What medicine is effective for intercostal neuralgia?

Most patients with intercostal neuralgia will want to ask what medicine they should take. In fact, many medicines cause relatively large side effects, so we should focus on scientific treatment, especially some elderly people are easily affected by this disease and should be more vigilant in prevention in life.

1. We know that there are 12 pairs of intercostal nerves, which are formed by the anterior root and the posterior root after they are emitted from the thoracic cord. The thoracic nerve is divided into anterior, posterior, meningeal and communicating branches. The anterior branch is located between the medial and lateral intercostal muscles and is called the intercostal nerve, which runs below the intercostal arteries. Secondary intercostal neuralgia is commonly seen in clinical practice, while primary intercostal neuralgia is less common. Secondary intercostal neuralgia is caused by lesions of adjacent organs and tissues, such as lesions of the thoracic organs (pleurisy, chronic lung inflammation, aortic aneurysm, etc.), injuries to the spine and ribs, senile osteoarthritis of the spine, deformities of the thoracic spine, thoracic spinal cord tumors, especially extramedullary tumors, which often compress the nerve roots and cause symptoms of intercostal neuralgia. There is also a type of intercostal neuritis caused by the herpes zoster virus, which can also cause intercostal neuralgia.

2. Intercostal neuralgia is mainly characterized by frequent pain in one or several intercostals , which sometimes worsens in paroxysmal fashion and is sometimes triggered by breathing movements. The pain worsens with coughing or sneezing. When the pain is severe, it may radiate to the shoulder or back on the same side, sometimes in a band-like distribution. During the examination, hyperesthesia of the corresponding skin area and tenderness of the corresponding rib edges may be found, which are particularly obvious on the back, thoracic side wall, and anterior chest after the intercostal nerves pass through the intervertebral foramen. Some patients may find corresponding symptoms and signs of various primary lesions.

3. In addition, intercostal neuralgia caused by herpes zoster virus neuritis refers to the invasion of the skin and dorsal root ganglia by the herpes virus, which produces groups of blisters and papules on the skin in the area innervated by the nerves. Blisters are the most common, arranged in a band-like shape along the intercostal nerve distribution, accompanied by neuralgia in one or several adjacent intercostal nerve distribution areas. When the disease occurs, there are prodromal symptoms such as low fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite, followed by local hyperesthesia, burning sensation, or varying degrees of deep pain in the chest and abdominal wall.

4. The treatment of secondary intercostal neuralgia depends on the cause . Primary intercostal neuralgia can be treated according to general treatments for neuralgia, such as the use of various analgesics, physical therapy, etc. When this is ineffective, intercostal nerve root blockade can be considered.