The body has 12 pairs of ribs, all of which are attached to the spine in the back. In the front, however, the top seven pairs are connected to the sternum, or breastbone, by pieces of cartilage. The next three pairs of ribs are not connected to the sternum, but to the ribs above them by cartilage. Accidents, falls, direct blows and other traumas can cause injuries to the ribs, including tears in the cartilage. Forceful twisting motions, excessive or forceful coughing and sneezing can also injure this area. If the symptoms of torn cartilage in the ribs appear, it is important to rest the area to avoid developing a chronic injury.
Rib Pain
The cartilage attaching the ribs to the breastbone can tear slightly or a rib can separate completely from the cartilage. This tearing away from the cartilage is called a costochondral separation and usually causes pain and tenderness at the site of the tear or separation, states the University Sports Medicine website. The pain may occur only during activity, but it may be present at rest too. It can sometimes be confused with heart attack pain. Deep breathing, laughing and coughing may exacerbate symptoms.
Resting and icing the area can control the pain as the injury heals. Healing will be faster if activities are stopped as soon as symptoms appear. Since this condition can cause pain similar to a heart attack, it is always best to not waste time trying to determine which condition it might be and instead, seek medical attention immediately, advises MayoClinic.com.
Muscle Spasms
Treatment for torn rib cartilage involves managing the symptoms until the area heals. Resting the area is important because in some cases, rib and chest pain may be accompanied by muscle spasms, warns the Better Health Channel website.
In these cases, treatment may include pain-killing drugs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. For severe tears, healing can take 12 weeks or more.
Grinding Sounds
Some cases of torn rib cartilage can cause grinding or crunching sounds when moving, states the Better Health Channel website. This may get worse when trying to take deep breaths. A physician can perform a physical exam to look for tenderness and order scans to help confirm a diagnosis.
