"What causes pain in the sternum or side?" is a question I'm often asked. And the first thing that always comes to mind is an injury to the rib cartilage called costochondritis. The first time people hear it they say, "What is that?" It's not a commonly heard term but hundreds of cases come into the emergency room every year. People often think they're having a heart attack. Costochondritis can also occur in the side where the ribs and cartilage connect to the rib cage.
When the sternum is involved costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage connecting to your breastbone. It's a common cause of chest pain. Mild to severe pain, tenderness and soreness near the breastbone (usually the upper left side) are symptoms, and the pain gets worse if you stretch or apply pressure to the area.
This pain can range from minor to severe. The pain doesn't go away easily and it's easy to reinjure the area. It doesn't usually hurt to continue moving around but can be painful to do so. People often seek immediate pain relief.
Your doctor will usually diagnose costochondritis by pressing on the area where the ribs meet the chest bone (sternum). If this area is tender and sore, costochondritis is the most likely cause of your sternum pain or chest pain. You want to make sure that costochondritis is the correct diagnosis and that it isn't heart-related. If you press on the areas yourself, do so very gently so you don't reinjure the area. If you don't have any other pain that radiates out to the neck or arms nor any numbness, chills or a fever than you are not likely to have a heart problem.
Do everything you can not to reinjure the area. Costochondritis often happens when people move furniture or other large items or in contact sports. Leaning over and picking up items out of reach can also cause it although that may happen with costochondritis in the sides more so.
Sometimes a rib belt can help. Make sure to stop doing whatever makes the pain worse.
Slowly return to regular activities.
Make sure to protect yourself so further inflammation doesn't take place. Sometimes costochondritis can become chronic if the area is injured over and over again. But generally it will get better in a few days. These are just a few of the things you can do to help heal faster and get pain relief.
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