Any visible or tangible formations on the body cause anxiety in a person and become the reason for immediate medical attention. What can the seals between the ribs signal? That's what the doctors say about this.
Causes of seals in the intercostal space
In reality, there are not so many reasons for such formations. That is why each of them deserves close attention both from the side of the patient himself and from the attending physician. A bump between the ribs in men and women may appear due to the occurrence of pathologies in the body.
Lymph nodes
In the space between the ribs are lymph nodes, which normally are not palpable. They are part of the lymphatic system of the human body, the main purpose of which is to cleanse the blood of pathogenic bacteria, viruses and hazardous chemicals.
In the presence of a serious inflammatory process in the body, the lymph nodes often increase in size. Due to this process, a bump may be observed between the ribs. In addition to changing the size of the lymph nodes, the following are considered characteristic symptoms of their inflammation:
- change in body temperature upward, general weakness, headache;
- pain on palpation;
- hyperemia of the skin at the location of the lymph nodes.
If such symptoms are not observed, most likely, the lump between the ribs in the form of enlarged lymph nodes is a short-term phenomenon that does not pose a serious threat to human health. Thus, the immune system responds to the presence of infection in the body. Soon the body will cope with the infection itself and the lymph nodes will return to their original size.
Diagnosis of lymph nodes
Nevertheless, it is worth seeking medical help to find out the true cause of this condition. In this case, generally accepted research methods are used, including:
- general blood analysis;
- bacterial sputum culture;
- chest x-ray;
- sampling the internal contents of the lymph node (biopsy);
- CT and ultrasound.
According to the results of the examination, the doctor prescribes the treatment of the underlying disease, which provoked an increase in lymph nodes.
Oncology
In some cases, a lump between the ribs in a woman or a man can become a symptom of a neoplasm. In particular, tumors of muscle tissue, ribs, pulmonary membrane (pleura) and the lungs themselves.
Often, tumor growth is almost asymptomatic, so it is very difficult to identify the disease at an early stage. In this case, general signs characteristic of diseases of various nature can be observed:
- weakness;
- tissue densification at the site of tumor growth;
- painful sensations.
Oncology Diagnostics
It is important to note that the age of the patient in such situations does not play any role. In cases of the formation of cancerous tumors, one of the main methods for diagnosing the disease is an X-ray examination of organs located in the chest cavity. As additional diagnostic methods, the following are used:
- Ultrasound of the chest;
- computed tomography;
- magnetic resonance imaging;
- biopsy.
As in most cases of treatment of malignant neoplasms, for the treatment of cancerous tumors in the chest area, traditional methods are used, including radiation and chemical therapy, as well as surgical removal of formations.
Anterior abdominal hernia
The cause of the bump between the ribs in the solar plexus and not only can be a hernia. It is formed as a result of the exit of lung tissue from the cavity it occupies into the area of the subcutaneous base. This phenomenon does not have pronounced symptoms, so in most cases it is diagnosed by chance during a routine examination of the patient.
The main factor provoking such phenomena is considered to be a previous chest injury, or surgical intervention preceding the appearance of intercostal hernia.
Intercostal hernias are diagnosed by conducting the following studies:
- X-ray
- magnetic resonance and computer studies of internal organs.
In the absence of complaints of shortness of breath, conservative methods of treatment are used:
- drugs that suppress the cough reflex;
- special supportive bandages or corsets.
In the treatment of bumps between the ribs for individual patients, a surgical method of hernia repair is used. After surgery, seals disappear in a hundred percent of cases.
For previously injured patients, it is important to exclude the fact of the formation of a crack in the rib, since over time exostosis can form in this place. This happens due to excessive regenerative function of the body. Trauma to bone tissue involves a violation of the integrity of the bone with the formation of voids at the site of a fracture or crack. In turn, the body tries to make up for the missing bone tissue with tissue predominant in the area of injury. Due to excessive regeneration, bone tissue grows, leading to the formation of exostosis (bone or bone-cartilage formation on the surface of the bone). In such cases, a person can also find a cone between the ribs, where the solar plexus, for example.
Myositis
Myositis is a disease characterized by skeletal muscle damage due to the development of the inflammatory process. There are several varieties of myositis that differ in the nature of origin, symptoms and nature of the course of the disease.
Among the causes of this kind of phenomena, it is customary to single out the following:
- bacterial and viral infections;
- spinal diseases (scoliosis or osteochondrosis);
- hypothermia of the body;
- muscle strain or prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position;
- trauma (closed injury due to contusion);
- diseases associated with metabolic disorders in the body and occurring in a chronic form, for example, diabetes, gout, thyrotoxicosis (an increase in thyroid function).
Diagnosis and treatment of myositis
As a diagnostic measure to clarify phenomena of this nature, a blood test is recommended to identify the inflammatory process, as well as electroneuromyography (a study of the functional state of skeletal muscles and their bioelectric activity).
Treatment of myositis is prescribed depending on the diagnosed cause of its development. It includes the following methods related to traditional medicine methods:
- drugs that relieve inflammation and pain, vascular drugs;
- physiotherapy;
- massage.
Finally
Whatever the true cause of the bump between the ribs, whether it hurts or not, but such a phenomenon requires expert advice. If such a seal is accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms, you should not hesitate to consult a doctor. Only a specialist will be able to correctly diagnose the disease and prescribe treatment. In some cases, the bump between the ribs requires prompt medical attention. In others, a course of taking medications or changing a diet is enough for the seal to go away by itself.