Intercostal strains take weeks or months to heal because these muscles contract with every breath, making persistent pain at three to four weeks normal rather than a sign of complication.Intercostal strains take weeks or months to heal because these muscles contract with every breath, making persistent pain at three to four weeks normal rather than a sign of complication.
One in five to one in two chest-pain consultations stem from intercostal muscle strain, which heals slower than comparable injuries because these muscles cannot be offloaded — they work continuously with every breath.One in five to one in two chest-pain consultations stem from intercostal muscle strain, which heals slower than comparable injuries because these muscles cannot be offloaded — they work continuously with every breath.