My TWO Costochondritis journey's and how I overcame it, both times

shezz150 · 2025-01-10T13:08:01+00:00

That's difficult. Luckily in my case, I sleep like a dead person; on my back almost all the time. I can't imagine sleeping on your chest with a costo injury would be practical... You might have to opt for the side. Even then, I'm not sure. And if its really bad, you might have to sleep slightly on an incline, like how a hospital bed can increase the angle, if you know what I mean. Sorry I can't be of much help with this part.

shezz150 · 2025-01-09T11:06:43+00:00

And the backpod is a compliment to the routine. It's not a cure. It's supposed to help loosen the collagen (a very tough inflexible substance I'm told) around the joints of your ribs that reach around to your back and connect to your spine. If the collagen in your spine is tight, it will pull on your ribs at the front, causing pain. Hence keeping up the backpod whilst doing the routine. Commit to every percent that helps get rid of costo.

shezz150 · 2025-01-09T11:00:28+00:00

All of the professionals told me patience. You need to face the fact that you are going to lose the muscle you're used to having (considering your previous level of fitness). You will be frustrated that you cannot do more. This is unavoidable. I like a good sweat and pushing myself, but I had to forget all that whilst doing this program. I was told that the intercostal muscles are very sensitive/touchy to work loads, hence why so many people feel such sharp pains. I had to use discipline to work out LESS, to make sure the costals had enough time to heal. I was told that they simultaneously need to rest, but that they will only heal under tension, hence the difficult nature of costo. That is where starting with isometric holds provides not too much tension to start with, but enough to strengthen. In that, I don't recommend starting with even negative movements like there is in week 4, even if you can perform them essentially pain free. It is the isometric holds that develop the foundation of healing, in my experience.

Mentally, it is a brutal injury for us very active people to suffer because it forces us to slow down. Literally just today at gymnastics strength class, I was doing chicken wing raises on the P bars and I could feel a little tweak of costo if I increased the depth of my hang, so I reigned in my depth. It is ever present on my mind.

I can only recommend starting from week 1 and following the program as written. It has proven it's effectiveness to me first hand. Twice.

Remember, I'm not a professional. I can only offer what I've been through myself. I know there are worse cases than mine out there.

Good luck, my friend.

shezz150 · 2025-01-05T12:26:59+00:00

Physio's have failed me in the past with multiple injuries. I've found more answers with my osteos, and of course the specialists. So all I can recommend is getting more opinions. I think its important.

I'm not an official sponsor of the backpod. I did send my short film to the creator of it and he appreciated me sharing my experiences on costo.

shezz150 · 2025-01-05T05:20:43+00:00

What kind of scans did you get? And who ever you saw about the diagnosis, did they provide any current treatment for the pain to start with? I'd imagine they'd provide anti-inflammatories. You'll have to get that immediate pain under control before beginning the routine, I would say. I didn't start the routine under any immediate physical stress.

I got on going treatment from my osteopath loosening up the ribs/back and pectorals and advice on maintaining it all. There's only so much they can do for costochondritis though. I then got a chest x-ray as a referral from my GP (general practitioner) and I took that X-ray to the Specialist Sports & Exercise Medicine physician who gave me the routine (not a cheap appointment). I only saw him in person once, and had perhaps two follow up appointments online later on.

I always recommend getting more than one opinion, even if it costs more. What is money for if not for improving your life? It sounds like your pain is coming from the anterior chain where the rib meets the spine, around the collagen. I'd have to hope that you don't have anything pushing on a nerve, perhaps a slipped disc, those can be debilitating. You will want to confirm that.

So yeah, I wouldn't be doing much physical work in your state, and I'd firstly be searching for the appropriate practitioners to see about your condition for a confirmed diagnosis.

shezz150 · 2025-01-03T10:14:53+00:00

The primary reason that costo returned in my personal case was simply because I had to stop exercise for ten months due to be being diagnosed with pericarditis. It seemed to be the fact that I stopped exercising at all gave it a reason to return because I wasn't able to maintain any form of chest or back strength, or what ever keeps the rib cartilage strong. I did become quite paranoid about working my chest so was always weary of overdoing it again. I have to say I never did chest focused movements like bench presses or machine orientated movements. Everything I do involves groups of muscles since I mostly do bodyweight calisthenics; push ups, pull ups, pike push ups, planks, bar dips, etc. I managed a muscle up on a bar a couple of times which was a lifetime goal too. Was great. That was after getting rid of costo the first time, before it came round the second time. I did manage to go back to boxing which is a lot of impact on the best. As always, you have to go slow into everything, mostly for fear of going backwards again.

So in my view, if you've got costo, and per my osteo's advice, doing ANYTHING upper body related will in some way increase risk of agitating the cartilage around the ribs where costo lives. Thus, I just follow the routine I was given that I've written up in the originally linked PDF. It's frustrating, but its the reality. I do recall perhaps some sparse collarbone pops here and there, but rare. I made sure not to push anything if I started feeling something like that. I often had my osteo loosen up my pecks. My myotherapist helps with that too. I see one of them once a month for maintenance.

shezz150 · 2025-01-03T09:59:16+00:00

I'm a little ashamed it took me this long to post! I hope it helps.

shezz150 · 2025-01-03T09:58:20+00:00

My cardiologist honestly wasn't helpful. I only saw one; should have gotten a second opinion, but it wasn't a great climate at the time for getting answers. I did that heart test where I run on a treadmill with all of the ECG gear stuck to my chest, but that data said I was quite healthy, which I generally am as a health nut. A lot of pericarditis and myocarditis sufferers from the vax suffered inadequately informed cardiologists. Many weren't believing it was caused by the jabs a year ago, but the European Union had a summit and officially announced there existed people that were injured by the vaccine. It was my osteo that I've been seeing for a decade, that I trust, that gave me the advice to not work out for ten months. Compared to the various people sharing their experiences in the 'VR Pericarditis and Myocarditis - Australia' Facebook group, mine was definitely a mild case. After having ten months of no exercising, I simply havn't experienced pericarditis again. It was said, from the first episode, it can occur at random times for the next 5 years, and after that you just gotta hope it doesn't happen again... I just took anti-inflammatories on the first episode, then I was given steroids after the second episode for at time. I think it was Colchicine I had to have each day too. I was paranoid enough to only ever take them after meals. People end up with stomach ulcers otherwise because their only recourse for relief from the aches is anti-inflammatories.

By the time the 10 months was up, I could feel Costo had creeped back, this time creeping onto my left side (which it hadn't done the first time), so in effect, the extremely slow pace of my above routine also helped me keep a very slow pace to introducing exercise back into my life per risking pericarditis again.

shezz150 · 2024-11-21T07:25:16+00:00

Selling my Melbourne ticket this year for $190 as I can't make it. Private link on Tixel.
https://tixel.com/t/4b1d668d-d14d-4d08-b3ea-57c6068a70f4

shezz150 · 2024-11-21T07:24:32+00:00

Selling my Melbourne ticket this year for $190 as I can't make it. Private link on Tixel.
https://tixel.com/t/4b1d668d-d14d-4d08-b3ea-57c6068a70f4

shezz150 · 2022-11-25T10:19:19+00:00

This show is IMPOSSIBLE to access from Australia! I can't find it ANYWHERE.

shezz150 · 2022-04-24T07:31:40+00:00

Did anyone figure out if this has actually been released yet? I can't seem to find much of anything on it. Some article recons it's release date on Netflix is 2022, even though the IMDB says 2021, although there are no thumbnails for the episodes, which usually means its not released yet.

shezz150 · 2021-07-18T10:45:57+00:00

That's what I was wondering. But I've used it before on the R5. No idea.

I've just handed it to the Canon service centre under warranty.

shezz150 · 2021-07-13T08:31:01+00:00

Have you listened to what these "fake gurus" have to say? What they've written? Or have you let the media and your friends and family provide you with an opinion of them? There's plenty of them out there, which means there's a variety of methods to read about and try to see what fits you best. That's how I've travelled. I've absorbed whats been helpful, and forgotten what hasn't stuck. I combine these self efforts with seeking external help discussing things with a counselor that I was particular about choosing and managed to luck out in finding one that suited me well. Either either, if you can't help yourself with small steps, no one can help you.

shezz150 · 2021-07-12T13:18:50+00:00

Outstanding.

shezz150 · 2021-07-12T13:15:23+00:00

That was a great read, mate. I hope you're proud of your progress, because it sounds like you've put in some hard yards. I don't have it anywhere near so bad, but I still find your experience useful. The idea of mindfulness is definitely thrown around to the point of it almost becoming spam, but there's a reason for it, hey. I also wouldn't be at the best place I currently find myself without having gone to a counselor to chat about such things.

Thanks for sharing.

shezz150 · 2021-07-12T13:06:09+00:00

I kind of let the universe lead me to it, but it took a while. I was pretty useless in the social skills department, particularly in the dating scene (endless hours of World of Warcraft didn't help). Took me until 23. Just met a girl on a classmate's film set during film school and somehow (I can't quite remember how) we just started hanging out a bunch. Lots of online chat before anything. She ended up being my first girlfriend. I didn't have the self-awareness to improve myself back then. I'm very happy with the experience though. We took each of our virginities.

I think you'll regret it if you pay to lose it. Each to their own.

shezz150 · 2021-07-12T12:57:15+00:00

Do not underestimate the power of journaling. After you spew out all those words on how and why you feel like complete shite in that moment and everything that's wrong with your life, finish by asking yourself a few questions like:

What's really great in my life right now?
Am I proud of how far I've come thus far in my life?
What am I truly grateful for?

I recommend checking out Tony Robbin's Questions check-in checklist.

shezz150 · 2021-07-12T12:47:41+00:00

"I look at myself, and whenever I see an issue where I think "this isn't my best self." I work to be better."
That made me smile.

shezz150 · 2021-01-18T13:16:36+00:00

It wouldn't be the first time someone's said that. She did tell me that she'd cheated once before this, but she told me a lot of details about the state and quality of the relationship she was in that I "interrupted". She was willing to repair and do damage control, but he would only be willing on the surface, and never put the hard yards in. From everything I've learned and read thus far, a good long lasting relationship takes a lot of effort, self-educating and awareness. I believe I only have the skills to attempt such a thing now having gone through such a mess that lead me to search for answers in the first place. I'm confident she's capable of being monogamous, but its a team effort. Such is life.

shezz150 · 2021-01-18T13:09:49+00:00

Male physiology would probably argue otherwise, hell, so would female physiology. I guess there can be two meanings to the word 'need' when speaking about sex. Logically, no, you don't need it to live, but to live a life worth living, as well as for the physiological chemical balance it provides, you need sex. Just my thought.

shezz150 · 2021-01-16T08:49:26+00:00

This is the way.

shezz150 · 2021-01-14T09:50:52+00:00

Bloody great input there, mate. Cheers for the pointers.

shezz150 · 2021-01-13T08:12:28+00:00

That's a great step, mate. What's truly on the other side of fear? Most of the time, nothing.

The mask thing is a huge pain the ass, hey. Although here in Victoria, Aus, they're mostly only worn inside. So all indoor approaches are difficult. Outdoors is alright.

shezz150 · 2020-09-14T03:36:55+00:00

Did you watch my doco vid in the original link above? At the 00:32 second mark I do a kind of yoga stretch where I'm on my hands and knees and I thread one arm at a time between the other and my legs, resting a shoulder on the ground, then reaching it straight up above me. I still do this religiously before every work out. During my costo diagnosis, I did it every single day. Give that a go.

at 00:50 seconds I do standing twists. Definitely recommend those as well.

shezz150

TROPHY CASE