new- any advice or encouragement appreciated! Esp. concerned with lack of Exercise

Hi all,
I was diagnosed with costochondritis (and neck strain) about 3 1/2 weeks ago, after a car accident. The seatbelt helped me out but also hurt me! I am majorly bummed as I love being very active, and had a weight lifting/aerobic plan I was following. Also, exercise has always kept Depression in remission for me AND I am getting married in July. I really want to feel good (and I'll admit, look good too, though that is secondary ;)) for my wedding day and I really want to be able to go on hikes and be active on our honeymoon in Costa Rica!!!

When I was first diagnosed I waited a week and then went back to the gym, only to cause serious pain. I have since been told to lay off and not do anything that causes more pain, and I follow that advice. It seems even if I walk very slowly and talk (the extra breathing), I tighten things up and the ache increases. So I've been trying to do nothing for some days and do only very light/slow walks or exercise every now and then when I just can't stand it. I am clinging to the hope that if I seriously limit activities for a week or so more I can start to get back to exercise (maybe 2-3 more weeks is more realistic... :( but I can't bare the thought of it being months or years like this, esp. up to my wedding.

I am a healthy eater-- I love tasty food that does good things for my body, and have been eating Omega-3 foods and taking a supplement, and trying to eat other anti-inflammatory foods (ginger, cherries, pineapple) and get vitamin C a few times a day and . The pain is a little better, in that it is more an ache and tightness with some moments of the more raw pain in spots, but I feel imprisoned into inactivity due to the fact that even light activity seems to aggravate it. I also don't have the same stabbing pain every time I sneeze/cough/hiccup, though I try to sneeze/cough "lightly".

Any words of hope/advice? Recipes or certain foods that help? Tips/experiences for getting back to exercise? I really appreciate this site and the people on it, as talking to others in the same boat is so helpful. Thank you all! May you be active, happy, pain free, healthy, and just very well. ~Amelia Tweet