Costochondritis is a fancy name for irritation where the ribs meet the breast-bone. It’s common, harmless, and hurts enough to make people worry they’re having a heart attack.
Sharp chest pain is the star. It stabs along one side of the breast-bone, especially when you take a deep breath, cough, roll over, or reach for the car seat-belt.
Tenderness to touch is classic. Press on the rib edge and you find a sore spot about the size of a fingertip.
Pain increases with movement. It spikes when you stretch, lift, or twist, then eases when you stay still.
No shortness of breath. You can walk and talk fine; the hurt just makes you afraid to breathe deeply.
Swelling is rare. If the area is puffy and red, doctors call it Tietze syndrome—same idea, just louder.
Late signs include pain that lasts months or spreads to the arm—an alarm that something else may be going on.
| Symptom | What You Feel | Quick Check |
|---|---|---|
| Pain | Sharp stab on breath | Deep breath test |
| Tender | Sore spot finger size | Press test |
| Movement | Spike on twist | Stretch test |
| Breath | No winded feeling | Walk-talk test |
| Swell | Rare puff/red | Look test |
| Late | Months/arm spread | With any above |