The pain in your ribs when you touch them can be caused by several common conditions, including:
- Muscle strain or injury: Overstretching or tearing muscles between the ribs (intercostal muscles) can cause localized pain, which worsens when touched, moved, or breathed deeply.
- Rib fractures or bruises: Broken or bruised ribs, often due to trauma or injury, lead to sharp, localized pain that is tender to touch.
- Costochondritis: This is inflammation of the cartilage connecting the ribs to the sternum, causing tenderness and sharp pain on touch, especially near the front of the rib cage.
- Inflammation or infection: Conditions like pleurisy or infections can cause rib pain, sometimes worsening with pressure or touch.
- Nerve-related pain: Conditions like intercostal neuralgia cause nerve pain along the ribs, which can be tender to touch.
- Other causes: Less commonly, rib pain when touched can be due to autoimmune conditions, cancer spread to ribs, or fibromyalgia, which causes sensitivity to touch and widespread pain.
If the rib pain is mild and due to muscle strain or minor injury, rest, icing, and over-the-counter pain relief often help. However, if the pain is severe, persistent, associated with breathing difficulty, swelling, or other symptoms, it is important to see a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment as some causes require prompt medical attention.
