Chest wall pain


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Chest wall pain


Chest wall pain is pain in the bones, cartilage, or muscles that make up the chest wall. Chest wall pain occurs in a specific area of the chest and may feel worse when pressure is applied to the area.

Chest wall pain can be caused by many problems, including:

  • An injury, such as a blow to the chest.
  • Prolonged or violent coughing, which can strain the muscles or ligaments in the chest.
  • Inflammation of the cartilage of the rib cage (costochondritis).
  • Pneumonia or a blood clot to the lungs (pulmonary embolism).

Chest wall pain usually feels different than the chest pain of a heart attack. Lying on the affected area or moving, such as twisting to the side or raising the arms, also can make chest wall pain feel worse.

Treatment for chest wall pain depends on the cause of the pain. Minor chest wall pain is treated with rest, ice or heat applied to the area, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen. If the chest wall pain is the result of coughing, the pain should improve as the cough improves.

Credits


Author Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Editor Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor Tracy Landauer
Primary Medical Reviewer William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Last Updated April 27, 2007

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Last updated: April 27, 2007
Author: Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By: William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors: Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer

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