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EFFECTIVE treatment for COSTOCHONDRITIS, Intercostal Neuralgia, middle-back, Tietze syndrome, slipping rib, chest pain and rib pain: London UK

Costochondritis, rib and chest pain has become a universal problem as almost everyone sits at computers in stylish but poorly conceived ergonomic chairs. Advice is given by 'ergonomics experts', with guidance from an EU ergonomics directive written in 1999, before the widespread use of computers and before laptops and handheld devices were even invented, who tell you to place your feet in front, to lean-back in the chair and to work with your screen just below eye-level, but this is all guaranteed to create poor posture where you lean back with pressure in your tailbone, your upper-back is rounded, chest is dropped down, shoulders are jammed backwards and upwards and your chin is poking forwards and upwards at a painful angle. If your screen is further away than your visual focal-distance it will create a forward shearing of the lower neck joints which compress and pinch nerves of the lower neck causing chronic pain and spasm as your neck becomes increasingly arthritic over just a few years.

Typically, younger people from teenagers to late-thirties, and those with with looser ligaments, soon suffer chronic neck, middle-back and chest pain with rib pain initially referring into the rhomboid muscles between the shoulder blades followed by pain to the front of the chest between the ribs with a sickening ache with muscular spasms. This chest-wall muscle, tendon and ligament pain and inflammation of intercostal muscles and joints where the ribs attach to the sternum later starts to refer more pain with deep pain into the shoulder, elbow, hand and wrist. The muscular chest pain and pain between the shoulder blades continues chronically for months until the chest pain is so unbearable and worrying that some think they are having a heart-attack or have serious health issues and end up in hospital for days of super-expensive medical scans and tests for cardiac, lung and breast conditions - but which are all negative. This leaves sufferers even more anxious that the hospital has missed the real diagnosis as they could not find anything on the MRI scans.

Trauma, falls and fracture are obvious causes of chest and rib pain whilst costo-sternal pain (Tietze’s syndrome) or intercostal neuralgia feels more like a heart attack or a very tender 'bruised' pain anywhere between your ribs or near where your ribs attach to your breastbone or sternum.

Costochondritis, rib, usually left chest and 'under the breast pain' can follow days lying on the sofa recovering from covid, a cold or flu or very long hours working on a laptop or iPad where the screen is too low or hunched on the sofa or in bed which is by far the most common reason for Costochondritis, Tietze's syndrome or Intercostal Neuralgia although chest impact or over-exertion with weights or chest dips and abs crunches are also common causes. It can also be caused by seat-belt trauma as you are suddenly restrained across your chest during rapid forward body movement during a car accident.

Rib pain is so often due to years of poor rounded posture where the middle thoracic spine becomes rounded (kyphotic) and increasingly stiff and rigid with the chest dropping vertically while slouching at desks, laptops and sofas. This kyphotic, rounded posture has become "normal" in the last 10 years due to laptops, iPads and everybody sitting badly all day working at computers and slouching on sofas.

People typically attempt to ”stand up straight” by pushing their shoulder blades up and back and poking or jutting their chins up and forward. This not only looks unnatural but loads huge strain into the supporting muscles and ligaments which hold up your head and damages the muscles and joints in the middle-back, chest and neck. Any scoliosis or sideways spinal curvature doubles the effect and aggravates these stresses and pain.

When rib pain becomes chronic or recurring, and after multiple hospital scans and blood tests for rare conditions all show as negative, you receive treatment with painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or cortisone steroid injections into your ribs and spinal joints which is a short-term cover-up, of very limited pain-relief but with potentially harmful side-effects.

Important: Pain relief drugs do not cure your costochondritis. Prescribed drugs may just take the edge off some of the pain, but they do not make you better and have potentially upsetting side-effects.

Sufferers should read the many positive costochondritis reviews of successful outcomes following chiropractic manipulation and specialised back and chest massage at Sayer Clinics with resolution of rib and chest pain by patients referred by their GPs.

Where necessary and indicated from your case history, injuries and symptoms we may digitally visualise the neck and thoracic spinal areas with x-rays. We are able to show you the multiple depths and layers of your anatomy from spinal curvatures and early arthritic changes to signs of old injuries often from decades before. We can even show you the digital computed x-ray signs of the earliest beginnings of osteoarthritic joints in your neck or back.

Consulting Sayer Clinics includes a full case history and an examination of your heart and lungs to rule out a lung or heart condition. We examine and detect mechanical sources of pain, take digital computed x-rays, if indicated, and can ultrasound scan any soft tissue areas of scarring, inflammation or swelling in the chest, breast tissue or between the ribs and successfully treat the musculoskeletal rib or referred nerve or muscle pain condition physically.

Expect to receive postural retraining and advice on correct ergonomic seating and computer screen height and position.
We address the difficult but necessary postural changes alongside measured and skilled manipulation, where appropriate, and specific therapeutic ultrasound or laser 'inflammation calming treatment' and specialised back massage and chest massage therapy, mobilisation and manipulation to regain normal movement of previously locked and torsioned neck, thoracic spine, chest and intercostals. We give advice with very specific exercises and treat to reduce the tension in inflamed intercostal muscles, Trapezius, Levator scapulae, Rhomboids and deeper, postural muscles of the neck and upper thoracic spine. 

Once successfully treated, our patients stand and sit taller, with beautiful, vibrant posture and are soon fitter, more positive and energised. They absolutely love their new pain-free posture and mobility. They refer their colleagues, family and friends who have suffered similar musculoskeletal chest pain problems who then come in to see us for their course of 'perfect posture' treatment'

ALERT: Patients with FEVER, severe COUGH or breathing difficulties with frontal chest pain should first consult their medical practitioner.

Michael Durtnall and his team are the UK and world's best recommended and leading experts in successfully treating costochondritis, rib and chest pain. Pain can be a felt as a deep ache or sharp, stabbing pain between the ribs in the front of the chest, under the breasts or either side of the breastbone where it is extremely painful to touch the seriously tender spots between the ribs. We are trained in medical diagnosis and examine to rule out more serious medical conditions before starting physical treatment. If, following an x-ray or ultrasound examination, we suspect a heart or lung problem, fracture, osteoporosis, rib infection or cancer we refer you to your medical practitioner or hospital without delay.

For effective physical treatment and postural changes for a more pain-free future: 

Contact Alexandra or Lucie by email at mail@sayerclinics.com or simply register, book and pay securely online at www.sayerclinics.com to see the costochondritis expert Michael Durtnall with his impressive results and success in treating chests pain/ rib pain / costochondritis and rehabilitating your posture long-term.