Pain in the heart may have a different origin. It is the main clinical symptom of many heart and lung diseases. Often, pain in the heart can cause intercostal neuralgia. Symptoms of this condition are nonspecific and simulate various diseases of the internal organs.
Intercostal neuralgia is a clinical syndrome accompanying diseases of the peripheral nervous system. The appearance of pain is associated with irritation of the nerves coming from the spine along the intercostal spaces. The main reason for the development of intercostal neuralgia is pronounced osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine. In addition to osteochondrosis, this clinical syndrome can accompany kyphosis of various origins, spondylitis, ankylosing spondylitis, spinal tumors. It is important that intercostal neuralgia, the symptoms of which we will consider below, often resembles manifestations of cardiac pathology. A pain attack develops with hypothermia, intense physical exertion, injuries, colds.
Intercostal neuralgia - symptoms that simulate cardiac pathology
The nature and localization of pain in intercostal neuralgia is often perceived by patients as pain associated with heart disease. It can be paroxysmal, acute, giving to the left hand and shoulder blade, simulating an attack of angina pectoris. Nevertheless, neuralgic pain can be distinguished from angina pectoris. With intercostal neuralgia, the pain is stable, without periods of exacerbation. Blood pressure and pulse remain unchanged, which does not happen with cardiac pathology. The most characteristic sign of pain in intercostal neuralgia is its intensification during movements, with coughing, sneezing, deep breathing, changes in body posture. With intercostal neuralgia, patients may complain of a feeling of numbness, burning, tingling.
On palpation along the intercostal spaces, in the paravertebral areas, along the axillary line and the place of attachment of the ribs to the sternum, pain intensification can be determined. Local pain is determined mainly in the region of the fifth to eleventh ribs on the left. During auscultation, there is no change in the sonority of heart sounds, noise and rhythm disturbances. Sometimes the pain gives back to the lower back and can be regarded as an attack of renal colic. An important diagnostic criterion is a decrease in pain intensity or its complete cessation after taking a nitroglycerin tablet in case the attack is associated with cardiac pathology. With neuralgia, taking nitroglycerin will not change the patient's condition.
Intercostal neuralgia, the symptoms of which we examined, is less dangerous than heart disease. If chest pain occurs, you should not try to diagnose the disease yourself. Only a doctor can understand the causes of pain and prescribe the necessary treatment.
Of great importance in the diagnosis is given to additional research methods. To exclude cardiac pathology, an ECG, echocardiography is performed. Changes in the spine with osteochondrosis are determined using x-ray.
Treatment and prevention of intercostal neuralgia
If intercostal neuralgia is diagnosed, medications are indicated only for acute pain. The pain syndrome with intercostal neuralgia is removed by the use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs. Various ointments, rubbing, tablet preparations can be used. With severe pain, parenteral administration of drugs is prescribed. After stopping the pain, reflex treatment methods are prescribed. The appointment of massage, acupuncture, acupuncture, manual therapy is effective. No matter how pronounced intercostal neuralgia, its consequences do not pose a health hazard.
Prevention of neuralgia is the prevention of hypothermia and colds. Adequate physical activity, active rest, the fight against physical inactivity and obesity are shown.