Intercostal neuritis

Neuroinflammation is an extremely common condition that has a significant impact on the functions of various systems in the human body, especially when the disease occurs, it can easily cause the body to face difficulties. Neuritis can occur in many parts of the body, among which intercostal neuritis is a relatively common problem, and its incidence rate is relatively higher. Let’s take a look at what intercostal neuritis is. I hope everyone can understand it.

Intercostal neuritis is a painful lump and tenderness over the costal cartilages. Also known as Tietze's disease. It is more common in people aged 20 to 40 years old, often at the junction of the 2nd or 3rd costal cartilage and the sternum, and occasionally at other ribs or sternoclavicular joints.

Causes

Degenerative protrusion of the thoracic intervertebral disc, thickening and ossification of the joint capsule and ligaments often lead to narrowing and deformation of the nerve channels, which can cause inflammation of the intercostal nerves and produce pain. Other lesions that may affect the intercostal nerves include thoracic tuberculosis, thoracic fracture or dislocation, spinal or spinal cord tumors, ankylosing spondylitis, and rib, mediastinal, and pleural lesions. The pain of herpes zoster intercostal neuralgia is often severe.

Pathological analysis:

The so-called intercostal nerves are nerves that run along the ribs of the chest, from the back through the flanks to the front of the chest. Intercostal neuralgia is an intense pain that occurs in a semicircular shape along this nerve through the chest and abdomen.

If severe pain occurs from the chest to the side abdomen or from the back to the side abdomen, you will feel unbearable pain when turning around, laughing, taking a deep breath, or yawning. This is intercostal neuralgia.

diagnosis

To establish a diagnosis, we must first identify it as intercostal neuralgia based on the characteristic distribution of pain. Then, more importantly, we must think of and find out the cause of the intercostal neuralgia, especially considering important diseases that are easily overlooked, such as tuberculosis, tumors, osteoporotic compression fractures in the elderly, and early herpes zoster.

Clinical manifestations:

Most of the lesions are in one place. The cause may be related to viral infection or trauma. The course of the disease may last for several hours or days, but it may relapse and usually heal itself within a few months, but in some cases it may last for several years. Commonly used treatments include hot compresses, analgesics, local injections of prednisolone acetate, and sometimes oral administration of Virulin.