
What Causes Severe Pain In Neck And Shoulders While Suffering From Costochondritis?

Question: I have been suffering from chostocondritis since 2009. X- rays never show anything. My right upper quadrant has been in chronic constant pain. The pain is a burning stabbing sensation in my neck, shoulder, sternum and shoulder blade everything is in the right side. I have been given cortisone shots in my shoulder chest and back with no relief. I have been on anti inflammatory meds as well as seen a chiropractor. My chest and shoulder blade area as well as my neck pop on a daily basis multiple times a day. I recently switched Doctors. My new doctor ordered a CT w/ and w/o contrast.
Brief Answer:
Possible spinal disc disease?Needs confirmation
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mam,
I understand your concern.
Costo-chondritis is unlikely to radiate to such wide regions like neck and shoulder blades.
Its important that you get an MRI spine in the cervico-thoracic region to rule out disc disease.
CT scan w/ and w/o is not a wise investigation at the moment.
Further management depends on the outcome of the test.
Post your further queries if any.
Thank you.
Possible spinal disc disease?Needs confirmation
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mam,
I understand your concern.
Costo-chondritis is unlikely to radiate to such wide regions like neck and shoulder blades.
Its important that you get an MRI spine in the cervico-thoracic region to rule out disc disease.
CT scan w/ and w/o is not a wise investigation at the moment.
Further management depends on the outcome of the test.
Post your further queries if any.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar


Were you able to view my CT report?
Brief Answer:
Possible SMJ arthritis?Need to rule out Rheumatoid arthritis.
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mam.
I understand your concern.
I have gone through your uploaded image.
Cortical scalloping and erosive changes in the sternomanubrial joint can contribute to your symptoms.
In case of erosive changes,it usually points to inflammatory process like Rheumatoid arthritis.
For this I advise you to have the following.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
C-reactive protein level
Complete blood count
Rheumatoid factor assay
Antinuclear antibody assay
Anti−cyclic citrullinated peptide assay.
Post your further queries if any.
Thank you.
Possible SMJ arthritis?Need to rule out Rheumatoid arthritis.
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mam.
I understand your concern.
I have gone through your uploaded image.
Cortical scalloping and erosive changes in the sternomanubrial joint can contribute to your symptoms.
In case of erosive changes,it usually points to inflammatory process like Rheumatoid arthritis.
For this I advise you to have the following.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
C-reactive protein level
Complete blood count
Rheumatoid factor assay
Antinuclear antibody assay
Anti−cyclic citrullinated peptide assay.
Post your further queries if any.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

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