Question
QUESTION: Hi i am 29 yrs old female and was recently diagnosed with costochondritis. My GP listened to my symtoms and listened to my chest and diagnosed me. He says it was either due to a recent chest infection i had or exercise injury.
I have looked up costochondritis on the net and the symptoms are not exactly like mine so i am concerned that my GP has made the wrong diagnosis perhaps??
The area that hurts was slightly tender when i pressed on it but nw 2 weeks later it is not really tender. The pain initially was there all the time it was a sharp pain but now it is less but it is now more of a dull pain. It gets worse when i bend over or walk up steep areas. At first twisting my upper bdy caused the pain to get worse.
Do my syptoms sound like costo?
It has been 2 weeks now and the pain is still there how long does it usually take to heal?
Is it possible to be costo even if the area is not that tender to touch??
Also is it possible to get costo if you exercise?
Thank you
S


ANSWER: Where exactly do you feel the dull pain now? It sounds likely that you do have costochondritis but I would need to know exactly where you are feeling the pain to suggest that. With costochondritis the pain usually starts out sharp and as time goes on turns to a dull and achy pain. Movement of your upper body will aggravate costrochondritis (when you are walking in steep areas, your body naturally bends forward to compensate for the angle you are walking on). It can take weeks or up to a year for the pain to go away depending on what sort of treatment you do. A chiropractic doctor or physiotherapist should be able to help with the pain.

It is possible to get costochondritis if you exercise. Repetitive minor trauma is the most common cause of costochondritis and that can be caused by working out incorrectly or because of your occupation. In some cases the cause is not known but most cases occur in women.

I would recommend that you start therapy including stretching exercises, light mobilizations, light muscle work and warm packs under the guidance of a Chiropractic doctor or a physiotherapist.

I hope this helps!

Dr. Liza

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Dr Liza
Thank you so much for the quick response.
The pain is located near my right braest. Sometimes i think it is in the breast bone area/sternum(around the 5th rib?)if i massage in this area it feels tender but sometimes i also feel it directly behind in my back.
The reason why i am so worried is i am an ex smoker used to smoke about 6-7 a day for abour 11-12 yrs and i think it is someting else causing the pain like lung cancer. I have mentioned it to my doctor but he thinks i'm just being over anxious.
I am surprised you said it can take that long for the pain to go as i have read in a website that it only lasts for a few days which is why i have been so worried.
I have no other symptoms at all just the pain in my chest.
Do my sypmtoms still sound like costochondritis?
Thank you
S

Answer
The 5th rib is one of the most common sites for costochondritis and sometimes it can refer pain to your mid-back region. Although lung cancer is a cause of chest pain, you would most likely also have other symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, unexplained weightloss or other symptoms that suggest lung cancer. Lung cancer would also change the sounds in your lung which is what your doctor was listening for.

I understand your worry due to your history of smoking but if the chest pain is your only symptom and your doctor has already listened to your lungs, you most likely have costochondritis. I would also recommend that you see your doctor in a couple of weeks so that he/she can listen to your heart and lungs and confirm your previous diagnosis.

If you are still have concerns after your follow-up visit, you can also ask your doctor for chest x-rays which can determine if there is lung pathology.

Here is a link for reliable information on Costochondritis:

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/costochondritis/article_em.htm

Take care,

Dr. Liza