Neuralgia in the chest arouses anxiety. They result not only from damage to the nerve responsible for transporting the stimulus to our brain. Pain extends from at least one intercostal vertebra to the upper or lower part of the chest, takes place within the nerve, and even its entire branch.
Commonly known as intercostal neuralgia, the condition can occur on one side or both sides of the chest. The pain is jerky, aching, or sharp.
How does the disease progress?
Throbbing, tearing, excruciating, and sometimes stinging or burning, paroxysmal pain tends to intensify when taking a deep breath, increasing physical exertion, or bending the trunk. Hypoaesthesia is sometimes associated with it. It happens that the pain is girdling and brings to mind tightening of the hoop around the chest. Before the soreness sets in, you may feel a slight numbness or tingling that is localized in the chest. The force with which neuralgia strikes can hinder normal functioning, but it can also be mild. The unpleasant sensation passes for no specific reason and usually affects the area of the intercostal nerves.
Sources of neuralgia in the chest
Neuralgia in the chest is formed under the influence of various factors. The reason may be:
- nerve irritation resulting from a sudden movement or a nap,
- pressure caused by the growth of a cancerous tumor or organ,
- nerve damage with a toxic background, such as alcohol,
- pregnancy,
- rib or chest injuries
- Lyme disease,
- shingles affecting the nerves located in the upper back or chest,
- metabolic disorder associated with diabetes,
- arthritis and other connective tissue diseases.
Diagnosis and treatment
The doctor makes a diagnosis based on the results of such tests as: electromyography, evaluation of peripheral nerve conduction, neurological reflex testing, radiological examination, complete blood count and urinalysis. On their basis, it is possible to determine which nerve has been damaged.
Neuralgia in the chest is treated by preventing the symptoms from recurring. First of all, the pain that the patient experiences during neuralgia is combated. The doctor usually prescribes an ointment or patches. In pharmacotherapy, drugs are implemented to counteract depression or epilepsy, as well as vitamins B6 and B12, which help prevent intercostal neuralgia. If a tumor is found to be the cause, surgical intervention is necessary.