Rib pain is often caused by a rib injury, but it can also result from a variety of diseases, disorders and conditions. Some of these are not easy to diagnose quickly. In this article, we’ll look at some of the most common causes of ribcage pain, along with a few that probably aren’t as well known to those who are not medical professionals.
Let’s look at rib injuries first.
Fractured (Broken) or Cracked Ribs – Pain from a cracked or broken rib is generally sharp and extremely severe. Many people say a fractured rib produces some of the worst pain there is. Rib fractures are often the result of vehicular collisions or the collision of bodies during athletic events. Breathing can become very difficult – even painful. The area around the injury will be sore and sensitive to pressure, and any movement of the torso is likely to produce discomfort.
Cartilage Injury – You probably know what cartilage is. It’s the connective tissue between your ribs and your sternum or breastbone. Cartilage makes it easier for your chest to expand during breathing, and it also gives your ribcage the ability to absorb the shock of a blow. When this cartilage is damaged, it will feel like a rib injury. Cartilage damage in your chest will cause pain when you’re breathing, laughing or coughing.
Soft Tissue Damage – Your chest and back include dozens of soft tissue formations that circumvent your ribcage: your ligaments, tendons and muscles. Such soft tissues can be damaged by stretching or straining: for instance, you may try to push, pull or lift something that’s beyond your capability. An injury can also result from repeating the same motion for a long time (called a “repetitive motion injury”) The resulting pain can easily be mistaken for ribcage pain or rib damage.
Conditions, disorders and diseases of the bones and joints may also cause ribcage pain. Some of the more common include the following.
Joint inflammation – As we get older, joint inflammation becomes more and more likely. When joints near the ribs become inflamed, the pain can feel like it’s happening in your ribcage. There are two conditions that are especially common.
Osteoarthritis – Osteoarthritis occurs when joints wear out, causing irritation and inflammation. It sometimes affects the areas which connect the backbone and breastbone to the ribs, resulting in ribcage pain.
Rheumatoid Arthritis – This is a disorder in which your immune system attacks itself, causing pain in the joints. Rib pain results when it strikesaffects the joints in the torso.
Some relatively common diseases and illnesses are also characterized by rib pain. Among them are the following.
Pleurisy – Pleurisy occurs when the lining between the ribs and the lungs becomes inflamed (the medical name for this lining is the “pleura”). Rib pain caused by pleurisy can be intense, and breathing can become difficult and uncomfortable.
Pneumonia – Chest discomfort and pain in the ribcage area is one of the characteristic symptoms of pneumonia. Breathing can be difficult, and laughing, sneezing or coughing can be downright painful.
Tuberculosis – Pain in the ribs is also a typical indicator of tuberculosis. Other symptoms include fatigue, fever and coughing.
A number of types of cancer cause pain in the chest and ribcage area – especially lung cancer and multiple myeloma. Rib pain is a symptom in approximately 80 percent of multiple myeloma cases.
Anyone who has a lung disease that’s due to tobacco use or long term exposure to pollutants is likely to have pain in the ribs. This is especially true among those who suffer from asbestosis and mesothelioma.
The following causes for pain in the ribs fit into the “miscellaneous” category:
* Gallbladder problems, especially a gallbladder attack or gallstones
* Spinal or other nerve-related injuries and disorders. This category includes shingles, which often begins with ribcage pain before it erupts into an extremely uncomfortable rash.
* Long time steroid users sometimes develop chronic rib pain.
* People who are under a great deal of stress are more prone to rib pain because they often take deep, heavy breaths. This type of breathing may strain the network of muscles around the ribs..
Finally, angina (the medical term for chest pain caused by heart disease) can feel like ribcage pain.
Clearly, there are many, many different kinds of conditions and injuries that result in ribcage pain. Some can cause a lot of discomfort but pose no serious long term threat to your health. Others are very dangerous.
If you’ve had ribcage pain for several days, or if your pain is growing steadily worse, it’s probably time to call your doctor.[/body]
Do you need more information on pain in the ribs? Read Rib Pain And Its Causes and Why Are Fractured Ribs So Dangerous?. George McKenzie is a retired TV and radio reporter with a special interest in medical issues.
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My Husband is sufering for Chest Pain Near The Ribs and we dont have Insurance he is not been working for almos 6 monhts ago. and we was worry, Thankyou for the explanechion.
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