Система Orphus

Symptoms of disease - pain in ribs

Rib (Latin costae) - one of the pair of bow-shaped flat bones, coming from the spine to the sternum and of the rib cage in vertebrate animals. Humans have 12 pairs of ribs, adjacent condyle to the vertebrae. 10 of them are connected gristle to the chest bone. The first 7 ribs are called «real», and the remaining 5 is «false», and the eleventh and twelfth steam of «free», that is connected only to the spine and are not connected to the sternum. Some people may not be the 11th or 12th pair, the other, on the contrary, there is a 13-I have a couple of «free» ribs. The lower ribs sometimes removed by surgery for therapeutic or cosmetic reasons (for example, to make the waist already - women have a «free» ribs are usually smaller than men).



Which diseases there is pain in ribs

The most common causes of pain in his ribs:
Fractures and injuries to the ribs.
Rib fractures - violation of the integrity of bone or cartilage of one or several ribs. The fracture of a rib or fractures of the small number of ribs, not accompanied by complications and injury, usually heal on their own and do not require major interventions or immobilization.

Broken ribs heal themselves for a few weeks without any treatment. However, despite this, if you think that you have broken ribs, then consult your doctor so that he confirmed the diagnosis and made sure that the lungs if this is not damaged.

- Tietze's syndrome. Under certain conditions the cartilage of the rib, especially cartilage, attaching to the sternum, can inflame. The pain of this disease may occur suddenly and be quite intense, simulating an attack of angina pectoris. However, the localization of the pain may be different. When Tietze's syndrome pain may worsen when you press on the chest or ribs near the sternum. The pain of angina and myocardial infarction does not depend on this.

- Intercostal neuralgia. Neuralgia or muscle pain gets worse when deep inhale or exhale, changes from the changes position or movement in the chest; as a rule, it can be inferred.

The reason for compression / irritation intercostal nerve - strain of intercostal spaces. To deformation of intercostal spaces and pains intercostal nerves can lead migrated, even long ago, blows to the chest area, excess voltage of external and internal muscles and ligaments of the chest, curvature of the spine, hernia of intervertebral disks in the thoracic region.

- Muscle pain in the chest.
The pain in his ribs can be caused by not only the compression / irritation intercostal nerves, but also excess tone of one or more muscles. This is usually the muscles - extensors back or muscles of the shoulder and shoulder blade. Muscle pain is typical aggravating the pain during tension of the affected muscle (lean forward, movement of the shoulder or shoulder blade).

Sometimes muscle pain in ribs is one of the symptoms of anxiety or depression. The voltage of the extensor muscles of the - one of the characteristic symptoms of these conditions. And in this case, manipulative therapy, gymnastics and blockade give only temporary relief.

- Osteosarcoma ribs.

- Malignant tumours of the pleura (mesothelioma), bronchiogenic cancer, which affects the pleura, manifest pain in his ribs, related to the act of breathing.

- Fibromyalgia. The pain in his ribs, caused by diseases of the muscles, as a rule, is beginning to worry when turning torso or by raising hands.

- Osteochondrosis of thoracic region of the spine.

- Pleurisy. It is an inflammation of the lung bag or the other of the pleura, where crazy our lungs. Dull pain with the expressed restriction of mobility of the chest.



Which doctor should I contact if there is a pain in ribs

  • Neurologist
  • Cardiologist
  • Traumatologist
  • Neuropathologist
  • Pulmonologist


Are you experiencing pain in ribs? You want to know more detailed information, or you need an inspection? Please sign up on reception to the doctor! Doctors will examine you, examine the external signs and help to determine the disease the symptoms, they will consult you and provide the necessary assistance. You can also call the doctor on the house.

Do you feel ribs hurts? You should be very careful approach to your health in general. People pay not enough attention to the symptoms of the disease and don't realize that these diseases can be critically dangerous. There are many diseases that in the beginning didn't manifest in our body, but in the end it turns out, unfortunately, it have already been treated too late. Every disease has its own specific features typical symptoms - called symptoms of the disease. Definition of symptoms is the first step in the diagnosis of diseases in general. You just need a few times a year to be screened by a doctor, not only to prevent a terrible disease, but also to maintain a healthy spirit in a body and the organism in general.

Pains by category

Pains by alphabet


Map of the symptoms and the types of pain is intended solely for educational purposes. We strongly recommend do NOT self-medicate; on all matters relating to the definition of the disease and ways of its treatment, contact your doctor. Md-tips is not responsible for the consequences of use information posted on the site.

If you are interested in more symptoms of the diseases and the types of pain, or you have any other questions and suggestions - contact us, we will try to help you.