Living with Costochondritis one reason which could explain your chest pains
How To Avoid Getting Costochondritis BackTo avoid getting costochondritis back you really need to make some life changes.
If you don't suffer from it frequently then you are one of the lucky ones.
But just because you don't live with it on a daily basis doesn't mean there aren't a few things you should avoid to stop a relapse.
Things to avoid doing.
1) Heavy Lifting. Don't do any heavy lifting as it will aggravate your chest area /upper torso and can bring on costochondritis symptoms.
2) Working in the Garden. While light gardening work is allowed, any gardening that involves heavy lifting of rocks, blocks, paving flags, or heavy shrubs/ trees can bring on costochondritis symptoms a few days later. Light gardening like planting vegetables or flowers are find and won't aggravate your costochondritis. (Lifting large heavy things in your garden will cause costochondritis symptoms which will last at least 3 days of pain).
3) Moving Furniture. Moving furniture in your home or a friends home should not be attempted. It might be a nice gesture to help out, but be sensible and let someone else to do it.
4) Getting Sick. Try to stay in good health and try not to get colds, the flu or even a viral infection. Start taking vitamin C supplements tablets form or water based form to help keep your immune system in tip top shape especially in winter.
When you do get sick, while you spend a few days trying to get over your illness, be aware that you will also be spending a few days extra trying to cope with your costochondritis symptoms which will come on after you have recovered from your cold.
Why? Because excessive coughing and sneezing will end up aggravating your chest and for the next few days after your illness and you will suffer with chest pains chiropractic care and sore ribs.
5) Cold Weather. When it is cold outside, try to keep as warm as possible. I find that when it gets cold near snow temperature, that my costochondritis raises itself. So trying to stay inside as much as you can and if you are going outside, wrap up warm and spend as little time as possible standing outside in the cold.
How To Cope With Costochondritis When You Get It
Now that you know the ways on how to get costochondritis, here are the ways to cope with the pain when you get it.
Prescription for costochondritis as an ongoing condition:
1) Anti-inflammatory Gel: Apply a strong prescription anti- inflammatory gel 3 times a day.
2) Anti-inflammatory Pill: Nurofen or Ibuprofen are anti-inflammatory pain killers. Follow the dosage instruction on the pack or whatever your doctor advises. Take the pain killers for 3 days at most. After 3 days switch to the other option. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if the pain is persistent after 5 days.
3) If the pain is mild, then you might be able to survive by taking Paracetamol. It isn't as strong or as addictive as the other two. But be aware that you should only take them when you are suffering from pain. Don't become addicted to them.
4) Another option is to try hot and cold treatments. Apply a hot water bottle to your chest area if the pain is excessive to help ease the pain to a fca chiro dull throb. You can also apply cool compresses or patches that can help ease the pain.