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Costochondritis

Overview

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Symptoms of costochondritis may include a sharp pain in your chest, which may be worse when moving your upper body, lying down, or breathing.

Painkillers like ibuprofen are often used to treat costochondritis. Sometimes you may be offered a steroid injection to help reduce the inflammation.

Things that may cause costochondritis include an injury to your ribs, repetitive upper body movements and coughing during an illness like the flu.

Costochondritis is inflammation where the ribs join the bone in the middle of the chest (breastbone).

Page last reviewed: 26/07/2022
Next review due: 26/07/2025