Hi doctor, I had pain in my left chest area may be twenty times in last years. Ongoing to hospitals and doctors ruled out heart problem called costochondritis. What are the very best recommended ways to solve this problem? The last episode lasted some three days ago. Episodes last for hours. I need relief from the upper left chest pain sometimes radiating to face, arm and neck areas.
Hi. Costochondritis originates from the front of chest area where ribs join the breastbone named sternum. It mimics a heart pain. Here, the physician can help in few ways to have a complete recovery. Proper rest and avoiding activities that aggravate the pain are helpful. This pain can last for varying degrees of time and usually relieves on its own. The main focus remains on pain and inflammation relief. Different medications are used for this condition like Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen. If there is no relief from pain, your physician may prescribe you medications containing more potent painkillers like a combination of Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen. It is very helpful for many patients having this pain. Sometimes, your physician may add some more specific medications (like Amitriptyline, Gabapentin) if he feels better. You may talk to your local physician about them. Stretching exercises and other techniques like TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) prove to be helpful for a large number of patients and it can be done for you to get relief from pain. For more information consult a cardiologist online -->