A pulled rib muscle, medically known as an intercostal muscle strain, involves an injury to the muscles located between the ribs. These thin muscles play a role in breathing by helping the rib cage expand and contract. When these muscles are stretched or torn, it can lead to pain and discomfort within the rib cage area. Intercostal muscle strains are a frequent cause of musculoskeletal chest pain.
Key Pain Characteristics
A pulled rib muscle typically causes a sharp or stabbing pain localized between the ribs. This discomfort can also feel like a pulling sensation or increased pressure in the chest and rib area. The pain’s intensity ranges from slight tenderness to severe discomfort. Movement of the chest, arms, or torso increases the pain.
Activities involving the intercostal muscles, such as deep breathing, coughing, sneezing, or laughing, worsen the pain. Twisting, bending, or lifting motions also aggravate the affected area. Sudden strains cause immediate, intense pain, while those developing over time may start with minor pain that gradually intensifies.
Other Accompanying Indicators
Other signs of a pulled rib muscle include localized tenderness to the touch. This tenderness can extend to the affected muscles and adjacent ribs.
Muscle spasms or cramping in the intercostal muscles can also occur, contributing to stiffness and tension. These spasms further increase pain during movement. With more severe strains or muscle tears, mild swelling or bruising may be visible in the affected region.
Distinguishing from Other Conditions
It is important to distinguish a pulled rib muscle from other causes of chest pain. Muscle strain pain is localized between the ribs and worsens with specific movements or pressure. Unlike cardiac pain, which feels like pressure or squeezing and can radiate to the arm, jaw, or neck, muscle strain pain does not typically radiate. Cardiac issues are also less likely to be directly worsened by specific torso movements or touching the chest.
A rib fracture causes more intense and localized pain than a muscle strain, especially when pressing directly on the injured site. While both cause pain with breathing, a fracture may also present with a sharp stabbing sensation or extreme tenderness. Pleurisy, an inflammation of the lung lining, also causes sharp pain with breathing, but it may include additional symptoms like fever, cough, or generalized muscle aches, which are not typical for a simple muscle strain. The pain from a muscle strain can be pinpointed to a specific spot, unlike the more generalized pain associated with lung conditions.
When to Seek Professional Advice
While a pulled rib muscle often heals with rest and self-care, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical attention. Seek professional advice if the pain is severe or worsens considerably, especially if it does not improve after a few days. Any chest pain accompanied by shortness of breath, dizziness, or lightheadedness should be evaluated promptly.
Radiating pain spreading to the arm, jaw, neck, or back, or a feeling of pressure or tightness in the chest, are signs of a more serious condition. Other red flags include fever, chills, a persistent cough, or pain that began after significant trauma. These symptoms could indicate underlying issues beyond a simple muscle strain, such as a heart attack or pulmonary embolism.