What is the cause of chest wall soreness? How can it be treated effectively? Learn about the various conditions that can lead to chest wall pain and the appropriate treatments in this informative guide.

Understanding Chest Wall Soreness: Causes and Symptoms

Chest wall soreness is a type of discomfort that originates from the structures surrounding and protecting the lungs, including the ribs, sternum, and associated muscles. This pain can manifest in various ways, such as aching, stabbing, sharp, burning, or tearing sensations. The pain may worsen with certain movements, deep breathing, sneezing, or coughing.

Musculoskeletal conditions are the most common causes of chest wall soreness, including injuries, costochondritis, Tietze’s syndrome, slipping rib syndrome, muscle strains, and stress fractures. However, other underlying health issues, such as lung problems (pneumonia, pulmonary embolism), cardiovascular conditions (heart attack, angina, pericarditis), and gastrointestinal disorders (peptic ulcer, GERD), can also lead to chest wall pain.

Diagnostic Approach: Determining the Cause of Chest Wall Soreness

When experiencing chest wall soreness, it is crucial to seek medical attention to identify the underlying cause. Your healthcare provider will conduct a thorough evaluation, including a review of your symptoms, medical history, and any recent injuries or conditions. They may perform various tests, such as:

• Physical examination to check for areas of swelling or tenderness along the ribs, chest, and sternum
• Imaging tests, including chest X-rays, CT scans, or musculoskeletal ultrasounds, to assess the structure of the chest wall
• Nerve conduction velocity tests and electromyography to evaluate nerve function
• Cardiac tests, such as exercise stress tests, electrocardiograms, or echocardiograms, to rule out heart-related issues
• Diagnostic tests for lung conditions, including CT scans, thoracentesis, or bronchoscopy

Effective Treatments for Chest Wall Soreness

The treatment for chest wall soreness will depend on the underlying cause. For musculoskeletal conditions, the initial approach typically involves:

• Heat or ice application to reduce inflammation and pain
• Anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen or naproxen
• Muscle relaxants to alleviate spasms
• Stretching and physical therapy to improve mobility and strength
• Avoidance of activities that aggravate the pain
• Corticosteroid injections for more severe or persistent cases

For rheumatic conditions, the treatment focuses on managing the overall condition through medications, while lung infections are typically treated with antibiotics. Heart-related causes, such as a heart attack or angina, may require more immediate and specialized interventions, including blood thinners, medications to open arteries, cardiac catheterization, or bypass surgery.

Prognosis and Recovery

The prognosis for chest wall soreness largely depends on the underlying cause. In most cases of musculoskeletal conditions, the outlook is generally positive, with many individuals making a full recovery through a combination of rest, physical therapy, and appropriate treatment. However, for more serious conditions, such as heart attacks or pulmonary embolisms, the prognosis can be more guarded, and prompt medical intervention is crucial.

Preventing Recurrent Chest Wall Soreness

To reduce the risk of recurrent chest wall soreness, it is essential to address the underlying cause, adhere to prescribed treatments, and take steps to maintain overall physical health. This may include:

• Engaging in regular exercise to improve strength and flexibility
• Maintaining good posture and body mechanics to reduce strain on the chest wall
• Addressing any underlying medical conditions, such as rheumatic diseases or lung disorders
• Seeking prompt medical attention for any new or worsening chest wall pain

When to Seek Medical Attention

If you are experiencing chest wall soreness, it is important to seek medical attention, especially if the pain is severe, persistent, or accompanied by other concerning symptoms, such as shortness of breath, dizziness, or nausea. Prompt evaluation and appropriate treatment are crucial to ensuring a positive outcome and preventing potential complications.

Key Takeaways

Chest wall soreness can have a variety of underlying causes, ranging from musculoskeletal conditions to more serious health issues. Seeking prompt medical attention, undergoing a thorough evaluation, and receiving appropriate treatment are essential for managing this type of discomfort and promoting long-term health and well-being.

Symptoms, Treatment, and Possible Causes

Overview

Chest wall pain is the type that feels like it’s coming from your breast, rib cage, or a muscle in your chest. The chest wall usually refers to the structures surrounding and protecting your lungs, including your ribs and sternum.

You may feel pain only when you do certain movements or only if pressure is applied to your chest wall. You can feel it on one side of your chest or spread across a wide area.

If you go to the emergency room for chest wall pain, most doctors will want to make sure your pain isn’t being caused by a heart attack or another serious problem. While a heart attack can cause chest wall pain, more commonly, chest wall pain is caused by other conditions, including muscle, lung, or digestive issues. How long your chest wall pain lasts and what treatment you receive depends on what’s causing it.

Chest wall pain may be described as:

• aching
• stabbing
• sharp
• burning
• tearing
• pain that worsens when you move your chest, twist your torso, or raise your arms
• pain that increases when you breathe deeply, sneeze, or cough

Other symptoms include:

• numbness
• tingling
• shooting pain that extends to your back or neck

Musculoskeletal conditions are the most common causes of chest wall pain, but there are many other conditions that can lead to pain in the chest wall. Your chest is made up of many muscles, bones, and organs. For this reason, the exact cause of chest wall pain can sometimes be difficult to diagnose.

Some common causes of chest wall pain include:

Musculoskeletal problems

• injury or trauma to your chest, such as from a car accident
• costochondritis
• Tietze’s syndrome, which is similar to costochondritis
• slipping rib syndrome, or lower rib pain syndrome
• intercostal muscle strain or pulled chest muscle
• stress fracture in your ribs
• nerve entrapment
• fibromyalgia
• rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or psoriatic arthritis

Lung problems

• pneumonia
• pulmonary embolism

Cardiovascular problems

• heart attack
• angina
• pericarditis
• myocarditis

Gastrointestinal conditions

• peptic ulcer
• gastroesophageal reflux disease
• gall stones

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and family and personal medical history. Be sure to tell your doctor about any underlying conditions you have, medications you are taking, and if you have recently suffered any injuries.

If your doctor suspects you have a musculoskeletal problem like a rib fracture or costochondritis, they may check along your ribs, chest, and sternum for areas of swelling. They may try to reproduce or trigger your pain to help them learn more about where your pain is coming from.

Other tests to help your doctor evaluate musculoskeletal sources of chest wall pain include:

• chest X-ray
• nerve conduction velocity tests
• electromyography
• musculoskeletal ultrasound
• sympathetic skin response, which is a test of your nerve’s reaction when triggered with stimuli

If you have any risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, or a history of smoking, your doctor may want to test your heart function. Some of these tests include:

• exercise stress tests
• electrocardiogram
• echocardiogram
• blood tests

If your doctor suspects a problem with your lungs, diagnostic tests may include:

• CT scan to produce a more detailed picture of your lungs
• thoracentesis
• bronchoscopy

Treatment for chest wall pain will vary depending on the cause.

• Musculoskeletal problems. These conditions are managed with heat or ice, anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve), muscle relaxers, stretching, and physical therapy. You should also try to avoid activities that aggravate your pain. For more severe or persistent cases, your doctor may suggest corticosteroid injections to help reduce inflammation.
• Rheumatic conditions. Treatment of chest wall pain is part of the overall management of each of these conditions. Your doctor will help you decide which is medication is best for you.
• Lung infections. Like other infections, lung conditions such as pneumonia are typically treated with antibiotics.

If your chest wall pain is caused by a heart attack or other serious heart condition, you may receive blood thinners or medications that open arteries. Other treatments include:

• cardiac catheterization
• coronary artery bypass grafting or bypass surgery

Since most cases of chest wall pain are caused by musculoskeletal conditions, the outlook is typically very good. Most people can make a full recovery with rest and physical therapy over the course of a few weeks.

Other causes of chest wall pain can be managed with medications and other treatments, but this depends on the severity of the condition. Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, for example, can help to manage your pain, control the inflammatory response, and eventually lead to remission.

Heart attacks and pulmonary embolisms can be life-threatening if left untreated. You should seek emergency medical care right away if you have any of the following symptoms along with chest wall pain:

• shortness of breath
• sudden and severe pain in your lungs
• lightheadedness, weakness, dizziness, or fainting
• cough with dark-colored sputum or blood
• dark red or black stools
• nausea
• high fever

Symptoms, Treatment, and Possible Causes

Overview

Chest wall pain is the type that feels like it’s coming from your breast, rib cage, or a muscle in your chest. The chest wall usually refers to the structures surrounding and protecting your lungs, including your ribs and sternum.

You may feel pain only when you do certain movements or only if pressure is applied to your chest wall. You can feel it on one side of your chest or spread across a wide area.

If you go to the emergency room for chest wall pain, most doctors will want to make sure your pain isn’t being caused by a heart attack or another serious problem. While a heart attack can cause chest wall pain, more commonly, chest wall pain is caused by other conditions, including muscle, lung, or digestive issues. How long your chest wall pain lasts and what treatment you receive depends on what’s causing it.

Chest wall pain may be described as:

• aching
• stabbing
• sharp
• burning
• tearing
• pain that worsens when you move your chest, twist your torso, or raise your arms
• pain that increases when you breathe deeply, sneeze, or cough

Other symptoms include:

• numbness
• tingling
• shooting pain that extends to your back or neck

Musculoskeletal conditions are the most common causes of chest wall pain, but there are many other conditions that can lead to pain in the chest wall. Your chest is made up of many muscles, bones, and organs. For this reason, the exact cause of chest wall pain can sometimes be difficult to diagnose.

Some common causes of chest wall pain include:

Musculoskeletal problems

• injury or trauma to your chest, such as from a car accident
• costochondritis
• Tietze’s syndrome, which is similar to costochondritis
• slipping rib syndrome, or lower rib pain syndrome
• intercostal muscle strain or pulled chest muscle
• stress fracture in your ribs
• nerve entrapment
• fibromyalgia
• rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or psoriatic arthritis

Lung problems

• pneumonia
• pulmonary embolism

Cardiovascular problems

• heart attack
• angina
• pericarditis
• myocarditis

Gastrointestinal conditions

• peptic ulcer
• gastroesophageal reflux disease
• gall stones

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and family and personal medical history. Be sure to tell your doctor about any underlying conditions you have, medications you are taking, and if you have recently suffered any injuries.

If your doctor suspects you have a musculoskeletal problem like a rib fracture or costochondritis, they may check along your ribs, chest, and sternum for areas of swelling. They may try to reproduce or trigger your pain to help them learn more about where your pain is coming from.

Other tests to help your doctor evaluate musculoskeletal sources of chest wall pain include:

• chest X-ray
• nerve conduction velocity tests
• electromyography
• musculoskeletal ultrasound
• sympathetic skin response, which is a test of your nerve’s reaction when triggered with stimuli

If you have any risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, or a history of smoking, your doctor may want to test your heart function. Some of these tests include:

• exercise stress tests
• electrocardiogram
• echocardiogram
• blood tests

If your doctor suspects a problem with your lungs, diagnostic tests may include:

• CT scan to produce a more detailed picture of your lungs
• thoracentesis
• bronchoscopy

Treatment for chest wall pain will vary depending on the cause.

• Musculoskeletal problems. These conditions are managed with heat or ice, anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve), muscle relaxers, stretching, and physical therapy. You should also try to avoid activities that aggravate your pain. For more severe or persistent cases, your doctor may suggest corticosteroid injections to help reduce inflammation.
• Rheumatic conditions. Treatment of chest wall pain is part of the overall management of each of these conditions. Your doctor will help you decide which is medication is best for you.
• Lung infections. Like other infections, lung conditions such as pneumonia are typically treated with antibiotics.

If your chest wall pain is caused by a heart attack or other serious heart condition, you may receive blood thinners or medications that open arteries. Other treatments include:

• cardiac catheterization
• coronary artery bypass grafting or bypass surgery

Since most cases of chest wall pain are caused by musculoskeletal conditions, the outlook is typically very good. Most people can make a full recovery with rest and physical therapy over the course of a few weeks.

Other causes of chest wall pain can be managed with medications and other treatments, but this depends on the severity of the condition. Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, for example, can help to manage your pain, control the inflammatory response, and eventually lead to remission.

Heart attacks and pulmonary embolisms can be life-threatening if left untreated. You should seek emergency medical care right away if you have any of the following symptoms along with chest wall pain:

• shortness of breath
• sudden and severe pain in your lungs
• lightheadedness, weakness, dizziness, or fainting
• cough with dark-colored sputum or blood
• dark red or black stools
• nausea
• high fever

Causes and characteristics of chest pain – PROSMP

*Clinical significance of causes of pain varies as follows way:
¹ Life threatening.
² Potentially life threatening.
³ Cause discomfort, but usually harmless.

**Special attention should be paid to violations of vital signs (appearance of tachycardia, bradycardia, tachypnea, hypotension), signs of organ hypoperfusion (for example, impaired consciousness, gray skin tone, sweating), shortness of breath, asymmetry of respiratory sounds or pulse, the appearance of new murmurs or paradoxical pulse > 10 mm Hg. Art.

Pathology	Typical characteristics vascular system
Myocardial ischemia (acute coronary syndrome (15-25% of pain in the chest by ambulance), angina pectoris) 1	Acute pressing pain radiating → neck, jaw, arm; Pain on exertion that resolves at rest (angina pectoris) Shortness of breath, hyperhidrosis (profuse sweating) S4 gallop rhythm (IV heart sound) Occasional systolic murmur of mitral regurgitation Possible history of previous myocardial infarction Frequent symptoms requiring special attention**
Pericarditis and myopericarditis 2	Constant or intermittent sharp pain, often aggravated by breathing, swallowing food, lying on the back and relieved by sitting or bending forward. Pericardial rub Neck vein swelling
Myocarditis 2	Fever, shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain (if myopericarditis is present), recent viral or other infection. Sometimes signs of heart failure, pericarditis, or both
Aortic dissection 1	Sudden, very severe “torturous” pain radiating to the back. Occasionally, syncope, stroke, or signs of lower limb ischemia. There may be asymmetry in the pulse or blood pressure in the extremities (> 20 mmHg). Age over 55 years. History of arterial hypertension. Symptoms requiring special attention**
Pulmonary causes
Pneumonia 2	Fever, chills, cough and pus sputum Often – shortness of breath, tachycardia, signs of compaction of the lung tissue
Pneumothorax 2	Sometimes – unilateral weakening of breath sounds, air in the subcutaneous tissue
Pleurisy 3	May occur after pneumonia, pulmonary embolism or viral respiratory infection 900 26 Pain on breathing, coughing In some cases, noise pleural friction
Tension pneumothorax 1	Severe dyspnea, hypotension, tension of the jugular veins, unilateral weakening of respiratory sounds and increased percussion tone Sometimes signs of air under the skin
Pulmonary embolism 1	Sudden onset of pleuritic pain. Often – shortness of breath, tachycardia Sometimes – slight fever, hemoptysis, shock Most likely – in the presence of risk factors ode 1	Sudden severe pain after vomiting or performing instrumental interventions (eg, esophagogastroscopy or transesophageal echocardiography), is aggravated by swallowing. Air in the mediastinum is palpated and visualized on CT. Subcutaneous crepitus on auscultation. Multiple signs requiring special attention **
Pancreatitis 2	Pain in the epigastric or lower part of the chest, usually intensifies in the lying position and decreases when the vomiting of muscles of the upper abdomen, shock often – history of alcohol abuse or biliary tract disease
Gastric ulcer 3	Recurrent epigastric pain with indeterminate localization, especially in the case of a patient who smokes or drinks alcohol in excess, the pain is relieved by food, antacids, or both. No signs requiring special attention**
Reflux esophagitis 3	Recurrent burning pain from the epigastrium to the neck, aggravated by bending forward, lying down and relieved by taking antacids
Diseases of the biliary tract 3	Recurrent discomfort in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen or in the epigastrium after meals (but not after exercise)
Dysmotility of the esophagus 9 0022 3	Prolonged pain with sudden onset, which can sometimes accompany the act of swallowing Usually also difficult to swallow
Other causes
Pain in the musculoskeletal system as a cause of chest wall pain (for example, due to trauma, overexertion, or costal chondritis) or passive movements Diffuse or local muscle tension
Fibromyalgia 3	Almost constant pain in many areas of the body, including the chest Typical symptoms are fatigue and poor sleep Multiple trigger points
Tumors of the chest 2	Symptoms vary, but sometimes pleuritic pain Sometimes chronic cough, history of smoking e, signs of chronic disease (weight loss, fever) , cervical lymphadenopathy
Herpes zoster infection 3	Acute girdle pain in the middle part of the chest on one side Classic vesicular rash Pain may precede rash by several days
Idiopathic pain syndrome 3	Miscellaneous No signs requiring special attention** Diagnosis of exclusion 9000 8

Diseases of the chest – clinic Grudina.ru

Diseases of the chest – clinic Grudina.ru

–

Grudina.ru –

Chest diseases