Costochondritis & Tietze Syndrome, is this a form of Arthritis?

Question

Is Tietze Syndrom & Costochondritis a form of Arthritis? The definition I found is as follows: a painful swelling of a rib in the region of the chest, over the junction of bone & cartilage. The cause is unknown & the condition usually resolves without treatment, but in some cases local injections of corticosteroids are required.

Answer 1

Arthritis is swelling of the joints. There aren't any joints in the ribs. The costochondritis is more of a swelling in the softer connecting cartilage that is attached to the rib bones. (I am not familiar with Tietze Syndrome.) I have had costochondritis and have friends and family who have also had it. Mine was believed due to a crooked spine and ribcage from scoliosis. Most others I know who have had it are asthmatics or had bronchitis and they were irritating the cartilage by coughing a lot. Athletes can also get it because of repetitive twisting and upper body pressure. It usually does go away on its own with an anti-inflammatory if you can figure out what might have caused it, and then rest from those activities until the inflammation has improved.