Thanks Thorne. I will check it out!

I also have had chronic costochondritis since my teens. Like you, @thorne, my episodes would last weeks or months then breaks in between. Episodes were triggered by both stress and upper body exercise or stretching too far. I'm so careful not to strain my chest muscles. When I was around 30 and had it non-stop for two years. I had a PCP who was a DO (doctor of osteopathy). He said he could fix it with osteopathic manipulation (like a form of PT). After 10 treatments, the pain was gone for the first time in two years. I couldn't believe it. It did come back many more times. Cortisone shots did not help. When I had the most severe flare ups, I couldn't even move, lift a plate, lie down flat, etc. I would sleep in the recliner. It hurts to move and use my chest muscles at all and that means limited arm movement.

Calling it a poor man's heart attack is very accurate. That is what it feels like. In fact, about 30 years ago, Michael Jackson had severe chest pain during a dance rehearsal. He went to the ER. They told him it wasn't a heart attack. He didn't believe them based on what he felt so he was inpatient for a week getting every test. In the end, they told him it was costochondritis. I remember the story because I also had it and thought to myself, "See, that's how much it hurts!" In his case, it was a rich man's heart attack. We can't all afford a week inpatient doing tests.

Consider this condition as a possibility, but if you have chest pain, get it checked out ASAP to be sure! I was told most people only get it once or not at all. Best of luck.