What is it about ?
A syndrome is a collection of symptoms or complaints that always appear together. Tietze syndrome is a group of pain at the junction between the ribs and the breastbone.
The precise cause is usually not clear. However, severe coughing or vomiting, injury or surgery to the chest, may have occurred before symptoms appeared.
What is its frequency?
About 1 in 10 people with chest pain have Tietze syndrome.
How to recognize it?
Possible complaints are chest pain with deep inspiration, coughing, bending or twisting of the body, or when lying on your stomach. Usually, the patient complains of pain in certain joints between the ribs and the breastbone (chondrocostal joints).
How can the doctor recognize it?
Based on your story, discussion and physical examination, the doctor will assess the possibility that you have Tietze syndrome. The hallmarks are pain, marked tenderness on palpation, and swelling of one or more chondrocostal joints. In case of doubt, additional examinations may be necessary. So an ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can show thickening and enlargement of the sternum.
Although the symptoms are characteristic, in some circumstances it is important to think about other possible causes of chest pain. Other exams may be ordered. It is :
- joint inflammation,
- lung problems (pneumonia, pleurisy and pulmonary embolism),
- heart disease (threat syndromemyocardial infarction, pericarditis Where myocarditis),
- esophageal disorders due to reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus,
- malignancies in the rib cage,
- fibromyalgia.
What can you do ?
Symptoms may go away on their own after 2 to 3 weeks.
You can place an ice pack on the painful area, for example 3 x 10 to 15 minutes a day, can reduce inflammation and pain. Always remember to put the ice pack in a towel to prevent frostbite. In some people, it is rather the heat that has the effect.
You can also try an anti-inflammatory ointment to apply topically, but watch out for possible local allergic skin reactions. Tell the doctor if you want to use this ointment and ask for advice, especially if you are taking blood thinners or aspirin.
What can your doctor do?
The doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory ointment for you.
If you continue to have pain despite the measures described above, the doctor may consider an injection or infiltration with corticosteroids and / or with a pain reliever in the painful area. For this, he may refer you to a specialist.
Some people may have pain for longer (1 to 2 years). In this case, physiotherapy can promote mobility of the ribs and upper back.
Want to know more?
- Ultrasound here Where to find on this page of Cliniques St Luc UCL
- MRI, here, Where to find on this page of Cliniques St Luc UCL
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