What is costochondritis?
Costochondritis is an inflammation of the costochondral or cost sternal joint i.e. junction where upper ribs join with the cartilage which holds them to the sternum (breastbone), resulting in pushing cartilage in the front of the ribcage.
What are the causes of costochondritis?
In most cases, there is no apparent cause, but in few cases, causes reported are as following:
• Stress.
• Strenuous exercises
• Sudden trauma to the chest
• Viral respiratory infection
• Bacterial infection in few cases
• Fibromyalgia
• Surgery of upper chest.
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Arthritis
• Overuse injury in athletes.
• Joints infection (tuberculosis, syphilis)
What are the symptoms of costochondritis?
• Sharp pain located on the front of chest, may radiate back or abdomen.
• Pain over the fourth to sixth ribs.
• Pain from coughing
• Tenderness
• Anxiety due to chest pain
• Difficulty moving trunk or breathing.
• High fever
• Nausea, vomiting
• Sweating
• Inflammation accompanied by redness, swelling or pus discharge.
Is costochondritis serious?
Costochondritis is not a serious disorder. Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage of the rib cage. It usually affects the upper ribs near the top of the breastbone. It may result into great anxiety, since the intense chest pain can be mistaken for that of a heart attack.
Can you exercise with costochondritis?
Costochondritis condition can improve with the right exercise program. If a person is suffering from costochondritis avoid strenuous exercise and exercises that will put too much pressure on muscles in the inflamed area.
Does costochondritis get worse at night?
There are several different causes of rib pain. The pain from both costochondritis and strained muscles of the ribcage usually worse at night. This is because the rib cage is ‘compressed’ by lying in bed, which puts pressure on the sensitive areas. Some other activities that tend to cause worse pain like deep breaths.
Does costochondritis get worse when lying down?
The pain from both costochondritis and strained muscles of the ribcage usually worse at night. This is because the rib cage is ’compressed’ by lying in bed, which puts pressure on the sensitive areas. Other activities that tend to cause worse pain like deep breaths.
What are homeopathic medicines for Costochondritis?
• Ranunculus bulbosus
• Bryonia alba
• Arnica Montana
• Oleander-Nerium odorum
