11-05-2017, 06:56 AM
I suffered a crushing chest injury back in 1982, and it led to a case of costochondritis. That's an inflammation of the cartilage that attaches the ribs to the breastbone. When it flares up, you get pain every time you draw a breath because the rib cage expands and stretches the damaged cartilage. The condition is known to last a lifetime because the cartilage never really heals. I happened to be at the doctor in 2007, for an unrelated issue, and he asked me if I have ever used Clonazepam for the costochondritis. I was shocked. At that time, I had used it a few times in the past for anxiety, but never for anything physical. He explained to me that it is probably the one drug that successfully relaxes the muscles in the chest and that he thought it could give me some relief. He said that it had been used in sports medicine, off label, for decades. He gave me a script for 45, with 3 refills (1mg size). He had no worries about potential habituation issues. He asked me about it during the next visit (6 months later). When I told him how well it was working, he threw me another 45, with 3 refills. This went on for nearly 3 years, until my doc left the business and became a med school professor. All this to say that I try never to forget that there are off-label uses for Clonazepam and other anxiolytic's and also for AD's. If you find the right doctor, preferably on Orthopedist, or Physical Medicine specialist...you may walk out with a script. You can not actually see costochondritis with your eyes, or with imaging....if you get what I am saying. A doctor just takes your word for it. If you have a legit need for Clonazepam and your benzophobic doc doesn't agree, you may just be able to get one by switching docs and developing costochondritis. 'Nuff said.