What do you need to know about costochondritis?

What do you need to know about costochondritis?

Patient information: See related handout on costochondritis, written by the authors of this article. Costochondritis, an inflammation of costochondral junctions of ribs or chondrosternal joints of the anterior chest wall, is a common condition seen in patients presenting to the physician’s office and emergency department.

What causes swelling in the chest with costochondritis?

Costochondritis is sometimes known as chest wall pain, costosternal syndrome or costosternal chondrodynia. Sometimes, swelling accompanies the pain (Tietze syndrome). Costochondritis usually has no apparent cause.

How to tell if you have costochondritis or Tietze syndrome?

The doctor will seek to reproduce tenderness over the affected rib joints, usually over the fourth to sixth ribs in costochondritis, and over the second to third ribs in Tietze syndrome. In costochondritis with unknown causes, there is no significant swelling of costochondral joints.

Are there any natural remedies for chronic costochondritis?

In severe cases or chronic costochondritis, numbing medicine or corticosteroids may be injected directly into the painful rib joints. This can ease pain and relieve inflammation. Costochondritis treatment plans may also include recommendations for physical therapy and rest. Costochondritis relief is possible.

How is PRP used to treat costochondritis?

PRP treatment for Costochondritis The use of precise image guided injections of PRP is a new treatment for Costochondritis. PRP stands for Platelet Rich Plasma. PRP consist of growth factors isolated from your own blood.

What’s the difference between pleuritis and costochondritis?

Although the symptoms are similar, the affected region is different. While in costochondritis the pain comes almost exclusively from the costochondral region, in pleuritis the pain may encompass almost the entire rib cage depending on the course of the disease.