shooting/burning pains related to costochondritis?

[shany561]

Hello, about a year and a half ago (when i was 17) my heart rate shot through the roof one day(late october 2007). I had not been feeling well that day so I was taking it easy when this happened-- about 121 beats per minute for 2 hours with some difficulty breathing. After that incident, I began experiencing chest pains. Last July I was diagnosed with costochondritis after a trip to the ER from it.

HOWEVER, NSAIDS didnt work, either did physcal therapy. And besides the chest pains (not far after they originally started) I also experienced shooting pains all over my body, varying in intensity. I have had EKGs, MRI of brain and cervical spine, blood tests, EMG...and have been pretty thoroughly checked out. I even tried some cymbalta to see if it was anxiety or depression related, but it did nothing. All i got was a ton of side effects. Some days the pain episodes happen 30 plus times a day, other times only once or twice a day.

I often experience dizziness and vertigo sensations (and occasionally blurred vision) as well.

Has anyone heard of or experienced anything like this? I'm only 18 and I just have no clue why this is happening!
The pains happen totally at random with no discrimination of where. It is interfering with my daily activities and distracting in class. It even wakes me up from sleeping.
I have had every test that my doctor and neurologist can think of for these symptoms...
please help!

~Samantha

[silverkey131]

I know; this completely *****.

I don't think anxiety is the cause, like you say, but I think it is a great benefactor or the pain; the more pain, the more you worry, the more pain. It's a viscious circle.

For the past few weeks I've had less pain but today they've been making a come back; sharp pains down the arm and in the chest.

I was wondering if you have a lot of caffeine? Because I looked it up and caffeine can cause chest pains, palpitations, shortness of breath and can increase anxiety dramatically.

I used to drink a lot of Coca Cola but over the past week or so, I have stopped. The palpitations have all but disappeared and the pain seems to have lessened or become less frequent.

Good luck to you!

[shany561]

hey...today i had such a bad episode i had to leave work. i started having long bouts of severe pain last night. and more episodes today. i dont know what to do. this *****. painkillers dont work. NSAIDS dont last that long either. i dont know how to make this stupid pain stop! how is it anxiety when i was watching a comic on comedy central last night when i had an episode....comics dont stress me out! lol....gosh i dont know what to do. somebody fix thisss. how have you been?

[silverkey131]

Yea the rheumatologist might be a good idea. You're right; this has been going on far too long and is getting really annoying.

It's nice to know someone else out there is going through the same things and we can solve this together!

Let me know what the rheumatologist says and best of luck to you!

[shany561]

oh my gosh yes!!! sometimes i feel the little palpitations and even more often i feel the shortness of breath. sort of like it's hard to actually take a deep a breath. my doctor said he didn't know why that happened except maybe my body was freaking out from the chest pains and what not. i dont know it's really annoying that they can't seem to tie all the symptoms together other than anxiety. and when this all started...i was having the most fun i'd ever had lol senior yr in high school. i can see maybe more anxiety now...but this has been going on farrrr too long. im looking in to maybe seeing a rheumatologist

[silverkey131]

Also, do you ever get palpitations? Like little flutters in your chest?

[silverkey131]

Ok I'll try those, thanks. I was just wondering if you have noticed a shortness of breath along with the other symptoms? Sort of like a smothering feeling?