What do you recommend to speed healing or to treat the pain of costochondritis (either idiopathic or injury-related)?—VICTORIA F. RHODES, Alliance, Ohio
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) comprise first-line treatment for costochondritis. NSAIDs can be supplemented with local heat or ice and gentle stretching of the pectoralis muscles two to three times a day. Refractory cases might benefit from local infiltration of an anesthetic, steroid, or intercostal nerve block.—JoAnn Deasy, PA-C, MPH (146-6)
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