Duration of Chest Wall Pain
Chest wall pain typically lasts from hours to weeks in acute presentations, but more than half of patients (55.4%) experience chronic symptoms persisting beyond 6 months, with frequent recurrence even after initial resolution. 1, 2, 3, 4
Acute vs. Chronic Timeline
Acute presentations of chest wall pain can vary significantly in duration:
- Pain may be continuous or intermittent over hours to days or weeks in initial presentations 3
- The pain is generally moderate in intensity and well-localized 3
- Symptoms often occur more than once daily (62.9% of patients) 1, 2
Chronic course is remarkably common and often underappreciated:
- 55.4% of patients have chronic symptoms lasting more than 6 months 1, 2, 4
- Recurrence occurs in approximately half of patients even after initial improvement 3
- In one cohort study, 28.0% showed persistent pain at follow-up 4
Clinical Context and Pain Characteristics
The duration correlates with specific pain patterns:
- Pain described as stinging (53%) or pressing (35.1%) tends to be episodic 1, 2
- Retrosternal (52%) or left-sided (69.2%) locations are most common 1, 2, 4
- Pain is typically amplified by position or movement, which helps distinguish it from cardiac causes 3
Important Clinical Pitfalls
Do not assume brief duration rules out chest wall pain - while fleeting pain of seconds is unlikely to be ischemic 1, chest wall pain itself can be acute and severe, causing significant anxiety and cardiac concern 3
The benign nature does not mean short-lived - despite favorable long-term outcomes, the chronicity and recurrence rate means patients need realistic expectations about symptom duration 3, 4
Costochondritis specifically accounts for 42% of nontraumatic musculoskeletal chest wall pain and follows similar patterns, with many patients experiencing prolonged symptoms requiring reassurance and appropriate treatment 1, 5, 2