Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects the sternum and ribs, according to Pannochka, an online publication for girls and women aged 14 to 35.. net This condition is also known as costosternal syndrome..

Pain caused by costochondritis may resemble pain from a myocardial infarction or other heart disease.

Your doctor may use other terms to refer to costochondritis.. Costochondritis should be distinguished from Tietze's syndrome, which is characterized by swelling in the area of \u200b\u200bthe affected cartilage.

In most cases, costochondritis has no apparent cause.. In these cases, treatment is focused on relieving pain, and sometimes the costochondritis resolves on its own..

Causes of costochondritis and risk factors.

In most cases, the cause of costochondritis remains unknown..

Sometimes costochondritis can be the result of such diseases:.

• Arthritis. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis associated with costochondritis in some people.

• Joint infection. Viral, bacterial, and fungal (aspergillus) joint infections can cause costochondritis.

• Tumors. Benign, primary malignant tumors or metastases can also cause costochondritis.

• Physical effort. Heavy lifting, as well as severe coughing, may be associated with costosternal syndrome.

• Trauma. A blow to the chest is one of the common causes of costochondritis..

Risk factors for costochondritis include female gender and age over 40.. By comparison, Tietze's syndrome is more common in people under 40.. Some patients with costochondritis also have depression and irritability, which aggravate chest pain..

Symptoms of costochondritis.

The pain associated with costochondritis is most often:.

• Occurs to the left of the sternum.

• Captures multiple edges at once.

• Worse when taking a deep breath and coughing.

When to See a Doctor?

If you experience chest pain, you should seek immediate medical attention.. In this case, it is important to exclude potentially dangerous conditions, such as myocardial infarction..

Diagnosis of costochondritis.

During the examination, the doctor will palpate the area along the sternum to identify areas of swelling and tenderness.. To rule out myocardial infarction and other diseases that give similar symptoms, the doctor may order a chest x-ray, electrocardiography, and other tests.. There is no specific test to diagnose costochondritis..

Treatment of costochondritis.

Costochondritis can go away on its own, but in some cases it can bother patients for a long time.. Treatment for costochondritis is aimed at relieving the symptoms..

Medical treatment:.

• OTC painkillers. You can use over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain relief.. These include ibuprofen, naproxen and preparations based on them..

• Prescription painkillers. The doctor, after examining you and reading your medical history, may prescribe stronger drugs. But they are associated with a greater risk of side effects.. Prescription NSAIDs include drugs based on diclofenac, nimesulide, etc.. In the United States, for example, narcotic analgesics such as oxycodone are often prescribed..

• Other drugs. Sometimes, with costosternal syndrome, the antiepileptic drug gabapentin (Tebantin) is prescribed, which is good for peripheral pain.. Tricyclic antidepressants may be prescribed to control pain.

• Ointments containing corticosteroids, as well as applications with local anesthetics, can be applied externally.. Corticosteroids in this case have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect..

Other therapies include exercise therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), manual therapy, reflexology, and intra-articular corticosteroid injections.. To alleviate the condition, it is worth abandoning excessive loads and resting..

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