Costochondritis: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments Explained

The costochondral joints, which are the parts of cartilage that connect the ribs in your sternum (breastbone), are inflamed. Chest pain can be scary, especially if it's on the same side as your heart. However, costochondritis is not a sign of a heart attack and usually does not cause complications.

Overview

What is Costochondritis?

Costochondritis is a painful inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the sternum (breastbone).

These pieces of cartilage are your joints. They are stiff and strong to help your ribcage protect organs like your heart and lungs.

Inflammation can make breathing very painful or moving the chest. The pain may start suddenly or develop slowly and spread (radiate) into the chest.

Some people think that any kind of chest pain is a sign of a heart attack. However, the same problems that cause heart attacks do not cause costochondritis, and having costochondritis does not mean you will have a heart attack. But you should always see a health care provider if your chest or ribs hurt, especially if the pain doesn't improve within a few days.

How Common Is Costochondritis?

Costochondritis is one of the most common causes of chest pain.According to specialists, approximately one-third of those who experience chest pain or rib pain visit a doctor may also have ankylosing spondylitis.

Costochondritis Symptoms

Chest pain is the most common costochondritis symptom.

Sharp pain in the front of the chest, near the junction of the sternum and ribs, usually on the left side. It can spread to the back or abdomen.
Pain when taking a deep breath or coughing. It gets better when you stop moving or your breathing is calmer.
Tenderness pressing the joints of the ribs. If you don't have this tenderness, you probably don't have costochondritis.
If costochondritis is caused by a post-surgical infection, you have redness, swelling, or pus at the surgical site.

Everyone experiences pain differently. Costochondritis usually feels like pain in the chest near the affected ribs. The pain may suddenly feel sharp or stabbing when you move your chest or body. Some movements that can worsen costochondral pain includes:

Breathing, especially deep breathing or labored breathing.
Cough, sneeze or vomit.
Body spinning.
To reach over the head (as if to take something from a high shelf).
Hug someone.
Training.
Lie on the injured side

Risk Factors Associated with Costochondritis

Costochondritis is a common cause of chest pain in children and adolescents. It accounts for 10 to 30 percent of all chest pains in children. Doctors see about 650,000 cases of chest pain in people aged 10 to 21 each year. The peak of the disease is 12-14 years.

Children who often carry heavy book bags on their shoulders may be more likely to develop costochondritis. In adults, costochondritis affects women more than men (70% vs. 30%).

Causes of Costochondritis

Experts aren't sure what causes retaliatory chondritis. Some experts believe that activities that cause small repetitive stresses (microtraumas) to the ribs over time can eventually trigger costochondritis. Microtraumas can include:

Injuries to the chest or ribs.
Excessive coughing or vomiting.
Infections in your chest.
Engaging in intense physical activity without sufficient time for rest and recovery (exercise, sports or physically demanding work or hobby).
You suddenly start engaging in physical activity that you don't normally do (like speeding up your exercise routine too quickly, or helping a friend move and lift heavy furniture all weekend).

Costochondritis Treatment

The most common treatment for costochondritis is chest and chest rest. In the treatment of costochondritis, it is best to give the irritated joints time to heal.

OTC medications such as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or acetaminophen can help relieve your pain. Talk to your provider before taking pain medication for more than 10 days in a row.

It's rare, but your provider may inject a corticosteroid into your affected joints to reduce inflammation if your symptoms don't improve after a few weeks.

Some people with costochondritis get better without treatment, but don't think it will go away on its own. See your provider as soon as you notice any type of chest pain.

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