6 Possible Causes Of Rib Cage Pain - Medical News Today

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Medical News TodaySubscribeCauses of rib cage pain and what to do about it

Medically reviewed by Darragh O'Carroll, MD — Written by Jayne Leonard — Updated on November 26, 2024

Causes
Symptoms
About the rib cage
Contacting a doctor
FAQ
Summary

Rib cage pain is a common complaint that can have many causes, ranging from a fractured rib to lung cancer. The pain may be sudden and sharp or dull and aching.

Many cases of rib cage pain are not linked to serious conditions and resolve on their own or with minimal treatment. Others, however, are medical emergencies requiring immediate intervention.

People should pay attention to their symptoms and speak with a doctor for a diagnosis of rib pain.

Six possible causes

Doctors looking at an X-ray of some ribs.-2 — Ladanifer/Getty Images

There are many possible causes of rib cage pain, including the following:

1. Injury

Injury to the chest from falls, traffic collisions, and sports-related contact is a common cause of rib cage pain. Types of injury include:

broken ribs
bruised ribs
fractured ribs
pulled muscle

Doctors may use an X-ray to highlight bone breaks and fractures if rib cage pain begins after an injury. MRIs and other scans can detect soft tissue damage.

2. Costochondritis

Costochondritis, or Tietze’s syndrome, is another common cause of rib cage pain.

This condition involves inflammation of the cartilage in the rib cage that joins the upper ribs to the sternum, an area called the costosternal joint.

Rib cage pain due to costochondritis ranges from mild to severe and may feel sharp or dull and worsen with movement, such as deep breathing, coughing, or stretching.

Some cases of costochondritis resolve without treatment, while others require medical intervention.

3. Infection

Rib pain may be due to infections, such as:

upper respiratory infection
bronchitis
pneumonia

The pain may be due to the infection itself, a pulled rib muscle from coughing, or pleurisy. Pleurisy occurs when the pleura, the tissue between the lungs and the rib cage, becomes inflamed.

Other causes of pleurisy include autoimmune disorders and certain medications.

4. Lung cancer

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States.

Lung cancer may cause rib cage pain or chest pain that worsens when breathing deeply, coughing, or laughing. Other symptoms may include:

coughing up blood or phlegm
shortness of breath
wheezing

The outlook for lung cancer is less favorable than other forms of cancer, and it is the leading cause of cancer death among males and females in the United States.

People with early stage lung cancer have a better chance of survival, highlighting the importance of early intervention.

Metastatic lung cancer, or cancer that begins in one area and spreads to the lungs, can be life threatening. It can also cause pain in the rib cage or chest.

5. Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain throughout the body. The American College of Rheumatology estimates that it affects 2% to 4% of people and is more common in females.

Fibromyalgia pain may be burning, throbbing, stabbing, or aching. These pains commonly occur in the chest, but can affect any body part.

6. Pulmonary embolism

A pulmonary embolism is when something blocks an artery going into the lungs. The blockage is often due to a blood clot that travels up from one of the legs.

As well as rib cage pain, a pulmonary embolism may cause the following symptoms:

shortness of breath
rapid breathing
coughing, including coughing up blood
anxiety
lightheadedness
sweating
irregular heartbeat

Pulmonary embolism is a serious condition that can damage the lungs and other organs due to reduced oxygen in the blood. Anyone who experiences the symptoms should see a doctor.

According to the American Lung Association, 10% to 30% of people who develop pulmonary embolism die within 1 month of diagnosis. However, prompt diagnosis and treatment can prevent complications.

Symptoms of rib cage pain

Rib cage pain may occur in the chest, below the ribs, or above the navel. As there are various potential causes of rib cage pain, symptoms can vary. Pain may be:

sharp
dull
aching
sudden
slow to develop
constant
intermittent
worse when breathing in or moving

People may also experience other symptoms, such as bruising or tenderness of the ribs or difficulty breathing.

People should pay attention to their symptoms, as these can help a doctor with their diagnosis.

The rib cage

The rib cage typically consists of 24 ribs, 12 on either side, and shields the chest organs, including the heart and the lungs, from damage.

The ribs are attached to the breastbone, which is the long bone that runs down the center of the chest. They are attached at the front, by cartilage. At the back, they are attached to the spine.

Rib bones protect the liver, which is at the lower end of the rib cage on the right, and the spleen, which is on the left. The gallbladder and kidneys lie just below the rib cage.

If injury or illness affects any part of the rib cage, including the bones or cartilage or the organs nearby, people may experience pain in or near the rib cage.

When to see a doctor

Various underlying injuries or conditions can cause rib cage pain. People should consult a doctor if they have unexplained rib cage pain.

If people have severe chest pain and difficulty breathing, they should seek emergency medical treatment, as these symptoms could indicate a heart attack.

Frequently asked questions

What causes pain on the right side of the rib cage?

There are many potential reasons why the right side of a person’s rib cage is hurting. Often, this is due to an injury to the chest area. Other causes include costochondritis and fibromyalgia.

People should contact a doctor for a diagnosis if they experience persistent or severe pain in the right side of their rib cage.

What causes rib pain without injury?

Some causes of rib pain that are not a result of injury include costochondritis, infection, lung cancer, fibromyalgia, and pulmonary embolism.

These conditions may also cause other symptoms. People should speak with a doctor for a proper diagnosis.

When should someone be concerned about rib pain?

There are many potential causes of rib pain. People should contact a doctor if the pain worsens or does not resolve.

People should contact the emergency services if the rib pain is severe and accompanies other symptoms, such as shortness of breath.

What can mimic rib pain?

A person may mistake other conditions for rib pain. For example, a condition affecting the heart or lungs may cause referred pain in the ribs. However, there could also be less severe causes, such as indigestion.

To get an accurate diagnosis, a person should contact a doctor if they experience rib pain.

Summary

There are various potential causes of rib cage pain, many of which are not linked to serious conditions and resolve on their own. However, other cases may require medical treatment and long-term care.

The cause of the rib pain may be a disease or condition not included in the list above. It helps to be vigilant for other symptoms that accompany the rib cage pain and to report these to a doctor.

A doctor may use a physical exam or imaging tests to diagnose the underlying cause of rib pain.

Body Aches
Heart Disease
Bones / Orthopedics
Pain / Anesthetics

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Fibromyalgia. (2022).https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia. (2023).https://rheumatology.org/patients/fibromyalgia
Hunter MP, et al. (2023). Pleurisy.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558958/
Kuo K, et al. (2023). Rib fracture.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541020/
Learn about pulmonary embolism. (2024).https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pulmonary-embolism/learn-about-pulmonary-embolism
Lung cancer. (n.d.).https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/lung-cancer.html
Peek J, et al. (2020). Traumatic rib fractures: A marker of severe injury. A nationwide study using the National Trauma Data Bank.https://tsaco.bmj.com/content/5/1/e000441
Pulmonary embolism (PE). (2022).https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/pulmonary-embolism
Safarini OA, et al. (2023). Anatomy, thorax, ribs.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538328/
Schumann JA, et al. (2024). Costochondritis.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532931/
Siddiqui F, et al. (2023). Lung cancer.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482357/
Warning signs of a heart attack. (2022).https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/warning-signs-of-a-heart-attack

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Medically reviewed by Darragh O'Carroll, MD — Written by Jayne Leonard — Updated on November 26, 2024

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