These symptoms indicate a pinched nerve at the rib
A symptom that is most likely to indicate a pinched nerve at the rib is the rather sharp, stabbing, easily localized pain. If pain occurs during coughing or during deep inspiration or expiration (inhalation/exhalation), this most likely indicates irritation of the intercostal nerves. It may happen that the intercostal muscles temporarily cramp, since irritated nerve fibers can also send action potentials that cause the muscle fibers to contract.
If you feel pain when you tilt your upper body in a certain direction or turn it into a certain position, this may be an indication of irritation or irritation of the nerve at the thoracic spine. If the pain radiates along a rib, it could be a neuralgia of the nerve fiber, i.e. a nerve pain that may be caused by pressure on the fibers, for example, or a past history of herpes zoster virus (shingles). Sensory disturbances along a defined area of skin can also be caused by a pinched nerve. Rarely, movement restrictions or muscular stiffness can be signs of nerve irritation.
Treatment and therapy
Depending on the underlying cause of the symptoms, a causal therapy is first attempted.If, for example, the muscle hardening is so strong that a nerve is irritated, one can first try to release the tension by means of heat and massages and thus relieve the nerve pain. If the pain occurs on the ribs when coughing and becomes increasingly stronger, one should first try to relieve the cough so that the irritation of the nerves is also less. Other possible therapy options are physiotherapy, manual therapy, electrotherapy or, as already mentioned, healing massages.
Sometimes, however, the pain is so severe or the causal cause cannot be identified or is difficult to treat, so that a symptomatic therapy with painkillers is in the foreground. For this purpose, non-steroidal antirheumatic drugs (NSAIDs) are suitable as primary therapy. Muscle relaxants can be considered as a possible increase in therapy, as well as – as an escalation of therapy – opioids or infiltrations of the nerve with local anesthetics. Surgery can also be considered to remove the pressure from the nerves, as for example in the treatment of a herniated disc.
