Intercostal neuralgia is a condition in which severe pain occurs as a result of compression or irritation of the nerve roots. Therapy of this pathological process requires an integrated approach, which is unthinkable without pharmaceuticals.
What medications should be used for intercostal neuralgia, and what do patients need to know? Before starting treatment for intercostal neuralgia, it is necessary to conduct a high-quality diagnosis of the disease. This will eliminate a number of diseases with similar symptoms.
Thus, the main task of the doctor to whom the patient came with pain in the chest is to determine whether the patient’s condition requires urgent help (as with a heart attack, stroke, hepatic colic and other diseases), or is it a threat to life and health not right now, and the patient has thoracic neuralgia. The same medications for intercostal neuralgia are used here as for localization in other areas.
As for pharmaceuticals, there are several groups of drugs that are used to treat this condition:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);
- antiviral agents;
- analgesics;
- antispasmodics;
- muscle relaxants;
- B vitamins;
- sedatives.
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
Drug treatment of intercostal neuralgia is impossible without the use of NSAIDs. This is a huge class of drugs that is used for various diseases. These drugs reduce the localization of inflammatory mediators - prostaglandins, due to which swelling is quickly relieved and local compression is reduced.
No ads 1
They also have a noticeable analgesic effect. Among the most popular drugs in this group are Ibuprofen, Piroxicam, Ketorol. These pharmaceutical drugs should not be taken for longer than a certain period of time. The maximum duration of treatment per course is 7 days.
By the way, different drugs in this group have different effects on the body of a particular person. For some, regular Ibuprofen will be preferable, while for other patients its effect will be too weak, and only Nimesulide, which is stronger in its effect, will help them.
Antiviral agents
They are similar to NSAIDs, but act against other pathogens: not bacteria, but exclusively viruses. In practice, they are used extremely rarely in the treatment of joint and neurological diseases. A viral infection of the onset of inflammation can be suspected if intercostal neuralgia occurs in a herpetic nature. Among the external manifestations is herpes zoster.
The most well-known remedy that will help the patient cope with the herpes virus is Acyclovir. Its analogues: Zovirax, Cyclovir, Vivorax. People with weakened immune systems most often suffer from local exacerbations of herpes infection, and therefore it makes sense to check the body for a number of other chronic diseases that lead to a similar weakened state.
No ads 2
Treatment of intercostal neuralgia with folk remedies
Damage to the intercostal nerves is an inflammatory disease, usually accompanied by shooting sharp pains that are localized in the sternum on the left. They are often mistaken for cordial ones. This type of neuralgia can be provoked by the consequences of injury, complications of an acute infectious disease of a viral nature, or severe hypothermia (cooling) of the body.
A tincture of hot aromatic seasoning (chili) will help reduce pain. It is prepared like this: 2 tbsp. l. raw materials from crushed fresh pods (without seeds) are poured with 1 glass of strong alcoholic drink (40°), left for 10 days, filtered and stored in a dark container. Apply the resulting product externally. Apply warming compresses as needed 4–6 times a day.
In the evening before bed, to relieve pain, rub your chest with black radish juice, cover yourself with a cotton cloth and a shawl or blanket on top. In the same way, a gruel made from horseradish is used. Don't forget to cover the compress with cellophane and wrap yourself up. A mixture of fresh lilac buds with melted butter also has a warming effect.
A decoction of peppermint is taken internally. Recipe: 20 g of leaves pour 500 ml of boiling water, 60 min. insist, then filter. Drink it half a glass 3 times a day before meals. Raspberry leaves and stems are also brewed. The decoction is taken in 50 g doses.
Analgesics
A number of patients do without medications in this group, but if the patient experiences severe pain attacks, then it is necessary to relieve them with painkillers. The most popular analgesics based on analgin are Baralgin, Sedalgin, Spazmalgon. As soon as severe pain subsides, you should stop taking them.
These tablets also have a number of disadvantages and side effects, in particular on the digestive tract. If the patient additionally uses ointments and creams with an anesthetic component, then it is necessary to take into account the total amount of the product that the patient receives.
Muscle relaxants
These drugs can reduce the rate of formation of certain amino acids, which helps relieve muscle tone and relax skeletal muscles. The active components of these drugs act exclusively on muscle fibers, but when muscle tone is relieved, they significantly alleviate the patient’s condition.
Muscle relaxants cannot be taken without a doctor’s prescription; they are selected for each patient individually, depending on the complexity of the case and the severity of intercostal neuralgia. The most popular pharmaceuticals in this group are Mydocalm, Sirdalud, Baclofen.
[node:field_similarlink]
B vitamins
Few people take vitamins seriously as a therapeutic component of a therapeutic regimen for a neurological disease, and this is completely in vain. B vitamins not only participate in cellular metabolism, they are also responsible for many processes in the body. It is the lack of B vitamins that usually leads to muscle weakness, cramps in different parts of the body and other unpleasant symptoms.
In addition to B vitamins, it will be useful to add foods rich in B vitamins to your diet - wholemeal porridge, nuts, pork and beef liver.
Causes of intercostal neuralgia
There are many causes that can cause intercostal neuralgia , but essentially the pain is caused by either a pinched spinal nerve root in the thoracic spine or pinched or irritated intercostal nerves in the intercostal space.
Pinched roots are most often caused by various manifestations of osteochondrosis, but other causes are also possible (spondylitis, ankylosing spondylitis, and others).
However, more often, attacks occur as a result of irritation of the nerve due to its pinching by the intercostal muscles due to inflammation or muscle spasm.
The cause of a spasm and, accordingly, an attack of neuralgia can be mental stress, traumatic effects, excessive physical activity without the necessary preparation. Spasm and inflammation of the intercostal muscles can be caused by hypothermia or infection. Sometimes intercostal neuralgia occurs due to lung diseases.
An attack of intercostal neuralgia can occur due to poisoning, with changes in the spine caused by hormonal disorders in menopausal women. The cause of neuralgia can be allergic diseases, diseases of the nervous system (multiple sclerosis, polyradiculoneuritis). It is possible to develop intercostal neuralgia with an aortic aneurysm, diseases of the internal organs, or after a herpetic infection.
Neuralgia can also be caused by microtrauma due to constant physical stress (for example, when lifting something heavy), especially in combination with hypothermia.
The development of the disease can be caused by alcohol abuse (due to the toxic effects of alcohol on the nervous system), as well as diabetes mellitus and a lack of B vitamins in the body (observed with stomach and duodenal ulcers, gastritis, hepatitis, colitis) - due to a violation metabolism in nervous tissue.
It should be noted that symptoms resembling intercostal neuralgia are possible due to excessive tone (spasm) of one or more back muscles. In this case, an increase in pain is typical when the affected muscle is stretched (bending forward, moving the shoulder or shoulder blade).
Sedatives
Unfortunately, few specialists prescribe sedatives to their patients, although patients really need the latter. Most patients with intercostal neuralgia complain of constant bad mood, depression and dark thoughts. All this is a sure sign that the patient requires comprehensive assistance. By the way, sedatives work not only towards the psychological state of the patient.
Thanks to sedatives, a person will begin to feel calmer about the events occurring in his life around him and not react so violently even to unpleasant situations. Additionally, sedatives will help minimize persistent spasms.
They also help relax skeletal muscles, relieve nervous tension and even high blood pressure, which is usually on the list of the patient's general clinical picture. In other words, this is exactly what will help the patient relax, literally and figuratively. Without sedative medications, therapy may not be effective.
By the way, the most popular remedies with a sedative effect (based on plants - chamomile, motherwort and valerian) are not as effective as pharmaceuticals, but their undoubted benefits cannot be ruled out either. Plant-based products promote good sleep, and this is an important factor in health. Among the most popular drugs in this group is Novopassit.
No ads 3
Products for external use
If the signs of intercostal neuralgia are severe and the symptoms do not go away for a long time, treatment should be supplemented with folk remedies for external use, which can be prepared at home. They have a lot of advantages:
- applied directly to the damaged area;
- are quickly absorbed and have the desired effect;
- are not destroyed by the liver, as when taken orally.
Ointments for the treatment of intercostal neuralgia at home
Pharmacy medications are an integral part of home therapy. The most common cause of pain is a pinched nerve; it exits on the sides of the spine and runs along the lower edge of the rib.
To relieve symptoms, analgesics in the form of ointments are needed; they also relieve local inflammation and eliminate swelling:
- Nise is a popular anti-inflammatory drug. The gel is applied to the skin in a thin layer and rubbed in in a circular motion. This treatment is carried out 3-4 times a day.
- Dolgit is an analgesic that can be used for intercostal neuralgia. The cream is applied to the sides of the spine 2-3 times a day.
- Bystrumgel - recommended for severe attacks of pain, rubbed into the skin with massage movements. Treatment is repeated every 3-4 hours until the pain disappears.
- Viprosal is a warming ointment prescribed for long-term treatment of intercostal neuralgia at home. The contents of the tube are squeezed onto the skin and rubbed in until completely dry.
Ointments will not help cure intercostal neuralgia; they are an “ambulance” for severe pain. It is recommended to rub them in at the exit point of the nerve - that is, on the sides of the spine; applying them to the chest is useless.
Plasters for the treatment of intercostal neuralgia at home
A good alternative to ointments in the treatment of intercostal neuralgia is the use of patches that contain analgesic components. They stick to the skin of problem areas, the active substances penetrate local tissues and have an analgesic effect.
The most popular pain relief patches:
- Diclofenac;
- Ketotol;
- Voltaren.
The patch is applied to clean skin (preferably without hair) to the right or left of the spine, depending on the severity of intercostal neuralgia. You can wear it for several days.
Iodine in the treatment of intercostal neuralgia at home
Photo from spisa.ru The healing properties of iodine as a folk remedy for intercostal neuralgia have been known for a long time. It improves blood circulation in the affected area, which relieves muscle spasms and eliminates compression of the spinal roots. This treatment should be performed regularly, the first results are observed 5-7 days after its start.
At home, iodine treatment is carried out in two ways:
- Iodine mesh - done at night, applied to the sides of the vertebrae, the size of the cells should be 2-3 cm². After the manipulations, it is recommended to lie down for 20-30 minutes or cover the treatment area with gauze and adhesive tape.
- A mixture of iodine and glycerin - the components are mixed in equal proportions and applied according to the standard scheme. You can combine treatments with a light massage.
Cupping for the treatment of intercostal neuralgia at home
One of the popular methods of treating intercostal neuralgia with folk remedies is cupping massage. To carry it out, special jars are used that are tightly suctioned to the skin under the influence of a vacuum. This provides:
- expansion of subcutaneous capillaries;
- blood flow;
- muscle relaxation;
- reduction of back discomfort.
When choosing cans, take into account the characteristics of the material from which they are made. The most suitable option is silicone or rubber; they easily adhere to the skin and do not need to be heated with a flame.
During the massage you should adhere to the following rules:
- To facilitate sliding, special oil is used;
- movements are directed from bottom to top along the sides of the vertebrae, then parallel to the ribs to the sides - circular or straight;
- to remove the jar, you need to tilt it to the side and pull it back - this does not injure the superficial vessels.
The total procedure time should be 10-15 minutes. Sessions are carried out 2-3 times a week, the course of home treatment is 1.5-2 months.
Compresses for the treatment of intercostal neuralgia at home
You can supplement therapy at home with compresses that will eliminate symptoms and muscle tension. In order not to provoke a cold or burn, first wrap the skin with a warm cloth, then begin treatment.
Traditional recipes for making compresses:
- Place ice cubes in a plastic bag and apply through the insulation to the problem area for 3-5 minutes. You should not overuse this treatment to avoid catching a cold.
- A good folk remedy is a warm heating pad, which is applied to the previously insulated area of the back before going to bed.
- Cold compress of herbs - at home they are treated with St. John's wort, chamomile, calendula, nettle and burdock. The ingredients can be taken separately or together, placed on gauze and applied directly to the body.
- Vegetable compress - cut raw potatoes, beets or coarsely chop cabbage into slices, put in the refrigerator for 5 minutes. Apply to skin for an hour before bedtime.
If you have neuralgia, it is strictly forbidden to heat the affected area! This will only increase inflammation and pain and can lead to serious complications!
Rubbing for the treatment of intercostal neuralgia at home
Treatment with folk remedies based on rubbing relieves the symptoms of intercostal neuralgia due to the penetration of active substances through the skin. Medicines are applied with massage movements and activate local blood circulation, eliminating nerve compression.
Folk remedies for preparing rubs at home:
- Pour a handful of lilac flowers with alcohol and leave for 3 days. Rub into skin 2-3 times a day.
- Mix half a glass of wormwood flowers with 500 ml of boiling water and leave in an airtight container for 3 hours. Strain and use as directed.
- Place a teaspoon of pepper and the same volume of fresh honey in a glass of vegetable oil. Mix thoroughly and rub into problem areas morning and evening.
Baths for the treatment of intercostal neuralgia at home
You can fight intercostal neuralgia at home with medicinal baths. It is recommended to carry out water procedures 3-4 times a week, alternating treatment with other folk remedies:
- Pine bath - an armful of branches is placed in a container with boiling water, simmer for 3-5 minutes. Cool to the desired temperature and add to the total mass of water.
- Herbal bath - you will need plantain, St. John's wort, calendula, chamomile or yarrow. It is advisable to add all the ingredients at once, but you can also add them separately. The cooking recipe is similar to the previous one.
- You can treat yourself at home with sea salt baths. Two handfuls of the mineral are thoroughly dissolved in water, and pine needles or herbs are added if desired.
It is better to heat the water to room temperature, the average ablution time is 15-20 minutes. After the bath, you can do a compress, cupping massage or rubbing.
Injections, tablets or ointments?
Many patients are concerned about the question: is it possible to replace injections with tablets? The tablet form is considered the most convenient for the patient, and it is the one most often chosen by the patients themselves. But sometimes tablets for intercostal neuralgia have an effect that is insufficient to improve the patient’s condition and relieve pain.
In this case, only injections are used. In addition, tablets often have an adverse effect on the digestive tract. Those patients whose digestive organs are not in the best condition are at risk of side effects.
How to cure intercostal neuralgia at home?
The active component from the ointment enters the bloodstream in a very small amount, and therefore this type of application is considered the best for some patients (young people, pregnant women, elderly people with a bunch of chronic diseases of the digestive tract).
Injections have only one not so pleasant side of the coin - this is the need for outside help. Moreover, injections must be given not only in the gluteal muscle, but also in some cases in the immediate vicinity of the damaged nerve.
Only a professional can give such an injection. A stranger can only do harm. As for ointments, they are actively used in the treatment of intercostal neuralgia and help to relieve pain in a targeted manner. Their use does not require special skills or additional assistance.
The inconvenience, perhaps, is that such products are extremely difficult to use in the workplace (unlike taking pills), and therefore they are usually used at home, in the evening before bed. By the way, some ointments can be called irreplaceable, because they cannot be replaced with tablets or injections. This can be said, for example, about ointments containing bee or snake venom (Apisatron, Viprosal).
Ointments with components such as bee or snake venom have an irritating effect, and therefore blood circulation at the site of their application significantly increases and inflammation processes are reduced
When using ointments, creams and gels with an anti-inflammatory component, it is necessary to take into account the total amount of this substance entering the body with other medications (tablets). Usually, doctors in such cases reduce the dosage of the tablet drug due to the fact that the patient periodically rubs a cream containing this substance into the diseased area.
Treatment with folk remedies for trigeminal facial neuralgia
Symptoms of this disease include penetrating, burning pain in the jaw, eye and nose areas. We are talking about inflammation of the trigeminal nerve. It usually starts from hypothermia. Perhaps the cause of neuralgia was some infectious disease or disease of the ear, throat, teeth, or upper cervical vertebrae. Most often, the inflammation affects one side of the face, but can spread to both halves.
To reduce pain in trigeminal neuralgia, yarrow and lemon balm are used in the form of decoctions. To prepare, you need to take 10–20 g of crushed plant, brew 250 ml of boiling water, then leave for about an hour, strain. Drink 20 g of lemon balm decoction before meals, and 100 g of yarrow decoction (4 times a day).
Melissa is also used for warming. 40–50 g of leaves are wrapped in gauze, doused with strongly boiling (bubbling) water, then applied hot to the site of inflammation. Flaxseed is used in the same way. One compress requires a small handful.
In addition, indoor geranium leaves help well as an anti-inflammatory agent. They are applied to the area where pain is concentrated, covered on top with paper with a layer of paraffin applied to it, then insulated with a shawl. The compress is changed after the leaves dry.
Elimination of intense pain
When pain symptoms are very active and acute, it is necessary to respond quickly. In this case, you can use the following medications:
- Nise. This drug effectively relieves pain of various origins, but it is used only in cases where traditional, weaker drugs do not work.
- Diclofenac injections. The introduction of an NSAID solution will help quickly, literally within the first minutes, stop the inflammatory process and relieve swelling.
- Blockade. This is the name for injections with an anesthetic effect - Lidocaine, Novocaine, Ultracaine, Xiocaine. The solution is injected in close proximity to the source of pain. But it is important to remember that these drugs are toxic and, if used frequently, can have a very negative effect on the functioning of the liver.
You should not self-medicate. It is necessary to seek help from specialists who will prescribe a comprehensive examination and, after determining the cause, select the necessary medications for therapy.
Treatment of sciatic neuralgia at home
Inflammation of the sciatic nerve, or sciatica. With this type of inflammation, pain occurs in the lower back, back of the thigh or lower leg. Discomfort increases during movement, especially under load. When a person is in a calm state, the pain syndrome decreases or disappears altogether. The cause of the disease, which affects the largest nerve in the human body, is arthritis or pinched nerve roots. An attack of neuralgia can begin unexpectedly, for example, due to an unsuccessful turn of the body, as well as from hypothermia.
A decoction prepared from viburnum flowers, calendula inflorescences, thyme, and horsetail will help relieve the acute phase of inflammation. These plants are taken in equal quantities. After mixing all the ingredients, pour 500 ml of hot water, boil over low heat for 5 minutes, cool and filter. Take 100 g of decoction orally 3 times a day.
Externally, to relieve suffering, the same means are used as in the treatment of intercostal neuralgia with herbs. A decoction of hot chili peppers is especially effective. An extract prepared from birch buds is also used for rubbing. The kidneys are infused for 7 days, first filled with a glass of vodka. The finished product does not even need to be filtered. Rub it into the sore spot before going to bed.
