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Health

Intercostal pain

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
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Intercostal pain, also known as pain in the ribs, behind the ribs, often takes a person by surprise. A patient who is not prepared for such a turn of events is often at a loss and does not know how to behave correctly or what measures to take. The rapid development of a feeling of fear is explained by the fact that chest pain is directly associated with a heart attack. However, such panic is not always justified. It is necessary to remember several distinctive signs of heart pain and everything will fall into place.

It is necessary to clearly understand that heart pains are always, the defining word is “always”, accompanied by a disturbance of the heart rhythm. The heart rhythm can be traced by the pulse. A very rapid, weakened pulse, to a threadlike or barely noticeable one, instability of beats - such behavior indicates a disturbance of the heart. In case of pain syndromes not associated with the heart, the pulse will remain within the normal range, and if it increases, then not by much, and this will be associated with the person’s experience, with the intensity of pain, which is difficult to bear.

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What can cause intercostal pain?

In general terms, the multiplicity of diseases that cause intercostal pain can be represented as several large blocks, depending on their relation to the main organ suffering from the pathology:

  • problems with the ribs themselves (bruises, fractures, inflammation of the cartilage tissue, osteoporosis);
  • diseases of the spinal column (hernias, osteochondrosis);
  • neuralgia and myalgia (pathologies of the intercostal nerves, muscles and fascia);
  • pleural diseases (pleurisy, oncology);
  • heart pathologies;
  • psychogenic pain.

As can be seen from the classification given, intercostal pain can be caused by many factors. It is very important not to waste time and contact a doctor as soon as possible. In this case, the possibility of excluding the occurrence of complications increases.

Treatment of intercostal pain

In most cases, all diseases that are accompanied by intercostal pain are perfectly treated by selecting symptomatic treatment. An optimal set of drugs is selected, aimed at stopping the main cause, restoring the damaged organ and its functions, as well as restoring the entire body as a whole. After all, there is no pathology that would be limited to just one organ, the disease certainly involves its entire environment, which cannot but affect the general well-being.

It should be noted that anti-inflammatory and painkiller drugs will most likely be prescribed. In some cases, antispasmodics are indicated, as well as additional treatment methods, such as physiotherapy, exercise therapy, massage and a therapeutic diet.

It's better to avoid than to cure

It is impossible to foresee all situations that may occur on the path of life, but it is necessary to develop in your body the habit of independently fighting and coping with most painful ailments, and from early childhood.

An active lifestyle, which ultimately results in well-trained muscles, including intercostal ones, helps to increase immunity, activates metabolism, and brings a person's emotional state to a completely different level. With the correct distribution of your vital force, there is a chance not to encounter any diseases on your path at all.

Intercostal pain is the result of inflammation, injury or advanced pathological process. In a strong and healthy organism there will be no place for such manifestations. At all times it has been well known that it is easier to prevent than to fix. So, do sports, toughen up and be healthy.

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