Severe pain in the ribs prompts a person to go to the doctor to find out how to treat intercostal neuralgia and what medications to suppress the symptoms of the disease.
Intercostal neuralgia does not belong to the category of dangerous diseases. But it develops against the background of serious pathologies and develops into serious complications. Neuralgia is caused by intervertebral protrusions and hernias, tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, and tumors.
The symptoms of neuralgia are such that they can easily be confused with signs of renal colic, cholecystitis, and angina. Only a doctor can make a correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment based on diagnostic studies.
Methods of drug therapy
The use of medications is the main way to treat intercostal neuralgia. To treat the disease and the cause that caused it, the following is prescribed:
- pills;
- injections for intramuscular and intravenous administration;
- ointments, gels or creams.
The form of medication for intercostal neuralgia is chosen by the doctor. Medicines are prescribed taking into account the severity of the disease, the patient’s well-being and contraindications.
Tablets are considered an ineffective treatment for intercostal neuralgia. In addition, they irritate the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract and cause adverse reactions. Erosive gastritis and stomach ulcers are possible harm from uncontrolled use of tablets.
Pain relievers
The primary goal of drug therapy is to relieve pain – the main symptom of the disease. Pills and injections help get rid of prolonged debilitating pain. For pain relief the following is usually prescribed:
- Spasmalgon;
- Spazgan;
- Analgin;
- Baralgin;
- I took it.
To relieve unbearable pain that occurs with swelling of nerve fibers and root compression syndrome, the following is used:
- Ketoprofen;
- Ibuprofen;
- Nise;
- Celebrex;
- Diclofenac.
Analgesics are used to relieve pain and prevent new attacks:
- Sedalgin;
- Panadol;
- Tylenone;
- Pentalgin.
These drugs are available in tablets, injection solutions, ointments and gels. They are taken in tablets. To quickly relieve pain, injections are given and IVs are placed.
The course of treatment with anesthetics is short, it does not exceed 4-5 days. They disrupt the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
Postherpetic neuralgia
Postherpetic intercostal neuropathy (ICD-10 G53.0) develops against the background of active herpetic infection. After infection, herpes is embedded in the DNA of the nerve fibers of the spinal cord, which is why, after an exacerbation of the pathology, intense pain is observed in the affected area.
The development of the pathology, its symptoms and treatment do not depend on the type of virus. Often, the occurrence of pain in the affected area is caused by an exacerbation of herpes zoster. In some cases, discomfort occurs due to a relapse of the virus. This is explained by the fact that infectious agents mainly affect the face and genitals.
Postherpetic neuropathy can be distinguished from other diseases with similar symptoms by the presence of characteristic blistering rashes that are localized along the affected nerve. In this case, pain syndrome occurs much earlier than skin neoplasms. Gradually, the intensity of symptoms increases, reaching its maximum during the period when herpetic rashes disappear.
Local painkillers
Local anesthetics relieve swelling and pain of a neuralgic nature. They are prescribed for temporary relief of acute pain. Reduce pain and eliminate muscle tension with ointments, gels, and injection solutions.
The drugs are applied or injected directly into the lesion. They are used to make blockades. Pain is suppressed with injections of Lidocaine, Novocaine or Xylocaine. The use of local anesthetics is limited in time. They are highly toxic agents that can cause great harm to the body. Unbearable pain is relieved with one-time blockades.
Anti-inflammatory medications
Inflammatory processes occurring in nerve fibers lead to swelling and pain. The swollen tissue puts pressure on the nerves. Pinched nerve roots are accompanied by pain. Relieving inflammation, eliminating pain.
Inflammatory processes are suppressed with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs:
- Ortofen;
- Diclofenac;
- Nimesulide;
- Ketoprofen;
- Voltaren;
- Movalis.
The products effectively relieve inflammation. If you use them correctly, according to the regimen given by the doctor, you can get a long-term stable remission. To eliminate inflammation, take a tablet 2 times a day, give an injection, or use rectal suppositories.
The body's susceptibility to drugs is almost the same. But they are best absorbed through the mucous membranes. Long-term treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs causes exacerbation of certain ailments (for example, gastritis or ulcers). They should not be used without a doctor's prescription.
Why is intercostal neuralgia dangerous?
The danger of the pathology lies in the fact that its symptoms are similar to those of many diseases of internal organs, including myocardial infarction.
An erroneous diagnosis leads to the prescription of an incorrect treatment regimen and loss of precious time. Similar symptoms manifest themselves in coronary diseases, angina pectoris and heart attack, stomach ulcers, gastritis, herpes zoster, and others.
The appearance of pain in the back indicates the need for an examination. Its results form the basis for making a diagnosis and prescribing effective treatment.
Muscle relaxants
Drug treatment for intercostal neuralgia includes muscle relaxants - drugs with a calming effect. They eliminate pain, relax muscles, and improve the patient’s well-being. Which of them can be used for treatment:
- Sirdalud;
- Tizanidine;
- Tolperisone.
The taken muscle relaxant eliminates congestion in muscle tissue and swelling. For treatment, use a drug prescribed by a doctor.
Diagnostics
Diagnostics includes computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic spine (to exclude tumors, vascular diseases, inflammatory changes in the spinal cord, spine, and internal organs). Differential diagnosis:
- Postherpetic neuropathy of intercostal nerves.
- Neuroma of the intercostal nerve.
- Spinal cord tumors.
- Pathological processes in the spine.
- Visceral diseases: coronary heart disease, pleurisy, acute pathology of the abdominal cavity.
Sedatives
Painful sensations worsen the well-being of patients, plunge them into a state of prolonged stress, create a feeling of discomfort, and reduce the quality of life. Taking sedatives for intercostal neuralgia helps relieve nervous tension, relax skeletal muscles, and normalize the condition of the sick person.
For this purpose, drug therapy can include a remedy with an extract of a soothing medicinal plant. Suitable for treatment:
- Chamomile;
- Mint;
- Motherwort.
Herbs with a sedative effect are used separately or preparations are made from them. It is worth drinking infusions and decoctions from them. Pharmaceutical preparations have an effective effect: syrups, tinctures.
They drink a sedative at night. It promotes good sleep, proper rest, and relieves nervous and muscle tension. Essential oils: lavender and peppermint have an excellent relaxing effect.
Medicines with bee and snake venom
Eliminate intercostal neuralgia with medications based on snake and bee venom. The effectiveness of ointments and gels with these poisons is quite high. They warm up the skin, accelerate blood circulation, remove metabolic products, and saturate tissues with bioactive substances. The drugs regenerate damaged nerve tissue.
The product with poison is used externally, it is rubbed into the lesions with soft massaging movements, bypassing the heart area. For treatment use:
- Apisatron. Ointment with bee venom suppresses pain and inflammation, restores blood flow.
- Viprosal. Ointment with viper venom eliminates pain and improves blood circulation. Camphor and fir, which the drug contains, have an analgesic effect.
These ointments are used as prescribed by a doctor. They are not always used for treatment of:
- lactation;
- pregnancy;
- allergies;
- heart diseases.
Neuralgia on the left side
Intercostal neuropathy or neuralgia (ICD-10 G58.0) is a rather unpleasant and dangerous disease, as it provokes severe pain and leads to the development of various kinds of complications. With the development of neuropathy on the left side, the symptoms manifest themselves in the form of severe pain, the nature of which varies depending on the provoking factor. However, with such a lesion, unpleasant sensations radiate to the heart area, so many people mistake neuralgia for a heart attack.
This disease is accompanied by various symptoms. In women, the pain syndrome affects the mammary glands, and attacks in men pass much faster and easier. The localization of pain on the left side largely depends on the number of affected nerve endings. In some cases, the unpleasant sensations are girdling in nature.
Ointments and gels
Remedies for neuralgia in the form of ointments and gels quickly relieve pain. They instantly penetrate through the skin pores into the deep tissues, to the lesion, reduce the severity of the pain syndrome and eliminate swelling.
External agents stimulate blood circulation, distract from pain, and relieve nervous tension. Thanks to them, blood supply to the sore spot improves, nutrition of damaged tissues, and pain goes away.
To treat intercostal neuralgia use:
- Fastum-gel. The product relieves pain, stimulates blood flow, and eliminates swelling.
- Capsicam. The ointment, due to its effective warming effect, accelerates the supply of blood to tissues. It restores tissue trophism and helps replenish nutrients.
- Finalgon. The ointment warms up. Thanks to it, blood vessels dilate. Blood flow increases. Oxygen and nutrients enter the tissues.
- Indomethacin, Ortofen, Naklofen, Ibuprofen. Ointments fight inflammation, swelling and pain.
- Menovazin. The ointment has a pronounced analgesic effect.
- Chondroxyl. The chondroprotector restores mobility to the spine.
Preference is given to ointments. Their rate of penetration into tissue is higher than that of gels. In the early stages and for severe pain, ointments are used that can relieve muscle spasms and relax muscles.
You will also find it useful: What other ointments help with intercostal neuralgia
For patients suffering from severe pain, try not to prescribe ointments with a burning effect. By increasing stimulation at the site of the lesion, it is possible to provoke the development of an ischemic crisis or heart attack due to excessive outflow of blood from the coronary vessels.
Etiology
Since the thoracic spine is less mobile than the cervical spine, some experts are inclined to assume that pinching in this area rarely occurs. But that's not true. The entire length of the spinal column of a healthy person is enveloped in nerve endings that react to even the slightest disturbances in the body. The causes of chest neuralgia can be both unfavorable factors and various ailments.
Reasons for progression of pathology:
- osteochondrosis;
- herniated intervertebral discs;
- decreased body reactivity;
- inflammation in the tissues that are located next to the nerves;
- injuries of the thoracic spinal column;
- the presence of benign and malignant tumors;
- blood circulation disorder;
- hypertonicity of muscle structures;
- increased activity of the herpes virus;
- increased load on the spinal column;
- muscle spasms that occur in a person due to a sharp turn of the body;
- incorrect body position during rest;
- diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- salt deposits;
- deformation of the intercostal space;
- hormonal imbalance;
- stress;
- overwork;
- Incorrect posture can also provoke the progression of the disease, since it causes a disproportionate load on the spine.
Risk factors:
- vitamin B hypovitaminosis;
- hypothermia;
- drinking alcohol in large doses;
- vascular diseases that lead to their destruction;
- ailments associated with impaired blood circulation in nerve endings;
- metabolic disorder;
- intoxication;
- malnutrition.
Antispasmodics
With neuralgia, the muscle tissue surrounding the damaged nerve fibers spasms, their tone is excessively high. Without eliminating muscle spasms, you cannot get rid of pain. Increased tone is relieved with antispasmodics:
- Besalol;
- Halidor;
- No-spy;
- Papazol.
To eliminate spasms, they take pills and give injections.
Intercostal neuralgia requires complex therapeutic treatment. Thanks to it, pain is quickly relieved, the patient’s well-being is improved, and the inflammatory processes that cause the disease are blocked. Prescription of treatment by a doctor is a prerequisite. The prescribed medications will give the maximum therapeutic effect and will not allow complications to develop.
