Chest wall soreness: Search Results | Breast Cancer Now
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
| 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
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Chest diseases
Today, fractures of the sternum, ribs and their treatment are an extremely urgent problem in chest wall surgery. They are terrible because they can be multiple, then it becomes a serious threat to human life, since broken ribs can damage the lungs, heart and other internal organs. With improper fusion, broken ribs can cause constant pain, deformation of the chest . However, it is not only fractures that require chest reconstruction. Sternotomy (a technique used during open heart surgery) may also require reliable sternum correction. In the section Correction of the sternum after sternotomy, we will tell you about the main methods for performing a sternotomy, why reconstruction of the sternum may be required after a sternotomy, as well as the main methods for reconstructing the sternum framework after open heart surgery. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions What can hurt in the middle of the chest? Pain in the middle of the chest can be caused by a variety of things, including heart problems (such as angina pectoris), respiratory problems (such as bronchitis), joint and muscle problems, and other factors. How to identify a tumor in the chest? A tumor in the chest can be detected during a routine examination by a doctor or by self-palpation of the chest. For a more accurate diagnosis and determination of the nature of the tumor, it is recommended to consult a doctor who may prescribe additional examination methods, such as mammography, ultrasound or biopsy. How can I check my chest? The chest can be checked for the presence of nodes, tumors, changes in the skin. For self-palpation of the chest, lie on your back, raise your arms up, and use your fingers to palpate the mammary glands, armpits and the area between the ribs. Regular breast self-exams can help identify potential problems early. What kind of chest pain? Chest pain can have a variety of causes, including joint and muscle problems, respiratory problems, gastrointestinal problems, heart problems, and other factors. |
.. The causes of rib fractures are very diverse, but there are not so many treatment tactics. Single fractures, for example, are generally not treated on an outpatient basis. In the section Fractures of the sternum and ribs: treatment, we will take a closer look at a new word in the treatment of multiple fractures of the sternum and ribs – osteosynthesis using modern materials and techniques of the 21st century.
To determine the cause of chest pain, it is recommended to consult a doctor.