Hi all, I'm posting this because doctors have not been any help at all. I've been trying to find the cause of my pain for over a year. It is in left side rib area. from arm pit to under left breast. I mentioned this to the physiatrist and he said it could be and prescribed Neurontin. I would be interested in anyone's experience with this and how they found relief. Thank you for any help you can provide.
Halley

Thank you for your response. Sorry about the delay in responding. Actually the very bad pain started after a chiropractor adjustment and using the exercise ball he had me use. I did see another chiropractor this summer for evaluation and 16 treatments, but no relief.
I've also had physical therapy, pool therapy, use a tens unit. Nothing really helps when it is really bad.

For the past 3 1/2 years I have been experiencing severe pain between by left armpit and left rib area. It is worse when lying down at night or when I do strenuous excersises. I just found out 3 weeks ago that I have Intercostal Neuralgia. Before seeing a Neurologist I had been to massage therapy (which made it worse), physical therapy, spinal manipulation, a pain clinic and finally a Neurologist! When reading your postings I could not believe that others have had something so similiar to what I have. My Neurologist prescribed Neurontin to take before bed and lidocaine patches. The patches didn't work but the Neurontin does take the edge off. The next step is steroid injections and I pray to God that this will work. The pain is excruciating. My decription would be a hot stabbing pain that is constant and when I breath in it hurts a lot more.

I have exactly the same symtoms as Imgn for 3 weeks now. If anyone can respond with treatments to help intercostal neuralgia, please do so!! I have been to physio and I feel like I am getting worse instead of better. Will this go away on it's own? Will it reoccur once it is healed?

I've had intercostal spasms etc - I go to a physical therapist who does "manual therapy" - it helps a lot.

Hello, i just stumbled across this forum. i've spent the last 2 hours reading and cannot believe reading other peoples posts how similar their pain is with mine. In Sept. 2002 i was going to work when i felt a muscle spasm deep in my leftside back, followed by a very sharp pain. i actually thought i was having a heartattack at first. Well 3.5 years have passed and i still have the pain and i still don't know what is causing the problem. It is worse when i sit or lie down which makes for many sleepless nights. I've tried doctors, physio, chiro, massage, anti-inflammatories with no results. The chiropractors think i have a rib out of place but they cannot get it back in place and i end up feeling more pain when i see them. The pain is almost behind my left shoulder blade. It hurts when i take a deep breath, sneeze, shrug my shoulders, basically any general movememnts. I don't know if i have Intercostal Neuralgia but it does sound similar. I guess what i'm looking for is any advice on my problem and if there is any tests i can get so i can find out what is actualy wrong with me. Thank You very much.

I glad to see this message board and be able to share my treatment. I started suffering from Intercostal Neuralgia about 10 years ago but coulnd't get treatment that helped. It always eventually went away but seemed to stay for longer periods each episode. I moved to NC 6 years ago during a bout and went to a walk in clinic in desperation. I got a female Doctor who immediately prescribed six Prednisone to be taken three the first day, two the second and one on the third day, along with Vioxx (now Celebrex) to be taken twice a day and one Cylocobenzaprene (sp.) at night. Within three days, the pain was gone completely and since then each time I have an episode, the Doctor, the same lady, prescribes the same and it always works for me. I hope this helps because the pain from this can be excruciating

Cannygirl