How long does costochondritis last?

Costochondritis, the inflammation of the cartilage that connects your ribs to your breastbone, may not sound hilarious at first glance. But trust me; there is nothing funnier than realizing you have been walking around for months with a chest pain you thought was a heart attack. Hahaha! Terrifying!

But fear not, dear reader. There’s no need to suffer in silence anymore because I am here to give you all the information on how long costochondritis lasts and ways to alleviate symptoms.

What are the symptoms of costochondritis?

Before we dive into how long this condition can last, let us have an overview of its signs and indicators.

  • Sharp pain or tenderness in one area of your chest
  • Pain when taking deep breaths or coughing
  • Pain that increases when moving or twisting upper body
  • Mild fever

Fun fact: Did you know that costochondritis can mimic heart attack symptoms? So if you ever feel tightness in your chest accompanied by shortness of breath and jaw/arm/hand discomfort (which may be caused by anxiety), please seek medical attention ASAP.

How long does costochondritis usually last?

Now on to more funny (read: less serious) matters – how long does it take before knowing whether it’s time to celebrate recovery day with ice cream sundaes or keep swallowing aspirin tablets like candy?

In most cases,costochondritis will go away on its own within several weeks up until a few months (insert crying emoji). However, some people experienced chronic or recurring episodes lasting years (days = happy dance, years= A WHOLE DIFFERENT PARTY).

Unfortunately, several factors can affect the length of inflamed rib cartilage healing duration:

1) Severity

If you experience acute temporary inflammation due to injury from intense coughing/sneezing, overexertion, or trauma (not a funny joke) costochondritis only lasting a few days or weeks is possible.

On the other hand, if you have an autoimmune disease like fibromyalgia/ rheumatoid arthritis and others with similar disorders may experience recurring episodes that last longer. Fun fact: Some studies show that women are more susceptible to develop this condition than men. Reason? shrug

2) Age

Sorry to break it down for our G-gang (geriatric), but as we approach our golden years (pun intended), there’s a higher chance of experiencing longer bouts of inflamed ribs due to aging effects on cartilage cells inflammation response.

3) Treatment

The earlier you seek medical care after discovering chest pain due to suspected costochondritis illness, the higher chances therapy will be initiated early enough before complications arise that might prolong treatment period.

How can I alleviate symptoms?

While waiting for inflammation subsides naturally or through medication use in severe cases where home remedies do not work out entirely here are some things you can try:

  • Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen
  • Applying heat pads/cold packs several times daily
  • Resting your upper body
  • Wearing comfortable clothing.

Don’t exhaust yourself further by participating in activities that worsen the situation; instead, take breaks and avoid performing strenuous physical activity altogether until determining the root cause behind ongoing costochondritis diagnosis presence.

Conclusion

Costochondritis is a painful yet usually harmless condition affecting millions around the world yearly with no definitive solution on how best managing its manifestation apart from mitigating factors causing its manifestations’ flare-ups. But remember: although knowing one’s suffering timeline causes frustration & anxiety towards making better tomorrows let today’s humor mask them away slightly! Stay safe while at it!

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