Treat Chest and Rib Fullness with Acupuncture
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In this article we’ll discuss chest and rib fullness, which can be treated with acupuncture. For those who suffer from chest and rib fullness, regular acupuncture sessions can be a helpful approach for dealing with symptoms. Acupuncture is performed by inserting thin needles into strategic points on the body – acupuncture for chest and rib fullness specifically is performed similarly.
Let’s discuss more about how Acupuncture can help with Chest & Rib Fullness.
What is Costochondritis?
There are many names for chest pain, including rib pain, rib neuritis, and costochondritis.
Costochondritis has a few different names as well, including chest wall pain, costosternal syndrome and chondrodynia. Not only does costochondritis hurt, it also causes swelling, which can make the condition even more uncomfortable for sufferers. So, what is costochondritis exactly? It is a condition that causes the cartilage that connects the rib and breastbone (also called the sternum) to be inflamed. For many individuals, the pain caused by costochondritis feels similar to a heart attack or a similar heart condition. In fact, costochondritis mimics heart attack symptoms.
What are the Symptoms of Costochondritis?
A pain that ranges from dull to sharp, emanating from the front of the chest, radiating all the way back
- Pain when taking deep breaths
- Coughing during physical activity
- Tenderness at the breast bone
- Heart palpitations
- Pain at the fourth, fifth and sixth rib
- When costochondritis is caused by infection after surgery, it may cause redness, swelling and/or a pus-filled discharge
- Pain that may be mistaken for a heart attack (pain on the left side of the chest)
Acupuncture for Chest Fullness
Chest fullness/costochondritis can be helped by acupuncture. That’s because, when acupuncture needles are inserted by a trained professional, they cause an increase in local blood flow, which floods the region with nutrients and immunity cells. This is how healing occurs. Acupuncture also helps by balancing brain chemistry, hormone levels and immune function.
Trigger Points
For thousands of years in Chinese medicine these have been called Ashi points or “oh yes” points – they’re places that cause pain upon palpation of the tissue. Trigger points are tight and tender bands in the belly of a muscle. They can appear in any muscle and cause pain directly in the muscle while also referring to other areas. Trigger points are areas where the muscle has shortened and tightened – also called contraction. The circulation in these areas is impared, causing a lack of oxygen and nutrients. It also impairs the ability to clear waste products, resulting in pain and muscle dysfunction.
Muscles do not function in isolation, so when one muscle’s function is dysfunctional it can cause a series of reactions in the chain of muscles that work together to allow or produce certain movement. So when treating your injury we are looking for a pathway of pain. Connected places in the body affected by the injury or illness. We look for the areas of tightness causing muscle dysfunction as well as areas where there is pain. Only when both are treated can you achieve the rapid result I do with my patients, here at Acupuncture Pain and Stress Center.
In Conclusion: How can Acupuncture Help with Chest and Rib Fullness?
Chest and rib fullness cause pain, swelling and discomfort. The good thing is, acupuncture can help. Instead of relying on painkillers to dull pain, acupuncture helps at the source. Acupuncture helps stimulate blood flow, which can help restore nerve function and improve pain points overall.
Where can I treat Chest and Neck Fullness with Acupuncture in Raleigh, North Carolina?
Neck tension is one of the conditions that can be treated with acupuncture. Acupuncture can also help with pain, swelling, migraines, bursitis, muscle cramps, hip pain, carpal tunnel, and more. If you’re searching for a qualified Acupuncturist to help with your neck tension in Raleigh, North Carolina, you’ll want to find someone with experience, qualifications, and compassion. Look no further than Acupuncture Pain and Stress Center. Our goal since 2010 has been to provide quality and compassionate acupuncture in Raleigh, NC and the surrounding areas.

Acupuncture Pain and Stress Center for all of your Acupuncture needs
Hi, I’m Jim Eleczko, the founder of Acupuncture Pain and Stress Center and it’s my mission to provide you with compassionate, whole-person care using holistic treatments, including Acupuncture and topical herbal medicine. I’m a board-certified and licensed Acupuncturist practicing since 2010 in Raleigh, North Carolina. I love that I get to wake up every day to make meaningful changes in my patient’s lives. I’ve seen first hand the changes that Acupuncture can make. As a teen I suffered from allergies and my father suggested that I try Acupuncture to calm the symptoms. It worked – and left a lasting impression on me! Now I offer Acupuncture and other treatments to help people with a variety of issues, including anxiety, migraines, fibromyalgia, and more. Our other treatments include Dry Needling, Tuina Massage, Guasha, Cupping, Stretching, Orthopedic Movements, Electroacupuncture and Therapeutic Exercises.
Here’s a bit more about me and my qualifications: I studied the 4-year program at Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine and continue to travel multiple times a year to study with my mentor, Andrew Nugent-Head. I also studied under Dr. Ed Garbacz, M.D. LAc and spent a year working and studying under Dr. Bonnie Walker, M.D. LAc. I have also done extensive post-graduate studies in acupuncture, nutrition, herbal medicine from lectures of acupuncturists like Dr. Nguyen Van Nghi, Dr. Tran Viet Dzung, Matt Callison, and Edward Obaidey.
Get in touch with me by calling (919) 260-4104. I’d be happy to answer your questions and get you booked for an appointment today!