Intercostal neuralgia - "tricky" the disease, the symptoms of which are very similar to the symptoms of some diseases of the cardiovascular system. Pain in the chest characteristic of intercostal neuralgia, easily confused with symptoms of heart disease. However, the nature of such pain are fundamentally different: the main symptom of neuralgia - the so-called neuropathic pain, ie pain caused by any injury or disease of the nervous system Diseases of the nervous system - the basic classification   and components thereof. It is this symptom when diagnosing becomes the basis for the differentiation of intercostal neuralgia and heart disease, as "behavior", the nature of neuropathic pain, the main symptoms of neuralgia, radically different from the pain caused by abnormalities of the cardiovascular system.

Pain: the main signal neuralgia

The main symptom of intercostal neuralgia caused by irritation or compression of the intercostal nerves - it's a pain in the rib area. Although this type of pain in terms of nature called neuropathic origin, the nature of the pain caused by intercostal neuralgia Neuralgia - the scourge of the elderly May be different: aching, sharp, dull, burning. Pain can be both permanent and episodic.

As a rule, the pain caused by irritation of the intercostal nerves, increase with any activity - for example, due to a sharp body movements, coughing, sneezing, even simple changes in body position. In addition, there is pain on palpation (palpation) certain parts of the body - for example, areas between the ribs, spine or chest. Sharp pain "speaks" feeling out of that portion of the chest, which is located in the area of ​​the damaged segment of a nerve.

Very often, when there is intercostal neuralgia pain, aggravated by breathing in and out - during an attack of pain breathing becomes so painful that breath like "intercepts" the slightest expansion of the chest during inspiration withdrawn severe pain.

The area of ​​the pain: an important symptom of neuralgia

Although primarily intercostal neuralgia Intercostal neuralgia - learn to distinguish between pain   It causes pain, localized in the ribs (intercostal spaces), pain may occur in other areas - for example, under the shoulder blade, in the lumbar region, in the back. This "reflection" of the pain, as a rule, does not indicate the true source of the nerve damage. Chest pain caused by intercostal neuralgia, shingles is often character - that is observed only in the left or only the right half of the chest along the intercostal spaces.

Other symptoms of intercostal neuralgia

In addition to pain, irritation or compression of the intercostal nerves can cause a number of other unpleasant symptoms. Pain in the intercostal neuralgia may be accompanied by a distinct reduction, "twitching" of individual muscles, heavy sweating, change in skin color - redness of the skin or, conversely, an unhealthy pallor of the skin. In the area of ​​direct damage to the peripheral sections of the nerve, causing symptoms of intercostal neuralgia, skin can lose sensitivity (numb).

How to distinguish the symptoms of neuralgia symptoms of heart disease?

Because of pain in the chest are typical for intercostal neuralgia, and for some diseases of the cardiovascular system, the identification of the nature of pain allows us to differentiate these diseases, and an accurate diagnosis. Although the pain - the main feature, and neuralgia, and heart disease Heart disease and heart attacks: that every woman should know , The nature of pain in these two cases are fundamentally different.

The main symptom of intercostal neuralgia - pain is of a permanent nature, observed over a long period of time, it does not remove any drugs and aggravated by any movement of the body. But for heart disease is characterized by pain of short, periodic nature, which is suppressed by certain drugs (such as nitroglycerin). Induced cardiovascular disease pain is amplified by any movement of the body.

Numbness of the hands - a common concept, which means a partial or full loss of the sensitivity of the hands or fingers. As a rule, the main cause of numbness in the hands - irritation, pinching or compression of nerve fibers in your hands, wrists or fingers. In some cases, numbness of the hands may be accompanied by tingling or burning sensation, weakness, severe pain attacks.

Numbness of the hands can cause a variety of diseases and disorders, in some cases - potentially dangerous not only for health, but for the life of a person (eg, stroke). "Culprits" numbness of the hands may be an infection, inflammation, injury, carpal tunnel syndrome, the displacement of the disc in the cervical spine.

Numbness of the hands is often accompanied by paresthesia - spontaneously an unpleasant burning sensation or tingling (paraesthesia sometimes precedes numbness). Depending on the cause of the loss of sensitivity can be long-term or short-term (eg, uncomfortable posture during sleep, and pressure on the hand may lead to a brief hand numbness). Numbness of the hands may appear suddenly or gradually progressing well. Chronic numbness of the hands indicates the irreversible nerve damage.

Symptoms

Numbness in the hands caused by a disease or disorder, in most cases, accompanied by a number of other symptoms. For example, hand numbness, tingling or itching may be a symptom of Multiple (scattered) MS. Numbness in the hands caused by the displacement of the disc in the cervical spine, accompanied by severe pain extending to the shoulder, arm, hand, fingers. Symptoms accompanying numbness in the hands and help the doctor determine the cause of the loss of sensitivity and diagnose disease caused numbness in hands.

Along with numbness of the hands may experience the following symptoms:

• Burning sensation
• Cold hands or fingers
• Pain in the arms, hands, fingers
• Increasing the motion of fingers tingling or numbness
• Itching
• Muscle spasms
• Pain in the cervical spine
• Prickle
• Rash
• Increased sensitivity to touch

In some cases, numbness of the hands along with other symptoms could be a sign of severe, potentially life-threatening human diseases. Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition, and when they appear, should immediately seek medical help:

• Confusion, loss of consciousness for a short time
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Abasia
• Numbness in hands, observed after a head injury, neck or back
• Visual impairment or loss of the ability to see
• Paralysis
• Speech disorders
• Significant weakness

Causes numbness of hands

Numbness in hands can be a symptom of a huge number of diseases, disorders or conditions which disrupt or circulation, or cause damage to nerves. Temporary numbness of the hands may be caused by any activity, accompanied by prolonged pressure on a nerve or nerves - this can be the fine motor activities (such as drawing), repetitive motion, awkward posture of sleep Dreams: how to understand our dreams . Numbness of the hands may be the consequence of orthopedic disorders that cause compression of individual nerves - for example, carpal tunnel syndrome, osteophyte (bone formation of build-up), the displacement of intervertebral discs.

Causes numbness of the hands associated with blood circulation

Numbness in the hands due to violation of blood flow can be caused by the following conditions:

• Frostbite
• Peripheral vascular disease (narrowing of the arteries due to accumulation of cholesterol on the artery walls disrupts the normal blood circulation)
• Raynaud's phenomenon (a rare disease that causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the fingers and toes under the influence of vibration, under the influence of cold or stress)

Causes numbness of the hands associated with orthopedic disorders

Numbness in the hands due to minor or severe orthopedic problems, leading to damage to the peripheral nerves or the spinal nerves may be caused by the following conditions:

• Bone fracture
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Cervical spondylosis (deformation of the vertebrae in the cervical spine)
• Hernia
• Exclusion or compression of a nerve
• Neck injury

Causes numbness of hands neurological

Numbness in hands as a result of compression damage, nerve entrapment can be caused by the following conditions:

• Alcoholism
• Diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage due to high blood sugar levels Blood sugar - a very important indicator   in diabetes)
• Poisoning by heavy metals (e.g. lead)
• Hypothyroidism (decreased activity of the thyroid gland)
• Multiple (disseminated) sclerosis
• Peripheral neuropathy (a disease of the peripheral nerves)
• Damage or spinal cord tumors
• Stroke
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (a disease in which the immune system The immune system - how it works?   attacks healthy cells and tissues)
• Transverse myelitis (a neurological disease that causes inflammation of the spinal cord)
• Vitamin B12 deficiency

Potential complications

As the numbness of the hands may be caused by a serious illness, the lack of proper surgical treatment can lead to serious complications and permanent damage to the nerves. That is why the appearance of permanent numbness of the hands or other unusual symptoms should immediately seek medical care. Among the potential complications of numbness of hands:

• Amputation
• Chronic Pain
• Loss of hand function
• Paralysis
• Irreversible loss of sensitivity