Any discomfort experienced in the rib cage due to an injury or possible medical conditions can be associated with the many causes and symptoms of developing rib pain. The symptoms are directly associated with the type of discomfort caused by proper diagnosis and treatment.

Here are seven possible conditions and their associated symptoms causing rib pain, the severity of which will vary accordingly.

Fracture
One of the most common causes of rib pain, exhibiting a number of easily identifiable symptoms.

Intense pain is one of the first symptoms of any fracture followed by dizziness or even experiencing shock (physical and mental) due to the sudden and unexpected impact. Grinding of bone on bone, redness, swelling, and bruising, difficulty in supporting the weight of the joint thus restricting movement are just some of the other associated symptoms of a fracture. Visible indicators also include deformity in the injured area.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
Genetic mutation is the main cause of CML, which can inadvertently lead to rib pain. However, in many cases it is very difficult to diagnose the condition, making it even more difficult to narrow down specific symptoms that lead to developing rib pain. The symptoms will also vary according to the phase shifts in the condition which will again affect the intensity of the condition. Swelling is one of the persistent symptoms which may trigger rib pain in some instances. The swelling is more predominant in your abdomen, but discomforts experienced in the upper part of your abdominal cavity close to the rib cage can also put pressure and cause rib pain.

Metastatic lung cancer
Rib pain is a condition which can be caused and aggravated due to persistent coughing, chest pain, wheezing, shortness of breath among many other primary indicators of a developing metastatic lung cancer condition. It is often very difficult to identify the symptoms of metastatic lung cancer, let alone find and associate the same with the ones which cause rib pain.

Systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
This medical condition is an autoimmune disorder which means the condition forces your immune system to turn on itself and attack the healthy cells of your body. The condition is mostly chronic and can even result in life-threatening situations. Symptoms of SLE vary and change, but the most common ones like severe fatigue, joint pain, and swelling, inflammation, certain deformities in the affected area can all be associated with the ones which cause rib pain.

Osteoporosis
Classified as bone disease, osteoporosis translated in Latin means ‘porous bones’. This is one of the conditions which leads to weakening of your overall bone structure causing strength and density loss. The progressive condition makes bones vulnerable and susceptible to injuries which can also result in rib pain or complications due to fractures. Identifying the symptoms of osteoporosis can help diagnose the severity of the condition and help administer a viable course of treatment in time. This will also in turn help identify any discomforts caused due to rib pain, the symptoms of which can be associated with osteoporosis.

Pleurisy
This is one of the many medical conditions which can be associated with possible symptoms and causes of rib pain. Pleura are tissue in your lungs which move together when you breathe in and out, continuously and consistently. However, pleurisy is a condition which results in the inflammation and irritation of these particular tissues causing significant pain and discomfort. The most common symptoms of pleurisy can be linked to a number of discomforts caused due to this developing condition including, pain in one side of your chest, shallow breathing due to persistent pain, muscle aches, and joint pain. These symptoms are indicators of problems experienced in your rib cage affecting all the vital surrounding vital organs. Fluid buildup in the lungs is one of the vital symptoms which can lead to rib pain as pressure is exerted from within your lungs pushing against the rib cage.

Costochondritis
One of the leading causes of discomforts experienced in your rib cage due to persistent and severe rib pain. The rib cage is made up of bones and cartilage which supports the individual bones forming the exterior protecting the lungs. The cartilage allows for free and comfortable movement of the individual bones enabling the lungs to expand and contract while breathing normally. Costochondritis causes inflammation of this cartilage causing chest pain and rib pain in particular. The severity of the symptoms will directly depend on the stages of this progressive condition. Mild cases of costochondritis generally do not require any treatment. However, medical attention is required for severe cases.