Post by TishArby on Apr 8, 2002 11:58:32 GMT -5
Disclaimer:
The purpose of our World Wide Web site is to provide information about Costochondritis. The site maintainers are volunteers and have no medical credentials: therefore, there is no medical advice at this site. Medical advice should be obtained only from your licensed physician. None of the information or links at this site are warranted for accuracy, reliability, timeliness, completeness, or anything else; read and consult your licensed physician for medical advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is costochondritis?
cost= rib, chond = cartilage, itis = inflammation
Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage that attaches the ribs to the breastbone
How do you get costochnodritis?
Costochondritis may be caused by trauma, such as bumping the rib cage; as a result of a viral infection; or as part of an inflammatory disease process. Usually the cause is unknown
Does it go away?
For most people, it goes away in six months to a year; however, for some people it remains a chronic condition. Note the costochondritis is most painful in the early stages; the pain does lessen after awhile!
What does costochondritis feel like?
Costo is an inflammation of the rib cartilage, and is sometimes diagnosed by pushing on the sternum, (area at the top where your ribs join) or by pushing on any sore spot on your ribs. Either should cause intense pain. *However*, not everyone with CC will respond like that.
In the beginning, costo is usually worse,it feels like there is an elephant sitting on your chest, it hurts to breathe, ribs hurt all over with intermittent sharp, stabbing pains, and usually a few "sore spots" on your ribs, that you would faint if someone poked you there. You might also feel like you are having a heart attack. Eventually, it might go down to a dull, but constant ache, or simply the feeling of sore ribs. It hurts to wear a bra, and different motions, like picking a child up from the floor, can cause a flare up, with intense pain. When it is a chronic condition, it tends to wax and wane, come and go. It might be better for a while, then you will reach for something in the wrong position and bam!, it is right back again.
It feels like I am having a heart attack, what causes this?
When there is that much inflammation and swelling in one area there is no room for more swelling- the nerves are over reactive and the muscles turn into tight knots - this causes the feeling of having a heart attack. You have all of the muscles and nerves running between the ribs themselves, then you also have your chest muscles that are tightening and swollen. With one on top of your heart and the others on the bottom, there is going to be a heart attack feeling ( You only have so much room). However, cardiac symptoms cannot be ignored, and must be ruled out first!
I am having trouble breathing- does this affect my lungs?
Costochondritis is simply the swelling of the joints and has absolutely nothing to do with your lungs and will not hurt them. When the body is hurt, it automatically keeps everything away from the injured area so that it can heal. Which is the case with costochondritis - there is the swelling - the body is in fact telling the lung not to expand completely, allowing you that deep breath, due to the fact that when the lungs expand they press up against the joints where the ribs meet the breastbone. So our body is trying to heal itself but in doing so it doesn't allow us to breath properly.
The purpose of our World Wide Web site is to provide information about Costochondritis. The site maintainers are volunteers and have no medical credentials: therefore, there is no medical advice at this site. Medical advice should be obtained only from your licensed physician. None of the information or links at this site are warranted for accuracy, reliability, timeliness, completeness, or anything else; read and consult your licensed physician for medical advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is costochondritis?
cost= rib, chond = cartilage, itis = inflammation
Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage that attaches the ribs to the breastbone
How do you get costochnodritis?
Costochondritis may be caused by trauma, such as bumping the rib cage; as a result of a viral infection; or as part of an inflammatory disease process. Usually the cause is unknown
Does it go away?
For most people, it goes away in six months to a year; however, for some people it remains a chronic condition. Note the costochondritis is most painful in the early stages; the pain does lessen after awhile!
What does costochondritis feel like?
Costo is an inflammation of the rib cartilage, and is sometimes diagnosed by pushing on the sternum, (area at the top where your ribs join) or by pushing on any sore spot on your ribs. Either should cause intense pain. *However*, not everyone with CC will respond like that.
In the beginning, costo is usually worse,it feels like there is an elephant sitting on your chest, it hurts to breathe, ribs hurt all over with intermittent sharp, stabbing pains, and usually a few "sore spots" on your ribs, that you would faint if someone poked you there. You might also feel like you are having a heart attack. Eventually, it might go down to a dull, but constant ache, or simply the feeling of sore ribs. It hurts to wear a bra, and different motions, like picking a child up from the floor, can cause a flare up, with intense pain. When it is a chronic condition, it tends to wax and wane, come and go. It might be better for a while, then you will reach for something in the wrong position and bam!, it is right back again.
It feels like I am having a heart attack, what causes this?
When there is that much inflammation and swelling in one area there is no room for more swelling- the nerves are over reactive and the muscles turn into tight knots - this causes the feeling of having a heart attack. You have all of the muscles and nerves running between the ribs themselves, then you also have your chest muscles that are tightening and swollen. With one on top of your heart and the others on the bottom, there is going to be a heart attack feeling ( You only have so much room). However, cardiac symptoms cannot be ignored, and must be ruled out first!
I am having trouble breathing- does this affect my lungs?
Costochondritis is simply the swelling of the joints and has absolutely nothing to do with your lungs and will not hurt them. When the body is hurt, it automatically keeps everything away from the injured area so that it can heal. Which is the case with costochondritis - there is the swelling - the body is in fact telling the lung not to expand completely, allowing you that deep breath, due to the fact that when the lungs expand they press up against the joints where the ribs meet the breastbone. So our body is trying to heal itself but in doing so it doesn't allow us to breath properly.
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