What are the symptoms of intercostal neuralgia?

Intercostal neuralgia is a common clinical symptom, which is mainly caused by damage to the thoracic nerve roots due to various reasons. The symptoms of intercostal neuralgia are relatively obvious, mainly pain. In addition to pain symptoms, intercostal neuralgia may also cause inflammatory reactions.

1. Complications

The pain is distributed along the course of the intercostal nerves and sometimes radiates along the intercostal spaces. Patients with a long course of illness may have decreased tactile sensation in the intercostal skin and signs of muscle stiffness, spasm or contracture. Apart from this, there are not many positive signs.

2. Primary intercostal neuralgia

Primary intercostal neuralgia is rare. When intercostal neuralgia occurs, pain can be seen radiating from back to front along the corresponding intercostal space in a semicircular shape; the pain is stabbing or burning. The pain gets worse when you cough, take a deep breath, or sneeze. The pain is usually in one nerve on one side. Physical examination revealed obvious tenderness beside the spinous processes of the thoracic vertebrae and in the intercostal spaces; patients with typical radicular intercostal neuralgia had a positive neck flexion test; the distribution area of ​​the affected nerves often showed signs of neurological impairment such as hyperesthesia or hypoesthesia.

3. Tenderness

Physical examination revealed obvious tenderness beside the spinous processes of the thoracic vertebrae and in the intercostal spaces; patients with typical radicular intercostal neuralgia had a positive neck flexion test; the distribution area of ​​the affected nerves often showed signs of neurological impairment such as hyperesthesia or hypoesthesia.

4. Others

Symptoms of intercostal neuralgia: intercostal neuralgia, burning pain, tenderness in the intercostal space, hyperesthesia, damage and rupture of nerve bundles

Pectoralis major pain, lightning pain in the chest, intercostal shoulder girdle pain. Intercostal neuralgia is divided into secondary and primary types. Root intercostal neuralgia may be caused by diseases such as thoracic vertebra degeneration, thoracic vertebra tuberculosis, thoracic vertebra injury, thoracic vertebra dura mater, tumor, ankylosing spondylitis, etc.; rib, mediastinal or pleural lesions may cause trunk intercostal neuralgia. Primary intercostal neuralgia is rare. When intercostal neuralgia occurs, pain can be seen radiating from back to front along the corresponding intercostal space in a semicircular shape; the pain is tingling or burning.