Read about the journey that ended my 20 years of suffering with Tietze's Syndrome »Tietze’s Syndrome: A Disease by Any Other Name
Filed under: Tietze's Syndrome Facts | 11 Comments »The fact that it took a full year for doctors to diagnose my condition is no longer confusing to me. Tietze’s syndrome is a rare condition (there are only a few hundred reported cases in the medical literature going back to 1921), and Tietze’s syndrome is often confused with other disorders of the chest–even by physicians.
These include costochondritis (see this Tietze’s syndrome article for the difference between costochondritis and Tietze’s) and slipping rib syndrome—which occurs when one of the ribs slips out of place, stretching the ligaments. In Tietze’s syndrome, a rib does not slip out of place: the rib stays in place but the costal cartilage swells.
Tietze’s syndrome is sometimes confused with costosternal chondrodynia but according to this article by Carabasi et. al, the two conditions are exact opposites! Costosternal Chondrodynia often effects several ribs, and rarely the second costal joint. Most cases of Tietze’s syndrome affect only the second costal joint. There are only a few similarities between Tietze’s syndrome and Costosternal Chondrodynia: an unknown origin of the disease, the disease’s benign (not harmful) nature, and the fact that both disease can last for years.
You may also find Tietze’s syndrome called many other names—it may be impossible for you to figure out which disease you have unless you have a diagnostic technique (such as an ultrasound) performed. This article on tests for Tietze’s syndrome could help you decide which test might be right for you.
Some other names that Tietze’s might be called (or mistaken for!):
- Chest wall Syndrome
- Condropathia Tuberosa
- Costal chondritis (same as costochondritis)
- Costochondrial junction syndrome
- Costochondritis
- Cyriax’s syndrome (slipping rib syndrome)
- Parasternal chondrodnia
- Peristernal perichondritis
- Thoracochondralgia
- Tietze Disease
- Tietze’s Disease
- Xiphoidalgia
Tietze’s syndrome was so frustrating in the beginning…if only I had had a correct diagnosis, so much stress and anguish would have been avoided! I hope that these blog posts will help fellow sufferers out there understand what Tietze’s syndrome is and how to treat it–and that starts with knowing what Tietze’s syndrome is and what it isn’t!
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I have had something similar but not yet diagnosed. Since 2000 I have woken everyday with pain in my ribcage region – sometimes so extreme I can hardly breathe other days the pain is less. About every 3 months I have such severe pain I am on the couch resting on doses of pain killers. No doctor has been able to help. No amount of massage of chiropractic treatment makes any difference. I am now seeing an physician and hope he can help me. Do you know of anyone with the condition for this period of time.
Dianne,
This sounds similar to me. I used to get attacks every few months like yours (for sixteen years), before I changed my diet and it went away (I have a post or two in the works about my diet…coming soon if you are interested).
Stephanie
[...] Costal Condritus Or many other variations on the name. There are also other conditions that can mimic costochondritis or Tietze’s syndrome. For a run down on common conditions, see this article. [...]
[...] it could also be about one of dozens of other diseases (see my other articles here and here for other diseases that are often mistaken for [...]
hi all i have this i was diagonesd about 9 years ago i still have it i am on morphine for the pain and am due to have a spinal cord stimulator fitted very soon it only taken 9 year to get this far if you would like to chat about it contact me on shedog22@sky.com
Very interesting – as I have had this for many years – directly linked to my having Chronic Lyme Disease & Co-Infections – and a reactivated virus – HHV6…Glad you were able to clarify – as I present both as Costo and Tietze…years ago when it was at its worst – I did have a local anesthetic injection – which greatly helped me get through the worst (NO STEROIDS) – and then maintained with Toradol injections for about 8-9 months. Now can manage with ibuprofen.
I found this helpful as I have been experiencing discomfort and sometimes, acute stabbing-like attacks, for about a year now. I’ve been having trouble finding something that matched my symptoms but this sounds like what I’m experiencing. Have any of you had any luck with natural treatments- I’d prefer not to load myself with NSAIDs forever if there are other options.
Jule, Please see my post on treatments–there are many natural options including acupuncture and biofeedback. Best of luck! Stephanie
I’m glad you found the site, and that your Tietze’s is getting easier to deal with! Stephanie
Hi – I am so glad I found yr blog. I have been getting this pain for 2-3 years – and could’nt understand it. It began as a twinge when I turned over while sleeping, then progressively while using my shoulders etc. Now it is there always, level 2-5, with peaks of 9-10, when I cant even breathe!! I am on immunosuppresants for RA, and earlier this year had a whole battery of tests to rule out angio, TIA’s etc. my pain sometimes shoots up my arm, under my shoulder blade but never fully goes away. I tried etoricoxib 120, but it only dulled it. now i just try to limit my activities, and live with it.
Hopefully it will ease off and even go away.
And i found yr blog by accident…… Fate!!
Glad you found the site–feel better soon! The pain will eventually subside, honest