A large percentage of people with fibromyalgia experience symptoms such as chest and thoracic pain due to costochondritis, which is the inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the breastbone and can often be mistaken for heart problems.
Pain usually presents with these symptoms:
- Burning in the ribs.
- It is felt on the left side of the chest.
- It occurs on the left side of the sternum
- Is sharp, stabbing, or feels like pressure
- Affects more than one rib
- It gets worse when you breathe deeply or cough
- It can come and go and is easy to control with good breath management.
- Acute, burning discomfort in the upper chest.
- Very similar to that of a heart attack.
- Irregular heart rate
When faced with any chest pain, it is best to seek the help of a specialist, because just as it could be costochondritis, it could also be due to a heart problem.
Although classified as a benign condition, it is very painful and is one of the main causes of chest pain. For patients with fibromyalgia, costochondritis can become a chronic and difficult-to-manage problem.
Treatment
If the symptoms are not so severe, you can avoid activities that generate pressure on the affected area, massage your neck and shoulders to reduce muscle tension, avoid stress and take a relaxing bath in the evening, before going to bed.
When costochondritis has been detected, you can treat it with ice or medication, but you should always follow your doctor’s recommendations, as the application of cold and heat and certain treatments carried out without supervision can alter fibromyalgia.
Risk factors
Costochondritis most commonly occurs in women and people over 40 years of age.
