Do I actually have costo?
Hi all
Looking for some advice as to whether I actually have symptoms that should be treated as costo. My symptoms started after a bout of winter illness, a lot of new year desk work, and an increase in weight training intensity. It started with what I would describe as a moderate pain in the muscle in my left pectoral. I assumed this was just a slight pull from the gym and trained through it for a couple of weeks. After that I had widespread, moderate pain throughout my entire ribcage and decided it was best to take a couple of weeks off. Things did subside but after a couple of runs after that break I was getting a scary stabbing pain in my left chest which really got me worried.
After a few trips to my GP and being cleared of anything cardio related I was given a couple of weeks of Naproxen. This helped a lot with the general pain throughout my rib cage but revealed the pain that was still lingering in my left chest. After that I was advised to have a proper break from any exercise, so I stopped even the light cardio I was doing. This did not help. Fast forward a couple of months and another couple of visits to the GP they suggested it was costochondritis that I was dealing with. I then turned to the advice of you lovely people.
I've been pretty consistent with the backpod / peanut ball routine suggested as a starting point here for the last few weeks, whilst also taking a consistent dose of Naproxen over the same window and switching to sleeping on my back. I found I could quite easily use the backpod across most of my back without the need for pillows right from the off and I never really experience any clicking or popping and the relief that others experience. I do have some very tight spots in my trapezius that are quite painful when working through with the peanut ball but again I do not experience any popping or release as a result.
I've not really noticed any great improvement in my symptoms and it is really starting to affect my day-to-day. The pain in my chest is mild to moderate depending on the day, but I have quite significant pain throughout my ribs most of the day, which is only relieved by laying down or stretching over the backpod. I occasionally experience the stabbing pain in my left chest but my symptoms are now more resembling cramping as if I've sat hunched over for hours (which I no longer do thanks to a standing desk). I have a reasonably consistent popping to the right of my sternum on a big in breath but nothing extensive.
So, I'm asking for the advice of you guys as to whether I should be treating this as costo or should I be looking towards something else? Or if I'm doing something wrong?
Many thanks in advance!