Symptoms of torn muscle fibers between the ribs
The diagnosis is made on the basis of the patient survey and the triggering event. The patient states since when he has had pain in the area of the ribs, whether he has had an accident before, or whether he has had a cold with a cough. The examiner will then listen to the lungs and also palpate the chest to see if there has been any instability in the rib area.
By palpating the ribs and the muscles in between, the examiner can determine if the muscles are very painful under pressure, which would indicate a rupture of muscle fibers between the ribs. If there is any doubt, an x-ray of the rib cage and the ribs should be performed in any case. Although this image cannot prove a torn muscle fiber, it may indicate a rib fracture in the area of the rib cage.
Duration of the muscle fiber tear between the ribs
The duration of a muscle fiber rupture can vary greatly. In the area between the ribs, however, rapid recovery can be difficult under certain circumstances, as it is not possible to spare the muscles between the ribs sufficiently. The muscles between the ribs are strained practically with every breath, so it is difficult to take care of them.
Especially if it is also an accompanying cough that has led to the muscle fiber tear between the ribs, a recovery can be particularly long. As a rule, a torn muscle fiber generally takes a few days to 4 weeks. If the muscles are heavily strained, a rupture of a muscle fiber can take up to 6 weeks even with treatment.
Since the fiber tears between the ribs are usually very small punctiform tears, a recovery time of about 1-2 weeks can be assumed. If the symptoms have not improved after this time, an examination of the rib cage and ribs should be performed to rule out even the smallest fractures. Sufficient pain treatment, possibly with anti-inflammatory components, can speed up the healing process of a torn muscle fiber.
