When Fibromyalgia Causes Chest Pain: What You Should Know

If you’re living with fibromyalgia and experiencing chest pain, you’re not alone in feeling concerned and confused. Many people with fibromyalgia report chest pain as one of their symptoms, which can be particularly frightening given the natural association between chest pain and heart problems.

Living with fibromyalgia symptoms often means navigating a complex array of symptoms that can affect nearly every part of your body. Chest pain adds another layer of worry to an already challenging condition, especially when it’s difficult to determine whether the pain is related to your fibromyalgia, or something else that requires immediate medical attention.

This article explores the relationship between fibromyalgia and chest pain, helping you understand when this symptom might be connected to your condition and when it warrants urgent medical evaluation. If you’re experiencing multiple fibromyalgia symptoms, you may want to take our fibromyalgia assessment to better understand your condition.

Bottom Line

Chest pain can occur with fibromyalgia, often due to muscle sensitivity, costochondritis (inflammation of chest cartilage), or heightened pain processing. However, chest pain should always be evaluated by a healthcare provider to rule out serious conditions like heart problems.

Quick Facts

• Fibromyalgia connection: Central sensitization can amplify chest sensations
• Common causes: Muscle tenderness, costochondritis, anxiety-related symptoms
• When to seek help: Any new or severe chest pain requires immediate medical evaluation
• Not heart-related: Fibromyalgia chest pain typically differs from cardiac symptoms
• Treatment approaches: Pain management, stress reduction, gentle movement

Understanding Fibromyalgia and Pain Processing

Fibromyalgia is characterized by central sensitization, a process where your central nervous system becomes hypersensitive to pain signals¹. Research shows that people with fibromyalgia experience amplified pain responses throughout their bodies, including areas like the chest².

The condition involves widespread musculoskeletal pain, often accompanied by fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive difficulties. Studies explain that fibromyalgia affects how your brain processes pain signals, making normally non-painful sensations feel uncomfortable or painful³.

This altered pain processing helps explain why people with fibromyalgia may experience chest pain that isn’t related to heart problems. Understanding how fibromyalgia is diagnosed can help you work with healthcare providers to distinguish between fibromyalgia-related symptoms and other conditions.

How Fibromyalgia May Cause Chest Pain

Understanding Fibromyalgia-Related Pain Characteristics

Fibromyalgia-related pain has specific characteristics that can help distinguish it from other serious conditions. Understanding these patterns can provide valuable context, though any new or concerning chest pain should always be evaluated by a healthcare provider.

Chest pain associated with fibromyalgia typically:

• Can be reproduced with touch: Pain that worsens when you press on specific areas of your chest wall²²
• Relates to movement and position: Discomfort that increases with certain positions, deep breathing, or stretching²³
• Has a sharp or aching quality: Often described as stabbing, burning, or a deep ache rather than crushing pressure²²
• Varies in location: May move around different areas of your chest rather than staying in one spot²²
• Associates with muscle tension: Often accompanies neck, shoulder, or upper back tightness²⁴
• Develops gradually: Usually builds slowly rather than starting suddenly²⁴
• Worsens with stress: May increase during periods of emotional or physical stress²⁴

Costochondritis and Chest Wall Pain

Many people with fibromyalgia develop costochondritis, which involves inflammation or irritation of the cartilage connecting your ribs to your breastbone. A study found that people with fibromyalgia often experience pain in areas where soft tissues attach to bones⁴.

Costochondritis can cause:

• Sharp or aching pain in the chest wall
• Pain that worsens with deep breathing or coughing
• Tenderness when pressing on the chest area
• Pain that may radiate to your back or abdomen

This type of chest pain is mechanical rather than cardiac, meaning it’s related to the musculoskeletal structures in your chest rather than your heart.

Muscle Tension and Referred Pain

Fibromyalgia can cause muscle tension throughout your body, including in the chest area.²⁵ You may develop pain in other parts of your body that can refer pain to your chest.²⁶

This can create pain that:²²

• Feels deep and aching
• May spread across your chest
• Can be reproduced by pressing on specific muscle areas
• Often accompanies neck or shoulder tension

Chest Pain That’s NOT Typically Fibromyalgia-Related

While fibromyalgia can cause chest discomfort, it’s important to recognize when chest pain might indicate other medical conditions rather than fibromyalgia-related symptoms. Understanding these differences can help you make informed decisions about when to seek care.

Signs of Non-Fibromyalgia Chest Pain

Certain characteristics suggest conditions other than fibromyalgia:²⁸

Different Pain Qualities:

• Crushing or squeezing sensation: Pressure or heaviness (rather than sharp, aching fibromyalgia pain)
• Radiating pain: Spreads to arms, neck, jaw, back, or stomach
• Exertion-related: Triggered by physical activity, relieved by rest
• Sudden, severe onset: Starts abruptly and intensely
• Breathing-related: Dramatically worsens with deep breaths or causes significant shortness of breath
• Meal-related: Burning sensation triggered by eating or lying down

When to Seek Medical Evaluation

Seek prompt medical care if you experience:

• Crushing chest pressure with sweating, nausea, or arm pain
• Sudden severe chest pain with difficulty breathing
• Chest pain with dizziness, rapid heartbeat, or feeling faint
• Any chest pain that’s different from your usual fibromyalgia symptoms

Professional Assessment

Healthcare providers use various assessment tools to evaluate chest pain risk⁶, considering your medical history, age, risk factors, and pain characteristics. Even with fibromyalgia, these factors remain important in determining whether chest pain needs medical evaluation.

Important Considerations for People with Fibromyalgia

Having fibromyalgia doesn’t protect you from other medical conditions.²⁷ You can experience both fibromyalgia-related chest pain and serious conditions like heart problems. Key points to remember:

• Any chest pain with new characteristics different from your usual fibromyalgia symptoms should be evaluated
• Chest pain that doesn’t respond to usual fibromyalgia management strategies may indicate another condition
• When in doubt, always seek medical evaluation rather than assuming chest pain is related to your fibromyalgia
• Different doesn’t always mean dangerous, but it does mean it should be checked

Managing Fibromyalgia Chest Pain

While addressing overall fibromyalgia symptoms often helps reduce chest pain, there are specific approaches that may provide additional relief for chest-related discomfort. If your pain is fibromyalgia-related, there are strategies that can help.

Chest-Specific Management Strategies

Heat and Cold Therapy: Research published in Frontiers in Pain Research in 2025 found that four weeks of heat therapy significantly reduced pain severity in fibromyalgia patients¹⁶. This research found that people with fibromyalgia experience abnormal temperature sensitivity, with many finding heat helpful for muscle stiffness¹⁷. Applying heat to tense chest muscles or cold to inflamed areas may help reduce pain. Many people find warm baths or heating pads helpful for muscle tension, while cold packs can reduce acute pain flares.

Gentle Chest Stretches: Research found that movement therapies, including stretching exercises, showed potential benefits for adults with fibromyalgia¹⁸. Simple stretching exercises for the chest, shoulders, and upper back can help reduce muscle tension that contributes to chest pain. Always start slowly and stop if stretching increases pain.

Breathing Techniques: Studies demonstrated that breathing exercises significantly improved pain and daily functioning in women with fibromyalgia¹⁹. A systematic review in Pain Medicine found that mind-body therapies, including breathing and relaxation techniques, showed potential benefits for adults with fibromyalgia¹⁸. Deep breathing exercises and relaxation techniques can help manage both chest pain and the anxiety that chest pain often triggers. This is particularly helpful since stress can worsen fibromyalgia symptoms overall¹⁵.

Posture Awareness: Poor posture can contribute to chest wall pain. Being mindful of sitting and standing positions, especially during long periods at a desk or computer, may help reduce chest discomfort.

When Chest Pain Needs Specific Medical Attention

Even with fibromyalgia, chest pain may sometimes require targeted medical treatment:

• Costochondritis may benefit from anti-inflammatory approaches under medical guidance
• Persistent chest wall pain might benefit from a physical therapy evaluation
• Severe muscle tension could benefit from professional massage therapy
• Anxiety-related chest pain may benefit from additional stress management guidance or behavioral health visits

Remember that treating fibromyalgia chest pain often involves addressing the whole-body condition rather than just the chest area, since central sensitization affects how your entire nervous system processes pain signals.

When to Consult Your Healthcare Provider

Specialized Fibromyalgia Care

Managing fibromyalgia effectively requires ongoing collaboration with healthcare providers who understand the condition. You should discuss chest pain symptoms with your fibromyalgia specialist or primary care provider, even if they seem related to your condition. Finding fibromyalgia doctors near you who are experienced with the condition can be an important step in getting appropriate care.

Questions to Discuss with Your Provider

When talking about chest pain with your healthcare team, consider asking:

• How can I distinguish between fibromyalgia-related chest pain and pain that needs urgent attention?
• What treatment approaches might help with chest wall pain or costochondritis?
• Are there any warning signs specific to my health history I should watch for?
• How can stress management help with my overall fibromyalgia symptoms?

Coordinating Care

If you experience chest pain, you may need evaluation by different specialists. Your fibromyalgia care team can help coordinate with:

• Primary care providers for initial evaluation
• Cardiologists if heart-related causes need to be ruled out
• Fibromyalgia specialists for comprehensive fibromyalgia management

Living with Fibromyalgia: A Comprehensive Approach

Understanding the connection between fibromyalgia and chest pain is one piece of managing this complex condition. While fibromyalgia can cause chest discomfort through central sensitization and muscle tension, the most important message is that fibromyalgia pain deserves proper medical evaluation.

Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches

Recent studies show that behavioral interventions are highly effective for fibromyalgia management, with a 2024 phase 3 trial published in The Lancet finding that 71% of participants reported improvement with digital Acceptance and Commitment Therapy compared to 22% with a symptom-tracking control¹⁰.

Many people with fibromyalgia find that a comprehensive treatment approach addressing both pain processing and lifestyle factors tends to be most helpful. Current evidence-based approaches include:

• Behavioral Therapy: First-line treatment with strong research support for fibromyalgia management 
• Movement Therapy: Regular, gentle activity can help reduce pain and improve physical function¹¹ 
• Stress Management: Mindfulness-based approaches have shown promise in fibromyalgia management¹⁵ 
• Professional Care: Working with specialists who understand fibromyalgia can optimize treatment

To learn more about available fibromyalgia medications or explore comprehensive fibromyalgia treatment options, discuss options with your healthcare provider.

Individual Treatment Approach

Remember that fibromyalgia affects everyone differently, and what works for one person may not work for another. Finding the right combination of treatments often takes time and patience, but with proper medical support and evidence-based approaches, many people with fibromyalgia can effectively manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Your healthcare provider can help determine the best approach for your situation and ensure that any fibromyalgia-related chest pain receives appropriate evaluation and treatment. If you’re looking for specialized fibromyalgia care, consider getting started with our assessment to explore your treatment options.

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