ABSTRACT
Intercostal neuralgia is a set of symptoms, of which pain in the upper chest is the primary symptom, caused by nerve irritation. The pain can be constant or intermittent. Movements, coughing, sneezing, laughing, and even breathing may worsen the pain. The ribs are a set of twelve paired bones. Their function is to protect the internal thoracic organs, but they also play an important role in ventilation, as they expand to allow lung inflation. Each intercostal nerve enters the intercostal space, travels forward with the intercostal vessels in the costal groove of each rib. A history of shingles or chicken pox may be another cause of the pain. Pain is the main symptom of intercostal neuralgia. The duration of pain can be constant or intermittent. The quality of pain can be sharp, burning, stabbing, aching, numbness, tingling, and dullness.
