Pain between rib cages: Rib Cage Pain: Causes, Identification, and Treatment

29.08.202108.06.2023 by alexxlab

Rib Cage Pain: Causes, Identification, and Treatment

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Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M. D. — By April Kahn — Updated on February 6, 2023

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Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Tests for bone cancer. (2018).
cancer.org/cancer/bonecancer/detailedguide/bone-cancer-diagnosis
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Broken ribs.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/broken-ribs/home/ovc-20169623
Muscle contusion (bruise). (2014).
orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00341
Sprains, strains, and other soft tissue issues. (2015).
orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00111

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Current Version

Feb 6, 2023

Written By

April Kahn

Edited By

Frank Crooks

Apr 29, 2019

Medically Reviewed By

William Morrison, MD

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Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M.D. — By April Kahn — Updated on February 6, 2023

Definition, causes, symptoms, and treatment

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Here’s our process.

Medical News Today only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:

Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?

We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.

Acute bronchitis

Acute bronchitis lasts for a specific length of time. It commonly follows a similar pattern to a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu, and it may stem from the same virus.

The person may have:

a cough with or without mucus
chest discomfort or soreness
fever
a mild headache and body aches
shortness of breath

Symptoms usually go away after a few days or weeks.

Chronic bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis has similar symptoms to acute bronchitis, but it is an ongoing illness.

One definition states that a person has chronic bronchitis if they have a daily, productive cough for at least 3 months of the year, 2 or more years in a row.

The National Library of Medicine describe it as a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in which the bronchial tubes produce a lot of mucus. It either does not go away, or it goes away and keeps coming back.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that a person who develops emphysema alongside chronic bronchitis will receive a diagnosis of COPD. This is a serious and potentially life threatening condition.

Learn more here about COPD.

If bronchitis is due to a viral or bacterial infection, it is possible to transmit the infection to another person through droplets when coughing.

To reduce the risk of passing on an infection, a person should:

wash their hands often
cough into a tissue
take extra care around young children, older people, and those with a weakened immune system

Learn more here about the transmission of acute bronchitis.

Bronchitis happens when a virus, bacteria, or irritant particles trigger an inflammation of the bronchial tubes. Smoking is a key risk factor, but nonsmokers can also develop bronchitis.

Acute bronchitis

Acute bronchitis can result from:

a virus, for example, a cold or flu virus
a bacterial infection
exposure to substances that irritate the lungs, such as tobacco smoke, dust, fumes, vapors, and air pollution

People have a higher risk of developing acute bronchitis if they:

experience a virus or bacteria that causes inflammation
smoke or inhale secondhand smoke
have asthma or an allergy

Ways to avoid infection include regular hand washing and avoiding smoke and other particles.

Chronic bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis results from repeated irritation and damage to the lung and airway tissues. The most common cause is smoking, but not everyone with bronchitis is a smoker.

Other possible causes include:

long term exposure to air pollution, dust, and fumes from the environment
genetic factors
repeated episodes of acute bronchitis
a history of respiratory disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Exposure to pesticides may increase the risk.

People with asthma or allergies have a higher risk of both types of the disease. The best way to avoid chronic bronchitis is to avoid smoking.

A doctor may advise a person with bronchitis to:

rest
drink fluids
take over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as ibuprofen

Taking OTC medication will help relieve a cough and ease any accompanying pain. In time, acute bronchitis will go away, often without treatment.

The symptoms of chronic bronchitis may resolve or improve for a while. However, they will come back or become worse again, especially if there is exposure to smoke or other triggers.

Options that may help include:

Cough medicine: Coughing is useful for removing mucus from the bronchial tubes, but medication can help bring relief, for example, at night.

Cough medicine is available for purchase online.

Taking honey: Taking 2 spoonfuls of honey may bring relief of cough symptoms.

Using a humidifier: This can loosen mucus, improve airflow, and relieve wheezing.

Bronchodilators: These open the bronchial tubes and may help clear out mucus.

Mucolytics: These loosen or thin mucus in the airways, making it easier to cough up sputum.

Anti-inflammatory and steroid drugs: These can help reduce inflammation that can cause tissue damage.

Oxygen therapy: In severe cases, a person may need supplemental oxygen to ease their breathing.

Which home remedy is best for bronchitis? Find out here.

Behavioral remedies

Other strategies for treating bronchitis include the following:

removing a lung irritant, for example, by not smoking
exercising to strengthen the chest muscles to help breathing
improving breathing technique through pulmonary rehabilitation

Doing breathing exercises, such as pursed-lip breathing, can help slow down breathing, and make it more effective.

Should people exercise when they have bronchitis? Find out here.

Antibiotics

If acute bronchitis results from a bacterial infection, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Taking antibiotics may also help prevent a secondary infection, in some cases.

These drugs are not suitable for a person with a virus, however.

Most doctors will not prescribe antibiotics unless they have identified bacteria as the cause of an illness. One of the reasons for this is concern about antibiotic resistance, as overuse of antibiotics makes it harder to treat an infection in the long term.

Find out more about antibiotics, their uses, and the problem of antibiotic resistance.

A doctor will carry out a physical examination, using a stethoscope to listen for unusual sounds in the lungs.

They may also ask an individual about:

their symptoms, and especially the cough
their medical history
any recent bouts of cold or flu
whether they smoke
exposure to secondhand smoke, dust, fumes, or air pollution

The doctor may also:

take a sputum swab to test for bacteria or viruses in the lab
check the oxygen levels in the person’s blood
recommend a chest X-ray, pulmonary lung function test, or blood tests

The most common complication of bronchitis is pneumonia. This can happen if the infection spreads further into the lungs. In a person with pneumonia, the air sacs within the lungs fill with fluid.

Pneumonia is more likely to develop in older adults, smokers, those with other medical conditions, and anyone with a weakened immune system. It can be life threatening and needs medical attention.

Learn more here about pneumonia.

Most people with bronchitis can recover at home with rest, anti-inflammatory medication, and plenty of fluids.

However, a person should see a doctor if they have the following:

a cough that lasts more than 3 weeks
a fever that lasts 3 days or longer
blood in their mucus
rapid breathing, chest pains, or both
drowsiness or confusion
recurring or worsening symptoms

Anyone with an existing lung or heart condition should see a doctor if they start to have symptoms of bronchitis.

It is not always possible to prevent acute or chronic bronchitis, but several things can reduce the risk.

These include:

avoiding or quit smoking
avoiding lung irritants, such as smoke, dust, fumes, vapors, and air pollution
wearing a mask to cover the nose and mouth when pollution levels are high
washing the hands often to limit exposure to germs and bacteria
asking about vaccinations to protect from pneumonia and the flu

Find out more about the flu and how to prevent it.

Acute bronchitis is a common condition. It can be uncomfortable, but it will usually resolve on its own within a few days.

Chronic bronchitis is an ongoing condition. If a person smokes and continues to smoke, they may develop worsening symptoms, emphysema, and COPD. All these conditions can be life threatening.

Anyone who has concerns about the possible symptoms of bronchitis should see a doctor.

Q:

Some people say you shouldn’t take cough medicine because coughing helps get rid of phlegm. Should we or shouldn’t we use it?

A:

There are different types of cough medicine.

Some cough medications are antitussives, or suppressants, such as dextromethorphan. Examples are OTC Robitussion or Triaminic. Other cough medications are expectorants, which encourage you to cough. Examples are OTC Mucinex or other types of Robitussin.

If your cough is keeping you up at night, then you may want to use a suppressant to help with the cough. If you want to cough up the phlegm, then an expectorant should help.

Alana Biggers, M.D., MPHAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

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Intercostal neuralgia – symptoms, treatment, causes, signs

This disease is treated by Neurologist

The information provided on this page should not be used for self-treatment or self-diagnosis. If you suspect a disease, you should seek help from a qualified specialist. Only your doctor can diagnose and prescribe treatment.

Article content:

Causes
Symptoms
Forms of the disease
Diagnostics
Treatment of intercostal neuralgia
Prophylaxis
Complications

What is intercostal neuralgia?

Intercostal neuralgia is an inflammation of the intercostal nerves. This pathological condition is manifested by acute, paroxysmal pain in the intercostal space. Pain extends from the spine to the sternum.

How to identify the disease? The diagnosis is made on the basis of a survey and examination of the patient. To exclude diseases with a similar clinical picture, additional examinations may be prescribed. How to relieve pain and cure the disease? The main directions are symptomatic, anti-inflammatory, etiotropic treatment. During periods of remission, physiotherapy gives a good effect.

Causes

What causes neuralgia? The main causes of the development of the disease are:

pathology of the spine;
curvature of the spine;
increased or uneven load on the spine;
uncontrolled intake of certain drugs;
neoplasms of various etiologies in the region of the sternum, ribs, spine;
mechanical damage to the chest and spine resulting from trauma or surgery;
diseases of the nervous system;
infections;
sudden increase in intra-abdominal pressure;
constant high loads on the abdominal muscles.

In addition, pathological changes in the intercostal nerves can occur against the background of diseases of the digestive system, respiration, thyroid gland, kidneys, immunodeficiency states. A similar clinical picture can be observed in adolescents during intensive growth of skeletal muscles.

Symptoms

The main sign of this pathology is pain in the chest. A person experiences severe, paroxysmal pain, which intensifies with a deep breath, coughing. The pain is localized between the ribs and is often accompanied by numbness, burning. Unpleasant sensations can appear in other parts of the body.

Symptoms of intercostal neuralgia resemble a heart attack, but there are several differences that allow you to differentiate between heart problems and inflammation of the nerves. With neuralgia, the pain is constant, does not change the intensity, while the pressure and pulse indicators are within the normal range.

How else does the disease manifest itself? In addition to pain, symptoms such as anemia or flushing of the skin, muscle contraction, hyperhidrosis can be observed. If the first unpleasant symptoms occur in women or men, you should immediately consult a doctor for an examination and a course of therapy.

Forms of the disease

By origin, there are primary (occurs independently) and secondary (is one of the symptoms of another pathology) neuralgia. In addition, reflex (is the result of a negative effect on peripheral receptors) and radicular (due to constant irritation of the roots of the spinal cord) form of the disease.

In addition, the following types of pathology are distinguished:

musculoskeletal;
psychogenic;
vertebrogenic;
chronic;
sharp;
during pregnancy.

Each of the above types has its own symptoms and treatment features.

Diagnostics

Many patients are interested in which doctor to contact for this pathology? The diagnosis is made by a neurologist. Neuralgia delivers extremely unpleasant sensations to the patient, but does not pose a threat to life.

Therefore, this pathology is often a diagnosis of exclusion. Its clinical signs are similar to those of many severe heart diseases. Therefore, the primary task of the specialist is to exclude these pathologies with the help of a comprehensive examination of the patient.

At the first appointment, the doctor interviews the patient, collects an anamnesis, assesses his current state of health. During the examination, the specialist determines the exact location of the pain, detects sensory disturbances, notices the characteristic forced posture that the patient takes to reduce pain.

Based on the data obtained, a preliminary diagnosis is made, after which the patient is sent for additional examinations in order to conduct a differential diagnosis.

The main methods of instrumental diagnostics are:

ECG — diagnose possible pathologies of the heart and blood vessels;
Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and myocardium – exclude diseases of the heart and digestive organs with a similar clinical picture;
MRI, CT are the most informative methods of visualization of internal organs and tissues today, they can be used to obtain clear layered images, determine the localization of the affected nerves, detect signs of destruction of their sheath or neoplasms that compress the nerves and cause pain attacks;
gastroscopy – with the help of this examination, pathologies of the stomach are detected, which cause pain similar in symptoms to neuralgia.

Treatment of intercostal neuralgia

How to treat intercostal neuralgia? If the pain is not associated with a herpes infection (in this case, you may need to take anticonvulsants to relieve severe pain), then the treatment does not cause any particular difficulties.

The therapy of the disease is complex and is aimed primarily at stopping the causative factor and removing unpleasant symptoms.

How to relieve pain in case of intercostal neuralgia?

The following are the main stages of therapy in adults:

during the acute period, the patient needs rest, he is prescribed bed rest, taking B vitamins, NSAIDs, and drugs to restore the function of the affected nerves;
after the removal of acute attacks, physiotherapy, massage, manual therapy, acupuncture are indicated to consolidate the results and prevent relapses.

If the disease is caused by the herpes virus, then antihistamine and antiviral drugs are indicated. Treatment should be started as soon as possible, possibly even before test results are available.

The main goals of therapy in the acute period are to relieve pain and swelling of the nerves and muscle tissue. How is inflammation treated and how to get rid of pain? To relieve pain and inflammation, the patient is prescribed analgesics (intramuscularly, orally or rectally), glucocorticosteroids, muscle relaxants, sedatives, NSAIDs, B vitamins. If severe edema appears, diuretics are indicated.

What helps with very severe, excruciating pain? In this case, blockades are carried out with solutions of anesthetics along the affected nerve. During periods of remission, sanatorium treatment (therapeutic baths, mud therapy) is recommended.

If conservative treatment does not help and pain attacks are permanent, then it is necessary to conduct an additional examination of the patient in order to identify the true causes of the disease.

Prevention

To minimize the risk of developing this pathology, the following recommendations should be observed:

do not get cold, avoid drafts;
give up a sedentary lifestyle;
regularly sanitize foci of chronic infection in the body;
engage in physical education, do exercises – this will help to avoid congestion;
strengthen the body’s immune defenses;
avoid stress and nervous tension as much as possible;
monitor posture;
eat right;
during sedentary work, regularly take breaks to warm up;
take a multivitamin periodically;
observe safety rules when lifting weights;
regularly undergo preventive examinations – this will help to identify possible health problems at an early stage, which will facilitate subsequent treatment and improve the prognosis.

Complications

How dangerous is the disease and what are the consequences? If untreated, the patient may experience the following complications:

chronic pain in the chest, back, ribs, which prevent the patient from fully moving and greatly reduce the quality of life;
respiratory failure, pneumonia;
feeling of stiffness and weakness in the chest, decreased range of motion of the shoulders.

In severe long-term neuralgia can cause an attack of angina pectoris or provoke a hypertensive crisis. In addition, constant pain adversely affects the mental state of the patient and greatly complicates his life. He cannot sleep normally, move, play sports, perform elementary work.

Pain in the thoracic spine. Isaikin A.I., Kavelina A.V. Neurology, neuropsychiatry, psychosomatics, 2013. p.74-78
Symptoms of manifestation of vegetovascular dystonia in adolescence. Elzhurkaeva L.R. Colloquium-journal, 2020.

Article published on : 07/05/2013
Last updated : 04/20/2023

Intercostal neuralgia – symptoms, treatment, causes, signs

This disease is treated by Neurologist

Article content:

Causes
Symptoms
Forms of the disease
Diagnostics
Treatment of intercostal neuralgia
Prophylaxis
Complications

What is intercostal neuralgia?

Causes

What causes neuralgia? The main causes of the development of the disease are:

pathology of the spine;
curvature of the spine;
increased or uneven load on the spine;
uncontrolled intake of certain drugs;
neoplasms of various etiologies in the region of the sternum, ribs, spine;
mechanical damage to the chest and spine resulting from trauma or surgery;
diseases of the nervous system;
infections;
sudden increase in intra-abdominal pressure;
constant high loads on the abdominal muscles.

Symptoms

Forms of the disease

In addition, the following types of pathology are distinguished:

musculoskeletal;
psychogenic;
vertebrogenic;
chronic;
sharp;
during pregnancy.

Each of the above types has its own symptoms and treatment features.

Diagnostics

Based on the data obtained, a preliminary diagnosis is made, after which the patient is sent for additional examinations in order to conduct a differential diagnosis.

The main methods of instrumental diagnostics are:

ECG — diagnose possible pathologies of the heart and blood vessels;
Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and myocardium – exclude diseases of the heart and digestive organs with a similar clinical picture;
MRI, CT are the most informative methods of visualization of internal organs and tissues today, they can be used to obtain clear layered images, determine the localization of the affected nerves, detect signs of destruction of their sheath or neoplasms that compress the nerves and cause pain attacks;
gastroscopy – with the help of this examination, pathologies of the stomach are detected, which cause pain similar in symptoms to neuralgia.

Treatment of intercostal neuralgia

The therapy of the disease is complex and is aimed primarily at stopping the causative factor and removing unpleasant symptoms.

How to relieve pain in case of intercostal neuralgia?

The following are the main stages of therapy in adults:

during the acute period, the patient needs rest, he is prescribed bed rest, taking B vitamins, NSAIDs, and drugs to restore the function of the affected nerves;
after the removal of acute attacks, physiotherapy, massage, manual therapy, acupuncture are indicated to consolidate the results and prevent relapses.

If the disease is caused by the herpes virus, then antihistamine and antiviral drugs are indicated. Treatment should be started as soon as possible, possibly even before test results are available.

If conservative treatment does not help and pain attacks are permanent, then it is necessary to conduct an additional examination of the patient in order to identify the true causes of the disease.

Prevention

To minimize the risk of developing this pathology, the following recommendations should be observed:

do not get cold, avoid drafts;
give up a sedentary lifestyle;
regularly sanitize foci of chronic infection in the body;
engage in physical education, do exercises – this will help to avoid congestion;
strengthen the body’s immune defenses;
avoid stress and nervous tension as much as possible;
monitor posture;
eat right;
during sedentary work, regularly take breaks to warm up;
take a multivitamin periodically;
observe safety rules when lifting weights;
regularly undergo preventive examinations – this will help to identify possible health problems at an early stage, which will facilitate subsequent treatment and improve the prognosis.

Complications

How dangerous is the disease and what are the consequences? If untreated, the patient may experience the following complications:

chronic pain in the chest, back, ribs, which prevent the patient from fully moving and greatly reduce the quality of life;
respiratory failure, pneumonia;
feeling of stiffness and weakness in the chest, decreased range of motion of the shoulders.

Pain in the thoracic spine. Isaikin A.I., Kavelina A.V. Neurology, neuropsychiatry, psychosomatics, 2013. p.74-78
Symptoms of manifestation of vegetovascular dystonia in adolescence. Elzhurkaeva L.R. Colloquium-journal, 2020.

Pain between rib cages: Rib Cage Pain: Causes, Identification, and Treatment

Rib Cage Pain: Causes, Identification, and Treatment

How we reviewed this article:

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Definition, causes, symptoms, and treatment

Acute bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis

Acute bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis

Behavioral remedies

Antibiotics

Q:

A:

Intercostal neuralgia – symptoms, treatment, causes, signs

Article content:

What is intercostal neuralgia?

Causes

Symptoms

Forms of the disease

Diagnostics

Treatment of intercostal neuralgia

Prevention

Complications

Intercostal neuralgia – symptoms, treatment, causes, signs

Article content:

What is intercostal neuralgia?

Causes

Symptoms

Forms of the disease

Diagnostics

Treatment of intercostal neuralgia

Prevention

Complications

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