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 along with a few that probably aren't as well known to those who are not medical professionals.
We'll start with rib pain resulting from damage due to injuries. Many people are familiar with the most common types.
Fractured (Broken) or Cracked Ribs - Very often, you don't even need an x-ray to diagnose a cracked or broken rib (your doctor will undoubtedly order one nonetheless). The pain from this type of rib injury can be intense and very severe. It's not unusual for an individual who has had a cracked or broken rib to say it's the most severe pain they've ever felt. When a rib fracture occurs, it's usually due to an auto accident, a fall, or a blow to the body during athletic competition. One of the most obvious symptoms is your breathing: it can be extremely uncomfortable just trying to inhale. The damaged area will probably also be sensitive to touch, and any movement involving the upper body can result in sharp, stinging discomfort.
Cartilage Injury - Cartilage is the material that connects your ribs to your breastbone. It also gives your ribcage a certain amount of shock absorbency, and helps make it easier for your chest to expand and contract when you breathe. When you have cartilage damage, the pain feels similar to the pain of a cracked rib. Laughing and coughing will cause discomfort. Taking a deep breath will hurt, and an unexpected sneeze can be particularly unpleasant.
Soft Tissue Damage - The area around the ribcage consists of dozens of muscles, ligaments, and tendons. All of these can suffer damage in a variety of ways: you may try to lift, push or pull something that's too heavy for you. An injury can also result from "repetitive motion," that is, performing the same task over and over for a long period of time. The resulting pain can easily be mistaken for rib pain or rib damage.
A number of conditions and disorders related to the bones and joints sometimes result in rib pain. Some of the more common include the following.
Joint inflammation - The older we get, more likely it becomes that we'll experience joint inflammation in any number of places. Anytime a joint near the ribcage becomes inflamed, it may seem like the pain is originating in the ribcage itself. There are two conditions that are especially common.
Osteoarthritis - There are many places in the body that can be affected by osteoarthritis, including the area where the ribs connect to the breastbone and the backbone.
Rheumatoid Arthritis - This is a disorder in which your immune system attacks itself, causing pain in the joints. Rib pain results when it 1 the joints in the torso.
Rib pain can also be a symptom of a number of disorders, including those that follow.
Pleurisy - Pleurisy is an infection of the lining between the lungs and the ribcage (known as the pleura). When this lining becomes inflamed, it causes pain which can sometimes be very intense. When you have pleurisy, simply inhaling and exhaling can hurt - and hurt a lot.
Pneumonia - Rib pain is typical when you have pneumonia. Coughing, laughing, breathing, sneezing can all be painful.
Tuberculosis - Rib pain is also characteristic of tuberculosis (commonly known as "TB"). Fatigue, fever and coughing are among the other symptoms.
A variety of cancers can produce discomfort and pain in the ribcage area (both in the front and back). Lung cancer and multiple myeloma are at the top of this list. Rib pain is a symptom in 4 out of 5 myeloma cases.
Rib pain is often a symptom in several lung diseases connected to smoking or long term exposure to pollutants. Mesothelioma and asbestosis lead the list in this category.
Here's a quick description of a number of other medical conditions that have been known to cause rib pain.
* A gallbladder attack or gallstones.
* Nerve issues (especially caused by damage to the spinal column). The disease known as "shingles" is included in this category because it often begins with pain in the rib and torso area before erupting into a skin rash.
* Individuals who abuse steroids often experience rib pain after long term use.
* Those who are under a great deal of stress sometimes suffer rib pain. These individuals often take deep breaths and stretch soft tissue around the ribcage beyond its limits..
Lastly, there's angina, which is a medical term for chest pain experienced by those with heart problems. Angina can easily be mistaken for rib pain.
In summary, it's clear that dozens of injuries and conditions can trigger rib pain. Some can cause a lot of discomfort but pose no serious long term threat to your health. Others are very dangerous.
If your rib pain lasts for more than a few days, or seems to be growing in severity, it would be a good idea to discuss your symptoms with your doctor.
Neal Kennedy is a former radio and television reporter who has written a number of articles on rib pain, including Common Causes Of Ribcage Pain? and Why Do I Have Pain Under The Ribs These can be found at www.ribpain.info.
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