Contents
Intercostal neuralgia, Symptoms of intercostal neuralgia, Intercostal neuralgia: causes, Intercostal neuralgia: methods of treatment, Alternative treatment of intercostal neuralgia.
Intercostal neuralgia is often confused with numerous cardiovascular diseases. The symptoms of intercostal neuralgia can be easily confused with the symptoms of heart disease. The causes of intercostal neuralgia are usually associated with age-related changes, and, above all, older people suffer from it.
The first symptom of intercostal neuralgia can be considered pain in the region of the ribs, which occurs due to irritation or compression of the intercostal nerves. The nature of the pain can be of a different nature: burning, sharp, aching or dull. In terms of frequency, pain can be both episodic and constant. The pain can increase sharply with any, even minor physical activity or simple unexpected movement, for example, a sharp movement of the body, jumping, coughing or sneezing.
Symptoms of intercostal neuralgia can also be recognized by simple palpation. On palpation of certain parts of the body (in the area between the ribs, along the vertebral discs and the chest), the patient experiences severe pain. Also, patients often complain of pain during active inhalation and exhalation, that is, there is a feeling of “catching” breath. There is also “reflected” pain, which, as a rule, is localized in other parts of the body and can occur under the scapula, in the back and lower back. The pain of the “girdle” character is also characteristic.
Intercostal neuralgia can be accompanied not only by pain and squeezing in the intercostal space, but also not by arbitrary contraction and twitching of certain muscle groups. In the area of damage to the peripheral nerves, the skin may change color (redden or turn pale), and in these places, loss of sensitivity is possible, up to numbness.
Causes of
Many people who are faced with intercostal neuralgia wonder what causes lead to the development and progression of this disease. Intercostal neuralgia appears under the influence of numerous factors:
age-related changes – doctors note that elderly people suffer from this disease much more often than middle-aged or young people;
diabetes mellitus – diabetes mellitus provokes oxygen starvation of the nerves, that is, leads to an insufficient supply of oxygen to the nerves;
lack of vitamins of group “B” – against the background of changes in metabolism, a restructuring of all processes in the body occurs. One of the negative consequences of such a malfunction of the body is a deficiency of B vitamins, which subsequently affects the state of the entire nervous system and can be the cause of neuralgia.
diseases of the gastrointestinal tract – a violation of the digestive process is a common cause of intercostal neuralgia, as there is a decrease in the tone of the gastrointestinal tract and hormonal disorders occur;
diseases of the spine and ribs – intercostal neuralgia can be triggered by various changes in the chest, or diseases of the spine.
In addition to these common causes of intercostal neuralgia, muscle colds or muscle strain can also contribute to development. The risk of general fatigue, hypothermia, or stress greatly increases.
Methods of treatment
After consulting a doctor and making the correct diagnosis, you should proceed with the appropriate treatment. First of all, the treatment of intercostal neuralgia is reduced to the removal of pain and elimination of the causes that affect the nerve injury. Along with the use of pharmaceuticals for intercostal neuralgia, in most cases, other methods are used to ensure that the treatment is comprehensive. In the stage of acute exacerbation, it is recommended to strictly observe bed rest and sleep on a hard surface. Physiotherapy can also be prescribed by a doctor, which is considered a fairly effective method of treatment. In addition, the fortification of the body is prescribed.
Drug treatment mainly consists in the appointment of pain relievers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which significantly reduce pain. When prescribing any medication, the doctor must take into account the patient’s condition, his age and the progressiveness of the disease, as well as the presence of any acute gastric or intestinal diseases.