A 43-year-old member asked:
What causes chest wall pain?
2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

Dr. Tom Harringtonanswered
Internal Medicine 43 years experience
Chest wall pain: Chest wall pain is very common ie with lifting or straining. Costochondritis defines an area of pain and inflammation on the breast bone area. Sometimes a late sequela of a pulmonary infection. The worst cause would be pulmonary infarct causing pleurisy or pain worse with breathing.
5.8k viewsReviewed Aug 16, 2020

Dr. Budi Bahureksaanswered
Cardiology 32 years experience
Musculoskeletal: Chest wall pain is musculoskeletal pain -- that is usually caused by nerve irritation or musculoskeletal injury.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
Similar questions
A 44-year-old member asked:
What can cause chest wall pain?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

Dr. Sheila Calderonanswered
Internal Medicine 42 years experience
Virus: Often times it is viral in nature but you need an ekg to rule out any cardiac problems or lung issues. Some people get asthmatic and later have chest wall pain. Chronic coughing from bronchitis, smoking, and other lung irritations can cause this as well.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
I have chest wall pain, and it goes to my breast--what could be causing this?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Crystal Twynhamanswered
General surgery, Breast Surgery, Cancer Surgery, Bariatric (weight loss) surgery, Endocrine surgery, Minimally invasive surgery 34 years experience
Muscle spasm: You have two big flat muscles in the chest -- the pectoralis muscles. If they spasm, it causes very intense, sharp stabbing pain, which can go to your breast. Comes and goes, might be brought on by using your arm/back/abs on that side. Massaging your chest (just like rubbing a charley horse out of a calf spasm) can help. If this occurs with exercise, eating, strong emotion --> check out heart.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
What are the tests for chest wall pain?
1 doctor answer • 6 doctors weighed in

Dr. Ahmad M Hadiedanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 50 years experience
We have to be: Careful, about possible cardiac origin, if that was addressed the second will be x-ray, cat scan and nerve block.
This usually address most of the issues.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
What is chest wall pain?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. James Chapmananswered
Cardiology 42 years experience
External pain: Chest wall pain comes from the skin, bones, cartilage, or muscle of the thorax, and does not arise from the internal organs (heart, lungs). It is usually inflammatory in etiology, but may also be traumatic.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Lowell, AR
A 19-year-old female asked:
How to prevent chest wall pain.
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Milton Alvis, jranswered
Preventive Medicine 42 years experience
1st, sort out basis: Chest wall pain: many origins; commonly recognized include: skin, intercostal muscles, cartilage (connecting ribs to ribs & ribs to sternum), pleuritic (chest wall inner lining and/or lining of lung surfaces), bone, esophagus, heart and/or within the lungs, & the list goes on. Step 1: learn the anatomy. & 2. Work on seeing what either induces or more clearly: what changes the pain, when present.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Aug 16, 2020
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