctor and complain again...she has seen me probably 10 times in the last 4 months...I don't want them to think I am crazy, or just a "wimp". But this is something no one should have to live with daily. Is there anything anyone can recommend, or a specific specialist that I should be looking for. I am 26 years old, and just wonder how long this is going to go on, I have heard a year, or years, and 6 months has seemed like an eternity.