Chest pain can be unsettling and uncomfortable; whether you are experiencing a little pang or a persistent ache, it can make you wonder about the condition of your heart and general health. However, not all chest pains are caused by heart problems. In actuality, many factors can cause chest muscle pain and the proper explanation of these elements is essential for both determining the cause of your discomfort and obtaining efficient relief.
So, read on to explore all about chest muscle pain, along with its typical causes, signs, and most significantly, treatments.
Causes of Chest Muscle Pain
Musculoskeletal chest pain, often known as a pulled muscle, is most frequently caused by intercostal muscle strains. The intercostal muscles are a set of muscles that make up the chest wall and are located between the ribs. The exterior, internal, and innermost intercostal muscles comprise this muscle group. Together, they support breathing and help stabilise the rib cage.
The following are the potential chest muscle pain causes:
- Sports injuries caused by overstretching, muscle exhaustion, or using forcefully repetitive actions
- Contact wounds
- Inadequate warm-up before workout
- Heavy lifting
- Stretching the torso’s natural range of motion
- Excessive muscular usage
- Trauma from Falling
- Harsh cough
| Did You Know? It’s crucial to remember that any organ or tissue in your chest, including the lungs, oesophagus, muscles, tendons, ribs, and nerves, can cause chest pain. |
Symptoms of Chest Muscle Strain
Common muscle strain in chest symptoms include:
- Pain that may be not obvious (a persistent strain) or severe (an acute pull)
- Swelling
- Muscles cramping
- Having trouble moving the affected part
- Difficulty breathing
- Bruising
Additionally, if any of the following accompanies your discomfort, get medical attention as soon as possible:
- Fainting
- Dizziness
- Sweating
- Racing heart
- Having trouble breathing
- Irritability
- Fever
- Sleepiness
These are indications of more serious problems, like heart attacks.
Various Grades of a Strained Chest Muscle
Your doctor will grade your chest injury in the following ways if it is determined that you have a strained muscle.
- Less than 5% of the individual muscle fibres in the chest are affected by a Grade 1 injury, which is minor damage. Your strength and range of motion can be slightly compromised but recovery only takes two to three weeks on average.
- A Grade 2 injury to the chest refers to more significant harm that damages more muscle fibres without totally rupturing the muscle. Significant mobility and strength issues could arise. Grade 2 wounds typically heal in two to three months.
- A complete rupture of the chest muscle is noticed in a Grade 3 injury. Surgery may be required to repair or re-join the torn muscle in extreme situations.
How Should a Strained Chest Muscle be Treated?
The severity or grade of a chest muscle strain will typically determine how it is treated. Commonly used chest muscle pain treatments include:
1. RICE – Rest, Ice Therapy, Compression, and Elevation
‘RICE’ is basically an aggregation of four recommended treatment procedures which include taking Rest, Ice Therapy, use of a Compression bandage, and finally Elevation position.
- Rest entails relaxing and staying away from physically exhausting activities.
- Applying ice to the wounded area of your chest requires covering it with a clean towel and leaving it there for 15 to twenty minutes. Avoid exposure for a long duration to prevent tissue damage.
- To minimise swelling, compression includes encircling your torso with the help of a proper compression bandage.
- The elevation is the process of lifting the damaged part of the body over the patient’s level of the heart, which could entail utilising additional pillows or a recliner as a bed.
2. Medicines
Acetaminophen and NSAIDs are typically effective in treating chest pain.
3. Exercises
Exercises that can help you regain the body’s physical strength and body flexibility for properly maintaining muscular function are part of rehabilitation.
4. Surgery
Surgery is normally reserved for Grade 3 full-tear muscle strains. Making a chest incision and reattaching the injured tendon to the bone are typical treatment methods.
| #ExpertTip: Women frequently experience different symptoms of heart attack that are different from those experienced by men. Women are more likely to experience exhaustion, dizziness, or nausea than males, who are to feel a pressure-like chest ache. |
Conclusion
Although chest muscle pain can be unsettling and uncomfortable, it’s frequently treatable with the appropriate information and strategy. You can reclaim your comfort and peace of mind by identifying its potential causes, putting in place the necessary solutions, or, if necessary, seeing a specialist.
So, avoid letting chest pain that comes and goes stop you from leading an active and healthy life.
