The lateral pain
The pain under the ribs, which occurs only laterally, is typical for complaints of the bone or nerve. If the pressure on the chest is blunt from the front or back, the lateral fracture of the ribs is most likely. Due to the distribution of pressure, the ribs on the lateral edge are most likely to burst.
This is very typical in patients who have suffered a cardiac arrest and are being resuscitated. In these cases, rib fractures are almost impossible to avoid, especially in older, osteoporotic patients. In the case of broken ribs, care must be taken to ensure that the ends of the ribs do not puncture the rib cage and injure the lung skin.
This is also a cause of lateral pain. This can lead to life-threatening complications of the lung with shortness of breath. Nerve entrapments can also cause lateral pain under the ribs.
This pain can be triggered and aggravated in particular by breathing and movement. Rib fractures are caused by falls and blunt force. Although the rib cage is mobile due to its cartilaginous connections with the sternum and absorbs many impacts, it can also break quickly.
Rib fractures are particularly common in older people who already suffer from osteoporosis. Bruises of the ribs are the preliminary stage to fracture. Rib fractures can occur on both the left and right side.
In rare cases, the ribs may fracture on both sides. Serial rib fractures can also occur, in which several superimposed ribs break at corresponding points due to a violent impact. The pain that occurs is stabbing and strongly dependent on breathing.The pain can also be triggered by pressure and touch from outside.
Sometimes a fracture can be palpated externally. An X-ray or CT image of the ribcage can be used to determine the exact location of the fracture. If the fractures are superimposed, therapy is not necessarily required.
Bandages around the chest are not useful, as they additionally restrict breathing. Care must also be taken to ensure that the ends of the fractures do not penetrate the thorax and possibly cut through the pleura. Acutely life-threatening lung problems can be a complication.
If the symptoms are severe, painkillers from the group of NSAIDs or opiates can be given for healing. Depending on the severity of the fracture, healing may take several weeks. In pleurisy, the thin skin covering the lungs and the inner side of the chest becomes inflamed.
Primarily pain occurs when breathing. For this reason, affected persons tend to breathe shallowly and adopt a gentle position. Often, however, only one side is affected.
The lung reaches approximately up to the ribcage when breathing in. This is why pain can also be felt in this area in the case of pleurisy. Inflammation of the pleura can vary in severity from person to person.
