The human chest is formed by ribs. Despite the apparent fragility of the bone structures of which it consists, the chest is a framework and a kind of protection for the heart and vital arteries. But its strength is far from unlimited. You can name a number of diseases and reasons why there is pain in the rib. Consider the most common of them.
Pathologies of the ribs
Ribs are the most commonly injured bones. This is due to the fact that they are quite thin and have a curved shape, which is easily amenable to various damages. The bone structure of the chest protects the heart and blood vessels, as well as the lungs from injury. In this case, as a rule, the ribs take on the entire load upon impact.
The most undesirable is the axillary impact on the left line, since it is there that fractures are most often localized. Injuries can be a transverse fracture or a broken bone with intact periosteum that nourishes the bone.
Tietze Syndrome
One morea disease that can cause pain in the right or left rib is Tietze's syndrome. This is a pathology localized in the cartilage of the chest, namely where the bone is attached to the sternum. This disease is called chondropathy. It can occur as a result of an inflammatory process or a reaction to minor injuries. This disease is typical for women aged 20 to 40 years.
Neoplasms
In some cases, the cause of pain in the ribs are neoplasms in bone structures. Tumors can be either benign, such as lipoma, chondroma, hemangioma, or malignant, such as chondrosarcoma or osteosarcoma. Formations can appear on both sides of the ribs, they tend to gradually increase in size, becoming more noticeable. In some cases, the neoplasm is a metastasis of oncological pathology in the organs or the result of tumor growth from the pleura or lung.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis can also lead to pain under the ribs in front. The bone is a solid structure due to the inclusion of a large amount of calcium s alts in its composition. Osteoporosis develops when calcium stops getting into the bone from the blood. As a result, the bone structure becomes soft. The causes of osteoporosis are:
- Hormonal problems such as hyperparathyroidism.
- Hormonal changes in postmenopausal women.
- Meager exercise.
Disorders of the spine
Osteochondrosis is one of the diseases that can cause pain in the ribs. In addition to the sternum, the ribs are attached to the spine from the other side. That is why pathologies of vertebral structures, such as osteochondrosis, lead to pain in the ribs. Osteochondrosis occurs as a result of excessive load on the base of the spine and weakness of the spinal muscles.
Most often, osteochondrosis affects people who are overweight, due to the increased load on their spine. The most common localization of osteochondrosis is the lumbar region. However, pain in the ribs is typical for osteochondrosis in the thoracic region.
Drugs for treatment
The following drugs are used to treat osteochondrosis:
- Anti-inflammatory drugs such as Diclofenac, Ketorol, Meloxicam, etc.
- Drugs that are responsible for relaxing the muscles on the back, for example, Mydocalm.
- Medicines for the cartilage that connects the vertebrae, such as chondroitin sulfate.
Hernia of the spine is a complication of osteochondrosis. The disc between the vertebrae is soft and elastic, which allows it to withstand intense loads, since it is on it that almost the entire weight of a person falls. Excess weight, excessive loads, and weak muscles can increase the pressure on the disc. Because of this, its shell is destroyed, and the cartilage protrudes beyond the vertebra. Such an outgrowth can compress the spinal cord, nerves and lead to pain. In medicalscientifically, a hernia is also called radicular syndrome or radiculopathy.
Diseases of the pleura
The chest also protects the lungs, which are surrounded by another membrane called the pleura. Between the layers of the pleura there is a cavity in which a small amount of fluid protects the membranes from friction during breathing. Pleurisy is an inflammatory process that is localized directly in the pleura. Inflammation can be exudative, that is, with the accumulation of fluid, as well as dry. Pain in the ribs is characteristic of the second variant, when there is no fluid in the pleura, and the inflammation is very pronounced. Pleurisy can occur as a result of tuberculosis, pneumonia, trauma and viral infections.
In the inflammatory process, friction is formed between the two membranes of the pleura, which leads to pain. The treatment is carried out by taking antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Malignant neoplasms can also cause pain in the ribs. Moreover, the tumor can be both in the pleura and in the lungs. Education in the pleura is called mesothelioma and is rare. A lung tumor is much more commonly diagnosed. It can be either benign or malignant. Regular smoking is considered the most common cause of lung cancer. When the tumor becomes malignant, there are signs of intoxication, such as weight loss, weakness, loss of appetite, etc.
What could left rib pain mean?
Such pain cantalk about pathologies of the spleen or stomach.
If she has a dull, aching character, it occurs periodically, then we can assume the initial stage of the disease.
Diaphragmatic hernia pain is sharp, it can be aggravated by movement of the body and breathing.
The left rib can also give pain, which arose due to inflammation of the gallbladder when it was displaced.
The most dangerous disease that radiates to the left hypochondrium is myocardial infarction. For the treatment of all these ailments, urgent hospitalization is needed.
Pathologies of nerves and intercostal muscles
Ribs are surrounded by nerve endings, damage to which often leads to pain. Intercostal neuralgia is a symptom, but not the root cause of the disease. Quite often, neuralgia can be the result of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region in an exacerbated period, disc herniation, pleurisy, radiculopathy and infectious diseases.
In addition, neuralgia can appear against the background of herpes zoster as a result of chicken pox. This disease is most common in children. After a person recovers, the virus remains in the body in an inactive state and leads to herpes zoster due to reduced immunity. Treatment consists of taking antiviral drugs and topical medicines.
Fibromyalgia is another nerve disorder. This is a rare pathology, which is accompanied by aching pain in the muscles. Science has not yet established the exact causesdiseases. However, many tend to believe that in this case a mental factor is not excluded. Most patients with fibromyalgia are drug resistant and prone to depression. Most often, women suffer from fibromyalgia. Treatment should be a holistic approach that includes sedatives, pain medications, psychotropic substances, physical therapy, and overall lifestyle management.
Pregnancy pain
Quite often during pregnancy, a woman develops pain in the side and in the ribs, namely in the lower part of the sternum. This phenomenon has a physiological origin. The fetus develops and grows, which leads to an increase in the abdominal cavity. There is pressure on the diaphragm as it rises slightly. The volume of the chest is a constant value, respectively, with a decrease in its height, the width should increase. Such changes are possible due to the fact that the ribs are malleable and flexible.
External expansion of the ribs can be almost imperceptible, but often causes discomfort and pain. Do not take pain medication on your own during pregnancy as it can be dangerous.
What does pain in the right side of the ribs mean?
Often such pains indicate problems with the liver. This happens due to the abuse of fatty or spicy foods, alcoholic beverages. Smoking is no less damaging to the liver. The gallbladder can also become inflamed. If it hurts on the right under the rib, you canthink about the fact that there are problems with the pancreas. There may be other reasons - injuries, a consequence of surgery, appendicitis.
When inhaling, there may be pain in the right rib. If the pain is very strong when you breathe in, then this may indicate cholecystitis, the onset of pneumonia or peritonitis.
Treatment
Emergency treatment requires only injuries to the ribs. This is due to the fact that the broken parts can move and cause damage to the pleura, lungs and heart. Such damage can lead to the following conditions:
- Hemothorax. This is an accumulation of blood between the membranes of the pleura. With hemothorax, there is heaviness in the area of injury, breathing is difficult. In a hospital setting, the blood is removed.
- Pneumothorax. This is an accumulation of air in the pleura. This condition is dangerous, as inhalation becomes painful. The air is removed by means of a chest puncture.
- Hemopericardium. It develops when the left side of the chest is injured. The fractured part of the rib pierces the lining of the heart, causing blood to pool around it. Blood puts pressure on the heart, reducing the heart rate. There is severe weakness, breathing is difficult.
It is very important to quickly take the victim to the hospital if one of the following conditions is suspected.
