Costochondritis: Causes, Symptoms, Pain Locations

Written by Stephanie Watson
Medically Reviewed by Shruthi N, MD on February 07, 2025
7 min read

Costochondritis is when the cartilage (connective tissue) that joins your ribs to your breastbone is inflamed. Doctors call this area the costochondral joint.

Rib cage inflammation can cause pain. If you press on your upper ribs and it feels tender, or if your chest hurts when you move around, you may have this condition. The pain can start suddenly or gradually.

You'll feel costochondritis pain in the upper ribs on the left side of your chest. Right-side chest pain is often caused by a lung problem, such as pneumonia or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Costochondritis is a form of noncardiac chest pain, meaning that it's not caused by a heart problem.

About 13% of people who see a doctor about chest pain have costochondritis. The condition affects both children and adults but is more common in people aged 40 or older. It's more likely to affect women and people of Hispanic origin.

Is costochondritis dangerous? 

This condition is mostly harmless. But if you have sudden chest pain, always have it checked out by a doctor to make sure your heart is healthy. Unlike costochondritis, a heart attack often causes widespread pain along with symptoms such as sweating, nausea, and a hard time breathing.

Injury, physical strain, respiratory infection, rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis, chest wall infections, tumors, or rare conditions such as relapsing polychondritis may also cause chest pain.

There isn't a single known cause of costochondritis. Doctors aren't sure how your costochondral joint gets inflamed. But they do know that inflammation is one way your body responds to injury or infection. Costochondritis has been linked to:

  • Strain due to exercise or exertion
  • Chest injury
  • Lots of coughing 
  • Infections, such as respiratory infections 
  • IV drug use

Who is at risk for costochondritis?

You may be at a higher risk for this condition if you:

  • Were assigned female at birth (AFAB)
  • Are older than 40
  • Are an athlete who plays a contact sport such as football
  • Have a job that requires heavy lifting
  • Are Hispanic
  • Have injected drugs

When your costochondral joint becomes inflamed, it results in chest pain and tenderness. Most people describe the pain as sharp, achy, and pressure-like. When you press on your chest, it feels tender and painful. The pain usually gets worse when you move around, breathe deeply, or sneeze. Some people have pain when they wear a seatbelt, hug someone, or lie down.

Costochondritis pain locations

You usually first feel costochondritis pain on the front left side of your breastbone. It often affects more than one rib. The pain may spread to the rest of your chest, and even affect your arms and shoulders.

To diagnose costochondritis, your doctor will do a physical exam, pressing on your chest to check for areas of tenderness. They will also take a look at your range of motion and listen to your breathing. 

If you're over 35, at risk for coronary artery disease or a blood clot, or you recently had a respiratory infection, your doctor may order more tests, such as a chest X-ray and EKG, to rule out more serious problems.

Since costochondritis isn't dangerous, treatment focuses on pain relief. Most of the time, chest pain from costochondritis will go away on its own. In the meantime, you can try one or more of the following on your own:

  • Taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, two to three times a day (making sure to follow the directions on the label carefully)
  • Using hot compresses or heating pads in the painful area
  • Avoiding activities such as strenuous exercise or reaching up that make the pain worse

Talk to your doctor before taking OTC pain medications if you have:

  • High blood pressure
  • Heart disease
  • Kidney disease
  • Liver disease
  • Past stomach ulcers or internal bleeding

If your chest pain doesn't go away or gets worse, see your doctor. They can give you a shot of a powerful anti-inflammatory medicine called a corticosteroid to ease pain and swelling. They’ll inject the corticosteroid into the area where you’re feeling pain. But having too much of a corticosteroid can damage your costochondral joint, so you can only have this treatment once every few months. 

Your doctor might also try a procedure called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). A doctor or nurse puts adhesive patches on your skin near where you're feeling pain. They use a TENS device to send a weak electrical current into your skin through the patches. It's thought to work by stopping pain signals from reaching your brain.

Your doctor can also guide you on how to improve your posture and fix any muscle imbalances.

If necessary, they can refer you to a specialist called a rheumatologist, who treats diseases of the joints, muscles, and bones. 

Home remedies and self-care

For costochondritis relief at home, try these tips:

  • Place a heating pad set on low or a warm compress on your chest a few times a day.
  • Wrap an ice pack in a towel and hold that to the painful area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time if cold gives you relief. You can also alternate heat and ice.
  • Rest as much as possible.
  • Avoid activities that cause pain in your chest.
  • Do gentle stretching exercises for your chest. If you're not sure which exercises to do, consult a physical therapist.

Costochondritis isn't a permanent condition. Most of the time, your chest pain will go away within two weeks.

But in some cases, symptoms can persist for months. And sometimes, it may return after it heals. About a third of people with costochondritis will have it for about a year.

Chest pain is a symptom that requires prompt medical attention because it can be caused by more serious conditions, such as a heart attack, an abnormal heart rhythm, or a blood clot in the lungs. "If someone is experiencing chest pain, they should be going to the emergency department," says Evelyn Huang, MD, an emergency room physician based in Baltimore, MD. "There is no specific test for costochondritis and it is hard to differentiate it from other causes of chest pain."

A regular doctor can diagnose costochondritis. But seeing a cardiologist or emergency medicine physician first can help rule out other causes of chest pain.

You can't always prevent costochondritis because its cause is often unknown. One thing that can help is to avoid putting strain on your chest and ribs. Avoid activities such as heavy lifting or contact sports that might trigger or worsen this pain. Do gentle stretches to strengthen your chest muscles. And get treatment for costochondritis risk factors, such as respiratory infections.

Costochondritis should eventually go away on its own. In the meantime, try managing rib pain, which starts with resting the area and avoiding any activities that make it worse. Ask your doctor or a physical therapist to recommend exercises that help with the pain. Take OTC pain relievers to ease discomfort.

Costochondritis is chest pain from inflammation in the cartilage that connects your ribs to your breastbone. Doctors don't know what causes it, but chest or rib injuries or intense physical activity may trigger it. The pain should improve on its own with rest. Until it improves, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers and use heat and ice to manage the pain.

What triggers costochondritis?

Doctors don't know what causes costochondritis. Chest or rib injuries from intense activities, such as contact sports or heavy lifting, may set off the pain, especially if you don't rest after the activity.

Can you stretch out costochondritis?

"Stretching that involves the rib cage and chest can help with symptoms," says Huang.

What exercises should you avoid with costochondritis?

Avoid any exercise such as heavy lifting that might irritate the cartilage in your chest.

Can costochondritis be caused by stress?

Stress doesn't cause costochondritis, but it can trigger chest pain.

How can I manage rib pain at home?

Take over-the-counter pain relievers, do gentle stretches of your chest, and hold a heating pad or ice pack to the affected area to relieve rib pain.

What position should you sleep in with costochondritis?

Avoid lying on the sore side of your chest. The best sleeping position for costochondritis is on your back.

What happens if costochondritis goes untreated?

"It will generally go away on its own," says Huang. But some people will have long-term or repeated chest pain if they don't treat costochondritis.