Chances are, you’ve never heard of this disorder unless you’ve personally experienced it. After all, Tietze syndrome is incredibly rare and is often mistaken for other causes of chest pain due to its rarity. There is not a lot of publicity for this condition as a result, so we at Greater Life Chiropractic want to educate the world on what it is and how chiropractic care can be a natural means of treatment.

What Is Tietze Syndrome?

Tietze syndrome is a rare inflammatory condition marked by chest pain and swelling of the cartilage of one or more upper ribs, particularly where the ribs meet the breastbone. It mostly affects older teenagers and young adults, and the majority of cases occur before the age of 40, usually between 20 and 30 years of age. Tietze syndrome has also been recorded in infants, young children, and the elderly, though it should be noted that this is a rare occurrence in an already rare disease. Pain might come on gradually or suddenly, and it can spread to the arms and shoulders. Tietze syndrome is a benign condition that may go away on its own in some situations.

The direct causes of Tietze syndrome are unknown at this time. Multiple minor injuries to the anterior chest wall, according to some studies, may be the source. Continuous, excessive coughing, vomiting, trauma or impact to the chest, viral or bacterial infections, or thoracic surgery may all be factors in the development of the condition.

Costochondritis

Costochondritis is an irritation of the cartilages that connect the ribs to the sternum—which are also known as the sternal articulations or costoternal joints. Primary symptoms of chest pain, which can be mild or severe, are the most common. It’s sometimes confused with Tietze syndrome, although the two aren’t the same. Unlike Tietze syndrome, costochondritis will present with no signs of swelling or inflammation, will feel “sharp” or “pressure-like,” affects multiple areas in most cases, and generally occurs in those 40 and older.

How Can Chiropractic Help?

Rest, avoidance of vigorous exercise, application of heat to the affected region, and pain relievers such as NSAIDs or a mild muscle relaxant are the mainstays of treatment for people suffering with Tietze syndrome. Individuals who do not respond to pain medicines may also end up benefiting from local corticosteroid or lidocaine injections directly into the afflicted area. Oftentimes, it’ll clear up on its own with no intervention.

However, despite the fact that research on such a rare disease is limited, chiropractic has been proven to relieve the symptoms of Tietze Syndrome and even lead to earlier remission. No matter how rare your condition is, Dr. Grant Lisetor and the rest of the team here at Greater Life Chiropractic in Charlotte will do their best to help you. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

Sources

Do, Wangseok, et al. “Atypical Tietze’s Syndrome Misdiagnosed as Atypical Chest Pain.” Pain Medicine 19.4 (2018): 813-815. https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnx213

Gijsbers, Eefje, and Simone FC Knaap. “Clinical Presentation and Chiropractic Treatment of Tietze Syndrome: A 34-Year-old Female with Left-sided Chest Pain.” Journal of Chiropractic Medicine 10.1 (2011): 60-63. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.jcm.2010.10.002