What causes pain in the right rib cage?

Whenever pain occurs in any part of the body, it often causes significant discomfort and restlessness. Therefore, it's important to detect and treat pain early. What could be causing right-sided rib pain?

What Causes Right-Sided Rib Pain?

Pain in the right side of the ribs may stem from lesions directly affecting the ribs themselves, such as costochondritis, which is quite common. Costochondritis primarily results from inflammatory changes at the junction between the sternum and the costal cartilage. Thus, when patients experience rib pain, costochondritis should be considered. Additionally, intercostal neuralgia can also cause pain in the right rib area. Patients may feel a burning or stabbing sensation, which might worsen with actions like coughing or deep breathing. The liver and gallbladder are located beneath the right ribs. If a patient has a history of conditions such as cholecystitis or hepatitis, referred pain from these organs may manifest as rib pain. In such cases, timely medical evaluation and treatment are essential to avoid delaying diagnosis and proper management.

If rib cage pain is due to a simple soft tissue contusion of the chest wall, local physical therapy may be applied. Symptomatic treatment may include oral administration of anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications such as Celebrex (celecoxib), along with topical applications like Voltaren (diclofenac gel). In cases where contusion is accompanied by rib fracture, in addition to the above treatments, thoracic immobilization may be required.

In severe cases, surgical intervention may be necessary. If the pain is caused by intercostal neuralgia or costochondritis, local physical therapy and oral or topical anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications can be administered. However, if the pain arises from a space-occupying lesion in the chest or other intrathoracic pathology, further investigation is needed. We hope this information helps you. Wishing you good health and happiness!