
23/02/2022
"Intercostal neuralgia" is a diagnosis that is made by exclusion.
Most often, "intercostal neuralgia" disguises itself as other diseases, for example, pectoral muscle syndrome or ladder syndrome, so it can be quite difficult to recognize it.
Currently, there is no specific test to detect "intercostal neuralgia". Often it is necessary to separate intercostal neuralgia from diseases of the cardiovascular system, lungs, gastrointestinal tract and other organs and systems using the “poke method”. There are only separate forms of this pathology, depending on the cause of the disease.
The reasons for the development of intercostal neuralgia can be different.
Household ones include: lack of physical activity, work in an uncomfortable position, sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress and pillow, etc. Physical work with hypothermia, work with muscle tension, chronic vertebrogenic syndrome, as well as pleurisy can lead to nerve compression.
The inflammatory nature of intercostal neuralgia is most often associated with hypothermia and infectious processes. The cause of the infectious process is mainly a viral infection (herpes zoster, covid 19). As a result of inflammation of the intervertebral discs, pinching of the nerves occurs. In addition, osteophytes can form on the vertebrae - bone growths that will injure and compress the nerves. In some cases, nerve damage is associated with injury as a result of bruises, fractures of the ribs, injuries of the chest and spine.
In the treatment of intercostal neuralgia, complex therapy is used. It is aimed at identifying and eliminating the causes of the pathological process. The complexity may represent the viral nature of the process. It is necessary to carry out antiviral therapy.
A significant cause of neuralgia can be degenerative changes in the thoracic spine.
Symptomatic therapy to eliminate stiffness of movements and relieve muscle pain is carried out using acupuncture and hirudotherapy on the area of pain and the thoracic spine.
Sometimes 7-10 sessions of acupuncture and 3 sessions of hirudotherapy are enough.