What is Rib Cage Pain?
What is Rib Cage Pain?

Rib Cage Pain is known as Costochondritis (kos-toe-KHON-dri-tis) and is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone (sternum). It causes sharp pain in the costosternal joint — where your ribs and breastbone are joined by rubbery cartilage. Pain caused by costochondritis may mimic that of a heart attack or other heart conditions.

Your doctor might refer to costochondritis by other names, including chest wall pain, costosternal syndrome and costosternal chondrodynia. When the pain of costochondritis is accompanied by swelling, it's referred to as Tietze syndrome.

Most cases of costochondritis have no apparent cause. In these cases, treatment focuses on easing your pain while you wait for costochondritis to improve on its own.

Symptoms

Costochondritis is the most common cause of chest pain originating in the chest wall.

Symptoms include:

Pain and tenderness in the locations where your ribs attach to your breastbone (costosternal joints)

Often sharp pain, though also dull and gnawing pain

Location often on left side of breastbone, but possible on either side of chest

Other costochondritis symptoms may include:

Pain when taking deep breaths

Pain when coughing

Difficulty breathing

Causes

Doctors don't know what causes most cases of costochondritis. Only some cases of costochondritis have a clear cause. Those causes include:

Injury. A blow to the chest could cause costochondritis.

Physical strain. Heavy lifting and strenuous exercise have been linked to costochondritis.

Upper respiratory illness. An infection that produces sneezing or a cough may produce costochondritis.

Infection. Infection can develop in the costosternal joint, causing pain.

Fibromyalgia. Recurring costochondritis could be a symptom of fibromyalgia. People with fibromyalgia often have several tender spots. The upper part of the breastbone is a common tender spot.

•Pain from other areas of your body. Pain signals can sometimes be misinterpreted by your brain, causing pain in places far away from where the problem occurs. Your doctor might refer to this as "referred pain." Pain in your chest can sometimes be caused by
problems with the bones in your spine compressing the nerves.


Western Medicine Treatment

Costochondritis usually goes away on its own and is short-lived, although in some cases it may last for several months or longer.

To ease your pain until it fades, your doctor may recommend:


Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve)

Antidepressants, specifically a category of medicines called tricyclic antidepressants, if pain is making it difficult to sleep at night

Muscle relaxants, which can also help ease pain

Adopted from mayoclinic.com