How to treat intercostal neuralgia at home: the most effective methods

Intercostal neuralgia: symptoms

The word neuralgia, translated, means nerve pain. If the patient has neuralgia, then inhaling and exhaling air will be painful for him. Intercostal neuralgia is a symptom that has understandable causes. Despite the fact that they are clearly expressed, experts often confuse neuralgia with other serious diseases.

Main symptoms

For a patient who has been diagnosed with intercostal neuralgia, the symptoms of the disease literally poison the life, as they are painful from the first day of their appearance. The pain syndrome occurs intensely and gradually spreads along the intercostal spaces, in other words, it passes along the path of the nerve. When inhaling, the pain becomes stronger, as well as when moving, coughing, or turning the body. The piercing pain does not stop for a long time, and constantly intensifies for no apparent reason. The duration of such sensations can vary from several hours to 2-3 days.

Features of neuralgia for the classic picture of the disease:

1. The pain syndrome is quite intense, the pain is burning, somewhat reminiscent of renal colic.

2. If you palpate the intercostal space, the pain will increase.

3. The patient feels the movement of the pain syndrome.

4. The skin over the affected area may partially or even completely lose sensitivity.

Secondary symptoms:

1. The patient suffers from increased sweating.

2. The skin becomes pale.

3. Some muscle segments contract.

Based on all the symptoms described above, it is not difficult to diagnose the disease, but, unfortunately, neuralgia is often hidden under other diseases. The pain can be aching or dull, and periodically intensifies.

In addition to localization in the intercostal spaces, there may be a sensation of pain in the stomach, heart, or back. But it’s quite simple to explain - the intercostal nerves have branches, they go to all of the above.

But even despite such disguise, the pain from neuralgia can still be distinguished from the pain associated with diseases. So, for example, if localized in the heart area, it will not go away even after taking nitroglycerin. But under the influence of drugs such as validol or corvalol, it will begin to decrease.

How to distinguish intercostal neuralgia from heart pain

Intercostal neuralgia can mimic many diseases. The most dangerous of them is heart pain, which occurs with angina pectoris and myocardial infarction.

Here are the features of pain with intercostal neuralgia:

the pain is aggravated by deep breathing, turning the body, sneezing, changing body position, and physical activity;
long-term pain (up to several hours or days);
not eliminated by taking Nitroglycerin tablets under the tongue;
decreases 60-90 minutes after taking painkillers;
pulse and blood pressure are within normal limits;
pain intensifies when pressing on the ribs;
the pain is often localized around the sternum.

And these are the features of pain in heart pathology:

the intensity of pain does not depend on the depth of breathing and turns of the body;
the pain goes away or decreases 1-2 minutes after taking a Nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue;
pulse and blood pressure often differ from normal;
the pain is localized behind the sternum (with angina).

Intercostal neuralgia treatment at home: medications

It is impossible to find out the cause of pain in the chest and ribs on your own. It is not recommended to make a diagnosis yourself and start treatment with medications, it is not clear why. Be sure to visit a neurologist for a full examination and clarification of the diagnosis.

Treatment will directly depend on the cause of this condition. The doctor must consider whether the patient has problems related to the stomach or intestines. Since if they are present, drug therapy cannot be prescribed.

Modern treatment of back pain has long moved away from simply eliminating unpleasant sensations. It is important to treat not the manifestations, but their cause. An example of such an integrated approach is the addition of NSAIDs with neurotropic vitamins (B1, B6, B12). B vitamins not only help eliminate pain faster than when taking NSAIDs alone (for example, diclofenac sodium), but also have a beneficial effect on physiological processes in the nerve fiber , stimulate nutrition and restoration of the structure of nervous tissue.

Thus, the optimal addition to NSAIDs is the drug Neuromultivit in injections, which includes three vitamins B1, B6, B12 in therapeutic dosages. The use of neurotropic vitamins in high therapeutic doses helps to consolidate the analgesic effect, promotes the restoration of nerve fiber, which makes it possible to achieve long-term remission of the pain syndrome. Treatment with the drug begins with daily injections for 5-10 days, then switches to maintenance administration, 2-3 injections per week for two to three weeks.

During the acute period of development of the disease, experts recommend adherence to bed rest, and you need to lie on a hard mattress.

Ointments made from bee or snake venom give a good effect. After applying them, the muscles relax, muscle elasticity becomes better. The area that you are treating with ointment needs to be bandaged with something.

Pepper patch is used to treat intercostal neuralgia. But before applying it, you need to degrease the skin with alcohol and then wipe it dry. Once you feel a pleasant warmth, remove the patch immediately. After its use, the muscles relax, and inflammation and pain are relieved.

External agents include diclofenac, ketanol, finalgon. They allow you to relieve muscle spasms, eliminate pain, and stop the inflammatory process.

Doctors use NSAIDs as medications for the disease, these include Coteprofen and Indomethacin.

If the feeling of pain lasts for a long time, and conventional drugs do not help, blockades are prescribed, namely the injection of painkillers and anesthetics under the skin. In order to increase the saturation of tissues with oxygen, Pentoxifyline and Trental are used.

For internal use, experts recommend using Pentalgin, Sedalgin. Thanks to them, body temperature decreases and pain is relieved.

Treatment with medications is not only about relieving symptoms, but also about relieving pressure on pinched nerves.

In the future, it is recommended to restore the mobility of the spine; for this, a chondroprotector is used.

However, treatment is not only about taking medications, you need to do complex therapy. Medicines are taken in conjunction with a course of physiotherapy. First of all, warming up with ultraviolet light occurs, gymnastics are performed, and massage is performed.

Only all measures taken together will ultimately give a positive result, and the patient will be able to live without a constant feeling of pain.

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Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YyYkShVy_84

Neuralgia is translated from Greek as nerve and pain, i.e. it is pain along the course of the nerve. Since there are nerves in all parts of the human body, neuralgia can appear anywhere: on the face, back of the head, lower back, and also between the ribs.

The intercostal nerves are a continuation of the thoracic nerve roots; they seem to encircle the chest. Therefore, pain with intercostal neuralgia is girdling.

Symptoms of intercostal neuralgia.

Pain in the rib area can be one-sided or two-sided. The pain can be sharp, sharp, piercing or aching. It may be accompanied by burning, tingling, and numbness of the skin. This pain is directly related to breathing movements - the pain intensifies with deep breathing, and also intensifies with coughing and sneezing.

The symptoms of intercostal neuralgia can be confused with the symptoms of other diseases: heart attack, renal colic. Sometimes these diseases occur simultaneously. Therefore, if there is pain on the left side, be sure to get an electrocardiogram.

To distinguish the symptoms of neuralgia from the symptoms of heart disease, we must remember that pain in the heart disappears within 5-10 minutes, especially when taking nitroglycerin. With intercostal neuralgia, the pain continues for a long time and does not go away when taking nitroglycerin; it intensifies with coughing, deep breathing, and changing body position.

Causes of intercostal neuralgia.

1. Back and chest injuries.

2. Scoliosis.

3. Herniated intervertebral discs.

4. Infectious diseases, especially herpes - the herpes virus often “sits” on nerve trunks and nerve endings..

5. Diseases of internal organs, nervous and endocrine systems: gastritis, ulcers, diabetes mellitus..

6. The cause of intercostal neuralgia in old age is very often muscle spasm, which can occur from careless movement..

Treatment of intercostal neuralgia.

You don’t have to endure the pain of intercostal neuralgia. To relieve it, everyone takes well-known painkillers:

baralgin, sedalgin, dexalgin – 1 tablet 3 times a day, 3-5 days.

In especially severe cases, blockades are performed with painkillers (novocaine, lidocaine).

The affected nerve is injected with novocaine (the so-called novocaine blockade), and sedatives are administered.

Procedures such as UHF, electrophoresis, and Sollux are used.

Drug treatment of intercostal neuralgia includes taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs:

voltaren, diclofenac, movalis, etc. These drugs have a bad effect on the stomach. Therefore, they are taken 15 minutes after meals, 1-2 tablets 2 times a day, for a course of 1-2 weeks.

Often with intercostal neuralgia, the intercostal muscle spasms.

To relieve spasms, mydocalm, baclofen, baklosan are prescribed - 1 tablet 2-3 times a day.

In the treatment of neuralgia, special patches are often used to relieve pain, reduce swelling and inflammation. This patch works for 12 hours. The patch is worn for 12 hours and the skin is allowed to rest for 12 hours.

To treat intercostal neuralgia at home, ointments and gels are often used externally: fastum, bystrumgel, dolobene, deep relief. They penetrate deeply into the tissue and are able to heal very quickly. And if these ointments are combined with ointments that improve blood supply in the vessels (capillaries), the effect of treatment will be even greater.

To improve the biochemical process in nerve tissues, B vitamins are used.

The acute period for intercostal neuralgia lasts 3-5 days; dry heat and bed rest are very useful during this period. An attack of pain will help to remove a down scarf or a bag of heated sand, but a sauna or hot bath are contraindicated - they increase local swelling.

In the acute stage, the patient must remain in bed; the bed must be flat and firm.

You can use folk remedies for the treatment of intercostal neuralgia, but they must be used after consulting a doctor.

In addition, in order to treat intercostal neuralgia, you can also use traditional methods of treatment, which, when used correctly, sometimes give simply amazing results.

1. A salt solution consisting of two tablespoons diluted in half a liter of hot water works well. A cloth is dipped into this solution, placed on the sore spot and insulated on top. Keep the compress for 2 or 3 hours.

2. Brew flax seed in boiling water, leave for 5 minutes, then wrap it in gauze and apply it to the sore spot.

3. Make a cake from melted beeswax, liquid honey, white lily bulb juice, onion juice. All components are mixed, the mixture is applied to the sore spot, everything is insulated with a woolen or down scarf and left overnight.

4. You can rub black radish juice, turpentine, horseradish juice into the sore spot. All of them have a local irritant, warming effect, and relieve pain well. Pepper patch, which is applied to previously degreased skin, has the same properties. As soon as a feeling of pleasant warmth appears, you can remove the patch, since if you keep it on for a long time, you can burn the skin.

5. Fresh burdock helps many patients at home. It is applied to the chest with the inside and wrapped in woolen cloth. Leave it like this all night.

6. You can also mix melted lard with lilac buds and leaves, crushed into fine crumbs (only lard should be 4 times less than lilac). The mixture is cooled and rubbed into sore spots.

7. It is good to use the leaves of indoor geranium. They need to be torn off, wrapped in linen cloth, tied to a sore spot, insulated with a woolen scarf or scarf. The leaves need to be changed every two hours, and the total duration of the compress should not be more than 2 hours.

8. Grind aspen buds, mix them with butter or Vaseline in the proportion of 4 parts butter and one part buds. Rub the ointment into painful areas. To relieve swelling and inflammation, you can drink a decoction of aspen buds and its bark.

9. Mix iodine and glycerin in equal proportions. You need to moisten a cotton swab in this solution and lubricate your entire back, rubbing the painful areas especially carefully. The spine should not be treated. Then you should put on cotton underwear and lie down in a warm bed. If there are no allergic reactions or contraindications, this procedure can be repeated every other day for a month.

10. You can rub sore spots with intercostal neuralgia with an infusion of birch buds, a handful of buds collected in the spring, when the leaves have not yet bloomed. you need to fill 500 ml. vodka, leave for 10 days in a dark place, and then use.

11. It is good to take peppermint decoction internally: 200 ml. Boil water, add 1 tablespoon of dry peppermint leaves to the boiling water, leave. Take 100 ml. in the morning and in the evening. You can add 2 teaspoons of honey to the decoction.

12. Intercostal neuralgia can also be treated with valerian tincture. Take a cotton napkin, moisten it in valerian tincture, put it on the place that is bothering you with pain, cover it with polyethylene or paper for compresses and wrap it up (insulate it). It is good to fall asleep with such a compress. It relieves tension and pain and is very calming. It is most convenient to take valerian tincture from a pharmacy, although if you wish, you can make it yourself.

13. Steam flax seeds in gauze or linen bags and apply to the sore spot.

14. Fresh radish or horseradish juice is good for neuralgia. The juice is applied to painful areas to reduce and relieve pain.

15. Wormwood (fresh or steamed) is applied to a sore spot to relieve pain. To enhance the effect of wormwood, you can mix wormwood gruel with sea buckthorn or olive oil.

16. You can prepare an ointment from dried and ground aspen buds (prepare it with Vaseline or butter in a ratio of 1:4). The resulting ointment is rubbed into painful areas. A decoction of aspen bark and buds is also used for neuralgia.

17. Rue tincture helps with intercostal neuralgia. It is prepared like this: two tablespoons of rue herb are poured with a glass of alcohol and infused in a tightly closed bottle for a week. During an attack of pain, make lotions with this tincture.

18. Pour 100 g into a cup. turpentine and 100 gr. boiling water, wet a soft cloth, wring it lightly and apply it as a compress to the sore spot. Keep the compress for 3-5 minutes, no more, so as not to cause a burn. Make a compress at night, after the compress, wrap the sore spot with a woolen scarf.

hard-boiled egg relieves a neurological attack well Simply boil an egg, then while it is still hot, cut it in half and apply it to the area where the pain is felt the most. As soon as the egg cools down, the pain will go away. And neuralgia will not bother you for a long time. This remedy is old and effective, repeatedly tested and proven.

20. Sesame and honey help relieve pain.

– Grind 10 tablespoons of lightly roasted sesame seeds in a coffee grinder, mix with the same amount of honey. In the morning, eat a tablespoon of the mixture with a glass of warm water with a teaspoon of ground ginger dissolved in it. The course of treatment is 10 days.

22. We drink the triple mixture and apply it as a compress.

– Grind and mix: 2 parts of yarrow, and one part each of birch leaves and wormwood herb. Pour a tablespoon of the mixture into a glass of boiling water, leave in a water bath for 15 minutes, cool, strain. Drink in 4 doses half an hour before meals. Do not throw away the cake, but use it as a compress on painful areas.

23. During an attack of intercostal neuralgia, baths with sage infusion will help.

Pour four tablespoons of sage into a thermos with 0.5 liters of boiling water, leave for one hour, strain, pour the infusion into a bath at a temperature of 37 degrees, add 4 tablespoons of sea salt. Take a bath every night at night. The course of treatment is 10 days.

24. We successfully treat intercostal neuralgia with indoor geranium.

Pick a few leaves of indoor geranium. Rub the juice from a geranium leaf into the painful part of the skin. On top is a woolen scarf. Rub in every 30 minutes for 3-4 hours.

We treat intercostal neuralgia by influencing biologically active points using the method of Eastern reflexology.

Rotate with your index finger or feeler gauge at the following points:

GL11 – located in the middle of the distance between the lateral epicondyle and the radial end of the elbow fold.

GL4 – located between the 1st and 2nd metacarpal bones, closer to the 2nd metacarpal bone in the fossa.

F3 – located in the depression between the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones, 0.5 cun above the metatarsophalangeal joints (cun is the distance of the first phalanx of the thumb on the hand)

TR6 – located on the dorsum of the forearm and the interosseous recess, 3 cun above the fold of the wrist joint.

To get rid of pain, you must first relieve muscle spasm and relax the muscles. After which, you should thoroughly strengthen your back muscles so that such problems do not arise in the future. Exercises to relax the back muscles There are several exercises. They can be performed at the workplace. Even if you just get up and walk, it will have a beneficial effect on your condition. Exercises for intercostal neuralgia during pregnancy are performed under the supervision of a doctor.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MleJDOf0rqQ

Six basic exercises.

Before exercise, warm up a little: shake your arms, shake your shoulders.

Exercise 1 Place your feet shoulder-width apart and lean to the side. First to the left, then to the right, fixing your hands on your wrists. Just do it smoothly, no sudden movements.

Exercise 2 In the same position, bend your elbows and lift them to the level of your chin. Turn your body left and right without moving your pelvis. Do 20 exercises.

Exercise 3: Squats. Do about 15-20 squats while holding the back of a chair. The back should be straight.

Exercise 4 Sit on a chair. With your hands on the back of your head, bend back, then return to the starting position. Do this exercise 10 times.

The main thing is to be systematic and perform the exercises regularly, every day.

In addition to warming up during breaks between work, you can start exercising right in the morning, as soon as you wake up. This will not only relax your muscles, but will also help you quickly tone up and recharge your batteries for the whole day.

Exercise 5: Lying on your back, bend your knees and alternately reach your nose with your knees, bending your torso.

Exercise 6 Now on your stomach, with your arms stretched along your body, bend as much as possible, trying to raise both your head and legs.

Spell for neuralgia.

Before treating a patient with any drug, read a spell on this drug:

“Beyond the deep seas, beyond the distant meadows, beyond the dense forests, beyond the quicksand swamps, there is Mount Kira. On that mountain, on Kira, there is an oak tree, on this oak tree three copper birds sit, beating and plucking this oak tree day and night. Do not beat, do not chip this oak, but knock down and chip away from the servant of God such and such all his weight, all his thinness. So that his white body would break, so that his face would not shrink, so that a tear would not fall from his eyes. Let all my words be turned backwards, forwards forward, a hundred years forward.”

Another conspiracy:

Lightly tap the sore spots with the edge of your right hand, saying:

“I stab, I chop for Kuzmikh, And the pains, blows for Varvara. Zdvih, don’t be dashing, get off the servant of God (name), go to the dry forest. There you should lie, There you will be from now on forever, On the bones of God’s servant (name) Do not walk, do not wake her up at night. If you have pain, illness, go, go there, Where we will never wait for you. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."

All traditional methods of treatment may have contraindications. Before using prescriptions, consult your doctor!

(all information is taken from various Internet sources)

Intercostal neuralgia treatment at home: folk remedies

Alternative medicine has accumulated many recipes for the treatment of intercostal neuralgia. All of them can have an irritating and analgesic effect, and inflammatory processes are eliminated.

However, it is better to use the remedies only to relieve pain symptoms, but in order to completely eliminate the symptoms of the disease and cure it, you need to consult a specialist.

Effective folk recipes for the treatment of intercostal neuralgia:

• medicinal rubs. To carry them out, take a little Vaseline and turpentine, combine, mix well and rub into the sore spot;

• mixture for compresses. In order to relieve pain and get rid of symptoms, it is necessary to use a compress, which is a cotton cloth previously soaked in a special mixture. You can prepare it as follows: take one teaspoon of turmeric, two tablespoons of ginger, half a spoon of chili pepper. Mix everything and add water, the end result should be a paste. Warm it up a little, put it on a cloth and apply it to your body;

• glycerin and iodine. Neuralgia can be cured with a 15-day course of treatment, during which a special mixture is applied to the sore spot. Add glycerin and iodine in equal quantities to a dark glass bottle. Shake and apply to body. This procedure is carried out once every two days;

• burdock. Often people at home use burdock to treat intercostal neuralgia. Just pick a leaf of the plant and apply it to the sore spot. Then, using a woolen scarf or scarf, tie it and leave it in this position until the morning;

• ointment based on lilac. The ointment is also useful; anyone can prepare it at home. Take a porcelain bowl, place it in a water bath, and melt lard in it. As soon as it melts, add pre-dried lilac buds or leaves to it. Moreover, the ratio of leaves and lard should be 1:4. After cooking, cool well and strain. To relieve pain and relieve inflammation, rub into sore areas.

Water treatments

In addition to using ointments, decoctions and rubs, you can use medicinal baths. Here are some recipes:

1. Before going to bed, take the following bath: add a decoction of aspen bark and poplar branches to the water. The ingredients must be boiled for 30 minutes. The temperature of the water in which you will lie should not exceed 38C. The course of treatment is 10 days. In order to enhance the effect of the bath, after taking it, you can rub fir tree oil into the skin.

2. The following bath also applies to folk remedies: for 10 days, add a tincture of 4 tablespoons of sage, previously filled with water, to the water in which you take a bath. Infuse the product for an hour, strain.

3. Pour water into the bath, the temperature of which should be 38 C. After this, add four drops of eucalyptus and lavender oil to it. But before that, mix the oils with milk and alcohol, take 100 ml of each product.

All baths last 10-15 minutes. In order for the treatment effect to be greater, do not wipe yourself dry, let the skin dry on its own.

How to quickly relieve an attack of neuralgia?

Neuralgia is a disease caused by damage to the peripheral nerve. Sudden and severe pain is one of its main symptoms.
It may appear as a response to any ordinary action or irritants that are familiar to a healthy person and will go unnoticed - chewing food, brushing teeth, summer breeze... The disease has an ICD-10 code: M 79.2 - neuralgia and neuritis unspecified. With timely early diagnosis and proper treatment, recovery occurs quickly.

However, if the disease is “neglected”, it turns into neuritis, which is difficult to treat and will remind itself very often, at the slightest hypothermia or draft.

The patient will subconsciously fear a repeat attack of pain, which cannot affect his psychological state.

Types of neuralgia, what kind of pain occurs with different types of disease

Neuralgia is a fairly common ailment, which affects up to 20% of neurology patients who come in with acute pain. Seeing a doctor about acute neurological pain tends to be repeated as soon as a provoking situation appears:

Hypothermia;
flu and colds;
overload: psychological, nervous, physical;
staying in a draft.

Neuralgia can affect different parts of the body, since we are practically entwined with nerves and nerve endings.

The most common types of disease affect the main parts of the spine: cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral.

The most common types of neuralgia are intercostal, upper larynx, occipital, trigeminal, glossopharyngeal, coccygeal and Roth's disease.

In each specific case, the pain will be different in nature, location and duration.

Pain caused by inflammation of the trigeminal (facial) nerve is considered to be the most painful.

This disease is typical for women over forty, and is characterized by such an acute attack of pain in the face that it can cause the patient to cry involuntarily and even lose consciousness.

There may be increased salivation and tears may flow spontaneously. The attack begins instantly, lasts several seconds or minutes, and also stops abruptly.

Pain due to inflammation of the occipital nerve will be aching or pounding, spreading over the surface of the head, radiating to the temples. It gets worse if you turn your head or sneeze or cough. May be accompanied by nausea.

Inflammation of the glossopharyngeal nerve can provoke swallowing, yawning, even talking. The pain lasts from a few seconds to 5 or more minutes. If it lasts longer, fainting may occur.

In Roth's disease, the pain of the damaged nerve in the thigh is quite severe and increases with movement.

Inflammation of the nerve in the coccyx area is characterized by severe pain, which increases with physical activity. This form of neuralgia usually appears as a result of a previous injury or problematic childbirth.

Intercostal neuralgia causes many problems because it affects the thoracic nerves, and its symptoms are similar to an acute heart attack. The pain is acute, growing, and gradually turns into aching. There may be tingling and a feeling of numbness.

Neuralgia pain is a signal that a certain area of the nerve is affected.

The response to pain should be to create conditions for its speedy cessation and the fastest possible restoration of the consequences of damage.

In some cases, the pain is caused by damage directly to the nerve trunk - neuropathic. This type of pain mainly accompanies attacks of neuralgia, and indicates neuron pathology or nerve compression.

How to quickly relieve pain

Anyone who has at least once experienced an attack of neuralgic pain remembers very well these terrible moments when he was ready to give everything in the world so that the pain would go away as quickly as possible.

How to effectively relieve pain? Taking one pill will not provide quick healing; it is a temporary measure, so an integrated approach is necessary.

Medicines will relieve an attack of pain, and folk remedies will help you recover faster after an attack.

If neuralgic pain is taken by surprise and there is no opportunity to urgently visit a neurologist to clarify the diagnosis and receive treatment, first of all the patient must be provided with physical rest, or even better, bed rest. Anti-inflammatory ointments containing fir oil can be applied to the location of the pain or a warm compress can be made.

Medication methods

The best way to relieve pain for severe pain is to take analgesics such as Nimesulide (Nimesil), Ibuprofen. If you need to quickly relieve muscle spasm, it is recommended to use a patch with Fentanyl. For inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, it is good to use the drug Lyrica. At the initial stage, you can take Pentalgin.

If analgesics do not give the desired effect, it is necessary to carry out a blockade with solutions of novocaine or lidocaine and steroid hormones (as an anti-inflammatory agent). The blockade is carried out by a doctor in the form of an injection into the area where the pain is most pronounced.

The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is also indicated: Indomethacin, Ortofen, Ketoprofen, etc. They will not only relieve pain, but also reduce inflammation, but they must be taken taking into account the side effects on the kidneys and stomach.

A good effect is achieved by taking antispasmodics: Mydocalm, Sirdalud and Baclofen. Anticonvulsants are used: Tegretol, Carbamazepine, Diphenin.

Anti-inflammatory ointments can be used topically: Ketonal, Voltaren, Sustamed, as well as ointments that contain snake or bee venom.

Severe pain is better tolerated by the patient if the antidepressants Dupoxetine or Amitriptyline are taken.

Traditional methods of treating neuralgia

If it so happens that you cannot see a doctor, you can use folk remedies. They are quite effective and are used as ointments or rubbing solutions and warming agents. Their feature is completely natural ingredients and the absence of side effects.

Beeswax compress. Beeswax is softened in a water bath, a small cake is formed from it and applied to the sore spot, fixed with a bandage. The compress can be left overnight.
Lilac bud ointment. Dry kidneys are ground into powder and mixed with pork fat in a ratio of 1:4. The resulting ointment can be used 2 times a day to reduce pain. Store in the refrigerator.
Tincture of fir cones and pine needles. A glass of cone mixture is poured with 0.5 liters of vodka. The mixture is infused for 3 days, and then used to rub the sore spot in a small amount before bedtime. The tincture is used as an anti-inflammatory agent. Instead of cones, you can use dried dandelion flowers in the same quantity.
Grinding mixture. An effective rubbing mixture can be prepared from equal amounts of iodine and glycerin. The components are mixed in a dark glass bottle and then applied to the affected area using a tampon every other day for a month. The mixture should not be used in the spine area.
Willow decoction. One of the most effective remedies in the treatment of neuralgia. To prepare it, pour 10 g of crushed willow bark into 200 ml of boiling water and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. Strain and take 1 tbsp warm. l. 4 times a day before meals.

In addition to these methods, there are a number of others, but everyone chooses the most accessible and effective for him.

When and why you should definitely go to the doctor

Today there is a popular joke that “as soon as you enter symptoms into the search bar, the Internet will give you a diagnosis.”

There is some truth in every joke - sometimes it is really very difficult to get an appointment with a doctor for objective reasons: lack of specialists, long queues, expensive... The list goes on.

Of course, we already treat the common cold ourselves, but neuralgia is not a case where you can cure yourself. An examination by a neurologist and examination must be completed even if you managed to cope with acute pain on your own.

Firstly, only a specialist can make an accurate diagnosis. You can't do reflex tests on your own. In addition, a large number of diseases have similar symptoms, so it is impossible to distinguish intercostal neuralgia, for example, from a heart attack or osteochondrosis on your own.

Only a doctor can prescribe effective treatment taking into account existing side diseases. After all, the saying “one thing heals, another cripples” is well known to everyone. Moreover, a neurologist may recommend some new drug that will help you quickly get back on your feet, and not the drug that your grandmother used to treat you.

Correct diagnosis and proper treatment are the key to ensuring that neuralgia does not progress to the stage of chronic neuritis, which will significantly complicate life.

The situation is especially clearly illustrated by neuritis of the facial nerve, the treatment of which takes 3-6 months, and no one can guarantee that the facial muscles will restore their function completely.

You can remain with a mournful or tearful expression on your face for the rest of your life if you self-medicate.

Prevention

If you want to be healthy, take care of it yourself. In case of neuralgia, preventive measures are as follows:

Do not overcool;
avoid drafts;
do not lift heavy objects and do not overwork your muscles;
good sleep;
consumption of healthy foods and vitamins;
timely treatment of infectious diseases;
charger;
timely treatment and tooth extraction.

It is much easier to prevent any disease than to torment yourself and your loved ones with long-term treatment and endure unbearable pain.

Source: //onevrologii.ru/nevralgii/kak-bystro-snyat-pristup-nevralgii

Intercostal neuralgia: symptoms, treatment at home - doctor's recommendations

If you have symptoms of the disease, you should consult a doctor. This must be done not only to determine the causes of the condition that has arisen, but also to properly eliminate them. Before prescribing treatment, you need to find out the severity of the pathology.

It is indeed possible to treat intercostal neuralgia at home, but only if the disease is mild. In cases where pain is accompanied by high fever or other symptoms, it is necessary to undergo treatment in a hospital. In the presence of concomitant diseases, not all treatment methods are suitable. Many drugs may be contraindicated. Traditional medicine does not always have a positive effect on health.

Not everyone understands how dangerous intercostal neuralgia can be, which is why they neglect to visit hospitals. But this is really dangerous, since the pain can be so severe that no painkillers will help.

During the treatment period, the patient must be constantly under the supervision of a physician. Watch your health and take care of it!

Intercostal neuralgia is one of the most common diseases of the human nervous system, characterized by pain in the chest area.

This disease is not considered a dangerous illness, but when its symptoms suddenly appear, the patient is seized with terrible panic.

This reaction of patients to the onset of the disease is not surprising, because the pain sensations are very similar to those that accompany heart attacks.

Content

Causes ↑

Various factors lead to intercostal neuralgia:

Diseases of the nervous system. They most often provoke the appearance of intercostal neuralgia. For example, the impetus for the development of this disease can be multiple sclerosis.
Infectious processes. Infections that negatively affect the body can cause symptoms of neuralgia. It can be caused by tuberculosis, lichen or influenza. Even a common cold sometimes turns into a serious complication - pain in the area of the intercostal nerves.
Taking medications. Medications recommended for long-term use contribute to the occurrence of complications. Components of drugs, breaking down in the body, form toxins. The accumulation of harmful substances has a damaging effect on the nervous system and causes neuralgia.
Injuries. Pinched nerves that occur as a result of injuries (microtraumas, especially those that are regularly repeated, are no exception) are the beginning of intercostal neuralgia.
Tumor processes. Tumors of the vertebrae and ribs, joints and ligaments of the spine, intervertebral discs often cause the disease.

Symptoms and signs of the disease ↑

Excruciating pain with intercostal neuralgia in the chest, which in some cases acquires an aching, pressing or burning character, is the main symptom of the disease.

However, chest pain is not the only sign of intercostal neuralgia.

Fig.: compression of nerves with intercostal neuralgia

Compression of intercostal nerve fibers that occurs with neuralgia is accompanied by a number of characteristic symptoms.

Along the pain segments with affected nerve fibers, skin numbness, tingling sensation, and hyperemia are observed. Patients experience shallow breathing due to a decrease in the volume of air filling the lungs.

This disease is characterized by two features:

Pain, as a rule, is felt along the affected intercostal nerves (usually one or two), so it can acquire a girdling character.
Pain syndrome with neuralgia is unilateral in nature. Symptoms appear on either the right side or the left side. However, the chest is often completely involved in the pathological process.

There is a direct connection between physical activity and the appearance of pain: pain intensifies with the slightest movement.

Painful sensations occur against the background of laughter or coughing, deep breathing or turning the body. At the same time, a protective spasm is formed in the muscles of the chest, increasing the pain.

Pain syndrome in women is found in the heart area and often appears during menopause and postmenopause due to hormonal changes. In men, pain is more often localized on the left side, on the lower ribs.

In children, characteristic pain occurs during a period of intense growth, when the skeleton is growing rapidly.

Severe pain in the affected areas and cramps are the main symptoms by which childhood intercostal neuralgia is recognized.

Additional signs include profuse sweating, increased excitability, tearfulness, sleep disturbance and stuttering.

What to do in case of acute pain

If it occurs suddenly and for the first time, you first need to differentiate it, make sure that it is definitely neuralgia. It has already been stated above that people often confuse symptoms with a heart attack. With neuralgia, the pain is acute, and it intensifies with movement. They can be not only in the chest, but also shoot in the back, in the lower back. A heart attack has different symptoms. The pain is not on the left, but in the middle, similar to suffocating. The man turns pale and breaks out in a cold sweat. The main way to relieve acute pain from intercostal neuralgia, if it is definitely not a heart attack, is to carry out a novocaine blockade. Further treatment is accompanied by electrophoresis, solux and UHF procedures. Injections with sedatives are also given and bed rest is prescribed.

Consequences ↑

Intercostal neuralgia does not pose a particular threat to the health or life of the patient.

However, it is disguised as serious pathologies associated with internal organs, or, on the contrary, these ailments are mistaken for an attack of neuralgia.

Pain in the intercostal space is often confused with renal colic, cholecystitis, angina pectoris, pleurisy and a number of other diseases.

It is important to distinguish attacks of neuralgia from manifestations of heart attack and angina.

During heart attacks, there are no girdling pains; they are localized in the chest area. Painful attacks caused by angina pectoris are relieved with nitroglycerin.

For neuralgic pain, nitroglycerin is powerless and does not give any effect.

Painful sensations during a heart attack are intense. In addition, as it develops, patients' skin turns pale, sticky and cold sweat appears, and blood pressure decreases.

How can you relieve pain? Read here.

Diagnostic methods ↑

Consultation with a doctor is the first stage of diagnosis for symptoms of intercostal neuralgia. The doctor examines the images, prescribes tests and medical examinations.

A neurologist or therapist usually prescribes treatment and refers you for consultation to the necessary specialists.

Diagnosis of attacks of neuralgia has a wide range of different areas, but in each case it begins with a complete history of the disease burdening the patient, identification of previous injuries, concomitant diseases, and operations performed.

It is mandatory to do:

manual and neurological examination to determine the causes of the disease;
determine the location of pain and muscle tone;
assess sensory disturbances that occur in the limbs.

If necessary, additional laboratory tests are prescribed.

The main instrumental diagnostic methods used for patients with suspected intercostal neuralgia are:

Ultrasound. This method is not used as the main diagnostic method for neuralgia. Bone tissue has a high density, which does not allow a clear view of the structure of the spine at the time of ultrasound.
Radiography. Thanks to this method, bone structures are studied. This rather informative technique makes it possible to determine the presence of non-traumatic or traumatic disorders. X-rays are taken in direct, oblique and lateral projections.
CT scan. With this method, both bone structures and soft tissues are examined. Because soft tissue images are blurry on CT scans, CT scans are used more to detect pathological changes in bone structures. The information content of the study becomes more accurate if computed tomography is performed in conjunction with myelography.
Myelography. The research technique involves the use of a contrast agent injected into the spinal canal. This is the leading method for diagnosing soft tissue structures (nerve roots and spinal cord) included in the spinal canal.
Contrasting discography. It is based on the introduction of a contrast agent into the intervertebral disc, which makes it possible to diagnose pathology.
Magnetic resonance imaging. This is a highly informative, safe technique that makes it possible to obtain images of organs and tissues. MRI allows you to identify pathological changes in soft tissue structures: nerve tissue, muscles, ligaments. MRI also detects degenerative changes that occur in the intervertebral discs, disc herniation and other pathological conditions.
Electrospondylography. Using this computer method of functional diagnostics, the condition of the spondylosystem and spinal column is assessed, the disease is detected at an early stage, the degree of damage is determined, and the course of the disease and the dynamics of treatment are monitored.

How and with what to treat pain in the intercostal space?

The main task in the treatment of this disease is to relieve the unpleasant symptoms of neuralgia and excruciating pain.

At the initial stage, the following are effective in the complex treatment of intercostal neuralgia:

physiotherapy;
acupuncture;
laser therapy;
fortification (vitamins B1, B6, B12 help restore damaged nerve structures).

In the acute stage it is recommended:

novocaine blockades;
electrophoresis;
Sollux and UHF;
injections of sedatives;
bed rest.

After the acute symptoms are relieved, a diagnosis is made, the cause that provoked the attack is found, and treatment of the disease that caused the intercostal neuralgia begins.

If it is any common disease (colds, infections, allergies, depression, diabetes), this is what they treat.

If neuralgia occurs against the background of spinal ailments, then it is necessary to implement a comprehensive treatment method for the affected spine.

The spinal column is restored using manual therapy and therapeutic massage. In addition to this, restorative exercises included in physical therapy are prescribed.

For women who are breastfeeding, it is better to treat neuralgia using safe methods that cannot harm either mother or baby: massage, moderate heat and gymnastics.

How and with what to treat at home?

Home treatment for neuralgia includes three days of bed rest on a hard, flat surface.

It is useful to apply dry moderate heat (electric heating pad, heated sand, mustard plasters or pepper plaster) to the diseased segments. Dry heat relieves pain and does not harm.

Wearing a corset gives excellent results.

Photo: corset for intercostal neuralgia

It is worth performing therapeutic exercises (recommended by a doctor), avoiding sudden bends, movements and turns of the body.

Heavy lifting and prolonged sitting should be avoided.

A mixture of glycerin and iodine helps relieve excruciating pain at home.

The substances are taken equally, placed in a dark glass bottle, and shaken thoroughly. The tampon is moistened with this mixture and, without touching the spine area, lubricated (rather than rubbed) the entire back.

They put on cotton underwear (no need to wrap themselves up) and go to bed. The procedure is performed 15 times every other day.

Massage for intercostal neuralgia is an effective treatment that gives amazing results.

During massage sessions, the muscles relax and the pain recedes.

Massage brings relief to the patient.

For therapeutic massage, it is advisable to use a warming ointment or cream. They enhance the relaxing effect.

Therapeutic massage should be performed while sitting.

When performing the procedure, the intercostal spaces are rubbed and stroked with your fingertips. In addition to this, they knead and rub the back muscles with both hands. Sometimes the hands are held in a “lock” and the back muscles are rubbed from the lower back to the shoulder blades.

Acupuncture

Sometimes, for intercostal neuralgia, acupuncture is the most effective technique.

Acupuncture is an effective method that quickly relieves pain.

Thanks to it, they achieve the removal of muscle imbalance, characteristic of the deep spinal muscles during the period of exacerbation of the disease.

Manual therapy

Manual therapy begins after the aggravated form of intercostal neuralgia subsides.

Thanks to this technique, it is possible to effectively influence vertebral structures.

Sometimes such treatment causes an exacerbation of the disease.

Before treatment, the doctor performs mandatory manual diagnostics with his hands. It accurately identifies spasmed muscle segments, overstrained joint ligaments, and displaced spinal bodies.

Manual techniques help restore anatomically correct rib and intervertebral relationships, normalize and improve blood circulation and metabolic processes

The diameter of the hole where the pinched nerve passes increases. As a result, pain is eliminated, and tissue tone on the intervertebral discs is restored.

Manual treatment mobilizes the resources of the patient’s internal systems.

It provides effective assistance in the treatment of the disease and helps prevent the recurrence of attacks in the intercostal space.

If manual procedures are performed by an experienced vertebrologist, complications are excluded.

Acupressure

During acupressure massage, use your fingers to press on active points associated with one or another affected organ.

Acupressure can stimulate the defenses hidden in the body, provide psychological calm, and relieve pain.

Drug treatment

For neuralgic pain, drug treatment is the main thing.

It is important to consult a doctor when the first symptoms of neuralgia occur.

Usually for neuralgia the following is prescribed:

Medicines that relieve the main symptom – pain: spasgan, sedalgin or analgin.
Anti-inflammatory drugs: piroxicam, diclofenac, indomethacin, ibuprofen and voltaren. These medications are used externally in the form of ointments, and internally in the form of capsules, tablets and injections.
Medicines such as viperalgin, vipratox, apizartron and virapin, containing bee and snake venom, significantly alleviate the condition of patients.
Muscle relaxants sirdalud, baclofen, clonazepam (relieve one of the causes of neuralgia - muscle spasm).
B vitamins, the deficiency of which negatively affects the nervous system and provokes intercostal neuralgia.
Anesthetics (lidocaine and novocaine), which are used to perform blockades in acute conditions, injecting them intramuscularly.
Sedatives are prescribed for insomnia caused by excruciating neuralgic pain.

Photo: drug spazgan in the form of tablets and injections

Physiotherapy and exercise therapy

Exposure to electromagnetic and magnetic fields, ultrasound, infrared and UV radiation, electrophoresis and other physiotherapeutic methods helps to combat intercostal neuralgia.

Video: exercises

And thanks to physical therapy, the correct movement of the ribs is restored, muscle spasms and tone are relieved.

Symptoms of neuralgia are eliminated with massage cups.

Dry jars are distributed over the back of the back and sacrum.

Treatment of neuralgia with cupping is a harmless, simple and effective way to get rid of painful sensations.

The method is suitable for almost everyone; it has no contraindications.

How to relieve pain from neuralgia of the thoracic spine

When suddenly a sharp pain pierces the chest, most sufferers involuntarily think that they have been struck by a heart attack. However, you should not immediately prepare for the worst. Most likely, this is intercostal neuralgia of the thoracic region. It is not as dangerous as a heart attack, but it is very, very painful. If you don’t put off visiting a specialist, getting rid of the disease is not so difficult.

Definition

The term “neuralgia” itself is of Greek origin. Neuron means "nerve" and algos means "pain". Neuralgia of the thoracic spine is a pain reflex syndrome of a traumatic, inflammatory or compression nature that occurs due to compression or irritation of the spinal nerve roots.

Causes of pathology

Surely everyone knows that a person has twelve pairs of ribs, and in each intercostal space there is a nerve. So the impact on it provokes incredibly severe pain, spreading along the branches and trunk.

The cause of compression or irritation of the nerves is deformation of the intercostal spaces, which can lead to recent or past injuries, diseases of the spine (curvature, osteochondrosis, herniated intervertebral discs), exposure to bacterial toxins, heavy metals, certain medications, diseases of the nervous system (polyradiculoneuritis, multiple sclerosis), infections (tuberculosis, influenza), allergies, decreased immunity.

Thoracic neuralgia can also appear as a result of cardiovascular pathologies (atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension, anemia) due to insufficient oxygen flow to the nerves. The disease can be triggered by inflammatory processes in the ligaments and joints of the spine, changes associated with hormonal imbalances in women during menopause, and salt deposits in the spine.

Often, thoracic neuralgia is a consequence of alcohol abuse, diabetes, hypothermia, and lack of B vitamins in the body, which is often observed with gastritis, colitis, gastric ulcers, hepatitis (it is with these diseases that the metabolism in the nerve tissues suffers first). The development of the disease is possible after suffering a herpetic infection, with diseases of the internal organs, or aneurysm of the thoracic aorta.

However, the most common cause of intercostal neuralgia, which all experts agree on, is an acute muscle spasm, provoked, for example, by an unsuccessful turn or an awkward sudden movement of the body, a long stay in the same position or in a draft, sleeping in an uncomfortable position, unusual physical stress on the spine. It should also be noted that thoracic neuralgia is much more common in older people than in young people.

So, as you probably already understood, there are a lot of causes of pathology, but we have not yet listed a complete list. Under the influence of only one factor, intercostal neuralgia develops extremely rarely; usually several ailments are involved at once. Therefore, sometimes even an experienced doctor cannot determine where one disease ends and another begins.

Neuralgia of the thoracic spine: symptoms

The main sign of pathology is pain in the ribs. It can be different: acute, burning, aching, dull, as well as episodic or constant.

Pain, as a rule, intensifies with any activity, for example, as a result of sneezing, coughing, with a sudden movement of the body and even the slightest change in body position.

Pain also occurs when certain areas are palpated: areas along the chest and spine, between the ribs.

Very often, the unpleasant sensations intensify when exhaling/inhaling; breathing becomes so difficult that even a slight expansion of the chest during inhalation results in sharp pain.

Signs of thoracic neuralgia should be distinguished from manifestations of other diseases, primarily by the area of pain localization.

First, pain is felt in the area of the ribs (in the intercostal spaces), but it can also be observed, for example, in the back, under the shoulder blade, in the lumbar region. Such radiating sensations do not indicate the actual source of nerve damage.

Often, pain in the chest is of a girdling nature: it can occur only in the right or only in the left half of this part of the body along the ribs.

Thoracic neuralgia may have other symptoms. Thus, pain is often accompanied by a distinct twitching (contraction) of individual muscles, a change in skin color (unhealthy pallor or, conversely, redness), and intense sweating. In the area of direct damage to nerve segments, the skin may become numb, that is, lose sensitivity.

Differences from diseases with similar symptoms

Pain in the chest area can occur not only with a pathology such as thoracic neuralgia. Symptoms of a similar nature appear in some diseases of the blood vessels and heart. To make a correct diagnosis, you need to identify the characteristics of the unpleasant sensations, because pain can be different.

Thus, with intercostal neuralgia, it is usually present constantly for a long time, intensifies with any movements of the body and is not relieved by any medications. And in case of cardiac pathologies, pain is characterized by periodicity, short-term duration and can be suppressed by various kinds of medications (for example, nitroglycerin).

Also, such pain does not intensify when turning the body.

Treatment of thoracic neuralgia

You probably won’t be able to correctly find out the root cause of intense chest pain on your own, so self-diagnosis, much less self-medication, is strictly prohibited.

Contact a neurologist without delay - only he, based on the examination, will be able to establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment depending on the cause of the painful manifestations.

For example, if thoracic neuralgia occurs due to pinched nerve roots, the underlying ailment should be treated - a herniated disc or osteochondrosis. If the cause of the pathology is shingles or a cold, these diseases need to be eliminated.

Treatment of thoracic neuralgia should be comprehensive. At the initial stage of therapy, special attention is paid to stopping and reducing pain; painkillers are prescribed for this purpose. For neuralgia, different drugs are used. Let's tell you more about them.

Drug therapy

Analgesics (drugs "Spazgan", "Analgin", "Sedalgin" and others). Used to reduce the main symptom – pain. Depending on the intensity of the sensations, they are taken for five to ten days, three to four times a day. If you use medications more often, the desired result will not occur, but side effects may develop.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (medicines Voltaren, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Indomethacin, Piroxicam and others). They are designed to combat inflammation, but are also capable of relieving pain, although to a lesser extent than analgesics.
Such medications should be used once or twice a day, because frequent use can provoke the development (or exacerbation) of gastrointestinal pathologies. NSAIDs can be used for no more than five to seven days, unless the doctor recommends otherwise. When choosing a dosage form, preference should be given to the injection (injections) or rectal (suppositories) version.
NSAIDs can also have such forms of release as gel, cream, ointment. Nimid gel helps with neuralgia. When used externally, it has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect.
Muscle relaxants (medicines Sirdalud, Baclofen, Clonazepam and others).
These drugs most effectively combat the pathology caused by muscle spasms. The doctor must select the duration of use of such medications on an individual basis.

Other therapies

Drug treatment of neuralgia is far from the only method of combating the disease. We have already said that therapy should be comprehensive.

The patient is also prescribed physiotherapy using magnetic and electromagnetic fields, infrared and ultraviolet radiation, electrophoresis of medicinal substances, pulsed low-frequency currents of low voltage, and ultrasound. Acupuncture, acupressure, manual therapy, acupuncture, moxotherapy, and laser therapy can be used.

If intercostal neuralgia occurs as a result of some kind of spinal disease (herniated intervertebral disc or scoliosis), then courses of therapeutic exercises are prescribed, and, if necessary, spinal traction is performed.

ethnoscience

If you do not have the opportunity to consult a doctor at the first symptoms of thoracic neuralgia, you can use folk remedies to alleviate the condition at first.

But remember that with their help you can only temporarily relieve pain, but will not eliminate the main cause of its occurrence.

Therefore, the main task is to complete the examination course as quickly as possible and receive qualified help.

So, what traditional medicines can help you? Perhaps the most popular and effective remedy is pepper patch. Before applying it to the painful area, it must be degreased with alcohol and wiped dry. You should wear the patch until you feel warmth spreading throughout your body.

Another good way to relieve chest pain involves the use of turpentine. Pour one hundred milliliters of boiling water into a container and add one hundred grams of turpentine.

Stir the mixture thoroughly, then soak gauze or a soft cloth in it, wring it out lightly and apply it to the sore spot. Place film or compress paper on top and cover with a terry towel.

You can keep this compress for no more than three to five minutes; after removing it, tie a warm scarf or scarf on the affected area and lie in bed for a while.

Self-massage

You can reduce pain by rubbing and stroking the intercostal spaces with your fingertips. This must be done in a sitting position. You can also knead your back muscles with both hands or clasp your hands and rub them from the lower back to the shoulder blades.

In addition, massage of the reflexogenic zone located on both sides of the thoracic region between the first lumbar and seventh cervical vertebrae can help you. The most effective way is to massage the points between the fourth and fifth thoracic vertebrae for two minutes using Golden Star balm.

If you don’t have a balm on hand, just massage with clean fingers and then apply a pepper patch to the indicated points.

Prevention of intercostal neuralgia

Many patients ask whether the attack can be prevented. Of course you can. After all, if you know for what reasons pathology occurs, then you can prevent its occurrence. The most important measure to prevent thoracic neuralgia is regular physical exercise.

Systematically do exercises that strengthen the spine, increase its mobility, and develop muscles. In addition, avoid hypothermia and drafts, excessive physical exertion, and staying in uncomfortable positions for a long time.

This is especially true for untrained people and the elderly.

Watch your posture when sitting at the table, do not lift weights, eat rationally and balancedly, do not exhaust yourself with fasting and mono-diets. And, of course, treat those diseases that one way or another lead to intercostal neuralgia: atherosclerosis, peripheral vascular pathologies, diabetes mellitus, etc.

source

Causes, symptoms and treatment methods for thoracic intercostal neuralgia

The phenomenon of thoracic neuralgia affects many people, but in most cases the problem is temporary. If you have chronic pain, you should consult your doctor for recommendations on physical therapy and medication.

A neuralgic disorder in the thoracic region is characterized primarily by a sharp pain syndrome involving nerve nodes located in the intercostal region. Due to its specificity, the pathology can often be confused with signs of a cardiovascular or pulmonary disease, so immediate diagnosis and medical attention are required.

During pregnancy ↑

During pregnancy, intercostal neuralgia is considered a fairly serious problem. It requires proper attention, which will help avoid complications for the baby and his mother.

Prescribing treatment for pregnant women suffering from neuralgia is the exclusive prerogative of a doctor who is able to competently select an individual scheme for the complex treatment of a woman.

Many patients prefer to give up medications so as not to harm the baby. They are limited to taking vitamins, using ointments and dry heat, bed rest, and doing exercises.

Gymnastics for neuralgic pain in pregnant women is very effective. Physical exercise does not allow blood to stagnate in the joints and parts of the spine.

Novocaine blockades are prescribed to pregnant women with caution, in exceptional cases when the pain becomes unbearable.

Video: gymnastics for pregnant women

https://youtube.com/watch?v=n2B7eEw2gbY

Is it possible to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs during pregnancy to treat intercostal neuralgia? Read about it here and here.

Prevention measures ↑

Gymnastics is the main measure to prevent intercostal neuralgia.

To do this, it is recommended to perform exercises that promote muscle development, strengthening and mobility of the spine. Hypothermia, drafts, uncomfortable positions, and inadequate physical activity should be avoided.

It is important to control your posture, not lift excessive weights, eat a rational and balanced diet, take vitamins, and avoid fasting and mono-diet.

It is necessary to treat and prevent diseases that lead to neuralgia.

Video: what exercises help?

https://youtube.com/watch?v=i5T33xq9ZhQ

Reviews about treatment ↑

Patients who have suffered intercostal neuralgia respond differently to treatment methods that have brought relief and relief from this disease.

Anatoly, 36 years old:

Olga, 31 years old:

Natalya, 47 years old:

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Intercostal neuralgia is a pathological process caused by inflammation, compression or irritation of the intercostal nerves. It is accompanied by intense and excruciating pain, which is most often disguised as symptoms of other diseases that affect the organs and structures of the human body.

Intercostal neuralgia can have completely different causes, which act simultaneously or sequentially. Provoking factors include:

Demyelination of nerves, which consists of a pathological change in the intercostal nerves due to damage to their sheaths. This reason is considered possible, but is extremely rare.
Intoxication of the body, injuries. It should be taken into account both internal intoxications caused by diseases of the internal organs, and external ones (heavy metals, bacterial toxins, some medications).
Spinal pathologies and infectious diseases are the main cause of neuralgia.

In this case, intercostal neuralgia can be provoked by:

Pathologies of the musculo-ligamentous apparatus and spine (scoliosis, accessory ribs, osteochondrosis, vertebral displacement, deforming spondylosis, herniated discs, osteoporosis).
Inflammation of the intercostal muscles and muscle spasm (ARVI, multiple sclerosis, aortic aneurysm, polyradiculoneuritis, tuberculosis, pleurisy, herpes zoster).
Compression of nerves by sclerotic tissues and tumor-like formations.
Hormonal changes, age. The risk group includes women during menopause, as well as elderly people, since it is the period of aging of the body that is accompanied by changes in tissues and organs.
Other factors include: decreased immunity, alcohol abuse, chronic fatigue, pathologies of the digestive tract (hepatitis, gastritis, colitis, peptic ulcer), pathologies of the endocrine system (thyrotoxicosis, diabetes mellitus), heart disease and circulatory system (arterial hypertension, anemia , cerebral atherosclerosis, rheumatism).

The occurrence of intercostal neuralgia brings excruciating suffering to the patient from the first manifestation. Among the symptoms of intercostal neuralgia are the sudden appearance of intense pain that spreads along the intercostal spaces.

Acute pain bothers the patient even in a state of complete rest, intensifying for no apparent reason. The intensity of pain may increase with inspiration, with loud talking, coughing and sneezing, with turns and movements of the torso. A painful attack can last from several hours to several days.

Characteristic symptoms of intercostal neuralgia are:

paroxysmal pain in the rib area, which is burning, acute in nature;
a person’s clear understanding of the entire route of pain;
increased pain during palpation of the affected nerve;
complete or partial loss of sensitivity of the skin in the affected area;
sudden change in blood pressure;
increased sweating, hyperemia and pale skin.

Due to its varied symptoms, intercostal neuralgia is often mistaken for other diseases. In some cases, the pain radiates under the shoulder blade or under the heart, and this suggests cardiac problems. And sometimes the pain radiates to the lumbar region. In this case, it can easily be attributed to kidney disease.

Since the intercostal nerves with their branches are directed to various organs, this complicates the recognition of the true disease.

Treatment methods

Treatment of intercostal neuralgia is aimed, first of all, at eliminating the pain syndrome, which not only prevents a person from leading a natural lifestyle, but also hinders all his movements. For this purpose, the following drugs are used:

Analgesics that help reduce the sensitivity of pain receptors, as well as relieve pain (Analgin, Spazgan, Sedalgin).
Muscle relaxants that help eliminate spasms, as the main cause of pain, as well as relax muscles, reduce the tone of the muscle corset in the right places, reduce tension and clamps (Baclofen, Tizanidine, Sirdalud). In combination with these drugs, B vitamins are prescribed, which contribute to the normal functioning of nervous tissue.

To block pain impulses and relieve inflammation of a pinched nerve, non-steroidal drugs are used (Ibuprofen, Voltaren, Indomethacin, Diclofenac, etc.);
to reduce the patient’s sensitivity to pain and calm him down, sedatives (Relanium, Elinium) are used;
to warm soft tissues, relax muscles, improve blood circulation, analgesic, analgesic and warming ointments are used (Finalgon, Capsicam, Nicoflex, Apizatron, Viprosal, etc.);
during exacerbation of the disease, injections of Ledocaine or Novocaine are used.

Pain syndrome can also be relieved using physiotherapeutic procedures:

acupuncture;
iontophoresis with novocaine;
vacuum therapy;
UHF;
reflexology and pharmacopuncture;
magnetic therapy and laser treatment;
massotherapy.

Diagnostic methods

Before you begin treatment of intercostal neuralgia, you need to find the disease against which the pain syndrome develops. In this case, differential diagnosis is indicated. The first step is to confirm the diagnosis and rule out heart disease.

To exclude other diseases, the doctor prescribes the following diagnostic procedures:

ECG;
X-ray of the lungs;
Ultrasound;
CT scan;
magnetotherapy.

Only after a complete diagnosis can treatment begin, otherwise the course of the disease may worsen.

Good to know! In addition, the doctor collects anamnesis and finds out whether the patient has had chest injuries, what operations he has undergone, and concomitant diseases are also identified.

Using manual methods, the localization of pain is clarified.

Treatment of intercostal neuralgia at home

Treatment of intercostal neuralgia can be carried out at home, but only after mandatory consultation with your doctor. To do this, the patient must observe strict bed rest on a hard horizontal surface and use medications prescribed by a specialist.

But in addition to traditional therapy, when treating intercostal neuralgia at home, they often use methods and means of traditional medicine, which, when used correctly, sometimes give a very good effect. The most common of them include:

local rubbing into the affected area of ointment prepared from crushed birch buds and glycerin;
rubbing the affected area with alcohol tincture of birch buds;
daily oral administration of peppermint decoction twice a day;
pain-relieving compress from geranium leaves;
compress using valerian tincture;
lotions on the sore spot from an alcohol tincture of rue herb;
rubbing the iodine-glycerin mixture over the entire back, avoiding the spine area.

There is a widespread belief that when treating intercostal neuralgia at home, heat in the form of hot objects applied to the sore spot is very useful. Anyone who uses these recommendations should be warned that an intense heat source will only increase local blood circulation and increase soft tissue swelling, which will aggravate the patient’s already critical condition. For medicinal purposes, a source of indirect heat (a warm woolen scarf, etc.) is used.

Taking baths for intercostal neuralgia

Baths are indicated starting from day 3, when acute pain subsides and movement is restored. The main danger of taking baths is the possibility of hypothermia after leaving the bath. If precautions are taken (it is better to take baths before bedtime), the following options are indicated:

Bath with essential oils of eucalyptus, mint and lavender, 5 drops of each oil. Staying time – 10 minutes;
Bath with sage infusion: 2-3 cups of boiling water for 5 tablespoons. After infusion for an hour, you can take a bath, which lasts 10-15 minutes.
To improve sleep, take a warm bath with a decoction of valerian roots and rhizomes. Immediately take 100 - 200 grams, and prepare a decoction according to general rules, then infuse for 30 minutes. The bath should not be hotter than 39 degrees.
Salt bath. To do this you need to sacrifice a lot of salt. To create a concentration similar to that of the sea (13%), for one liter of water (1000 grams) you need to take 3 grams of salt, for a bath of 180 liters you need to take 540 grams of table salt. Reception time is 10-15 minutes.

Salt baths are prescribed even when visiting health resorts.
The question often arises: is it possible to go to the bathhouse with intercostal neuralgia or visit the gym. We can say that thermal bath procedures will be useful only if the patient himself notices a significant improvement. Otherwise, nerve swelling may return again if muscle spasm persists.

Even if you decide to visit the bathhouse and sauna, contrast dousing - alternating cold and hot water - is not recommended. Under no circumstances should you throw yourself into a snowdrift or ice hole. It is also forbidden to intensively whip with a broom; it is better to abandon it altogether. It will be much more effective to simply lie on a warm shelf, rub yourself with honey and aromatic oils. Having warmed up well, you can give yourself a self-massage, then wash with warm water, wrap yourself in warmth and apply ointment.

We hope that this review has helped in choosing treatment for intercostal neuralgia at home. This review intentionally omitted drug names to reduce the risks associated with self-medication.