May 26, 2012
Topics A-Z Pain Possible back muscle sprain Vs Intercostal neuritis
Possible back muscle sprain Vs Intercostal neuritis |
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Dear Ask The Doctor: I have been experiencing pain on my right side towards the back, just above where the rib cage starts. The pain is sharp when I breathe and lean over but not as severe when standing up. Dear Connie: Possibly you did a extreme movement that produced a muscle sprain in your back. A muscle strain is associated with the tearing or excessive stretching of the muscle and can be painful. All symptoms of muscle injury and muscle pain can range from mild to severe. Any muscle strain or muscle pull or even a muscle tear implies damage to a muscle or its attaching tendons. The time of healing varies from patient to patient and also depends on the severity of the injury. The conservative treatment consists of: initially, rest, ice can help the affected muscle and also maintaining the strained muscle in a stretched position. Heat can be applied when the swelling has lessened, anti-inflammatory medication (i.e.: “Aleve”), rest the strained muscle and avoid the activities that caused the strain and other activities that are painful. It is very important that you allow time to heal. The other condition that may produce the pain that you described is a Intercostal neuritis, which is not a serious condition but very annoying indeed and slow healing. By a spasm or a direct trauma the intercostals muscles and nerves got injured, and that’s why you are feeling that stabbing pain every time you take a deep breath,lean over, sneeze or cough.The suggested strategy would be: please, try to be patient and do not expect an overnight improvement, take anti inflammatory medication and also Vitamin B12 supplement. Local moist heat helps to ease the pain. An again,try to avoid activities that worsen the pain. |
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 January 2012 ) |
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