Costochondritis: Should You be Always Worried About Chest Pain?

When pain in the middle of the chest arises, this might be a sign of alert for many people. However, in the case of costochondritis, there is no reason to alarm. Due to its similarity to the signs of a heart attack, costochondritis poses no real threat to our physical health.

Costochondritis is characterized by the presence of an uncomfortable sensation of pain in the sternum, which is the breastbone, located in the middle of the chest, this is where the upper ribs connect. Often, this pain can intensify while carrying out movements that involve pressing the chest such as coughing or taking deep breaths.

The sternum, alongside the other bones and cartilages in the ribcage, has the role of protecting the organs in the torso. This, while connecting to the rest of the skeleton providing support for the upper extremities.

To diagnose costochondritis, the doctor will examine the chest to identify what kind of pain the patient has. Even though there are no clear causes for this pain, in some cases the pain could be related to other conditions such as injuries, infections, rheumatoid arthritis, tumors, respiratory conditions, or others.  There are no exams to diagnose costochondritis which is why the doctor’s observation will be key. Especially, taking into consideration that any kind of pain around this area could be an important sign of an urgent issue.

If costochondritis is diagnosed, generally the cause will be unknown but some common factors that can make this pain appear are related to working out, doing any kind of movement with the chest, or any other minor physical trauma in this area.

Treatment and Prevention

There is not a specific treatment to recover from this discomfort. This pain can go away without requiring any medication or therapy, it can last for a few days and in some cases, it could stay for a few weeks or longer. Here are some tips that can be taken into consideration to help alleviate it:

• Trying to avoid activities or movements that can intensify the pain.
• Taking pain killers or anti-inflammatory medications can help to reduce the discomfort.
• Placing a stoppered container or a warm towel to warm up the area can offer a sensation of relief too. In the same way, applying ice covered in a towel or in any other softcover can be relieving.
• Trying to rest as much as possible can also contribute to a quick recovery. In specific, patients must avoid practicing contact sports, exercising, or any other kind of activity that stresses the affected area.
• In the case of costochondritis caused by infections, the doctor will usually prescript antibiotics.

In the case of prevention, there are not any specific methods either, but doing stretching exercises can always be beneficial to keep body tissues healthy.

Orthopedic Corner | Leon Mead MD Orthopedic Doctor | 730 Goodlette Road North, Suite 201  Naples Florida 34102 | Phone: (239) 262-1119