The symptoms of this medical condition include acute pain in the chest, along with tenderness and some swelling of the cartilages affected, which is commonly palpable on examination. The pain can be identical to a heart attack and can cause hyper ventilating, anxiety attacks, passing out, panic attacks and temporary numbness/paralysis.

Tietze’s Syndrome can be caused due to a physical strain or minor injury, such as repeated coughing, sneezing, vomiting, or impacts to the chest. It has even been known to occur after hearty bouts of laughter. It can occur by over exerting or by an injury in the chest and breast.

Often the symptoms of Tistze’s syndrome is associated with a heart attack but the case is not so. The pain, however, can be severe enough to cause significant but temporary disability to the patient.

Ice should be massaged on the area. Move the ice frequently, not allowing it to sit in one spot and also not without a layer of protection. Either continually move the ice or use a thin towel between the ice and skin.

You should ice for 15-20 minutes and not longer than this. You can cause damage to the tissues, including frostbite, by icing for too long.

Allow time between treatments. Allow area to warm for at least 45 minutes or an hour before beginning the icing routine again.

You can use a Ziploc bag with ice cubes or crushed ice. Add a little water to the ice bag so it will conform to your body.

If you do not have a Ziploc bag, you could keep paper cups filled with water in your freezer. Peel the top of the cup away and massage the ice-cup over the injury in a circular pattern allowing the ice to melt away.