Can you really strain intercostal muscles without realising it? Agony!

[JulietSierra]

I started a thread the other day about pleurisy…I was convinced I had it because of the agonising pain in my ribs, under my breast, that came on the other day whilst sitting at my desk.
I got checked out yesterday and was told it’s muscular as when I’m still, there’s not really any pain. Breathing deeply, sneezing or lying down however is agony!
I slept last night in a chair. I’d gone bed, all propped up on a beanbag and woke up thinking I was dying with the most incredible burning pain in my ribs. Don’t know if the strained muscles had spasmed or something?
But I’m really struggling to accept that this is muscular. I’ve done absolutely nothing that could strain these muscles!
So, has anyone ever strained intercostal muscles without any obvious reason why? And can muscular pain really be this bad?

Is it electrical-type pain? I had intercostal neuralgia and it was shockingly painful.

Thanks for replying. No, if I’m totally still and only shallow breathing, there’s only a very dull pain. Lying down the pain is sharp and stabby and last night when I’d managed to get a couple of hours sleep, it was really intense and burning.
I’ll look up intercostal neuralgia though. Never heard of it. How long did it last and was there any treatment?

Yep! Have had pleurisy several times. You need really good painkillers on board.💐

It lasted until I had a couple of sessions from an osteopath who did something magical and released it. Nothing since then, thank goodness.

You poor thing, OP - it sounds really unpleasant. I hope you get a better night's sleep tonight.

Apparently it’s not pleurisy though, it’s muscular. I’m really down and anxious about it. I’d feel better if I’d done something to cause muscle strain. But I haven’t!

Just bumping…Has anyone else ever strained muscles and been in agony without even realising they’d done anything?

I play a large wind instrument. When I take time off and come back to it after a while, the muscles in my lower rib cage get stiff. It's the deep breathing and diaphragm work that causes it.

Have you had a bad cough because I've found that it works the same set of muscles? They will get sore from overuse

I’ve had a bit of a cold so have had a few coughing fits but nothing extreme. But this pain is off the charts!

I have this right now! I was lying in bed a did a big yawn and a stretch and now can barely breathe and yawning forget it! Can't lie on my right side either 🙄

I have had this a few times over the years so I know what it is but it still really hurts

This sounds like what my pneumonia and pleurisy was like. Morphine didn't even touch it. I also got told at the hospital by a consultant it was a strained muscle before I had a chest x ray and CT scan and was told what it really was ... they then blue lighted me to another hospital. Have you been poorly ???

I've strained them twice after having particularly bad coughs, the pain really is something else

Yes, I fell on my ribs when getting out of the bath and seemed fine for a week before agonising pain moving, breathing deeply, sneezing, coughing etc.
A physio diagnosed it as intercostal muscle strain and it took about three weeks to go away. It was really excruciating pain so I know what you mean OP. Hard to believe it was just muscular at the time.

Sounds like when I had costochondritis. Pulled all the muscles by sneezing. Yes, really. It was horrific. The only thing I could do was lie very very still for a week until they healed.

I had this when I was pregnant!! Bloody agony doing anything other than v shallow breathing. If it’s of any comfort, mine only lasted about 3 days so hopefully you’ll be feeling better soon 🤞

Yes but I did it when doing some work on the house so it was an obvious cause. I did get my heart checked because it was severe painful

Same here, but coughing did it. Costochondritis really hurts.

Not a strain, but I once managed to dig my thumbnail into the intercostal muscle; and I was in agony for a couple of weeks. It doesn't take much.

Oh yes, definitely. And it bloody hurts ime.

Yes, a friend of mine somehow managed to strain their intercostal muscles and didn't know how,

Yes, I did something similar. Coughing while walking up the stairs. Felt a pop in between my ribs. The pain was indescribable. Took about 3 weeks to settle. No lifting, being very careful when getting dressed, gentle movements. Strong painkillers.

Costochondritis? I thought I was having heart attack

Oh thank you all so much for your replies. I’m really down in the dumps today and so anxious that it’s something dreadful like a blood clot!

The pain is immense. I have a generally high pain threshold but at times it’s really taking my breath away. And I’m so tired but can’t lie down so I’m sleeping in a chair which is horrible.

Just can’t believe this has come from nowhere!

Yep, I actually went to A and E which was where it was diagnosed once I'd spent a weekend on a heart ward. Relief didn't cover it, and all the best drugs.

The lying down thing does make it sound like costochondritis. And of course the lack of good sleep doesn't help.

Yes I thought of Costochondritis but that sounds like upper central chest. My pain is mainly in the ribs to the side of my breast and underneath.