What is intercostal neuralgia?
It is neuropathic pain - intercostal nerves are involved in the pathological process. We are talking about the nerve that comes from the spinal cord, under the ribs.
The main symptom of intercostal neuralgia is a piercing, sharp, burning pain.
The patient feels pain in the following area:
- Around the ribs;
- In the upper part of the chest;
- Upper back.
The patient may also experience numbness, tingling, and a pinching sensation from the chest to the back. The pain worsens even with light physical exertion (deep breathing or stretching the arms). The pain worsens when laughing, coughing or sneezing.
In intercostal neuralgia caused by acute herpes virus, the patient suffers from skin itching and increased sensitivity (for example, on clothes).
Signs of acute intercostal neuralgia are:
- Involuntary muscle contraction;
- Loss of appetite;
- Paralysis;
- Muscle atrophy.
Intercostal neuralgia is formed as a result of compression, inflammation or irritation of the intercostal nerves.
The causes are:
- Trauma in the chest area;
- Viral infection;
- Pressure on the nerve;
- Trauma caused during a surgical procedure (incision of the chest in order for the surgeon to reach the lungs, heart, diaphragm).
In some clinical cases, the exact cause cannot be determined. This condition is called idiopathic intercostal neuralgia.
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