Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesCostochondritis and FibromyalgiaSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentOutlook
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Costochondritis and Fibromyalgia
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Outlook
Costochondritis is also called noncardiac chest pain or musculoskeletal chest pain. It does not involve the heart, but it is sometimes confused with cardiac chest pain. Because any other sources of pain can make yourFMS symptomsworse, it’s crucial to treat costochondritis.
Fibromyalgia chest pain can make you think you’re having heart problems, which is a scary thing. Even though costochondritis is common, you should get medical attention if you have unexplained chest pain.You don’t want to assume that it’s FMS-related and end up with permanent heart damage or worse.
This article discusses more about what causes costochondritis, how fibromyalgia chest pain is diagnosed, and how to treat it.
Causes of Costochondritis
The causes of costochondritis aren’t clear, but they may include:
Some experts believe costochondritis and fibromyalgia are related. Regardless, because FMS amplifies pain, it can make costochondritis much more painful.
Costochondritis and Fibromyalgia: The Connection
Many people with FMS have symptoms very similar to costochondritis. In one study, non-specific chest pain is listed as the most common additional symptom in people who were hospitalized with FMS.Another lists FMS as a frequent cause of musculoskeletal chest pain.
No one is exactly sure whether this is actually costochondritis or why it occurs with FMS. One hypothesis is that FMS involves inflammation of the fascia, which is a thin layer of connective tissue that runs all through your body.If that’s true, it may explain the connection between costochondritis and fibromyalgia.
Thefibromyalgia tender pointsjust beneath the collarbone may play a role as well. These pressure points are 18 spots on the body once used to diagnose fibromyalgia. If you feel localized pain when someone presses on a spot with enough force for their finger to turn white, it’s likely that the spot is a tender point.
Myofascial pain syndrome, which is common in people with FMS, also could be a cause of costochondritis.
Costochrondritis Symptoms
Pain in thechest walland rib cage is the chief symptom of costochondritis. Generally, the pain will flare up when you:
The pain can radiate to your shoulder and arms as well (another way the condition mimics a heart attack).
Diagnosing Fibromyalgia Chest Pain
Healthcare providers generally will perform other tests to rule out heart problems and other causes of pain before diagnosing costochondritis and fibromyalgia.
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Treating Fibromyalgia Chest Pain
You can treat costochondritis the way you’d treat any inflammation—ice andanti-inflammatory drugs, including Aleve (naproxen) and ibuprofen-based drugs such as Advil and Motrin.
This treatment sometimes runs counter toFMS treatments, which can include other types of pain relievers and heat. If you have fibromyalgia chest pain, you might find yourself with an ice pack on your chest and aheating padon your back at the same time.
Be sure to check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about any possible interactions between anti-inflammatories and your other medications.
In addition, exercise may help improve fibromyalgia-related chest pain. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that moving your body (it recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five days a week) may help reduce pain and improve your mood.
Your healthcare provider may recommend other types of treatment as well,including physical therapyor acupuncture.
Outlook for Fibromyalgia Chest Pain
Fibromyalgia chest pain typically goes away in a few days or weeks, but can sometimes take months.While you’re waiting for it to go away, continue to take steps to help reduce symptoms. In most cases, this condition shouldn’t prevent you from doing daily activities.
A Word From Verywell
It’s bad enough to live with one source ofchronic pain. The more you heap on, the more pain you’ll have and the more it can impact your life. Fortunately, fibromyalgia chest pain is fairly easy and inexpensive to treat, and managing it will keep it from exacerbating your FMS symptoms.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ayloo A, Cvengros T, Marella S.Evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal chest pain.Prim Care. 2013;40(4):863-87,viii. doi:10.1016/j.pop.2013.08.007Bellato E, Marini E, Castoldi F, et al.Fibromyalgia syndrome: etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment.Pain Res Treat. 2012;2012:426130. doi:10.1155/2012/426130Campbell KA, Madva EN, Villegas AC, et al.Non-cardiac chest pain: A review for the consultation-liaison psychiatrist.Psychosomatics. 2017;58(3):252-265. doi:10.1016/j.psym.2016.12.003Cubos J, Cubos A, Di Stefano F.Chronic costochondritis in an adolescent competitive swimmer: A case report.J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2010;54(4):271-275.Haviland MG, Banta JE, Przekop P.Fibromyalgia: Prevalence, course, and co-morbidities in hospitalized patients in the United States, 1999-2007.Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2011;29(6 Suppl 69):S79-87.Sturm C, Witte T.[Musculoskeletal-related chest pain].Internist(Berl). 2017;58(1):39-46. doi:10.1007/s00108-016-0166-zLiptan GL.Fascia: A missing link in our understanding of the pathology of fibromyalgia.J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2010;14(1):3-12. doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2009.08.003Zaruba RA, Wilson E.Impairment based examination and treatment of costochondritis: A case series.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2017;12(3):458-467.Sawada K, Ihoriya H, Yamada T, et al.A patient presenting painful chest wall swelling: Tietze syndrome.World J Emerg Med. 2019;10(2):122-124. doi:10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2019.02.011Hudes K.Low-tech rehabilitation and management of a 64 year old male patient with acute idiopathic onset of costochondritis.J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2008;52(4):224-228.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Physical activity for arthritis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fibromyalgia.Nemours.Costochondritis.Additional ReadingFlowers, LK. Costochondritis.eMedicine.Haviland MG, Banta JE, Przekop P. Fibromyalgia: prevalence, course, and co-morbidities in hospitalized patients in the United States, 1999-2007.Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. 2011;(6 Suppl 69):S79-87.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ayloo A, Cvengros T, Marella S.Evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal chest pain.Prim Care. 2013;40(4):863-87,viii. doi:10.1016/j.pop.2013.08.007Bellato E, Marini E, Castoldi F, et al.Fibromyalgia syndrome: etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment.Pain Res Treat. 2012;2012:426130. doi:10.1155/2012/426130Campbell KA, Madva EN, Villegas AC, et al.Non-cardiac chest pain: A review for the consultation-liaison psychiatrist.Psychosomatics. 2017;58(3):252-265. doi:10.1016/j.psym.2016.12.003Cubos J, Cubos A, Di Stefano F.Chronic costochondritis in an adolescent competitive swimmer: A case report.J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2010;54(4):271-275.Haviland MG, Banta JE, Przekop P.Fibromyalgia: Prevalence, course, and co-morbidities in hospitalized patients in the United States, 1999-2007.Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2011;29(6 Suppl 69):S79-87.Sturm C, Witte T.[Musculoskeletal-related chest pain].Internist(Berl). 2017;58(1):39-46. doi:10.1007/s00108-016-0166-zLiptan GL.Fascia: A missing link in our understanding of the pathology of fibromyalgia.J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2010;14(1):3-12. doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2009.08.003Zaruba RA, Wilson E.Impairment based examination and treatment of costochondritis: A case series.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2017;12(3):458-467.Sawada K, Ihoriya H, Yamada T, et al.A patient presenting painful chest wall swelling: Tietze syndrome.World J Emerg Med. 2019;10(2):122-124. doi:10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2019.02.011Hudes K.Low-tech rehabilitation and management of a 64 year old male patient with acute idiopathic onset of costochondritis.J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2008;52(4):224-228.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Physical activity for arthritis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fibromyalgia.Nemours.Costochondritis.Additional ReadingFlowers, LK. Costochondritis.eMedicine.Haviland MG, Banta JE, Przekop P. Fibromyalgia: prevalence, course, and co-morbidities in hospitalized patients in the United States, 1999-2007.Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. 2011;(6 Suppl 69):S79-87.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Ayloo A, Cvengros T, Marella S.Evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal chest pain.Prim Care. 2013;40(4):863-87,viii. doi:10.1016/j.pop.2013.08.007Bellato E, Marini E, Castoldi F, et al.Fibromyalgia syndrome: etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment.Pain Res Treat. 2012;2012:426130. doi:10.1155/2012/426130Campbell KA, Madva EN, Villegas AC, et al.Non-cardiac chest pain: A review for the consultation-liaison psychiatrist.Psychosomatics. 2017;58(3):252-265. doi:10.1016/j.psym.2016.12.003Cubos J, Cubos A, Di Stefano F.Chronic costochondritis in an adolescent competitive swimmer: A case report.J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2010;54(4):271-275.Haviland MG, Banta JE, Przekop P.Fibromyalgia: Prevalence, course, and co-morbidities in hospitalized patients in the United States, 1999-2007.Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2011;29(6 Suppl 69):S79-87.Sturm C, Witte T.[Musculoskeletal-related chest pain].Internist(Berl). 2017;58(1):39-46. doi:10.1007/s00108-016-0166-zLiptan GL.Fascia: A missing link in our understanding of the pathology of fibromyalgia.J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2010;14(1):3-12. doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2009.08.003Zaruba RA, Wilson E.Impairment based examination and treatment of costochondritis: A case series.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2017;12(3):458-467.Sawada K, Ihoriya H, Yamada T, et al.A patient presenting painful chest wall swelling: Tietze syndrome.World J Emerg Med. 2019;10(2):122-124. doi:10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2019.02.011Hudes K.Low-tech rehabilitation and management of a 64 year old male patient with acute idiopathic onset of costochondritis.J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2008;52(4):224-228.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Physical activity for arthritis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fibromyalgia.Nemours.Costochondritis.
Ayloo A, Cvengros T, Marella S.Evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal chest pain.Prim Care. 2013;40(4):863-87,viii. doi:10.1016/j.pop.2013.08.007
Bellato E, Marini E, Castoldi F, et al.Fibromyalgia syndrome: etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment.Pain Res Treat. 2012;2012:426130. doi:10.1155/2012/426130
Campbell KA, Madva EN, Villegas AC, et al.Non-cardiac chest pain: A review for the consultation-liaison psychiatrist.Psychosomatics. 2017;58(3):252-265. doi:10.1016/j.psym.2016.12.003
Cubos J, Cubos A, Di Stefano F.Chronic costochondritis in an adolescent competitive swimmer: A case report.J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2010;54(4):271-275.
Haviland MG, Banta JE, Przekop P.Fibromyalgia: Prevalence, course, and co-morbidities in hospitalized patients in the United States, 1999-2007.Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2011;29(6 Suppl 69):S79-87.
Sturm C, Witte T.[Musculoskeletal-related chest pain].Internist(Berl). 2017;58(1):39-46. doi:10.1007/s00108-016-0166-z
Liptan GL.Fascia: A missing link in our understanding of the pathology of fibromyalgia.J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2010;14(1):3-12. doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2009.08.003
Zaruba RA, Wilson E.Impairment based examination and treatment of costochondritis: A case series.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2017;12(3):458-467.
Sawada K, Ihoriya H, Yamada T, et al.A patient presenting painful chest wall swelling: Tietze syndrome.World J Emerg Med. 2019;10(2):122-124. doi:10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2019.02.011
Hudes K.Low-tech rehabilitation and management of a 64 year old male patient with acute idiopathic onset of costochondritis.J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2008;52(4):224-228.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Physical activity for arthritis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fibromyalgia.
Nemours.Costochondritis.
Flowers, LK. Costochondritis.eMedicine.Haviland MG, Banta JE, Przekop P. Fibromyalgia: prevalence, course, and co-morbidities in hospitalized patients in the United States, 1999-2007.Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. 2011;(6 Suppl 69):S79-87.
Flowers, LK. Costochondritis.eMedicine.
Haviland MG, Banta JE, Przekop P. Fibromyalgia: prevalence, course, and co-morbidities in hospitalized patients in the United States, 1999-2007.Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. 2011;(6 Suppl 69):S79-87.
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