Chest wall pain arises from the muscles, ribs, cartilage, and nerves of the chest rather than the heart or lungs. Common causes include costochondritis, rib injuries, nerve irritation after surgery, and shingles-related nerve pain.
New or unexplained chest pain should always be evaluated urgently first to rule out heart and lung causes. Once those are excluded, lingering chest wall pain is common, real, and treatable.
Common symptoms
- Pain that’s tender to the touch
- Pain that changes with breathing or movement
- A sharp, localized spot along the ribs
- Pain following surgery, injury, or shingles
How interventional pain physicians treat it
After cardiac and pulmonary causes have been ruled out, interventional pain physicians typically localize the painful structure with a focused exam. Care may include:
- Medication management
- Intercostal nerve blocks
- Trigger point injections
- Radiofrequency ablation
Treatment is always determined by a physician based on individual evaluation. This page is general information, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know my chest pain isn’t my heart?
You should never assume. New chest pain warrants urgent medical evaluation. Chest wall pain is a diagnosis made after heart and lung causes have been excluded, often recognizable because it is reproduced by pressing on a specific spot or by movement and breathing.
Why does my chest still hurt months after surgery?
Chest surgery can irritate or injure the intercostal nerves that run along the ribs. This post-surgical nerve pain is well recognized and often responds to targeted nerve blocks and medications.
What is costochondritis?
It is inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the breastbone. It causes sharp, localized pain that worsens with pressure or deep breaths, and it typically improves with time and targeted treatment.
Independent, physician-owned practices in the DxTx network provide this kind of care across 11 states. One call connects you to the practice closest to you.