Intercostal neuralgia – causes, symptoms & therapy

Intercostalneuralgie

Intercostal neuralgia is the medical term for an acute and severe pain syndrome caused by various underlying diseases. The symptoms are usually characterized by a stabbing, belt-shaped pain in the ribs, chest and back. The pain usually comes on suddenly and lasts for a long time.

What is intercostal neuralgia?

Intercostal neuralgia causes painful symptoms that manifest themselves in the chest and/or back. It is typical of intercostal neuralgia that the pain tends to expand in the form of a belt or ring and is usually limited to these two zones. The pain, precisely indicated between the ribs and the chest wall, is aching and can last for a more or less long period of time.

Patients suffering from intercostal neuralgia state that the intensity of the pain increases when they cough or sneeze.

causes

The causes for the development of intercostal neuralgia are quite different, so that the causal relationships cannot yet be precisely determined. Typical triggers for intercostal neuralgia are, for example, clinical pictures that originally relate to the spine or the lungs. Impaired health of the rib bones and pleura can also contribute to intercostal neuralgia.

All of these triggers involve mechanical effects on the nerve roots. In the case of intercostal neuralgia, these are caused by the inflammation and constrictions. Intercostal neuralgia is usually associated with various heart, stomach, gallbladder or liver diseases or with shingles . Broken bones, pathological changes in the nerve roots and pain in the female breast can also be a cause of the symptoms that occur.

symptoms and course

The symptoms observed in intercostal neuralgia make an important contribution to reliable disease detection. In addition to the pain already described, those affected by intercostal neuralgia describe abnormal sensations such as tingling symptoms or numbness of the skin. In addition, typical malpositions occur, which are expressed in an abnormal posture. Intercostal neuralgia is also accompanied by pain, which is not only less severe but can also be paroxysmal and severe. In the advanced stage of intercostal neuralgia, restricted breathing and even breathing difficulties are classic. Breathing in is limited by the pain.

Diagnose

When diagnosing intercostal neuralgia, the first step is to get as precise a description of the symptoms as possible from the patient. The diagnostic measures are expanded by manual palpation by the doctor. So the painful point can be detected. Since the pain is locally close together and extends to certain nerve roots, this is a clear sign of intercostal neuralgia. In order to specify a rather unclear diagnosis, medical-technical equipment such as imaging procedures, the ECG and the so-called myelography are carried out. In the case of myelography, the spinal canal (nerve canal) and the spine in particular are examined. The ECG is used to detect diseases of thecardiovascular system .

complications

In most cases, those affected by intercostal neuralgia suffer from relatively severe pain. This pain can also occur in the form of rest pain and have a very negative effect on the quality of life of those affected. Especially at night, this can lead to sleep problems and thus to irritability or depression . The pain itself usually occurs in the back or chest and can also lead to restricted movement or severe breathing difficulties. A fear of death can also occur due to intercostal neuralgia if the pain in the chest becomes unbearably severe.

Intercostal neuralgia also leads to sensory disturbances or paralysis in various parts of the body, so that the affected person suffers from paraesthesia. If this is not treated, the nerves can be irreversibly damaged.

The treatment of intercostal neuralgia depends very much on the cause of the disease. In many cases, however, it can be treated without complications with the help of medication or various therapies. The life expectancy of the patient is usually not negatively affected by the disease.

treatment and therapy

The treatment of intercostal neuralgia is possible and in the individual case always depends on the results of the diagnostics as well as existing pre-existing or concomitant diseases. The therapy is relatively broad and must be clarified individually.

In addition to the use of drugs, the treatment of intercostal neuralgia also includes the prescription of physiotherapeutic measures, as well as electrotherapy. In individual cases, this means that the affected sufferers of intercostal neuralgia can be treated with a large number of highly effective drugs. In addition to pain medication (sometimes even opioids and muscle relaxants), these include injections. These are carried out with local anesthetics and also relieve the painful restrictions.

The medicinal methods are supplemented by physiotherapeutic applications. Depending on the extent of the disease, these include manual therapy and healing massages. In the context of physiotherapy, patients with intercostal neuralgia can be treated with heat, cold or pressure. Manual therapy is based on the practice of special hand movements that have a targeted local effect. and have become well known through the release of nerve blockages.

Proven healing massages are also useful for intercostal neuralgia, because tapping, stroking or kneading can alleviate the symptoms under certain circumstances. The individual measures for intercostal neuralgia are usually offered as a complex.

prevention

Doctors agree that it is difficult to prevent intercostal neuralgia immediately. Sufficient physical exercise can prevent some causes of intercostal neuralgia. This means that hardened and shortened connective tissue and muscles in the intermediate ribs cannot develop in the first place.

In addition, active physiotherapy can help to prevent tension and hardening of the muscles in the shoulder girdle and the spinal muscles in the upper and middle areas.

In order to prevent intercostal neuralgia, it makes sense to move around in a way that is easy on the spine in everyday life and to avoid incorrect posture and overloading that damages the muscles and connective tissue and thus premature wear and tear.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

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