Housekeeping job in Greece with costochondritis, do I still have a chance? Looking for recovery advice.

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for advice from anyone who has recovered from costochondritis or works in physically demanding jobs, especially housekeeping.

A little background:

Around June to September 2025, I became obsessed with fitness and was working out for almost 3 hours a day, mostly cardio, strength training and upper-body exercises. In September, I contracted chikungunya, which caused severe joint pain and inflammation. Instead of resting, I stubbornly continued lifting weights because I didn’t want to lose my progress.

A few weeks later, I started noticing that it was becoming difficult to breathe deeply, lift weights, and even perform movements that had never bothered me before.
I went to a doctor and had a chest X-ray and ECG. My chest X-ray came back normal, but my ECG showed non-specific T-wave changes. My doctor prescribed isosorbide, trimetazidine, and metoprolol. While the medications helped rule out more serious concerns, they didn’t solve the pain I was experiencing. I also suffer from anxiety related to this condition, and my pain is usually around a 6/10.

Since then, I haven’t been able to return to my old workouts.

My pain is mostly:
Pressure and aching in the center of my sternum
Sharp, stinging pain on the right side of my chest and ribs
Pain that radiates into my back and right side neck
Worse when lifting, twisting, or lying flat on my back
Some days it’s manageable, while other days it flares up but tolerable.

Fast forward to June 2026, I started using a Backpod along with a lacrosse ball to work on my upper back and rib mobility. Surprisingly, they’ve helped more than anything else I’ve tried.

Right now, I’m:
Walking and jogging about twice a week
Doing light stretching and occasional light lifting
Currently unemployed, so I don’t have a physically demanding lifestyle
Still struggling with poor posture, especially when sitting
Still eating sugar and drinking caffeine daily (I know I should probably improve my diet)

Here’s where I’m worried.

I recently applied for a housekeeping job in Greece because my husband has been working there, and we’ve been in a long-distance marriage for over 3 years. This job is physically demanding, and I’m scared that my chest won’t hold up.

I have a few months before I leave, and my goal is to get into the healthiest condition possible.

For anyone who’s recovered from costochondritis or returned to manual labor:
Were you able to recover enough for physically demanding work?
What made the biggest difference in your recovery?
How long did it take before you could lift without pain?
Is there anything you wish you had done sooner?
If you were in my position with only a few months to prepare, what would you focus on?

I’m willing to put in the work. I just don’t want to arrive in Greece and realize my body isn’t ready.

I’d really appreciate hearing your experiences or any advice.

Thank you.