How to relieve pain under the ribs that feels like a side stitch
Nov 24, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lin Yunfei
Introduction
Pain under the ribs similar to a side stitch is generally caused by conditions such as costochondritis or intercostal neuritis. These conditions are typically due to aseptic inflammation and are often related to abnormal mechanical stress. Symptoms can usually be managed through rest, physical therapy, symptomatic treatment, and medication. Pain resembling a rib-side stitch may occur due to excessive physical activity.
Pain under the ribs similar to a side stitch is generally caused by conditions such as costochondritis or intercostal inflammation. These conditions are typically due to aseptic inflammation and are often related to abnormal mechanical stress. Symptoms can usually be relieved through rest, physical therapy, symptomatic treatment, and medication.
1. Rest: Pain resembling a side stitch may result from excessive exercise causing spasms and contraction of the intercostal muscles or back and chest muscles. In such cases, patients are advised to immobilize the area—immediately rest and reduce physical activity.
2. Physical therapy: Patients can apply local heat therapy, physiotherapy, or massage to relieve muscle spasms and tension, thereby alleviating pain associated with rib-side discomfort.
3. Symptomatic treatment: If the pain is not caused by muscle spasm from exercise, patients should seek medical evaluation to determine whether the cause involves pleural or rib issues, thoracic disc herniation, facet joint misalignment, or other conditions. Appropriate interventions should then be tailored to the specific underlying cause to relieve symptoms.
4. Medication: Under a doctor's guidance, patients may take cefixime capsules for treatment. Additionally, naproxen capsules or ibuprofen sustained-release capsules can be taken to reduce pain. In addition, infrared or microwave physiotherapy may be used as adjunctive treatments. If the condition is triggered by cold exposure, symptom improvement can be achieved through methods such as local heat application.
