Oct 2 2010
Ribs Pain Symptoms: A Broken Rib, Or Something Else
Rib pain symptoms may be an indicator that something is wrong in your chest or upper torso that actually has little to do with a simple rib injury.
The intent of this article is to list many of the common health problems, diseases, conditions and injuries that cause rib pain symptoms.. Whether or not you see information here that may indicate what your rib pain symptoms mean, it’s important that you talk to your doctor to make sure you get a proper medical diagnosis.
Among the most common problems that cause rib pain symptoms are bone, joint and soft tissue injuries and disorders.
Rib injuries and trauma probably result in rib pain more often than any other cause. Rib pain from an injury is generally easy to diagnose because it results from an incident involving some kind of impact. Auto accidents and bodily collisions that occur during sports competition are not unusual. Ribs that are broken or cracked are relatively easy to spot with X-rays or MRI devices.
Rib pain is, of course, the most obvious symptom of a broken rib. But someone with this type of rib injury may also have considerable difficulty breathing.
Sometimes injuries to the soft tissues surrounding the ribs can cause rib pain symptoms, even though the ribs themselves are not damaged. The ribcage is criss-crossed by a network of muscles, tendons and ligaments. Dame to any of these can feel like pain in the ribs. Soft tissue injuries are usually painful when touched, and may also cause some breathing difficulty. But generally speaking, they don’t cause the intense pain that broken or fractured ribs do.
A number of diseases and disorders connected to the bones and joints sometimes cause rib pain as a symptom. These include osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
There are a number of lesser known physical conditions that also cause rib pain symptoms.
A condition known as osteochondritis dissecans causes pain in areas where your ribs are attached to your backbone and breastbone. It’s occurs when there’s an insufficient blood flow to these areas. Osteochondritis dissecans is more likely to happen to young adults and teenagers, especially those who are active in athletics.
Costochondritis is a disorder that results in rib pain symptoms that are somewhat similar to osteochondritis dissecans. Costochondritis causes pain in the cartilage that connects the breastbone to the ribs. It is the result of inflammation. Costochondritis can come from physical stress that occurs when you try to push, pull or lift something that’s too heavy for you. It can also be caused by overuse of muscles in the area, or of course, by a blow or trauma.
Rib pain symptoms may also be a sign of nerve damage or problems in the spinal column. Doctors call this referred pain because the pain is actually originating in another location. It travels along nerve pathways and presents in a completely different place. Typically, referred pain is caused by nerve damage to a disc or some part of the spinal column.
Several conditions related to the lungs cause rib pain as a symptom. These include the following.
Pneumonia – This dangerous lung illness results from an infection caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites..
Pleurisy – The lining between the lungs and the ribs is known as the pleura. When this membrane becomes inflamed, it can cause severe ribcage pain and make breathing uncomfortable.
Tuberculosis – This infectious disease used to kill hundreds of thousands of people worldwide every year. Although it’s now rare in modernized countries, it can still strike, causing rib pain as one of its many symptoms.
Angina (chest pain from heart disease) – In its milder forms, angina can be mistaken for rib pain.
Asbestosis and mesothelioma – which result from years of asbestos exposure – can both cause rib pain symptoms.
Rib pain symptoms are sometimes characteristic of certain types of cancer, especially lymphoma and myeloma.
Whooping cough – This is a violent cough that can cause the ribs to become sore and painful.
Shingles is an illness caused by the herpes zoster virus. It attacks the nerves and causes an extremely painful skin rash. This rash is sometimes preceded by rib pain and chest pain.
Those who are often subjected to anxiety or panic attacks know that these attacks are sometimes accompanied by rib pain. Heavy, rapid breathing caused by stress can strain muscles and tissues in the chest, sides and back. Episodes of this type can also lead to life-threatening heart problems, heart rate irregularities and even a heart attack.
Click on common rib pain symptoms and their meaning and causes of rib pain for more. Neal Kennedy is a retired TV news anchor, medical reporter and radio talk show host. He frequently contributes articles to Coping With Rib Pain
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