What does intercostal muscle pain feel like?
Symptoms of intercostal muscle strain include: Pain: You may feel a sharp pain at the time of injury, or it may come on more gradually. The pain will get worse when you twist, stretch, breathe in deeply, cough, or sneeze. Tenderness: The area of the strain between your ribs will be sore to the touch.
Why do my intercostal muscles hurt?
Many activities can cause a pull to the intercostal muscles such as straining while twisting, repetitive motions or falling but one of the most common reasons for straining the muscles around the ribs, especially in seniors, is coughing or sneezing. The location of the pain can vary anywhere along the rib cage.
Where is intercostal muscle pain?
An intercostal muscle strain refers to a muscle injury between two or more ribs. The intercostal muscles, commonly referred to simply as the intercostals, connect the ribs and help make up the chest wall. When these muscles overstretch or tear, they can cause significant pain in the mid- and upper back.
What to do for a pulled back muscle?
Most cases of a pulled back muscle are treated using standard self-care or non-invasive treatments. Some typical first-step treatments for a pulled low back muscle include: Anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen reduce inflammation, which often contributes to pain.
What is the best treatment for muscle strain?
Treatments for Muscle strain. Rest, ice, compression, elevation, pain medication if needed, once pain has subsided gradually introduce light stretching movement to provide circulation to the affected muscle tissue.
How do you pull muscle in upper back?
How to treat a pulled upper back muscle. Ice and heat therapy: This may be done by simply applying ice to the affected joint to help reduce pain and swelling. Using an ice pack is ideal, but ice cubes in a towel or a bag of frozen vegetables will also do the trick.
What causes upper back and chest pain?
Spinal compression or a herniated disc may be the cause of chest and upper back pain. Lifting heavy items the wrong way can cause upper back pain. Weak muscles can cause chest and upper back pain.
