What might cause pain around the rib cage both in the front and back?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Pain around the rib cage—both in the front and back—is most commonly caused by muscle strain or injury. However, it can also stem from inflammation of the cartilage (costochondritis), nerve conditions such as intercostal neuralgia or shingles, or issues involving nearby organs like the lungs, heart, liver, gallbladder, or kidneys.

Because rib cage pain has such a wide range of possible causes—some minor, others serious—it's important not to guess. Identifying whether your symptoms point to a pulled muscle, an inflamed joint, a nerve issue, or something involving your internal organs can make all the difference in getting the right care quickly. Take a free, instant, online symptom check to better understand what may be causing your pain and confidently plan your next steps.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

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Explanation

Rib pain experienced in both the front and the back has several possible causes. These causes include:

Musculoskeletal problems like muscle strain or injury to the chest wall muscles
Inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the breastbone (costochondritis)
Nerve-related conditions such as intercostal neuralgia
Underlying medical conditions that affect the organs near the rib cage

These factors can affect both sides of the rib cage because the ribs form a continuous structure that wraps around the body. For example, when a muscle is strained or a nerve is irritated, the pain can travel along the path of that muscle or nerve, causing discomfort in both the front and back areas. The interconnected nature of the rib cage structure means that issues in one area can often lead to pain that radiates to other parts.

If you experience persistent or worsening pain in these areas, you can use Ubie's free AI symptom checker to help identify potential causes before consulting a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

(References)

Scott EM, Scott BB. Painful rib syndrome--a review of 76 cases. Gut. 1993 Jul;34(7):1006-8. doi: 10.1136/gut.34.7.1006. PMID: 8344569; PMCID: PMC1374244.
Fazekas D, Doroshenko M, Horn DB. Intercostal Neuralgia. [Updated 2023 Aug 14]. In: StatPearls [Internet].
Schumann JA, Sood T, Parente JJ. Costochondritis. [Updated 2024 Apr 20]. In: StatPearls [Internet].

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