Costochondritis: The Hidden Cause and a Simple Exercise to Fix Anterior Rib Joint Pain

I was suffering from pains in my left and middle part of my chest 5 weeks sgo, my friend past away from a heart attack just 3 weeks ago. I was suffering from a lot of pain along with alot of Anxiety and panic attacks, then was diagnosed with costochondritis, was not sleeping for few days. Was Suicidal at times as just wanted it to go away. If you are reading this, it has been 2 months and I feel 80% better. You can get through this. You have to mentally be strong, only you can do this. Harder then said, but you are in control.

This brought tears to my eyes. I used a softball, wrapped up in a towel and I almost passed out. My chest is sooo tense and inflamed... I pushed through. I didn't do much, just laid there, but it felt like I was lifting a 1000 lbs. After a few min of laying there I loosened up and started to move the arm of the rib that hurt. POP!! The tears of pain turned into tears of joy as I inhaled for the first time in years without feeling a stabbing pain in my chest. I work in software and sit at my desk all day/ all night. I get up and stay active, but I hurt. A lot. It's getting to the point where I spend more time doing pain management than software development. I've done this same movement before, but with different intentions. Thank you for taking the time to walk us through. I'm so ready to heal and begin to enjoy life again. This last year, my central nervous system has been overloaded with pain and I'm grumpy/angry all the time, then I fall asleep. I want to get back to life again. I'm only 28. Thanks again EDIT: you can even notice in the picture as my Avatar, I'm slanted due to that being out of place. Best of health to you and your loved ones, Sir.

Man I swear you gave me MORE than any doctor I looked at!! The issue was a back pain. 90% of doctors had NO IDEA. I’ve since went to the chiropractor. I’m feeling 80 % better after the 2nd readjustment. I’ve been dealing with it for 3 weeks straight. You’re a FREAKING GENIUS!!❤

If you’re doing this on the wall, a tip - put the ball in a stocking or a long sock. That way you can hang it over your shoulder and position it without it falling all the time when you readjust. :)

I laid on the ball in the spot you showed and instantly felt the pressure on my chest relax! I will be doing more of this exercise! Thank you! I sat in the ER for six hours today waiting to be seen and finally left because I couldn’t stand waiting in pain anymore. This video saved my nerves! Ty

Grant, I woke up at 3:30a this morning with the worst stabbing pain in my rib; I couldn't take a decent breath, and crawled out of bed. I started searching for ANYTHING and came across this video. I grabbed a tennis ball and did this technique for about 15 minutes. I got a lot of movement and I was able to deep breathe and the pain was gone. I'm checking in with my chiro again later this week but I had to thank you for putting this out there. I was pretty stressed and in pain and your video calmed me and gave me what I needed. Thank you.

Thank you so much man. I did this for about 1,5 hours yesterday and this has been the best day I've had for many months regarding my costo. You have earned yourself a life-time subscriber. Bless you.

Thank you so much for this video! I'm 26 - I was having terrible chest pain on my mid/left chest about 3-4 weeks ago. Almost twobyears ago a friend of mine passed away at 25 from a heart attack. I was so afraid the same would happen to me! Turns out it was costochondritis. I am now researching about the condition to learn how to take care of myself better.

Thank you so much for this video! I'm sad that my doctor didn't explain this to me well enough, she was very vague with the diagnose and the treatment didn't really work completely and now I know why - because no one treated my back, at least not the right part of my back. And now I know, bless youtube.

I genuinely hope these ideas help! If you'd like a more in-depth approach, please consider enrolling in my new Costo course! [ bit.ly/3gQpOgC ] I've based it entirely on the things I find helpful as a Physio.

Hi! I saw this video in a Tietze group on Facebook and almost didn’t click. I’ve had tietze for 5 years and nothing has ever relieved my acute pain as instantly as this exercise! I was really skeptical even though I’ve noticed a connection with the chest pain and me being stiff in the back. But honestly this helped so much! There’s still pain of course but not on the same level that I woke up with. Thank you!!

Wow have this condition for 10 years. It NEVER eases or goes away. My quality of life has been reduced by 85%. It is irritated by walking, loss of breath, cannot drink alcohol. Note this exercise works.

Thank you so much. I put a ball in a sock and lowered it down my shoulder while I stood against a wall because laying on my back was too painful. I rolled the ball back and forth and found a large knot. Within a few minutes could take a deep breath without pain. I appreciate this video. You my friend just saved me a lot of pain this night. Again, Thank you!

Thank you for taking time to make such an informative and helpful video. I have been dealing with this for a year and being active & healthy person it's been so frustrating to figure out why I couldn't breathe in fully without this tightness/pain. I always felt like my upper back (under shoulder blades) area were in connection somehow. Followed your instructions along with the video and I can breathe in fully without pain for the first time in many months. I am so grateful 💗 I thought I had good posture, but it's so easy to let that posture start diminishing without even realizing. Will be doing this and being self aware of my posture habits daily. Thank you!

This one video helped me so much, I am in tears. Thank you! ❤I just bought a new chair months ago and my desk is far from ergonomically correct. My back, and soreness is the key to all of these issues and I am healing now thanks to YOU! ❤I didn't have a ball so I used a lemon in a sock!

Good video. I would recommend putting the lacrosse (or other ball) in a knee high sock then hold onto the top of the sock and sling it over your shoulder. Find a spot and lean against the wall and move up and down the area for a nice massage. Find another area on the other side of the spine. You can either do a trigger pt release or massage with this technique.

Thank you so much for this video. I had an injury due to adding battle ropes to my workout routinue and a few days after doing the ropes I was experiencing pains in my back, neck and chest. I was terrified and went to the ER. Luckily all test came back ok and my next day visit to my PCP determined I had Costochondritis!!! I'd never heard of it. Your video has helped me tremendously!!!

"Around and up" from the rib pain in the front was so helpful. Thank you

Been stuck with Costochondritis for a few months, having good days and bad days, did a few stretching exercises and that sometimes helped but could also aggravate it. I did this ball exercise yesterday afternoon and last night slept for the first time without pain, amazing. I tried doing it on the floor, but that hurt so I did it sitting and still got results, thank you so much for this video!!

great info, and what a wonderful public speaking manner you have, very clear and calm