Associated symptoms

The complaints that occur together with the pain can be manifold. On the one hand, there may be restricted movement in the area of the spine, and there may also be shortness of breath if the complaints directly affect the functioning of the lungs or respiratory muscles. Furthermore, digestive disorders may occur if the cause is not directly at the ribs but in the digestive organs under the ribs.

An inflammation can also lead to fever. Pain can basically be divided into nociceptive and neuropathic pain. Nociceptive pain occurs when the body is damaged by mechanical, thermal or chemical stimuli and is intended as a warning signal to the body.

Neuropathic pain, on the other hand, is based on stimulation of the nerves themselves. This pain is usually described as shooting, burning or stabbing and is to be treated differently from nociceptive pain. In neuropathic pain, antidepressants or drugs for epilepsy (anticonvulsants) are often used, as they are particularly effective in relieving this type of pain.

Therefore, in the case of pain between the ribs, the type of pain should be weighed carefully so that an optimal drug therapy can be carried out. Breathlessness preceded by pain between the ribs may be due to pleurisy with resulting effusion. This effusion is also called pleural effusion.

Inflammation of the pleura is acutely manifested by severe breath-related pain in the intercostal spaces. If an effusion develops in the course of the inflammation, the pain usually decreases because the two leaves of the pleura no longer rub against each other. However, the effusion can now cause breathing difficulties.

The effusion fluid can be removed via a chest tube inserted by a physician, which will allow the breathing difficulties to subside. Pain between the ribs when coughing is most likely to indicate a fractured rib or sore intercostal muscles. A sore muscle in these muscles is most likely to occur in the context of bronchitis or a severe cold, as the severe coughing puts excessive strain on the intercostal muscles involved in breathing.A rib fracture, on the other hand, occurs in healthy people only as a result of trauma.

This can be due to maltreatment or the result of an accident with a hard impact on the ribcage. Older people have more fragile bones. This becomes particularly relevant if they also suffer from osteoporosis. In this case, even a minor trauma can lead to a broken rib. A fracture of several ribs can lead to instability of the rib cage and, due to the pointed fractures, endanger internal organs and should therefore be treated by a physician.