Ribcage pain
Pain - ribcageRibcage pain includes any pain or discomfort in the area of the ribs.
Considerations
With a broken rib, the pain is worse when bending and twisting the body. This movement does not cause the pain in someone who has pleurisy (swelling of the lining of the lungs) or muscle spasms.
Pleurisy
Pleurisy is an inflammation of the lining of the lungs and chest (the pleura) that leads to chest pain when you take a breath or cough.
Causes
Ribcage pain may be caused by any of the following:
- Bruised, cracked, or fractured rib
- Inflammation of cartilage near the breastbone (costochondritis)
Costochondritis
All but your lowest 2 ribs are connected to your breastbone by cartilage. This cartilage can become inflamed and cause pain. This condition is call...
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Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break (fracture).
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Pleurisy (the pain is worse when breathing deeply)
Home Care
Rest and not moving the area (immobilization) are the best cures for a rib fracture.
Fracture
If more pressure is put on a bone than it can stand, it will split or break. A break of any size is called a fracture. If the broken bone punctures...
Follow your health care provider's instructions for treating the cause of ribcage pain.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your provider for an appointment if you do not know the cause of the pain, or if it does not go away.
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
Your provider may perform a physical examination. You'll likely be asked about your symptoms, such as when the pain started, its location, the kind of pain you're having, and what makes it worse.
Tests that may be ordered include:
- Bone scan (if there is a known history of cancer or it is highly suspected)
Bone scan
A bone scan is an imaging test used to diagnose bone diseases and find out how severe they are.
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Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Cancerous cells are also called malignant cells.
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Chest x-ray
A chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.
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Your provider may prescribe treatment for your ribcage pain. Treatment depends on the cause.
References
Jones H, Reynolds JH. Thoracic trauma and related topics. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, Schaefer-Prokop CM, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 10.
Tzelepis GE, Gartman EJ, McCool FD. The respiratory system and chest wall diseases. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 98.
Review Date: 2/2/2023
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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