View Full Version : Doubting Costochondritis Diagnosis
Early this year, I saw two doctors (one an internist and the other a GI specialist) about a weird discomfort I was having on my left side that would shift from the flank to my abdomen. My primary concern then and now was cancer especially stomach cancer. I was given an xray, stool test and CBC all of which came back normal. The GI doctor diagnosed me with Costochondritis. He felt it was probably as a result of the heavy powerlifting I do. He recommended I take time off from lifting and take some NSAIDs. He felt that none of the symptoms I presented that day warranted scopes or a CT scan. He told me he was confident that what I was dealing with was not going to kill me. Well, I could not take time off from lifting and I did not take the NSAIDs consistently because the discomfort shifted from my left flank to mostly under my left rib and the left side of my abdomen. This is now freaking me out and making me question the initial diagnosis. I have scheduled an early morning appointment with my primary care doctor tomorrow to get a second opinion and I am now in full freak out mode. I am deeply scared about what she will tell me is really going on and that I have something that will kill me. I don't want to die yet. I am very scared of what I will learn tomorrow but there's no hiding from the truth.
snowghost57
12-06-17, 03:06
All your tests came back negative. Why are you questioning the doctor? A specialist even told you what to do and you refused to take his medical advice and now you're going to see a third doctor? Your blood work was negative! Why didn't you stop lifting weights and take the medication? You had two specialist what was "really going on". Cancer is not as common as the media leads you to believe.
I own up to not talking the GI doctor's advice. I am a competitive lifter and dialing back is not always easy. While the blood work came back normal, it was done on December 22nd and the discomfort has shifted its position. Also, this may seem odd but I am more sensitive to this now than then because my mother was relatively diagnosed with ovarian cancer and is fighting that now. It seems to be pretty common but that might just be my confirmation bias at work.
All your tests came back negative. Why are you questioning the doctor? A specialist even told you what to do and you refused to take his medical advice and now you're going to see a third doctor? Your blood work was negative! Why didn't you stop lifting weights and take the medication? You had two specialist what was "really going on". Cancer is not as common as the media leads you to believe.
So I got a second opinion from my PCP and like I suspected, she doesn't believe it's Costochondritis. She also doesn't believe it's cancer or anything that will kill me so that's a relief. She said she wasn't worried and that I shouldn't worry either unless the discomfort became quite significant.
To update, the discomfort is still there but not in any significant way. I am wondering if the doctors I saw misdiagnosed me. They only did blood tests and physical exams on me. Without imaging, how would then know?
IMO, you're following a very common HA pattern. Doubting professionals, needing more reassurance etc. The ball is in your court. You were told what to do (dial it back) so I suggest you modify your routine/lifestyle to help manage the discomfort.
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IMO, you're following a very common HA pattern. Doubting professionals, needing more reassurance etc. The ball is in your court. You were told what to do (dial it back) so I suggest you modify your routine/lifestyle to help manage the discomfort.
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I hear you. The thing is my PCP told me it's not likely costochondritis so not lifting isn't going to change anything. It's just that there is this very minor discomfort that occurs in my left side that has persisted and I am wondering what else it could be. I was physically examined but don't you think that imaging is crucial.
I was physically examined but don't you think that imaging is crucial.
No, I don't but you're going to do what you want regardless of what anyone says here and right now your anxiety is strongly urging you to pursue additional reassurance. Let us know what you decide and how you make out.
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No, I don't but you're going to do what you want regardless of what anyone says here and right now your anxiety is strongly urging you to pursue additional reassurance. Let us know what you decide and how you make out.
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I am sorry! I know I am being irrational and going through the stages of HA. I don't even know what I would tell them to image. I have seen 3 medical specialists who have all excluded cancer as a likely cause of what I'm feeling. I have warrant to conclude that I likely don't have cancer. I am just so scared of cancer and that fear is causing glitches in my reasoning.
I am sorry! I know I am being irrational and going through the stages of HA. I don't even know what I would tell them to image. I have seen 3 medical specialists who have all excluded cancer as a likely cause of what I'm feeling. I have warrant to conclude that I likely don't have cancer. I am just so scared of cancer and that fear is causing glitches in my reasoning.
I was a weight lifter back in the day before my health bit me in the butt. I had all sorts of aches and pains attributed to training... shoulders, lower back etc. When I lifted my arms, you could hear the bones clicking! I took glucosamine/chondroitin and that really helped with joint aches. Otherwise, I just modified my workouts to alleviate taxing the areas that bothered me.
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I was a weight lifter back in the day before my health bit me in the butt. I had all sorts of aches and pains attributed to training... shoulders, lower back etc. When I lifted my arms, you could hear the bones clicking! I took glucosamine/chondroitin and that really helped with joint aches. Otherwise, I just modified my workouts to alleviate taxing the areas that bothered me.
Positive thoughts
Thanks for providing some sanity.
You can pretty easily tell if it's costochondritis - just press on your ribs. Keep in mind that the nerves go all the way around so it's not uncommon for the pain to move around if that is what it is.
You can pretty easily tell if it's costochondritis - just press on your ribs. Keep in mind that the nerves go all the way around so it's not uncommon for the pain to move around if that is what it is.
I press against my rib but there is no pain. It's weird.
First post - be gentle
I was diagnosed with Chostochondritis a while back now (~10 years) - after several tests, ultrasound , bloods etc. Bottom right ribs - feels like its "lumpy". Not painful, but uncomfortable, and twinges from time, and also stitch like pains. It comes and goes, but is now back with a vengeance due to recent issues (anxiety, stress, tick bite - leading to a swollen lymph node, which then lead to a double hernia surgery 2 weeks back)
I agree re no pain and it feels weird!
First post - be gentle
I was diagnosed with Chostochondritis a while back now (~10 years) - after several tests, ultrasound , bloods etc. Bottom right ribs - feels like its "lumpy". Not painful, but uncomfortable, and twinges from time, and also stitch like pains. It comes and goes, but is now back with a vengeance due to recent issues (anxiety, stress, tick bite - leading to a swollen lymph node, which then lead to a double hernia surgery 2 weeks back)
I agree re no pain and it feels weird!
Sorry to hear about your surgery.
Early this year, I saw two doctors (one an internist and the other a GI specialist) about a weird discomfort I was having on my left side that would shift from the flank to my abdomen. My primary concern then and now was cancer especially stomach cancer. I was given an xray, stool test and CBC all of which came back normal. The GI doctor diagnosed me with Costochondritis. He felt it was probably as a result of the heavy powerlifting I do. He recommended I take time off from lifting and take some NSAIDs. He felt that none of the symptoms I presented that day warranted scopes or a CT scan. He told me he was confident that what I was dealing with was not going to kill me. Well, I could not take time off from lifting and I did not take the NSAIDs consistently because the discomfort shifted from my left flank to mostly under my left rib and the left side of my abdomen. This is now freaking me out and making me question the initial diagnosis. I have scheduled an early morning appointment with my primary care doctor tomorrow to get a second opinion and I am now in full freak out mode. I am deeply scared about what she will tell me is really going on and that I have something that will kill me. I don't want to die yet. I am very scared of what I will learn tomorrow but there's no hiding from the truth.
As someone who also had Costochondritis due to lifting weights, I can attest that the feelings, sensations, and pains associated with the ailment are quite upsetting, especially when your mind is riddled with anxiety that takes the pain and places vast vile ideas as to what else it can be.
I remember the day it happened I was at the firehouse in the gym and got shortness of breath a bit. I remember putting my bag over my shoulder and across my chest; this caused a weird numbing sensation. The next day is when Hell truly came over with the injury causing very extreme shortness of breaths intermittently at random. Then came the pain, which originally was located at the costosternal joints on my left side. This pain moved from there outward inbetween my ribs, then traveled downwards. I feel at this point was the worst, or at least the most uncomfortable since it was a constant dull ache or a mild pins and needles feeling. It wasn't over though, sadly; the pain moved upwards and over my left shoulder, affecting my upper left back and shoulder to a degree. I feel that with the injury, it really affected everything on that side to a degree. It took a long time for me to recover due to the site of the injury. Think about it: You cannot immobilize the area since it constantly expands and deflates inward due to respirations, whereas with an arm or a leg you can put in a cast or a sling or whatever.
My suggestion is to see an Orthopedist, not a GI. They can properly diagnose you. Then I'd suggest physical therapy and/or massage therapy (some PT places have massage therapy as part of their programs). These both helped me.
A doctor also suggested Arnica Gel to me, which is an over the counter gel that you can purchase at a local pharmacy. It's a little pricey, around $10ish, but I feel that it was definitely worth it. I think I only bought a bottle or two in totality.
It gets better, but you have to REST! I know it sucks, but you are only going to worsen injuries if you do not rest and rehab your injuries. In a few weeks you can slowly ease back into it. I made the mistake of going back to quickly once and learned my lesson to wait the few weeks at least.
If you're scared it's something totally else, even though you were already cleared by a GI, see a primary physician who can run routine bloodwork to check for blood markers of cancer. This will at least put your mind at ease a bit.
As someone who also had Costochondritis due to lifting weights, I can attest that the feelings, sensations, and pains associated with the ailment are quite upsetting, especially when your mind is riddled with anxiety that takes the pain and places vast vile ideas as to what else it can be.
I remember the day it happened I was at the firehouse in the gym and got shortness of breath a bit. I remember putting my bag over my shoulder and across my chest; this caused a weird numbing sensation. The next day is when Hell truly came over with the injury causing very extreme shortness of breaths intermittently at random. Then came the pain, which originally was located at the costosternal joints on my left side. This pain moved from there outward inbetween my ribs, then traveled downwards. I feel at this point was the worst, or at least the most uncomfortable since it was a constant dull ache or a mild pins and needles feeling. It wasn't over though, sadly; the pain moved upwards and over my left shoulder, affecting my upper left back and shoulder to a degree. I feel that with the injury, it really affected everything on that side to a degree. It took a long time for me to recover due to the site of the injury. Think about it: You cannot immobilize the area since it constantly expands and deflates inward due to respirations, whereas with an arm or a leg you can put in a cast or a sling or whatever.
My suggestion is to see an Orthopedist, not a GI. They can properly diagnose you. Then I'd suggest physical therapy and/or massage therapy (some PT places have massage therapy as part of their programs). These both helped me.
A doctor also suggested Arnica Gel to me, which is an over the counter gel that you can purchase at a local pharmacy. It's a little pricey, around $10ish, but I feel that it was definitely worth it. I think I only bought a bottle or two in totality.
It gets better, but you have to REST! I know it sucks, but you are only going to worsen injuries if you do not rest and rehab your injuries. In a few weeks you can slowly ease back into it. I made the mistake of going back to quickly once and learned my lesson to wait the few weeks at least.
If you're scared it's something totally else, even though you were already cleared by a GI, see a primary physician who can run routine bloodwork to check for blood markers of cancer. This will at least put your mind at ease a bit.
I saw an internal medicine doctor the last week of December about my situation. At that time, the stuff going on in my left side was behaving differently. He did a physical examination, CBC test, xray, stool test, and metabolic panel. He did not find anything wrong with me. The left side discomfort continued and that's when I saw the GI doctor who examined me and said he thought it was costochondritis. In June, I saw my primary care physician who did a physical exam and then told me that she did not think whatever was going on in my left was because of cancer or a malignant process. Do you think I should go back for a CBC? The last one was late December.
golddustgirl1000
25-08-17, 05:06
Message me privately, I have huge huge huge experiences with Costo.. I have also been part of facebook support groups throughout my journey, I have done a ton of research and have found extreme relief and gone back to normal for large periods of time with certain things I've done/treatments I've underegone... trust me... its been a 3 year struggle with it.. but I know a ton
Does anyone know if pain associated with lung or stomach cancer can be described as dull and one you don't feel while asleep?
Cancer is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. It doesn't come and go nor does it stop once it starts.
As my cancer progressed up until diagnosis and until I started treatment, it got progressively worse. Prior to removing it from my neck, it looked like I had the mumps on the left side of my neck and I had constant pain and discomfort 24/7. It awakened me from sleep when the meds wore off too.
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Cancer is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. It doesn't come and go nor does it stop once it starts.
As my cancer progressed up until diagnosis and until I started treatment, it got progressively worse. Prior to removing it from my neck, it looked like I had the mumps on the left side of my neck and I had constant pain and discomfort 24/7. It awakened me from sleep when the meds wore off too.
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Yikes! I'm sorry to hear what happened to you. In my case, it's this left side minor discomfort that sometimes moves around but is just under my left rib. I sleep fine and am not in anyway woken up by it. I do heavy powerlifting and am in no way affected by it but I just don't know why this discomfort is there and what's causing it. It has almost been a year since the funny stuff started on my left side and I'm just so scared it might be the big C.
YIt has almost been a year since the funny stuff started on my left side and I'm just so scared it might be the big C.
You'd be a really hurtin' dude and there would be no doubt something was terribly wrong after a year I assure you! The node in my neck went from hardly a lump to two over 5cm in 6 months. Like I said, it doesn't stop or come and go.
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You'd be a really hurtin' dude and there would be no doubt something was terribly wrong after a year I assure you! The node in my neck went from hardly a lump to two over 5cm in 6 months. Like I said, it doesn't stop or come and go.
Positive thoughts
Thanks for sharing so much of your knowledge and experience.
My HA has been flaring up real bad because I still feel this sensation on my left side. It's not hindering me in any way (I squatted 600lbs yesterday) or affecting my bowels but I'm scared it may be something more sinister that the doctors I have seen so far missed. I have setup an appointment with my primary care for Monday where I will do a CBC and possibly push to have an ultrasound done to rule out cancer. I'm quite nervous about what the CBC and UC will show but brave it I must.
CleverLittleViper
30-09-17, 23:52
What's the point when up to this point you've refused to accept the medical opinion you've received?
I'm just not sure it will be of all that much benefit to you. Your doctor told you to dial back on the lifting. You didn't. Told you to take NSAIDs. You didn't. What will change with this appointment? Will this be the doctor that you suddenly believe?
If that appears harsh, I do apologise, but this is the pattern. You seek a medical opinion, receive one, and because it's not what your anxiety told you, you seek another opinion. Round and round you go.
If you feel you must push it, there's really nothing anyone here can say that can convince you otherwise. Maybe it will confirm that it is nothing sinister, or maybe, like many before you, you will simply declare the test insufficient and demand more. That's how HA works.
I'd recommend dialling back on the lifting (training, be damned) and taking the medication. It may actually help.
What's the point when up to this point you've refused to accept the medical opinion you've received?
I'm just not sure it will be of all that much benefit to you. Your doctor told you to dial back on the lifting. You didn't. Told you to take NSAIDs. You didn't. What will change with this appointment? Will this be the doctor that you suddenly believe?
If that appears harsh, I do apologise, but this is the pattern. You seek a medical opinion, receive one, and because it's not what your anxiety told you, you seek another opinion. Round and round you go.
If you feel you must push it, there's really nothing anyone here can say that can convince you otherwise. Maybe it will confirm that it is nothing sinister, or maybe, like many before you, you will simply declare the test insufficient and demand more. That's how HA works.
I'd recommend dialling back on the lifting (training, be damned) and taking the medication. It may actually help.
Nothing harsh at all in what you wrote. Based on my last doctor's visit, costochondritis was ruled out and as such lifting is not a factor in what's going on with me. That also rules out the need for NSAIDs. What I am looking for is for them to do some imaging to verify their earlier assessments that it's not cancer.
I'm on the west coast of the US and it's almost Monday, my judgement day. The anxiety is starting to increase. I really hope it goes well for me and everyone doing medical tests this week.
Did all my blood work this morning. Now begins the excruciating wait for the results.
Almost all my blood tests are in. I did urinalysis, Lipase, CRP for inflammation, full metabolic panel, and a CBC. The CBC results are not yet in. The rest of the results were all well within normal range. I am going to be having an ultrasound in a couple of days. Still a bit worried about what the CBC will show.
All my blood lab work came back normal and my doctor hopes the results reassure me. I am trying to figure out if that means it's not likely cancer that's causing the discomfort. I will be doing an ultrasound next week and that's nerve wracking.
So tomorrow morning, I will be going to do an ultrasound of my abdomen. I am quite nervous about what it'a going to find. My nervousness is starting to increase. Has anyone done an abdominal ultrasound? What was it like?
Ultrasound came back normal other than some gallbladder sludge.
So now what?
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So now what?
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Nothing really. I just move on and continue living.
Nothing really. I just move on and continue living.
Add some help with your anxiety to that short list so you don't fall into another death spiral over nothing ;)
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Add some help with your anxiety to that short list so you don't fall into another death spiral over nothing ;)
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I plan on doing that.
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