Costochondritis refers to the condition in which the “hingelike” (costosternal) portion of the ribs becomes inflamed. This can cause severe chest wall pain and discomfort. This condition causes chest pain and can be difficult to diagnose. Pain associated with costochondritis mimics many symptoms of other conditions, and diagnosis of costochondritis can be difficult.
A chiropractor may be able to help with chest pain depending on the severity. Osteochondritis is a condition that can lead to severe pain. Osteochondritis, a condition that causes certain bones to crack inside the bone, is a type of joint disorder.
Some telltale costochondritis symptoms
Costochondritis patients often experience chest pain in their chest wall or to the breastbone sternum. Costochondritis directly affects their ribs. Inflammation of the chest can cause pain in the thoracic area of the chest wall, which could be mistaken for a heart attack.
The chest pain can often be located on the left side (breastbone) of the sternum, which is even more confusing. The pain can feel like you are experiencing heart failure.
The following symptoms may also be present:
- Difficulty in breathing (without feeling pain).
- It’s as if your chest is getting tighter
- Costochondritis can cause chest pain in the sternum by making it sore.
How do people develop costochondritis?
Costochondritis can be caused by many factors. A patient might have sustained trauma to their chest or breastbone sternum. Chest pain can be caused by a motor vehicle accident. The costosternal joint can be damaged by blunt force trauma to the chest wall and breastbone.
In some cases, costochondritis can also be linked to arthritis. This is particularly true if the patient has rheumatoid. Although it is common in the hands and feet, long-term inflammation can also affect other joints.
Costochondritis can sometimes be caused by a tumour in the costosternal joints.
What options are available for costochondritis treatments?
Doctors must run tests to identify the root cause of the chest pain before they can provide a treatment plan. These include blood tests, x-rays (chest x ray), and other scans. The majority of treatments include OTC or prescribed anti-inflammatory medication. Anti-anxiety medications may also be prescribed by doctors to manage costochondritis pain. Costochondritis can be managed with physical therapy.
Chiropractic care can help improve the pain of costochondritis. The chiropractic treatment may include gentle adjustments, soft tissue massage and mild adjustments. Both hot and cold treatments can be useful for costochondritis.
You may need to make lifestyle changes in order to properly treat your condition. To manage costochondritis, your chiropractor can recommend exercises you could do at home to relieve the pain.
It is important to get immediate medical attention if you experience any kind of chest pain or to the breastbone. A doctor can only diagnose the problem and rule out other conditions such as a heart attack after they have examined the patient.