Typical symptoms of a rib blockage
- Pain, often dependent on breathing (especially during inhalation), following the anatomical course of a rib
- Pain-related movement restriction
- Back pain due to the pain-related relieving posture
- Breathing difficulties (max. inhalation subjectively not possible up to breathing difficulties)
- Neurological symptoms similar to those of a slipped disc (sensory disturbances, loss of strength) i. e. the arms up to the fingers
- Circulatory problems often due to hyperventilation, as complaints come suddenly and remind one of a heart attack
Pain is characteristic for the presence of a rib blockage, whereby it is almost always dependent on breathing and reaches its maximum during inhalation. If patients are asked to point their finger at the painful area, they usually point to a specific rib and intuitively trace it with a hand movement starting from the spine.
Depending on the severity of the blockage, the intensity of the pain increases and is accompanied by back pain if it persists for a long time. This is because the affected person unconsciously assumes a position in which his or her pain is reduced. However, the back muscles are not used to this unusual position and certain muscles are overused.
A hardening of muscle fibers is the result, which manifests itself in back pain. However, it is also possible for the pain to radiate, which is due to an irritation of nerve fibers near the rib blockage. In a pain-related malposition, the unusual position of the vertebrae can lead to stretching or compression of nerves in the immediate vicinity, so that these nerves reactively transmit the sensation of “pain”.
It is therefore not uncommon for pain to accompany the spinal column and extend into the shoulder blades or chest region. This in turn can lead to the false assessment that a heart attack is present. Breathlessness usually occurs in the event of a rib blockage if those affected cannot correctly assess the sudden onset of symptoms.
Because of the unfamiliar situation and the pain when breathing in, they often become anxious and do not dare to take a deep breath. The result is shallow breathing with an increased frequency, which is called hyperventilation in the technical terminology. If this form of breathing persists, not enough carbon dioxide can be breathed out and those affected experience this as breathing difficulties.
Intercostal neuralgia should not be confused with a rib blockage. A rib blockage is a bony problem in the joint between a vertebral body and a rib. Intercostal neuralgia, on the other hand, is only a symptom and is neurological in nature.
It involves irritation of a nerve that runs below a rib. Both conditions can manifest themselves as pain in the rib area. However, experience shows that intercostal neuralgia is more likely to be located in the front part of the thorax, whereas a rib blockage radiates from the back – i.e. from the spine – into the thorax.
Nausea is actually a rare symptom of a rib blockage. When it occurs, it is usually due to the fact that the person affected is so psychologically absorbed by the pain that his or her discomfort manifests itself as nausea. From an anatomical point of view, however, a rib blockage has no direct effect on the stomach.
However, it has been proven that stress increases the production of gastric acid and this in turn can lead to irritation of the stomach lining with accompanying nausea. However, this process takes time, whereas a rib blockage often dissolves spontaneously during exercise and is therefore only temporary. If the symptoms persist, however, this mechanism is possible.
Back pain is a common symptom of a rib blockage because the affected rib forms a bony joint with the spine in the back region. If the position of this joint is changed, a different pressure is exerted on the bones forming the joint. Continued tension then causes pain in this area because nerve endings at the affected structures are irritated.
In itself, chest pain is a possible symptom of a rib blockage, since the ribs are the bony boundary of the chest area. However, the term chest pain must be defined more precisely. Typical for rib blockages is pain in the back area, which, however, can also be described as chest pain by those affected due to the possible radiation along a rib.
This is often described as a feeling of tightness by those affected. However, the maximum pain is concentrated in the back area.Feelings of numbness are rather rare in a classic rib blockage and develop especially if the malposition persists for a long time. The reason for the numbness is the irritation of spinal nerves similar to a herniated disc.
In most cases, however, in the case of a rib blockage, it is not the intervertebral disc material that presses on the nerve and causes the symptoms, but the pain-related relieving posture leads to an overstretching or compression of the adjacent nerve fibers. This can then lead to symptoms similar to those of a slipped disc. The blockage must be resolved in any case to prevent a neurological problem
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