Question 1

is costochondritis contagious?

Accepted Answer

Not contagious: Costochondritis refers to inflammation of the cartilage of the ribs. This will cause a reproducible pain when you press on the affected area and when you breathe in and out. It can because by both infectious and noninfectious events. However, this  condition is  not contagious.

Question 2

is costochondritis dangerous?

Accepted Answer

Not life-threatening: Costochondritis is caused by inflammation of the cartilage of the chest wall. Symptoms include chest wall pain that is reproducible by touching the area on the chest. It also typically hurts to take a deep breath, cough, etc. Treatment with antiinflammatory medications like ibuprofen and heat to the area decreases symptoms until the inflammation resolves. See your doctor to confirm the diagnosis.

Question 3

how is costochondritis detected?

Accepted Answer

Push on ribs: If the doctor pushes on the ribs or sternum and it reproduces pain, it's likely costochondritis.

Question 4

are there any meds for costochondritis?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Any antiinflammatory like nsaids( Ibuprofen or naprosyn (naproxen) like meds) will help. Remember to use the smallest possible dosis for the shortest period of time protecting your stomach with food, antacids, h2blockers ( zantac) or ppis (prilosec).

Question 5

what sort of disease is costochondritis?

Accepted Answer

Costochondritis: Is a frustrating, not serious, not lifethreatening sharp chest pain that is worse with deep inspiration, cough, or movement. Your muscles between your ribs and near breast bone are strained. Indomethacin is a good medication for this.

Question 6

does costochondritis need to be treated?

Accepted Answer

Yes: For pain and some swelling, it is self limited disease.

Question 7

what are the symptoms of costochondritis?

Accepted Answer

Pain: Symptoms include pain in the chest wall. Classically, the pain improves with aspirin. Signs include exquisite tenderness over the chest wall where the ribs and breastplate join together.

Question 8

is costochondritis considered a disability?

Accepted Answer

No: Disability means a person cannot do something that a person (without a particular illness or problem) can do. Costochondritis is not a disability because a person with costochondritis can still do many or most of the things that people without costochondritis can do. However, one can be disabled in one's own profession... which means that costochondritis may be a disability for a trumpet player.

Question 9

what would cause recurring costochondritis?

Accepted Answer

Previous ones: Recurring costochondritis may occur due to the fact that there is a "weak" spot in your rib that had already been inflamed previously. It tends to be prone to subsequent injuries easier than the rest of the ribs.

Question 10

what is costochondritis and what are the symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Inflammation => pain: Any -itis means inflammation of that structure, so sinusitis & appendicitis mean inflammation of sinuses & appendix, respectively. Therefore, costochondritis is painful inflammation of costochondral junctions, joint btwn rib & cartilage of sternum (breast bone). Check out http://www.Mayoclinic.Com/health/costochondritis/ds00626 for more info. This chest pain can be mistaken for heart attack.

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