Treatment options usually involve rest, pain medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), ice, heat, and manual therapy.

Cases with persistent discomfort may be managed with an intercostal nerve blocking injection utilizing a combination of corticosteroids and local anesthetic.

The condition predominantly affects women over the age of 40, though some studies have found costochondritis to still be common among adolescents presenting with chest pain.

[5]: 171 [9] Additionally, symptoms such as tachycardia, hypotension, radiating pain, shortness of breath, fever, nausea, or a productive cough are unrelated to costochondritis.

[6] Repetitive minor trauma is proposed to be a likely cause, with risk factors such as strenuous coughing, exercise, and lifting identified.

Further evaluation for cardiopulmonary or neoplastic causes is typically based on history, age, and risk factors, with diagnostic imaging and tests, completed to assess for life-threatening emergencies.

Medical history is considered in diagnosing costochondritis, such as inquiry regarding any recent trauma, coughing, exercise, or activity involving the upper body that may have caused the symptoms.

[6][14] Life-threatening medical emergencies that may be associated with chest wall pain include acute coronary syndrome, aortic dissection, pneumothorax, or pulmonary embolism.

Other cardiopulmonary causes of chest pain similar to that produced by costochondritis may include but are not limited to myocardial infarction, angina, and pericarditis.

Typically, costochondritis is a more common condition that is not associated with any swelling, affects multiple joints (usually of the 2nd to 5th ribs), and is usually seen in individuals older than 40 years of age.

Tietze syndrome is a rarer condition that usually has visible swelling, commonly affecting a single joint (usually of the 2nd or 3rd rib), and typically seen in individuals younger than 40 years of age.

Pain relief medications (analgesics) such as acetaminophen, or the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or meloxicam may be suggested to relieve discomfort.

[10] Costochondritis is a common condition that is responsible for approximately 13–36% of acute chest pain-related concerns from adults depending on the setting, with 14–39% for adolescents.