CFS & Fibromyalgia Related Conditions Fibromyalgia Chest Pain This pain is also known as costochondritis By Adrienne Dellwo Adrienne Dellwo LinkedIn Adrienne Dellwo is an experienced journalist who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and has written extensively on the topic. Learn about our editorial process Updated on May 24, 2023 Medically reviewed by David Ozeri, MD Medically reviewed by David Ozeri, MD LinkedIn David Ozeri, MD, is a board-certified rheumatologist from Tel Aviv, Israel specializing in arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and biologic therapies. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Causes Costochondritis and Fibromyalgia Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Outlook If you have fibromyalgia (FMS), chest pain may be one of your symptoms. A condition called costochondritis, which causes pain around the breastbone and rib cage, could be to blame. It is caused by inflammation in the cartilage that connects your ribs and sternum (breastbone). It's believed to be common in people with FMS. Costochondritis is also called noncardiac chest pain or musculoskeletal chest pain. It does not involve the heart, but it is sometimes confused with heart palpitations. Because any other sources of pain can make your FMS symptoms worse, 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 Costochondritis is caused by inflammation of the cartilage that connects your ribs to your breastbone. Depending on how much inflammation there is, it can range from mildly annoying to intensely painful. People sometimes describe the pain as stabbing, aching, or burning. The causes of costochondritis aren't clear, but they may include: Chest trauma, such as from a car accident Repetitive trauma or overuse Viral infections, especially upper respiratory infections 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. The fibromyalgia tender points just 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. Costochondritis is typically a minor injury, but it can take several weeks or months to resolve. If symptoms don't clear up, it could be a sign that your chest pain is caused by fibromyalgia. Illustration by Cindy Chung, Verywell Costochrondritis Symptoms Pain in the chest wall and rib cage is the chief symptom of costochondritis. Generally, the pain will flare up when you: Exercise or do another physical activityTake a deep breath (this stretches the inflamed cartilage)SneezeCough The pain can radiate to your shoulder and arms as well (another way the condition mimics a heart attack). Sometimes the pain is accompanied by redness and/or swelling in the most painful areas. When that's the case, it's called Tietze's syndrome. Diagnosing Fibromyalgia Chest Pain Your healthcare provider can diagnose fibromyalgia chest pain by pressing on the area where the ribs and breastbone come together. If it's tender and sore there, costochondritis is the most likely cause of pain. Healthcare providers generally will perform other tests to rule out heart problems and other causes of pain before diagnosing costochondritis and fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia Doctor Discussion Guide Get our printable guide for your next doctor's appointment to help you ask the right questions. Download PDF Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Treating Fibromyalgia Chest Pain You can treat costochondritis the way you'd treat any inflammation—ice and anti-inflammatory drugs, including Aleve (naproxen) and ibuprofen-based drugs such as Advil and Motrin. This treatment sometimes runs counter to FMS 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 a heating pad on 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 therapy or 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. If your chest pain is associated with fibromyalgia, it may not clear up as fast or at all. People with fibromyalgia can experience a lower quality of life, and this added source of pain may contribute to this. However, continuing with treatment such as medication, ice packs, and exercise can help to lift your mood by minimizing your symptoms. A Word From Verywell It's bad enough to live with one source of chronic 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 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to 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.2013.08.007 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. Additional Reading 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. By Adrienne Dellwo Adrienne Dellwo is an experienced journalist who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and has written extensively on the topic. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? 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