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Hi Linda, I too have Costal Chonditis and i agree it is excruciating. DRs make me lcross when they dismiss it as not life threatening. It may not kill you but it ruins your lifr as  you will know as moving sleeping and just speaking and breathing become a major trial with C C. Anyway helpful hints......ice is good, though cover with a hanky or tisse and apply for 5-10 minutes several times a day. ( dont laugh but a frozen sausage is good as it hits the spot without freezing the rest of your chest)Also gently rubbing anti inflammatory gel into the area is good too I find. beware how much you rub ...just a little bit 2/3/ times a day is best and if you are also taking anti inflams check with your Doc first  that its not too much together. Once you get it setlled identify and avoid triggers. Good advice is to work within `the hoop`....imagine a skirt shaped hoop from  neck to feet, narrow at neck and wider at feet.....keep all arm work inside the hoop......this effectively gets rid of overhead work...(hanging washing out/ clothes on hangers/putting curtains up need to be avoided...) and a lot of pain. Also as soon as you feel a twinge go into rest and meds mode to head it off before it gets a grip.......always rest twice as long as you think....I tend to think its gone...leap back into the swimming ppol and it goes into orbit again.  Hope this helps. Hope you feel better soon.