11/17/2025
🫁 "Why does it feel like my ribs are on fire?" 🔥😖
If you've ever felt a sharp, burning, or stabbing pain wrapping around your chest or upper abdomen — especially after surgery, trauma, or even a shingles outbreak — you might be dealing with intercostal neuralgia.
🎯 What is it?
Intercostal neuralgia is a type of nerve pain that affects the intercostal nerves, which run between your ribs. These nerves can become irritated, inflamed, or damaged — leading to pain that can make it hurt to breathe, move, or even laugh.
👂 Common symptoms:
Sharp, shooting, or burning pain in the ribcage
Pain that wraps around from back to chest
Tingling or numbness in the area
Pain worsens with movement or deep breaths
💥 Triggers include:
✅ Chest surgery (like thoracotomy or mastectomy)
✅ Shingles (herpes zoster)
✅ Rib fractures or trauma
✅ Nerve compression or inflammation
🧠 It’s often misdiagnosed as a heart or lung issue — which is why it’s important to get the right evaluation.
🛠️ Treatment options?
Depending on the severity, they range from:
🩺 Medications (nerve pain meds, anti-inflammatories)
💉 Nerve blocks
🧠 Neuromodulation or other interventional pain procedures
👨⚕️ The good news? You don’t have to “just live with it.” With proper diagnosis and pain management strategies, patients often see significant relief.
👉 If this sounds familiar, don’t ignore it. Chronic nerve pain is real, but treatable.
