Symptoms of periostitis of the ribs
The cardinal symptom of periosteitis of the ribs is pain, often described as stabbing and pulling. The pain occurs particularly when the rib cage is strained, i.e. mainly when coughing and pressing. In some cases, pain is present continuously at rest.
Depending on the body weight of the person affected, one can occasionally see and feel redness, swelling and warming in the area of the affected ribcage. The tissue is very painful under pressure and the patient typically adopts a relieving posture. In most cases, several ribs are affected by the periosteitis. The symptoms can be unilateral or bilateral, and can affect the entire ribcage.
Other possible causes of rib pain
Pain in the costal arch is a classic symptom of periosteitis of the ribs. Other possible causes are: Pain at the costal arch requires a thorough diagnosis in order to treat the symptoms specifically depending on the cause.
- An intercostal neuralgia
- A costochondritis
- A pleurisy
- Sore muscles
- Strained muscles
- Broken ribs
Intercostal neuralgia, also known as intercostal neuralgia, is an important differential diagnosis to periosteitis of the ribs.
It can be very difficult to distinguish between the two clinical pictures. Intercostal neuralgia is typically accompanied by a pulling, persistent pain in the area of the ribs. The pain may radiate in a belt-like manner to the chest and/or back. As with periosteitis of the ribs, the pain is intensified by coughing or pressing movements.
Diagnosis
In order to make a diagnosis of periosteal inflammation of the ribs, the doctor first talks to the person affected about the symptoms and the course of the disease. This is followed by a physical examination with assessment and palpation of the ribcage. Typical is a pressure pain when palpating the affected ribs. In very slim patients, the doctor may notice redness, swelling and warming of the tissue over the inflamed ribs.Often X-ray diagnostics are performed to rule out rib fractures, for example. If a pathogen is suspected as the trigger, a blood count is typically also taken.
