Chest Wall Pain. Pain of the front chest wall-referred to as Tietze’s Syndrome-is fairly common. Like any other joint, the cartilage joining the rib to the breast bone may become very painful; unlike other joints, it cannot be rested unless breathing is stopped. There is a definite sore spot (usually over the heart) and pressing on it causes great pain. This eliminates the possibility of heart pain which cannot be produced by pressing anywhere on the chest wall.

I often suffer from this pain. Because my breathing is laboured(my diaphragm muscles are weak due to ALS progression) it causes strain and pain. I cannot rest the joint where my ribs attach to the breastbone as long as I keep breathing and to keep on breathing seems like a good idea. I suspect some of this pain will subside when I start BiPAP(Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure). I've been putting off the inevitable as I'm slightly claustrophobic and know it will take me time and patience to adjust to the BiPAP mask. However, I'm not comfortable and like to be proactive so will make an appointment with the respiratory specialist and let him diagnose me rather than Dr. Ruddick. LOL.