Diseases as further causes
Pain of the upper rib pairs one to four in the area of their starting point at the breastbone can be accompanied by swelling and is then called Tietze syndrome. The cause of this rare form of precisely localized rib pain at the front of the sternum is an inflammation of one or more joints of the ribs-breast bone (sternocostal joints). Sudden pain in the front ribs following an accident or fall can be an indication of a fracture of the sternum or a rib or rib contusion.
Pregnancy can also be a cause of rib pain. Rib pain on the right or left side of the chest (thorax) can be caused by a rupture of the muscle fibres between the ribs in chronic coughing, which permanently strains and overloads the muscles of the thoracic wall. Poor posture or incorrect loading during sports can also trigger muscle pain in the ribs.
On the right and left side of the thorax, the musculus latissimus dorsi (broadest back muscle), which is often enlarged in a special form by strength training, or the musculus serratus anterior (anterior sawtooth muscle) can be affected. After an accident with an impact on the now painful side, rib pain on one side of the chest could also be considered as a rib contusion or rib fracture. If a rib fracture is suspected, it should be ruled out by an x-ray; a rib contusion is treated by taking painkillers.
This topic could also be interesting for you: Right-sided rib pain – What do I have? The cause of rib pain in the back of the back is in many cases a blockage of the rib vertebral joints. The rib vertebral joints can be blocked and limited in their mobility by incorrect loading or incorrect posture of the rib cage.
Triggers for a rib blockage can be the one-sided carrying of a heavy bag, incorrect posture when working at a desk, tense back or chest muscles, excessively rapid rotational movements of the upper body during sports, or a blockage of a thoracic vertebra. If the spine lacks its own curvatures (lordosis and kyphosis) or if these are too flat, this can also lead to a rib or thoracic spine blockage. The pain in a rib blockage is mainly located in the area of transition to the spine, but can also radiate into the sides of the rib cage or even extend forward to the sternum.
Depending on the blocked rib, other symptoms may include pain in the cervical spine, shoulder or arm. The pain of a rib blockage is always dependent on breathing, since with each breath the ribs in the two costal vertebral joints are rotated to allow the rib cage and lungs to unfold. Coughing, sneezing, moving the arm of the affected side or pressure on the rib cage can increase the pain of a rib blockage.
The treatment of a rib blockage consists of so-called “settling” and subsequent movement exercises to promote mobility and strengthen the muscles. At times, it may be advisable to take painkillers. It is important to know that the symptoms of a rib blockage can be similar to a blockage of a thoracic vertebra, which is why a detailed physical examination should be carried out before setting the ribs.
Pain directly below the chest can be rib pain, which in turn can be triggered by various causes (rib block, vertebral block, muscle tension, rib contusion, etc.). Pain in the chest area can also be caused by an inflammation of the mammary gland (mastitis). Pain that is not felt under the breast but under the ribcage is often caused by an illness in the abdominal cavity. It is possible for stomach contents to flow back into the esophagus, which can be perceived as heartburn in the area between the costal arches.