Costochondritis is often linked to forms of arthritis... namely psoriatic arthritis. Treating it with painkillers is a very short term fix in that it is an inflammatory condition. Pain and inflammation tend to feed upon themselves... you tense up when you are in pain and the whole cycle keeps going. If you can determine if the Costochondritis is linked to another form of arthritis you may find that treating the disease instead of the symptoms will actually reduce the symptoms. I control my psoriatic arthris with Disease Modifying drugs like methotrexate and arava and have really reduced the number of flares. This means using a lot fewer NSAIDs or painkillers.

With regards to NSAIDs... I only take various nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs to deal with pain or inflammation (and only when I really have to) and they did bother my stomach too. I was talking with another friend with arthritis that has the same problem and we both agree- taking NSAIDs with coffee or hot tea seems to prevent the gut burn. At first my pharmacist that it sounded crazy. But think about it... coffee and tea tend to be acidic and drinking a warm beverage tends to also cause the pill/tablet to dissolve more quickly helping it leave your stomach more quickly. Talk to your doctor, but, it works for us!!!