Inflammation of the costal cartilages (Tietze's syndrome, costochondritis) can be manifested by pain when coughing or sneezing, and is usually caused by a blow to the chest or too intense exercise. Fortunately, it's a mild condition that wears off quickly. How to recognize and treat costal cartilage inflammation?

Costal cartilage inflammationis inflammation of one or more parts of the cartilaginous ribs (the ribs consist of the bony and cartilaginous parts responsible for the elasticity of the chest; the cartilage connects the ribs to the sternum) - as a rule, it concerns the second or third rib, but sometimes also the fourth and fifth rib. The disease mainly affects women over 40 and may vary in severity and course, from mild to severe. As it manifests itself as pain in the chest, sometimes radiating to the arms, it is sometimes confused with coronary artery disease or a heart attack. Alternatively, costal cartilage inflammation is called Tietze's syndrome.

Causes of costal cartilage inflammation

It is often difficult to pinpoint what led to the onset of inflammation. The most popular reasons include overworking, i.e. too intense physical exertion or some kind of chest injury. It can happen, for example, during team sports, in a car accident, or even as a result of a simple fall. Costal cartilage inflammation is also a complication of upper respiratory tract infections. The much rarer causes of this disease include neoplastic tumors of the sternocostal joint, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), osteitis.

Symptoms of costal cartilage inflammation

Costal cartilage inflammation manifests itself mainly in moments of change of body position. It can be:

  • pain during normal activities such as sitting down, standing up, bending down, dressing
  • pain when coughing or sneezing
  • pain when taking a deep breath
  • feeling of tightness in the chest
  • sensitivity of the sick place to touch
  • radiating pain to the arm or both arms, to the abdomen or back

Treatment of costal cartilage inflammation

To start therapy, in the firstthe order must be diagnosed. It is important to rule out other causes of pain, such as heart disease and pneumonia. Basic imaging tests, such as X-ray or ultrasound, are helpful in this. Costal cartilage inflammation is treated pharmacologically - with painkillers (paracetamol) and anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen), sometimes also with steroid injections. More severe cases may require the administration of opioids, such as hydrocodone, oxycodone. A sparing lifestyle is also recommended. It is recommended to limit physical activity and rest. Physiotherapy is very rarely involved. In many cases, however, costal cartilage inflammation resolves spontaneously.

Category:

Spine, bones, joints