[YEA]  07/25/2012: Jennifer from Atlanta, Ga: "I have had a struggle off and on for years with this malady. I do believe in most cases it is the result of an infection- viral or fungal. The things that help me most are antiinfective herbals. I usually take three capsules of goldenseal and olive leaf TWICE a day for several days. If it is severe, I add six - ten drops of grapefruit SEED extract in water ( chased with juice as it tastes yucky ). These all target a broad variety of infections and usually make a noticeable difference. I also take aleve or ibuprofen, but the herbs seem to GET rid of the problem a lot faster.

Excellent herbal antiinfectives : andrographis, grapefruit seed extract, cat's claw, and olive leaf extract . If you have an infection and want to avoid antibiotics, these are scientifically legitimate and have been studied. I usually have good results with three capsules TWICE daily ( six total ) for several days. For colds, flu, viruses, etc.. These are safe and QUITE helpful!!

My doc has said he thinks costo is usually a viral infection, and these herbs are effective for many bacteria, viruses and fungii. More info on these can be found at Sloan Ketttering Memorial website or Pubmed."

[YEA]  01/03/2013: Luz from Anchorage, Alaska Usa: "I take two tablets of 1000mg the first day and than 1 every day until the pain is gone normally 3 days, but it comes back after stress or heavy lifting."

11/20/2011: Alvester from Mililani, Hawaii: "I'm a 14 year old male with chest pain. I'm about 5'9 and 145 lbs. I've had this chest pain for about a year now and it is really bothering me. I can make a cracking noise in my chest the way you can crack your knuckles. The doctor told me it was costochondritis and that it would go away in a couple months if I took anti-inflammatories, but that didn't help."

11/22/2011: Timh from Louisville, Usa replies: "Alvester, also consider the possibility of a lung injury, as that "crackling" sound is reported in some pulmonary fibrosis patients. About a yr ago, did you breathe something toxic or caustic? Try very hard to remember the first time you noticed these symptoms and what might have caused them during that time. Magnet therapy might help. Edgar Cayce Castor Oil Pack might help. Gotu Kola & Silicon may help. Good Luck."

11/06/2011: Steve from Las Vegas, Nv replies: "You may want to consider checking out a low level laser therapy pen or using EFT (emotional freedom technique). You can also google healers as there are many healing practitioners out there that can help with this type of pain."

01/29/2011: Darlene from Kewaskum, Wisconsin, Usa replies: "Have you tried a chiropractor?"

02/07/2011: Theirmommie72 from Grand Prairie, Tx, Usa replies: "Hey. I have had Costo for years now. I am taking Tramadol and would like to find something natural as well."

02/08/2011: Jake from Winkler, Mb replies: "I had costochondritis for a number of years and found two things that helped: 1) a chiropractor who was able to reset and loosen my ribs, 2) prolotherapy was extremely helpful."

03/02/2011: Adriann from Maumee, Oh replies: "I have not tried a chiropractor. Jake, what is prolotherapy?"

[YEA]  04/06/2011: Kim from Newport, Ri replies: "I have had almost instant relief from Costo with Rolfing - it is expensive but the only thing that has worked for me. I did medical massage for over a year with no relief. I have no costo pain at all after 3 sessions. Well worth it!"

11/07/2011: Kelly from Plano, Tx replies: "My daughter was diagnosed with Costochondritis by her pediatrician. He told me to give her advil 3x day for pain for six weeks before he would refer us to someone. That didn't seem right to me. Anyway, she was in a lot of pain. She was going to the school nurse several times a day and she loves school, so we all knew it had to be something. I was able to get her in to see my naturpath doctor and he said she did not have Costochondritis. Apparently she is having digestive issues mainly from protein and due to that gas forms around the heart causing severe pain. He has her taking 1 Multizyme capsule with meals and 1 Magnesium capsule at night. She also takes 1 Dolomite if she has the chest pain after meals. Note that the Dolomite only temporarily removes the gas. It doesn't resolve the issue. It worked immediately.

As long as I give her the Multizyme capsule at least once a day she has no pain. I don't give her the Dolomite unless she had pain and missed taking the Multizyme. She's only been to the nurse once in 10 days and it was when she went over 24 hrs without taking anything. She's only 7, so I have to break open the capsule and dissolve it in a tiny bit of water. She then drinks juice afterwards. The naturpath said that if she had Costochondritis it would hurt her just to barely put pressure on her rib area. I think maybe some people are being misdiagnosed. I hope this helps! "

10/11/2012: Ryanv123 from Annapolis, Maryland replies: "I popped something in my chest a year and a half ago while straining to push up a very heavy object. I can now "pop" my chest, much like cracking your knuckle, about 2-3 times a day. It actually relieves a little pressure and dull pain when I do pop it. However, when I go to the gym and do dip exercises the pain is excruciating, to the point I have to stop almost immediately. (I've obviously stopped doing dip exercises) I went to a chiropractor after looking at a couple threads that mentioned it could actually be my spine, but that didn't help much at all. I've lived with this pain for about a year and half now and not even my doctor has been much help.

Has anyone had this chest popping issue and completely recover from it?"