Rib cage pain includes any pain or discomfort in the area of the ribs. See chest pain.
Alternative Names:
Pain - rib cage
Considerations:
With a broken rib, the pain gets worse when bending and twisting the body. Such movement does not cause the pain in those who have pleurisy (swelling of the lining of the lungs) or muscle spasms.
Common Causes:
Bruised, cracked, or fractured rib
Costochondritis (inflammation of cartilage near the breastbone)
Pleurisy (the pain is worse when breathing deeply)
Home Care:
Rest and immobilization are the best cure for a rib cage fracture.
Follow your health care provider's instructions for treatment of the cause of rib cage pain.
Review Date: 1/22/2007
Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Internal Medicine
