Should I be worried?
Q I’ve had bad chest pains and my doctor’s diagnosed inflamed ribs. Is that serious?
Sylvie, Callander
A It sounds like costochondritis, where the front part of your ribs, which are made of cartilage, rather than bone, become inflamed. Usually it’s your second, third or fourth ribs, towards the top of your ribcage, often on your left side.
Although costochondritis is harmless, the pain can be quite severe, and people sometimes imagine it’s a heart attack. The inflamed ribs might be tender to press and the pain’s likely to be worse when you move, cough or sneeze.
Usually, there’s no obvious cause but sometimes a strain or injury, or rarely an infection, can be to blame. Treatment is generally anti-inflammatory painkillers while the inflammation settles by…
