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What is costochondritis? — Costochondritis is a condition that causes pain and tenderness in your chest. The pain happens in an area called the costosternal joints, where the ribs meet the breastbone (figure 1). The pain from costochondritis affects only a small area and does not always get worse when you move around.
What causes costochondritis? — Most of the time, doctors don't know why people get costochondritis. But in some people, it might be caused by:
●A blow to the chest
●Heavy lifting or hard exercise
●An illness that causes you to cough and sneeze
What are the symptoms of costochondritis? — The symptoms include:
●Pain and tenderness in the chest – The pain can be sharp, or it might be dull and gnawing
●Pain when you take a deep breath
●Pain when you cough
Is there a test for costochondritis? — No. There is no test. But your doctor or nurse should be able to tell if you have it by learning about your symptoms and doing an exam. Sometimes, they might do other tests to make sure you do not have a different problem.
How is costochondritis treated? — Costochondritis usually goes away without any treatment. But there are things that can help you feel better sooner. Some people feel better if they:
●Do stretching exercises
●Put a heating pad on the painful area a few times a day.
Some over-the-counter medicines can also help ease pain, including:
●Pain-relieving creams that have capsaicin or salicylates in them
●Patches, creams, or gels that contain a numbing medicine called lidocaine
●Pain-relieving pills such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol) or ibuprofen (sample brand name: Advil)
●1% diclofenac gel (brand name: Voltaren)
Sometimes, your doctor might also prescribe medicines that ease pain, including:
●Cyclobenzaprine (sample brand name: Flexeril)
●Amitriptyline (sample brand name: Elavil)
