This information may be useful for those who have been diagnosed with costochonditis. If you are experiencing new or ongoing symptoms you should contact your healthcare professional. You might need an assessment to help with diagnosis and treatment.
When the costochondral joint becomes inflamed it can result in sharp chest pain and tenderness. These symptoms may develop gradually or start suddenly.
You or someone else has symptoms like:
If your GP surgery is closed, contact 111.
Costochondritis is the medical term for inflammation of the cartilage that joins your ribs to your breastbone (sternum).
Cartilage is tough but flexible connective tissue. It acts as a shock absorber, cushioning the joints.
Costochondritis will normally improve on its own after a few weeks but sometimes takes longer. The condition doesn’t lead to any permanent problems, but can occasionally flare up.
The main symptom of costochondritis is chest pain that appears centrally. The pain doesn’t usually spread across the chest or into the arms.
The pain may be made worse by:
Modifying your activities while you recover may help reduce your symptoms.
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to infection, irritation or injury.
It’s not known exactly why this area becomes inflamed but in some cases it’s been linked to:
an infection, including respiratory tract infections (RTIs)
For costochondritis to be diagnosed you’ll need an assessment from a healthcare professional.
They’ll initially ask you questions and then carry out a physical examination.
You may sometimes need to have a further examination. This is to rule out other possible health conditions.
Costochondritis often gets better after a few weeks. Self-help measures and medication can manage the symptoms.
Costochondritis can be made worse by any activity that places stress on your chest area, for example strenuous exercise or repetitive movements.
Any movement that makes the pain in your chest area worse should be modified until the inflammation in your ribs and cartilage has improved.
Some examples of modified activity include:
hugging a cushion while you cough
The following can help to reduce the pain:
More about taking painkillers.
Remember to never place heat directly on your skin. Use a barrier, like a towel, to protect your skin from a burn.
How long you use heat as a treatment can depend on the painful area. Generally up to 15 minutes of heat, leaving a few hours between treatments, is the most useful.
You should stop treating the area with heat and seek advice from a medical professional if you notice:
If you have any issues with circulation or sensation, you shouldn’t use heat as a treatment.
It’s important to try to keep moving as normally as possible during your recovery. It’s best to avoid long periods of rest where possible.
You can try to increase your activity gradually to help your recovery.
Too much rest can slow down your recovery. As soon as you can, start moving and using the affected area.
Remember a little activity is better than nothing. Continue to stay within acceptable pain limits but you don’t need to be pain free. Aim to do a little bit more each day or every few days.
This guide can help you to understand if you’re pacing your daily activities at the right level as you progress. It’ll also let you see how much pain or discomfort is acceptable.
It can be helpful to rate your pain out of 10 (0 being no pain, 10 being the worst pain you’ve ever had), for example:
Activity should not make your existing pain worse overall. Increasing activity can lead to increased discomfort as your body gets used to regaining your activity levels.
Aim to keep your pain within a rating of 0 to 5. If your pain gets above this level, you can change the level of activity by:
Your return to work will depend on the type of work you do and your employer. It may be possible to discuss a phased return to work or changed duties.
You don’t need to see a healthcare professional to return to work.
Keep doing any activities you’re able to, as your pain allows. Gradually increase what you do.
Your symptoms may make things more difficult to start with. This will get better as you slowly build up to all of your usual activities.
If your symptoms worsen or haven’t improved within 8 weeks following this advice, it’s a good idea to talk to a healthcare professional.
Find out how to access MSK services in your area.
When dealing with any health condition it’s important to also look after your mental wellbeing as this can impact your recovery.
Last updated:
14 December 2023