Intercostal Neuralgia Quiz

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Reviewed By:

Scott Nass, MD, MPA, FAAFP, AAHIVS

Scott Nass, MD, MPA, FAAFP, AAHIVS (Primary Care Physician)

Dr. Nass received dual medical degrees from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Charles R. Drew University in Medicine and Science. He completed Family Medicine residency at Ventura County Medical Center with subsequent fellowships at Ventura, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, George Washington University, and University of California-Irvine. He holds faculty appointments at Keck School of Medicine of USC, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, and Western University of Health Sciences.

Tomohiro Hamahata, MD

Tomohiro Hamahata, MD (Orthopedic surgery)

Dr. Hamahata graduated from the Jikei University of Medical Science. After working at Asanokawa General Hospital and Kosei Chuo Hospital, he joined the Department of Orthopedics at Asakusa Hospital in April 2021, specializing in general orthopedics and joint replacement surgery.

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  • Tight feeling in the chest

  • Chest pain when I breathe

  • Chest pain all over

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  • Tightening in the chest

  • Radiating chest pain

  • Pain in the rib

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Learn more about Intercostal neuralgia

Content updated on Sep 20, 2022

What is intercostal neuralgia?

Nerve pain caused by damage to the nerves running along the ribs. It can be caused by various factors, including rib injuries and viral infections like Shingles.

Symptoms of intercostal neuralgia

  • Chest pain

  • Headache with sharp, electric shock-like pain

  • Tingling, numbing chest pain

  • Pain that runs along the side of one rib

  • Right sided chest pain

  • Back pain

Questions your doctor may ask to check for intercostal neuralgia

Your doctor may ask these questions to diagnose intercostal neuralgia

  • Do you have any chest pain?

  • Does your headache feel a sharp pain like an electric shock?

  • Does your chest pain feel like a numbing pain?

  • Do you have pain that runs along the side of one rib?

  • Do you have right sided chest pain?

Treatment for intercostal neuralgia

Treatment options include pain and nerve medications, which can be in the form of cream, skin patches, or pills. In severe cases, an injection or surgery can be performed to block the nerve from sending pain signals.

View the symptoms of Intercostal neuralgia

  • Chest pain

  • Back pain

References

  • Fazekas D, Doroshenko M, Horn DB. Intercostal Neuralgia. 2022 May 2. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan–. PMID: 32809700.

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560865/

  • Wei J, Gao S, Li W, Zhang L, Cao C, Zhai J, Gao B. Percutaneous Endoscopic Intercostal Neurectomy for Refractory Intercostal Neuralgia. Pain Physician. 2021 Nov;24(7):E1147-E1153. PMID: 34704724.

    https://www.painphysicianjournal.com/linkout?issn=&vol=24&page=E1147

  • Chalian M, Hoang D, Rozen S, Chhabra A. Role of magnetic resonance neurography in intercostal neuralgia; diagnostic utility and efficacy. Br J Radiol. 2021 Jun 1;94(1122):20200603. doi: 10.1259/bjr.20200603. Epub 2021 May 7. PMID: 33960822; PMCID: PMC8173696.

    https://www.birpublications.org/doi/10.1259/bjr.20200603

User testimonials

Reviewed By:

Scott Nass, MD, MPA, FAAFP, AAHIVS

Scott Nass, MD, MPA, FAAFP, AAHIVS (Primary Care Physician)

Dr. Nass received dual medical degrees from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Charles R. Drew University in Medicine and Science. He completed Family Medicine residency at Ventura County Medical Center with subsequent fellowships at Ventura, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, George Washington University, and University of California-Irvine. He holds faculty appointments at Keck School of Medicine of USC, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, and Western University of Health Sciences.

Tomohiro Hamahata, MD

Tomohiro Hamahata, MD (Orthopedic surgery)

Dr. Hamahata graduated from the Jikei University of Medical Science. After working at Asanokawa General Hospital and Kosei Chuo Hospital, he joined the Department of Orthopedics at Asakusa Hospital in April 2021, specializing in general orthopedics and joint replacement surgery.

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