What causes pain in the ribs under the left breast?

Rib pain under the left breast is a very common phenomenon in life. Many people have experienced this phenomenon. This phenomenon may be a symptom of intercostal nerve pain. If you want to confirm which disease causes the pain, it is best to go to the hospital for a comprehensive examination, and then actively treat it according to the doctor's advice with the cooperation of the doctor. Do not use drugs blindly, which will result in worsening of the condition and may delay the best treatment time.

What is the cause of intercostal neuralgia?

Intercostal neuralgia is caused by multiple causes. Common diseases that cause this disease include thoracic vertebra degeneration, thoracic vertebra tuberculosis, thoracic vertebra injury, thoracic vertebra dura mater, tumors, ankylosing spondylitis, etc., or when the ribs, mediastinum, and pleura are diseased, the intercostal nerves are compressed and stimulated by the above diseases, resulting in an inflammatory reaction, and band-like pain appears in the chest, ribs or abdomen.

The symptoms of intercostal neuralgia are divided into primary and secondary types. Secondary intercostal neuralgia is commonly seen in clinical practice, while primary intercostal neuralgia is less common.

Secondary intercostal neuralgia is caused by lesions of adjacent organs and tissues, such as lesions of the thoracic organs (pleurisy, chronic lung inflammation, aortic aneurysm, etc.), injuries to the spine and ribs, senile osteoarthritis of the spine, deformities of the thoracic spine, thoracic spinal cord tumors, especially extramedullary tumors, which often compress the nerve roots and cause symptoms of intercostal neuralgia. There is also a type of intercostal neuritis caused by the herpes zoster virus, which can also cause intercostal neuralgia.

What to do if you have intercostal neuralgia

1. You can use medication, physical therapy, acupuncture, massage, etc. Massage is clinically effective in treating intercostal neuralgia caused by thoracic vertebrae injury or degeneration. This type of patient often has abnormal position of the thoracic spine joints. After correction through thoracic spine reduction technique, the pain can be significantly relieved. Diseases in the thoracic spine should be treated promptly to avoid secondary intercostal neuralgia. Seated workers should pay attention to their posture and avoid fatigue.

2. Ask the patient to lie on his back, and first select the auxiliary acupoints for acupuncture. Use the twisting needle method to pierce Neiguan. After there is a response, use the lifting and inserting method to increase the stimulation so that the needle sensation radiates to the upper arm. At the same time, the patient takes a deep breath and deeply pierces Yanglingquan, straight to Yinlingquan. After the sensation is felt, use the twisting method to increase the amount of stimulation so that the needle sensation can be transmitted upwards and downwards. The needles were retained for 30 to 50 minutes, with acupuncture being performed every 5 minutes. Then, at the Ashi point, where the pain is most obvious, after routine disinfection, take a skin needle and tap the skin from light to heavy until the skin turns red. Use the flash fire method or fire throwing method to absorb it, or use a vacuum cupping device to suck it out. Leave the cupping for 10 to 15 minutes, and remove it when the skin bruises turn purple-red. Treatment is given every other day, 6 times constitute a course of treatment, and the interval between courses is 3 to 5 days.