What could cause pain between the rib cage?

Q: What could cause pain between the rib cage?

Pain between the rib cage is often caused by **costochondritis**, an inflammation of the cartilage that connects your ribs to your breastbone, or by **intercostal neuralgia**, a type of nerve pain that occurs in the spaces between the ribs. Other potential causes include muscle strain, rib injury, acid reflux, or issues involving the lungs or heart. Because the source of rib pain can range from mild to serious, identifying the underlying cause is essential for getting the right treatment. If you're experiencing this type of discomfort, the smartest next step is to take a free, instant, online symptom check . It only takes a few minutes, requires no sign-up, and can help you understand possible causes based on your unique symptoms—empowering you to decide whether to rest, see a doctor, or seek urgent care. Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Pain between the rib cage is often caused by costochondritis, an inflammation of the cartilage that connects your ribs to your breastbone, or by intercostal neuralgia, a type of nerve pain that occurs in the spaces between the ribs. Other potential causes include muscle strain, rib injury, acid reflux, or issues involving the lungs or heart. Because the source of rib pain can range from mild to serious, identifying the underlying cause is essential for getting the right treatment.

If you're experiencing this type of discomfort, the smartest next step is to take a free, instant, online symptom check. It only takes a few minutes, requires no sign-up, and can help you understand possible causes based on your unique symptoms—empowering you to decide whether to rest, see a doctor, or seek urgent care.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

Important Next Steps

Discover what’s causing rib cage pain Learn if rib pain needs urgent care Find out if it could be serious See OTC options for rib cage pain Find a doctor for rib cage pain Understand home remedies for rib cage pain Check likely causes of rib cage pain

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Explanation

When you feel pain between your ribs, it might be caused by one of several conditions. One common cause is costochondritis, which happens when the cartilage that connects your ribs to your breastbone becomes swollen or irritated. This can make the chest area feel sore, especially when you press on it or move in certain ways.

Another possible reason is intercostal neuralgia, which means the nerves located between your ribs are irritated or pinched. This nerve pain can feel sharp, burning, or aching along the spaces of the rib cage. Some people also have a variation called atypical costochondritis, a form of costochondritis that might benefit from treatments like rib manipulation and soft tissue mobilization to soothe the pain.

Each of these causes affects the tissues around the rib cage differently. If you're experiencing rib pain and want to understand what might be causing it, try our free symptom checker to get personalized insights in just a few minutes, then talk with a doctor if the pain keeps coming or gets worse so they can check you out and decide on the best way to help you feel better.

(References)

Updated 2024 Apr 20]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532931/
Updated 2023 Aug 14]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560865/
Barranco-Trabi J, Mank V, Roberts J, Newman DP. Atypical Costochondritis: Complete Resolution of Symptoms After Rib Manipulation and Soft Tissue Mobilization. Cureus. 2021 Apr 8;13(4):e14369. doi: 10.7759/cureus.14369. PMID: 33976991; PMCID: PMC8106472.

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