Introduction
The diaphragm is a large muscle that is essential for breathing. The diaphragm separates the chest from the abdomen and therefore not only plays an important role in breathing, but also serves as a stabilizer. Pain in the diaphragm can be caused by the diaphragm itself, i.e. diseases of the diaphragm, or by changes in the abdominal or thoracic cavity, so that the diaphragm is subjected to increased pressure.
Causes
Pain in the diaphragm can be caused by diaphragmatic inflammation, for example. However, this is a very rare disease. A diaphragmatic inflammation is particularly characterized by the fact that the pain is respiratory, since the diaphragm tenses and relaxes with each breath.
Furthermore, an inflammation causes pain when coughing, and sometimes also when talking or laughing. Often the pain is accompanied by fever. There are several possible causes for diaphragmatic inflammation.
In most cases, an inflammation of the pleura or peritonitis spreads to the diaphragm and inflames it. Gastric acid leaking from the stomach can also irritate the diaphragm and thus lead to an inflammation. Behind an infectious cause are often trichinae, which belong to the threadworms.
Psychological causes initially cause irritation of nerves. With infectious and psychological causes, the actual pain is usually preceded by a pronounced hiccup. The pleura is a skin that separates the lungs from the chest.
In the case of pleurisy, the phrenic nerve can be irritated, so that hiccups and pain in the diaphragm can also occur. In very rare cases, pleurisy can also spread to the diaphragm, causing severe pain due to the inflammation of the diaphragm. Due to an inflammation of the ribcage or a lack of movement, the fluid in the lung gap can change its composition and consistency, so that the ribcage, which reaches the diaphragm directly at the outer chest area, can stick to the diaphragm.
This is a very painful event. If pain occurs at the diaphragm, it can also be a so-called diaphragmatic hernia. One speaks of a hernia when sections of the intestine pass through a weak point in the abdominal wall or, in the case of a diaphragmatic hernia, a weak point in the diaphragm.
In this case a part of the intestine passes from the abdominal cavity into the thoracic cavity. The diaphragm is predestined for the formation of a hernia due to three natural weak points. In more than half of the cases there are no symptoms associated with a diaphragmatic hernia.
In some cases, however, pain may occur in the upper abdomen and in the area of the diaphragm, as well as symptoms caused by a changed position of the stomach. The stomach-associated symptoms include heartburn in particular. You can find detailed information under diaphragmatic hernia.
As a result of enlargement of abdominal organs, a diaphragmatic hypertension can develop. In this case, the diaphragm protrudes into the thorax. This hinders the lungs to expand and is characteristically accompanied by pain when breathing.
Causes of diaphragmatic hypertension can be an enlargement of the liver and/or spleen or tumors in the abdomen. A persistent cough that persists over a long period of time leads to a severe strain on the respiratory muscles. Since the diaphragm is the central respiratory muscle of our body, the diaphragm is stressed by coughing.
As with any other muscle, this can result in sore muscles around the diaphragm. This sore muscle is a possible cause of pain in the diaphragm due to coughing. A harmless cause of pain in the diaphragm can be a chronic cough.
This is because the constant coughing causes the diaphragm to tense up with every cough, so that it becomes irritated in the long run, which can then lead to pain. An accident can also lead to a rupture of the diaphragm. This is a life-threatening emergency. The rupture should be operated as soon as possible.
