The Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Costochondritis
Are you suffering from chest pain? If so, you may need to reach out to a medical professional quickly as possible to make sure it is not a heart attack; however, one of the most common causes of chest pain has nothing to do with the heart at all. It is called costochondritis. A lot of people who have costochondritis believe that they need to take prescription medications. Some people even think of the need to take surgery. What is costochondritis, and how can a chiropractor help you treat this condition? Learn more below, and consider reaching out to a chiropractor who can help you address costochondritis appropriately.
What Is Costochondritis?
Costochondritis refers to inflammation that develops in between the ribs of the breastbone or breastplate. You have two sets of ribs, one on each side of the spinal cord. You have ribs on the front of your chest and ribs closer to the back, next to your spine. There are plenty of situations where the cartilage in between your ribs can get inflamed. When that happens, you are diagnosed with costochondritis.
There are plenty of reasons why people develop costochondritis. Some people develop this condition because they injured cartilage in a traumatic accident. Perhaps you took a blow while playing contact sports, or maybe you got hurt in a motor vehicle accident. There are other situations where people may have a medical condition that leads to costochondritis as a complication.
What Are the Main Symptoms?
Similar to other conditions, the symptoms that accompany costochondritis can vary depending on how severe the condition is. Some of the most common symptoms of this condition include:
- You may feel a sharp, aching pain that feels like pressure on one or two ribs.
- You may find that the pain radiates to another part of your body depending on your position.
- If you cough or sneeze, you may find that the pain gets worse.
- You may have a limited range of motion in your chest or back because of this condition.
- If you take a deep breath, you may feel the pain gets worse.
These are just a few of the most common symptoms of costochondritis. You may want to reach out to a professional who can make sure the condition is not something more serious.
How Can a Chiropractor Help You?
If you have been diagnosed with costochondritis, you should reach out to a chiropractor who can help you. A chiropractor can take a look at your chest and back, figuring out exactly which ribs are responsible for the pain.
Then, the chiropractor may use manual therapy known as a chiropractic adjustment to help make sure that your ribs and vertebrae are properly aligned. Sometimes, inflammation develops because your ribs or vertebrae may have been slightly misaligned, damaging one or more of the nerves that run through your chest wall. By using manual therapy to make sure your alignment is appropriate, it is possible to alleviate pressure on nerves, treating the condition effectively.
Consider Working With a Chiropractor for Help With Costochondritis
Ultimately, there are plenty of reasons why you should visit a chiropractor if you are looking for help with costochondritis. By working with a chiropractor, you can reduce your chances of dealing with complications and side effects.
You do not necessarily have to undergo surgery to treat costochondritis, as a chiropractor can use manual therapy to help you. Furthermore, a chiropractor may give you a few treatment options that can help you prevent costochondritis man coming back. Consider reaching out to a chiropractor if you need help with this condition.
If you don’t have a local chiropractor, please give us a call. Our Doctor of Chiropractic is trained to help people who suffer with conditions just like yours. So give us a call. We’re here to help!