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 docto
