People with costochondritis often experience chest pain in the upper and middle rib area on either side of the breastbone. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment. The most common symptoms of costochondritis are pain and tenderness in the chest. Conventional costochondritis treatment and natural remedies may work well together, too. Traditional practice is to treat with acetaminophen or anti-inflammatory medications where safe and appropriate, advise patients to avoid activities that produce chest muscle overuse, and provide reassurance. Costochondritis affects females more often than males (70% versus 30%). Some antidepressants or anti-seizure medications can also be effective in managing chronic pain. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. Get plenty of healthy fats via walnuts, fatty fish (such as salmon or mackerel) and olive oil or coconut oil. This Dr. Axe content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure factually accurate information. She may request x-rays, CT scans, an MRI, or an electrocardiograph. Common locations are the fourth, fifth, and sixth ribs. Costochondritis: Diagnosis and treatment. These depend on the severity of your pain and may include: (4). Pain that is reproduced by palpation of the typically affected areas suggests costochondritis, but depends on the exclusion of underlying causes (Table 21,2,7,8,12,16-20). are clickable links to medically peer-reviewed studies. The peak age for the condition is 12-14 years . This can ease pain and relieve inflammation. In general, costochondritis can have very distressing and sometimes debilitating symptoms, but it is not considered a medically serious condition. Electrocardiography and chest radiography are recommended for patients suspected of having costochondritis who are older than 35 years or for any patient with signs and symptoms of coronary artery disease, infection, or other serious conditions. Anxiety chest pain can be a symptom of. A surgery that removes cartilage is called a chondrectomy. The effect of upper extremity movement on pain should also be noted, because moving the arm on the affected side will usually cause pain.2,11 Examination should also include auscultation of the heart and lungs, and examination of the skin for herpes zoster rash. Always seek immediate emergency care when you have abnormal and debilitating pain in your chest. Last medically reviewed on August 6, 2017, Fibromyalgia causes widespread pain and tenderness. Costochondritis, also called chest wall pain, costosternal syndrome, or costosternal chondrodynia, occurs when the cartilage between a rib and the breastbone (sternum) becomes inflamed and swollen. Rarely is physical therapy or combined lidocaine (Xylocaine)/corticosteroid injections of the costochondral joints needed. For TENS therapy, a small device sends weak electrical current to try to interrupt or mask the pain signals your body sends your brain. Symptoms include chest pain, swelling and tenderness near your ribs. Your healthcare provider will make a diagnosis of costochondritis based on your symptoms and their physical findings. Pain is often worst where the rib cartilage attaches to the breastbone (sternum), but it can also occur where the cartilage attaches to the rib. If a person is having chest pain, they should not try to determine for themselves if it is a heart-related issue or costochondritis. Patients older than 35 years, those with a history or risk of coronary artery disease, and patients with cardio-pulmonary symptoms should have electrocardiography and, possibly, chest radiography. Treatment of costochondritis consists of analgesia, rest, and reassurance. Sometimes it can return again after it heals. In these cases, you may need to seek long-term care to make sure that costochondritis doesnt affect your quality of life and ability to take part in daily activities. The condition does not usually last longer than one year. Chest wall pain: Costochondritis. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If costochondritis happens because of an infection after surgery, youll have redness, swelling, or pus discharge at the site of the surgery. Arthritis. However, swelling caused by Tietzes syndrome may be mistaken for cancer in some cases, or vice versa. If you have severe chest pain, you should go to the emergency department for treatment. You may also be at a higher risk for this condition if you: While theres no test to diagnose costochondritis, your doctor will most likely ask a series of questions and do a series of tests to determine the source of your chest pain. The pain may be sharp, or dull and aching. Costochondritis is a common condition seen in patients presenting to the physician's office and emergency department.1-4 It is also known as costosternal syndrome, parasternal chondrodynia, or anterior chest wall syndrome. Many times, diagnosing costochondritis is a matter of eliminating other possible, more serious causes. Talk to your doctor before using these medications, even over-the-counter medications, if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, or are prone to stomach ulcers or internal bleeding. There are ways you can help reduce symptoms of your costochondritis at home. Board Certified Pulmonologist. But any chest pain in adults should be taken seriously, so you should be examined and tested for heart disease. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis can cause chest pain. This knowledge will help your doctor tailor your pain management plan to what is right for you. Signs of infection such as redness, pus, and increased swelling at the rib joints, High fever that doesnt get better with fever reducers such as, Signs of infection at the tender spot, such as pus, redness, increased pain, and swelling, Persistent chest pain of any type when you also have. The pain may be sharp, or dull and aching. These include tennis, baseball, golf, basketball, and karate. Two differences between them are: Both costochondritis and COVID-19 cause chest pain. A rare condition called Tietze syndrome is often referred to as costochondritis, but the two are distinct conditions. When the costochondral joint becomes inflamed it can result in sharp chest pain and tenderness, which may develop gradually or start suddenly. The inflammation can cause swelling that becomes hard and spindle shaped. Other medical conditions that may closely resemble costochondritis include: A physical examination to detect tenderness of the cartilage to the touch may also be performed. You've helped. Its common for the chest pain to be misinterpreted as a heart attack. Tietze syndrome pain may: come on suddenly or gradually feel. Costochondritis is a harmless swelling (inflammation) of cartilage in your chest. However, some people have symptoms for up to a year. Chronic cases can last for weeks or more, but most cases dont last any longer than a year. Symptoms The pain associated with costochondritis usually: Occurs on the left side of your breastbone Is sharp, aching or pressure-like Affects more than one rib Can radiate to arms and shoulders Worsens when taking a deep breath, coughing, sneezing or with any chest wall movement When to see a doctor Diet doesnt prevent costochondritis. Cartilage is the tough, bendable tissue that protects your bones. Costochondritis is a harmless swelling (inflammation) of cartilage in your chest. Take good care of yourself and get enough rest until your symptoms go away. The condition may also be called chest wall pain, costosternal syndrome or costochondrondynia. It is also possible that TENS boosts your production of endorphins your bodys own natural painkillers. But they could also be a sign of something more serious, like pneumonia, bronchitis, or, Pain in the left side of your chest may be caused by an underlying heart, digestive, or lung condition, or it could be a symptom of an injury or panic. Costochondritis is a short-term swelling of the cartilage. Its vital to get the right diagnosis so you can receive the best treatment. Arthritis in the joint. Surgery for costochondritis is rare. It can happen after straining, coughing, or weightlifting. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Seek immediate medical care if youre experiencing persistent, intense chest pain. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Costochondritis Symptoms When your costochondral joint becomes inflamed, it results in chest pain and tenderness. A seizure that lasts longer than three to five minutes. There are also things you can do at home to manage the pain, like taking over-the-counter pain relievers. Kids who often carry heavy book bags over one shoulder can be more likely to develop costochondritis. In other cases there may be no clear cause. The chest pain associated with costochondritis can be a symptom of fibromyalgia. Other common symptoms include: Tenderness Swelling Difficulty taking a deep breath Pain in the shoulders or back Headaches Joint pain Dry cough Fever Causes and Risk Factors Chest wall infections can occur in both men and women, and in patients of any age. These include: 2 1 Sharp or aching pain or pressure that may radiate or move to the back or stomach Pain that can be sudden and spread across the chest (some may think it's a heart attack) The sternum (the breastbone in the middle of the ribs) is tender to touch Your healthcare provider will ask you about your signs and symptoms. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. We avoid using tertiary references. It usually takes a few days to a few weeks for costochondritis to resolve, but some people have symptoms for up to a year. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. It causes heartburn, chest pain and acid indigestion. Is ice or heat better for costochondritis? Its not permanent or harmful pain. Particularly good options include berries, grapes, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, pineapple, bok choy, cherries, avocadoes, broccoli, peppers, mushrooms and beets. Summary. The chest pain may be intermittent and precipitated by exertion. It may get worse when you move, breathe deeply, or push or lift an object. Copyright 2023 American Academy of Family Physicians. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All rights reserved. Discrete areas of tenderness can be better localized by palpation with a single digit. Dirty Dozen List: Are You Eating the Most Pesticide-Laden Produce? The article is easy to understand. Concentrate on opening your chest and letting your shoulders roll back. No, costochondritis isnt contagious. Chest pain on your right side can be caused by muscle strain, heartburn, or another underlying condition. If you take these for a long period of time you must be observed by a doctor because they can harm your stomach and kidneys. Some types of exercise can aggravate this condition, including rowing and weightlifting. [1] Although pain reproduced by chest wall palpation is considered atypical for a cardiac cause, it does not exclude it. Seek medical attention immediately if you experience chest pain while performing any of these activities. Options include: Sternum pain can be very persistent. The condition is fairly common, affecting about 200,000 people per year in the U.S. If you do, however, you can take steps to improve the situation that has caused your condition. The pain may be so severe that the person feels they are having a heart attack. When you experience pain under the left breast, it can have a variety of causes. This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by our trained editorial staff. Costochondritis. Impingement of these nerves by movement of the overlying rib or cartilage can cause pain.12 The shoulder girdle muscles develop in the lower cervical region and carry this innervation with them as they move to attach to the chest wall. 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