Costochondritis – Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis
Doctors usually start by pressing on your chest, checking for pain, tenderness, or swelling near the breastbone or costal cartilage. Sometimes, they’ll gently move your arms or rib cage to see if that triggers your symptoms.
Because costochondritis can feel a lot like other chest pain issues—think heart, lung, or stomach problems—they often order tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or a chest X-ray to make sure nothing more serious is going on.
There’s no single test that proves you have costochondritis, so doctors mostly rely on your symptoms and what they find during the exam.
Common checks during diagnosis:
- Tenderness on the chest wall
- Swelling (rare in costochondritis; more common in Tietze’s syndrome)
- Chest pain that gets worse with movement or touch
Related conditions to rule out:
| Condition | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| Heart disease | Doesn’t usually hurt to touch |
| Tietze’s syndrome | Causes swelling at the joint |
| Slipping rib syndrome | Linked to rib movement |
| Osteoarthritis | Affects other joints too |
Treatment
Medicines Used for Relief
Plenty of people start with over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen. These meds cut down swelling and ease discomfort. Just a heads up—if you use NSAIDs for a long time, they can bother your stomach or kidneys.
If pain gets worse, your provider might prescribe a prescription pain reliever from the opioid analgesic class, but these can be habit-forming and are used with caution.
Sometimes, doctors turn to other meds—tricyclic antidepressants or anti-seizure drugs—especially if pain drags on or messes with your sleep.
Helpful Physical Methods
Physical therapy often plays a big part here. You might do gentle stretches to loosen up your chest muscles and help you move better.
Some people try a TENS device, which sends weak electrical signals to your skin and can change how your brain feels pain. Stretching and nerve stimulation together can make everyday movement less painful.
Direct Treatments and Joint Injections
If nothing else seems to help, doctors sometimes inject a mix of numbing medicine and prescription corticosteroid right into the sore joint.
This goes straight to the source, tackling pain and swelling. Surgery almost never comes up—it’s really a last resort.
Taking Care at Home
You can take a few simple steps to feel better if you’re dealing with costochondritis. Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen sodium can help you manage pain.
Try using a heating pad or warm compress on the sore spot a few times a day—just keep it on low. Some folks get relief with topical creams or sprays that have numbing or anti-inflammatory stuff in them.
Gentle stretching exercises might help with stiffness, but don’t push it if they make things worse. Rest matters during flare-ups. Tweaking your daily habits can make symptoms easier to handle while you heal.
Getting Ready for Your Visit
Bringing a friend or family member along can help you remember what the doctor says. It might also make you feel a bit more at ease.
Try to show up a few minutes early so you have time to check in.
Helpful Things to Write Down
- All symptoms (even if they seem unrelated), and when they started
- Medical history (other conditions, past injuries, recent fevers, or infections)
- Major life events (stress, changes at work or home)
- Medications (list every prescription, over-the-counter drug, vitamin, and supplement with dosages)
Smart Questions for Your Healthcare Provider
- What could be causing my pain or discomfort?
- Are there any tests I should get?
- What home remedies might help?
- Should I avoid any activities, including exercise?
- Which new symptoms (like fever or trouble breathing) should I watch for?
- When might I start feeling better?
- I have other health problems—how can I manage those too?
Don’t hesitate to add your own questions or concerns during the visit.
What Your Doctor Might Ask
The provider from Healthnile might ask a few things:
- Has the pain gotten worse over time?
- Where exactly do you feel pain or tenderness?
They might also ask if exercise or activity makes it worse. Have you had any recent illnesses, especially with fever or cough?
They could check if you’ve had any injuries to your chest. Has anyone in your family had heart problems or similar symptoms?
You might get questions about trouble breathing or any other unusual changes you’ve noticed.
