Therapy
In the treatment of intercostal neuralgia, the first step is always to treat the underlying disease in the context of which the intercostal neuralgia occurred or developed. It is quite often the case that no clear cause can be found, so that treatment of the symptoms is carried out. This means that especially the pain is treated with medication.For example, there is a choice of so-called non-steroidal anti-rheumatic drugs, which have a pain-inhibiting and also anti-inflammatory effect.
Examples are ibuprofen and aspirin. Both medicines are available without prescription in all pharmacies, but when taking them you should urgently pay attention to the stated maximum daily dose, as otherwise strong side effects can occur. A doctor should also be consulted if the painkillers are to be taken over a longer period of time.
For more severe pain, the significantly more potent (more effective) opioids can be used, which are, however, subject to the narcotics law with a few exceptions (e.g. morphine). They may only be used for very severe pain. Opioids have both a potentially addictive effect and some undesirable side effects.
Pain inhibition can also be achieved by injecting a local anesthetic. These are drugs that provide an anaesthetic only at the site of application. The use of muscle relaxants, i.e. substances that relax the muscles, can also be promising under certain circumstances, as can the use of manual therapy or physiotherapy.
Furthermore, the application of the so-called transcutaneous (trans-through; cutis – skin) electrical nerve stimulation as a treatment option is also quite conceivable. However, the effectiveness of this method has not been proven in every case, but it is a popular method because no medication has to be prescribed. Many patients with intercostal neuralgia resort to home remedies.
Heat and cold applications can be particularly helpful here. These can be carried out with moist compresses or warm grain cushions, for example. Since intercostal neuralgia is often associated with incorrect strain on the back, it is also important to make everyday life as back-friendly as possible.
Attention should be paid to a good posture, heavy carrying should be avoided and objects should be lifted from a squatting position in a way that is easy on the back. In this way you can contribute a lot to healing but also to preventing intercostal neuralgia. Both heat and cold treatments can relieve the pain of intercostal neuralgia.
Heat patches or a warm grain pillow can relieve muscular tension in the back area and thus relieve the affected nerves. On the other hand, some patients find it more helpful to work with cold. This can be particularly beneficial in the case of inflammatory causes of intercostal neuralgia.
It remains to be recommended that the affected patient tries both and can thus find relief with light household remedies. Homeopathic remedies can also be used as an adjunct. It should be noted that there is no scientifically proven effect of homeopathy and that it should only be used in conjunction with medically guided therapy.
For example, Arsenicum album, Colocynthis, Rhus toxicodendron and Ranunculus bulbosus are supposed to provide relief from burning, neuralgic pain. A suitable combination can be put together for you by an experienced homeopath. If intercostal neuralgia occurs, you should consult your family doctor as a first step.
He can conduct the first doctor-patient consultation and physical examination and make an initial suspected diagnosis. If it is an uncomplicated intercostal neuralgia, e.g. in the context of muscular tension, the therapy can be carried out by the family doctor with painkillers and, if necessary, physiotherapy. If there is evidence of a traumatic injury to a rib or even a herniated disc, imaging by a radiologist or treatment by an orthopedic surgeon may be necessary. If these injuries make surgery necessary, an appropriate surgeon must of course be consulted. In most cases of intercostal neuralgia, however, specific treatment by a general practitioner or an orthopedic surgeon on an outpatient basis should be completely sufficient.
