Frequency distribution
Exact numbers are sometimes not directly known. Basically, however, intercostal neuralgia is a rare disease.
Diagnosis
Early diagnosis of intercostal neuralgia is of enormous importance in the diagnosis of intercostal neuralgia. If the pain remains without treatment for a long period of time, there is a risk of chronicity, i.e. persistent pain, possibly for a lifetime. The diagnosis of intercostal neuralgia requires an extensive anamnesis in order to identify the underlying disease responsible for the intercostal neuralgia.
Through a palpation examination, certain pressure points can be stimulated.If this leads to characteristic pain, the suspected diagnosis of hissing rib neuralgia can be confirmed. Further procedures can then be used to clarify the actual underlying disease. In particular, imaging procedures are conceivable here, such as an X-ray examination of the ribcage or the spinal column, in order to determine diseases or damage to the skeletal system. Other imaging procedures such as ultrasound (sonography), computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can also provide important diagnostic information, depending on the underlying disease.
Symptoms
In intercostal neuralgia, in most cases there is belt-like, stabbing, pulling and possibly persistent pain. They can become stronger or weaker at times or suddenly become extremely strong as if from nowhere. The pain occurs in the area of the chest.
Those affected also report that the pain radiates into the back. Certain movements of the rib cage or coughing can lead to a worsening of the pain. In the context of intercostal neuralgia, sensory disturbances of the skin and itching can also occur.
In addition to the pain, intercostal neuralgia also represents a psychological burden. Patients who suffer from constant pain often feel panic and even mortal fear, as particularly severe pain can lead to shortness of breath and breathing may also be difficult. Therefore, it is often assumed that the pain comes from the heart or lungs.
The fact that some patients suffer from pain almost all the time, and this over a longer period of time, can also have a negative effect on the psyche of the person affected and, in the worst case, trigger depression. Do you have pain between the ribs, but the symptoms do not fit with intercostal neuralgia? The main symptom of intercostal neuralgia is severe pain in the area supplied by the affected nerve.
This usually manifests itself as movement-dependent, belt-like pain in the course of an intercostal space. Often, even slight movements are sufficient to trigger the pain. The widening of the ribcage during inhalation can be sufficient for this.
The pain is often reported by affected patients with very high intensity. They can be accompanied by discomfort and tingling sensations. The nerves affected in intercostal neuralgia are not responsible for the respiratory muscles.
This means that respiratory arrest cannot occur because both the diaphragm and the respiratory assistance muscles can work. However, intercostal neuralgia is accompanied by severe pain between the costal arches. These become worse when the ribcage is moved, for example during inhalation and exhalation.
In pain-afflicted patients, this can lead to extremely flattened breathing, which can be accompanied by the subjective feeling of breathlessness or even mortal fear. In this case, patients should be encouraged to breathe as calmly as possible and to relax. Pain relief through appropriate pain therapy helps to prevent the occurrence of shortness of breath.
In the case of acute pain in the chest area, as is also the case with intercostal neuralgia, one should always have a heart cause in mind. In particular, life-threatening heart attacks should not be neglected. In addition to the acute chest pain, pain radiations, especially in the left arm, often occur during a heart attack.
Accompanying abdominal pain is also possible. Many patients with a heart attack have sudden shortness of breath and often suffer from extreme panic, even mortal fear. A heart attack is therefore often much more dramatic than intercostal neuralgia. However, especially in women and also in diabetes patients (diabetes), the course of a heart attack can be very subtle. For this reason, a doctor should always be consulted if chest pain suddenly occurs, who can, for example, use an ECG to rule out a dangerous heart attack.
