Definition
So-called intercostal neuralgia is a certain type of pain, which is triggered by nerves and occurs between the ribs. Thus, intercostal neuralgia is a symptom that can occur in various diseases. It is usually a very strong, often stabbing pain, which usually occurs suddenly and lasts for a long time. They can occur in the chest as well as in the back area between the ribs.
Causes
Since intercostal neuralgia is a symptom and not a disease, the term stands for complaints that can be caused by a number of different diseases. Together with other symptoms and a detailed examination, a treating physician may be able to determine which disease is the cause of the complaints. In the case of diseases of various organs of the body, it is possible that the complaints radiate into skin areas that are not in close proximity to the organ.
For this reason, diseases of the heart or liver as well as the gallbladder should also be considered in the case of prolonged intercostal neuralgia with no apparent cause. Diseases of the spine, lungs and ribs can also be responsible for the symptoms. A common disease that can cause the symptoms of intercostal neuralgia is for example herpes zoster.
The initial infection usually does not cause any symptoms, but the virus remains in the body for a lifetime and can be reactivated, for example, in case of illness or immune deficiency. Then the so-called shingles occurs, which causes intercostal neuralgia in addition to skin symptoms on the costal arch. It is noticeable that symptoms only occur in the skin areas supplied by the affected nerve.
People suffering from intercostal neuralgia frequently report that the pain between the ribs increases significantly when coughing or sneezing. It is relatively likely that this pain is caused either by the lungs, the pleura or the ribs themselves. On the other hand, other causes, such as organ involvement of the heart or large blood vessels, are relatively unlikely in a cough-dependent condition. The reason for the increased pain during coughing is the sudden expansion of the lung and a related influence on structures that are primarily responsible for the pain. For example, if a disease of the rib bones or the lungs is the trigger for intercostal neuralgia, these structures are moved during coughing and the pain increases accordingly.
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