We find out the symptoms of intercostal neuralgia on the left

Unexpected acute pain in the chest area can be a symptom of several serious diseases. In particular, severe pain in the rib area on the left side should be taken seriously. Most patients give way to panic, associating this symptom with irregularities in the heart, in particular, with angina or even a heart attack, but often the cause of pain is intercostal neuralgia.

• Symptoms of the disease
• Symptoms in Pregnant Women
• Symptoms in children
• Causes of the disease
• Home Treatment
• Injections
• Ointments for treatment
• Tablets for treatment
• Treatment with folk remedies

Symptoms of the disease

The main and most characteristic symptom of intercostal neuralgia is pain in the chest area on the left or right. There is rarely bilateral neuralgia. Intercostal neuralgia on the left, as a rule, is localized from the left side of the sternum and in the region of the heart. Also, pain can be given to other organs, for example, to the left scapula.

In addition to the pain symptom, the patient can complain about:

• increased sensitivity of the skin in the localization of painful sensations;
• numbness of the skin;
• tingling;
• redness of the skin;
• feeling of heat or cold;
• pain increases with coughing, breathing becomes superficial.

It is important to know!Symptoms of intercostal neuralgia are easily confused with various life-threatening diseases, therefore, if you experience any of the above symptoms, you should consult your doctor immediately.

Symptoms in Pregnant Women

Waiting for the baby is without doubt the most beautiful period in the life of every woman. However, it is at this time that the body experiences a serious strain, the increasing uterus exerts pressure on the internal organs, including the intercostal nerve, causing symptoms characteristic of intercostal neuralgia on the left.

The main symptoms of the disease:

• acute pain in the rib area on the left;
• pain gives to the heart area, scapula and stomach;
• the disease manifests itself more as the gestation period increases and practically passes after childbirth;
• since one of the causes of the disease in pregnant women can be shingles, it is worth paying attention to the appearance of bubbles and rashes on the skin.

Symptoms in children

It is worth noting that intercostal neuralgia rarely occurs in childhood, however, adults should know the characteristic symptoms of this disease in a child:

• complaints of pain in the chest, scapula, stomach;
• increased sweating;
• cry;
• sleep disorders;
• stuttering.

Know!Distinguish pain from internal disease by the nature of pain. With neuralgia, pain is manifested and intensified during movement, quickly subsides at rest.

Causes of the disease

There are a number of causes and diseases that lead to the appearance of symptoms of neuralgia on the left:

1. Pinching of the spine nerve root in the thoracic region, due to diseases such as osteochondrosis, protrusion or herniation of the intervertebral disc.
2. Irritation of the nerve due to pinching of its inflamed intercostal muscles. Such a condition can arise due to the transferred stress, trauma, excessive physical exertion, hypothermia, as well as poisoning or transferred infectious disease.
3. A common cause for women is the hormonal changes during the menopause, as well as the pressure exerted by the growing uterus during pregnancy.
4. In childhood, the cause of neuralgia is the immaturity of the ligamentous apparatus, which experiences colossal loads during the period of intensive growth.

Home Treatment

The treatment of intercostal neuralgia should be divided into two stages:

1. The first stage is aimed at reducing pain and discomfort in the patient.
2. In the future, treatment of the disease that caused neuralgia.

It is worth considering!With left-sided intercostal neuralgia, one of the most important factors is the complete diagnosis of the heart, in order to avoid disturbances in its functioning.

When there are characteristic symptoms, it is necessary to have a doctor's examination and consultation to confirm the diagnosis and exclude more serious diseases. In addition, the doctor must determine the cause of neuralgia in order to prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Self-medication can be done at home.

1. To ease the condition, you need to wrap your chest with a warm scarf or shawl, reduce motor activity and try to lie on the hardest and most level surface.
2. At home, you can apply dry heat to the affected area, for example, pepper plaster, a warm water bottle, a slightly warmed pouch with salt or cherry pits. All loads should be deleted.
3. In addition, we must guard against drafts and hypothermia. After consulting a doctor, you can wear a special corset.

An effective method of treatment of intercostal neuralgia, along with drug therapy is therapeutic gymnastics. Properly performed exercises improve blood flow, relieve muscle spasm, strengthen the spine.

Another way to treat intercostal neuralgia at home may be the use of medical cans. This is a fairly simple way to ease pain. In addition, the same effective treatment is the use of medical leeches.

Injections

Treatment with injections is the fastest way to relieve pain and ease the condition with intercostal neuralgia. However, it should be noted that the effect of injections is short and does not eliminate the cause of its occurrence.

The main group of pain relievers include:

• Milgamma;
• Ketonal;
• Movalis;
• Analgin;
• Novokain and others.

They should be combined with the intake of B vitamins, this will help strengthen their analgesic effect and lead to a reduction in symptoms.

In addition to injections with analgesics, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are widely used, which show high results, not only reducing pain syndrome, but also relieving inflammation, which significantly shortens the duration of treatment. They include:

• Diclofenac;
• Nimesulid et al.

Attention!Strictly observe the dosage of drugs, since pain medications can cause serious complications from the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, diarrhea, exacerbation of stomach ulcers). It is for this reason that the course of injections should not be prolonged.

Ointments for treatment

In pharmacies to date, there is a wide selection of ointments that have a local warming and analgesic effect, relax the muscles and relieve inflammation. At home, treatment with ointments will bring relief to a person suffering from intercostal neuralgia. Ointments should be distinguished according to the active ingredient in their composition.

Ointments based on bee or snake venom:

• Viprosal;
• Viratox and others.

Ointments with analgesic and anti-inflammatory substances in the composition:

• Ketanov;
• Dicloran;
• Voltaren-gel;
• Fleksen;
• Finalgon and others.

Important!Allergic reactions to the components of the drug are a contraindication to the use.

The ointment is applied in accordance with the attached instructions to clean, undamaged skin. Then place the application wrapped in a warm scarf or shawl. For greater effectiveness, the patient should assume a reclining position for 15-20 minutes.

Tablets for treatment

One of the medicinal forms used by doctors to alleviate the condition of a patient with intercostal neuralgia are tablets. Despite the availability and popularity of this method of treatment has a number of shortcomings. First of all, this is an insufficient anesthetic effect, as well as a negative effect on the organs of the gastrointestinal tract.

Like the injections, the doctor must prescribe the pills, taking into account the condition of the patient. The instructions for use and dosage should be strictly observed. Most often for the treatment of intercostal neuralgia appoint pills:

• Ibuprofen;
• Diclofenac;
• Pyrosiki;
• Spasgan;
• Analgin;
• I took it;
• Ketoprofen and others.

In addition to anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents, the patient should be assigned B group vitamins in tablets. To relax the muscle spasmodic muscle relaxants are used:

• Midokalm;
• Baclofen;
• Clonazepam and others.

Treatment with folk remedies

Traditional medicine knows many ways to combat this disease. However, their use is better coordinated with the doctor.

1. The painful areas can be rubbed with geranium juice and wrapped in a warm scarf.
2. Affected nerves well lubricate the juice of black radish. For this, the radish is rubbed and squeezed through the cheesecloth, collecting the juice in a container.
3. In the warm season, a freshly cut burdock leaf will perfectly help alleviate the condition of the patient. It should be rinsed and applied to a sore spot.
4. Sea salt helps to relieve swelling, inflammation and reduce pain. In half a liter of warm water, you should dilute 2 tablespoons of salt. Dip the cloth in the solution and make a compress. Keep it better for at least two hours.
5. Excellent removes muscle spasm, soothes and alleviates the pain of a compress of valerian. Saturate the napkin with tincture of valerian and attach it to the affected area.
6. In addition to compresses, it is good to take a decoction of chamomile or mint inside. You can make a decoction based on both components.

It is important to know that it is impossible to cure intercostal neuralgia with folk remedies alone. Treatment should be comprehensive and under the supervision of a doctor, as in order to avoid relapse it is necessary not only to relieve the pain, but also to eliminate the disease that caused neuralgia.