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Audrey A. (Anytown, USA) on 03/11/2026:
I really have to thank you for suggesting topical vitamin D for costochondritis. I had relief in about 20 minutes. It is well known that there is a high correlation between vitamin D deficiency and costochondritis. Although I have been supplementing generously with D3K2 (50,000 IU once a week with 200 K2 in a formulation), I do have to wonder about how much I was truly absorbing via various brands. This got me thinking... Vitamin D comes from sunlight exposure, primarily, among other things. What large surface area of skin is the thinnest? How about the breastbone and upper chest? Doesn't costochondritis tend to be localized, there, particularly at the breastbone? It radiates along ribs as well but isn't that the focal area? Maybe our bodies alert us with pain there when vitamin D is insufficient in the system. Another common culprit for chest or breast pain is hormonal imbalance. Isn't vitamin D actually a hormone? For now I'm doing well with topical vitamin D 5000IU and 100 mg CBD spaced throughout the day at two or three doses - or none on days when there is no pain.
Last winter had costochondritis real bad, heavy pain and felt desperate. After a couple weeks of painkillers that did not do much and I hate taking anyway, I stopped to wonder what could be missing. Though in winter I practically never set foot ouside, cause of the cold and realized I was not getting any sun/light. Got the idea to pop open the oily kind of vitamin D and rub it directly on my chest. In two days the pain receded to 2/3 and the third day felt no pain at all. Was amazed! Now I know we're all different, but it's worth trying considering how cheap vit D is.. In any case, the key question remains your best chance at finding out what could truly help.
