Chest pains are terrifying for everybody; whenever you experience them, you should be alarmed and rush to treat them. However, not all chest pains are fatal, as with Costochondritis. And athletes often wonder, can I run with Costochondritis?
NO! You shouldn't run if you suffer from Costochondritis. Why take the risk?
Costochondritis is a medical reference to the inflammation or irritation of the cartilage that connects the chest bone to the ribs. There are no known causes for Costochondritis. However, recent studies point to trauma on the chest, inflammation, and insidious onsets like bacterial, fungal, or viral infections.
Costochondritis is also called chest wall pain, and it's an uncomfortable feeling for athletes who can sometimes experience the pain while running. Running is a strenuous activity and will aggravate the inflammation if you persist.
Walking also improves blood flow to the injured chest areas, which helps decrease the tension in your joints and muscles.
One positive attribute of Costochondritis is that it's a self-limiting condition. It means that the pain will eventually go away without treatment as long as you don't aggravate the inflamed areas.
Is There a Cure for Costochondritis?
Since you don't know how long Costochondritis will last, orthopedics recommends physical therapy like stretching and yoga.
You can also treat the chest wall pains by consuming a diet that includes:
· Fruits, which are rich in antioxidants,
· Ginger is pain relieving and has anti-inflammatory properties
· Herbs like chamomile, ginseng, and fennel promote natural healing and calmness
· Avoid processed food, gluten, and refined sugars because they promote inflammation.
You can also use heat or ice by rubbing them in the chest area or take an anti-inflammatory, pain relieving, and non-steroidal medication like ibuprofen.
Doctors recommend using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation—TENS. It helps relieve pain by sending a mild electric current to the pain area, which helps to relax muscles and reduce the pain signals going to the brain.
What Are The Symptoms of Costochondritis?
Other symptoms include:
· Radiating pain from the jaw, back, shoulders, and arm
· Sharp pain from the back where the ribs connect to the vertebrae.