What Can Costochondritis Be Mistaken For?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  • arthritis of the shoulder or nearby joints.
  • chest wall infections or cancer.
  • fibromyalgia, a condition that causes nerve pain.
  • slipping rib syndrome, when there is too much mobility in the cartilage supporting the ribs.

Does costochondritis show on MRI?

While

there is no laboratory or imaging test

to confirm a diagnosis of costochondritis, your doctor might order certain tests — such as an electrocardiograph, X-ray, CT or MRI — to rule out other conditions.

Can costochondritis be a symptom of something else?

Costochondritis can sometimes be a sign of

osteoarthritis

, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or other conditions that affect your cartilage. Tumors. These can move from joints and other parts of your body and settle in your chest.

What feels like costochondritis?

Most people describe the pain as

sharp, achy, and pressure-like

. It usually gets worse if you breathe deeply or move your upper body. When you press on your chest, it feels tender and painful.

Where does it hurt when you have costochondritis?

Costochondritis most commonly affects

the upper ribs on the left-hand side

of your body. Pain is often worst where the rib cartilage attaches to the breastbone (sternum), but it can also occur where the cartilage attaches to the rib.

Why won’t my costochondritis go away?

Long-term pain caused by costochondritis can be debilitating if untreated. Normally,

treatment of the inflammation and pain causes costochondritis

to eventually go away on its own. If you have chronic costochondritis, the pain may return — even with treatment — when you exercise or engage in certain activities.

Does Vitamin D Help costochondritis?

Vitamin D deficiency is known to cause hypertrophic costochondral junctions in children (“rachitic rosaries”) and sternal pain with adults diagnosed with osteomalacia. We propose that vitamin D deficiency

may be related to the chest pain associated with costochondritis

.

Can pain from costochondritis come and go?

Costochondritis causes pain in the area where your sternum joins with your ribs. The

pain may come and go

, and may get worse over time. The pain may be sharp, or dull and aching. It may be painful to touch your chest.

Why do I keep getting costochondritis?

Causes of costochondritis


severe coughing

, which strains your chest area. an injury to your chest. physical strain from repeated exercise or sudden exertion you’re not used to, such as moving furniture. an infection, including respiratory tract infections and wound infections.

What doctor can diagnose costochondritis?


Primary care doctors

, including family medicine doctors, general practitioners, and internists, as well as rheumatologists (medical specialists in musculoskeletal disease and systemic autoimmune conditions) and orthopedists (medical specialists in disorders of the musculoskeletal system) are all health care …

How should you sleep with costochondritis?

Other than taking medications for pain and inflammation, what I find helps is not to sleep on the side affected, and try not to sleep on back or stomach. When

sleeping on other side prop up your ribs with a pillow

this will give them support throughout the night.

Can anxiety cause costochondritis?

Although

there is no confirmed link between anxiety or stress and costochondritis

, these emotional states may be to blame for other underlying causes of chest pain. People who have panic disorder often report shortness of breath and chest pain as symptoms.

Can I get disability for costochondritis?

Medical conditions like costochondritis and Tietze syndrome can be severe enough to qualify a

veteran for disability

benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Can costochondritis hurt on right side?

Costochondritis

Chest pain is one of the main symptoms of costochondritis. This condition happens when your rib cage cartilage becomes inflamed. The pain can be severe or mild. Although the pain is typically felt on the left side of your chest,

it may also occur on the right side

.

Can costochondritis be felt in the back?

It is usually located on the front of the chest, but

can radiate to the back, abdomen, arm or shoulder

. The pain usually occurs on only one side of the chest, most commonly the left, but can affect both sides of the chest at the same time. Symptoms of costochondritis usually last for between one and three weeks.

What does chest feel like with Covid?

Most people with COVID-19 have a

dry cough

they can feel in their chest.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.