Pain in the costal arch from coughing
definition
The pain in the costal arch from coughing is a symptom that can have many different triggers. The fact that the pain is primarily caused by coughing makes musculoskeletal causes such as strains, bruises or even small broken ribs likely, as these trigger pain through movement and tension when coughing.
Nonetheless, other causes cannot be ignored. Pain in the costal arch that manifests itself when coughing can also be an indication of injuries or diseases of internal organs in the chest or abdominal area. A precise diagnosis is therefore very important in order to find the trigger of the pain and to initiate appropriate therapy.
Read more on the subject at: Rib pain - how dangerous is it?
causes
The causes of pain in the costal arch caused by coughing are very diverse. There can be harmless reasons, but also serious underlying illnesses as triggers. Obvious causes can be musculoskeletal injuries or diseases.
When coughing, the muscles of the trunk tense, so that existing strains or sprains can express themselves with severe pain in the costal arch area. In addition to the soft tissue, bony structures, in this case the ribs, can also be injured. Smaller rib fractures would also occur more frequently with mechanical stress such as coughing.
Read more on the topic: Pain when coughing
If a rupture is the cause of the pain, it is essential to ensure that the lungs are not damaged. Small splinters of bone can puncture or pierce the lungs, which is associated with the risk of bleeding or collapsing, i.e. collapsing, of the respective lung (pneumothorax).
If the cough is the primary problem of those affected, the secondary pain can also manifest itself quite banally in the form of sore muscles due to the heavy strain on the trunk muscles when coughing. A characteristic here would be that the pain occurs symmetrically, i.e. on both sides of the costal arch. A chronic form of pain in the costal arch caused by coughing can also be caused by extreme incorrect loading and incorrect posture, which is associated with tension and blockages.
Typical of the pain in the costal arch due to musculoskeletal causes is not only the occurrence when coughing but also the dependence on breathing.
Furthermore, the pain on the costal arch caused by coughing can be caused by inflammation of the pleura (Latin: pleurisy). Here, those affected classically suffer from breath-dependent chest pain, i.e. also from pain in the area of the costal arch, in combination with a dry cough and sometimes febrile conditions.
Diseases of the lungs such as pneumonia (lat. Pneumonia) or pulmonary embolism can also trigger the pain that occurs more intensely when coughing.
Ultimately, internal organs of the abdomen can also cause pain in the costal arch through coughing. This includes the liver, bile and colon on the right side and the spleen on the left. The respective organs can be roughly enlarged or inflamed, causing pressure or tension pain.
In general, it is important that, regardless of the ultimate cause, in the event of prolonged pain in the costal arch caused by coughing, a doctor should be consulted to clarify the symptoms.
Read more on this topic at: Pneumonia pain
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Other accompanying symptoms
The appearance of other symptoms in addition to the pain in the costal arch from coughing depends on what ultimately triggers the pain.
If the pain is provoked by complaints in the large intestine, those affected often suffer from poor digestion and have the feeling of an extremely bloated stomach. Loss of appetite is also sometimes reported.
If the focus is not on intestinal complaints, but the pain when coughing under the right costal arch is due to complaints with the gallbladder, those affected rather complain of nausea and sometimes even vomit. In addition, it can lead to feverish states with accompanying chills. If the liver is enlarged, a feeling of fullness is also indicated.
Read more on the subject at: Gallbladder pain
If there is pneumonia (Latin: pneumonia), the pain when coughing is also not the only symptom. Affected people often feel weak, exhausted and less resilient than usual. In pneumonia, the cough can also be productive but also dry.
Patients with inflammation of the pleura (Latin: pleurisy) show a similar symptom. You also have a fever and pain when you cough, which is dry. A pulmonary embolism, on the other hand, leads to chest pain and a dry cough, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest.
Read more on the subject at: Symptoms of pneumonia
diagnosis
The diagnosis is based on an initial suspected diagnosis by the attending physician. In any case, a detailed medical history and physical examination come first. Here the attending physician can already obtain some essential information that points the way for further diagnosis. Auscultation and percussion of the lungs alone, i.e. listening and tapping, can be used to distinguish which disease it may be that causes increased pain in the costal arch when coughing.
If one suspects that abdominal organs may be the trigger for the pain, an enlarged liver on the left or an enlarged spleen on the right can be felt. Further diagnostic tools can then be used. The ultrasound examination is suitable for assessing certain organs more closely for the first time.
Furthermore, if bony lesions are suspected, an X-ray of the chest (thorax) can be useful. An MRI or CT scan is only necessary in rare, difficult-to-diagnose cases. In general, however, a detailed diagnosis is very important in order to identify or exclude all other accompanying illnesses or differential diagnoses and treat them accordingly.
Treatment and therapy
The treatment, like the diagnosis, depends on the cause. For purely muscular reasons, such as strains or sore muscles, pain relievers and home remedies are often sufficient to relieve the symptoms.
Immediately after a strain or sprain, the first thing you can do is to cool the affected area with ice spray or ice packs. In the further course, heat therapy makes sense to relax and loosen the affected muscles.In general, those affected should take it easy, especially if accompanying symptoms such as fever and fatigue occur in addition to the pain.
Read more on the subject at: Therapy of a muscle strain
However, if incorrect posture or incorrect strain is the reason for the pain in the costal arch, then under no circumstances should a relieving posture, which often relieves the pain, be taken, but rather treated with the help of physiotherapy or physiotherapy. Breathing therapy is often used as part of physiotherapy, but also relaxation exercises.
In addition to the general measures, the underlying diseases or problems that cause them must of course be specially treated. Depending on whether the cough is triggered by bacteria or viruses and what other symptoms occur, the doctor may prescribe appropriate medication. The same applies to pneumonia or pleurisy, which are often treated with antibiotics.
In the case of complaints with the intestines, antispasmodic or laxative drugs can be helpful to relieve irritation or constipation.
Read more on the subject at: Home remedies for constipation
Duration
The duration of the pain in the costal arch when coughing depends largely on the underlying cause. A harmless sore muscles, caused by an extreme and long-lasting cough, can disappear after a few days as soon as the cough has stopped.
How long people suffer from pain also depends on how quickly the triggering factor is found and treated accordingly. The more serious the cause of the pain when coughing in the area of the costal arch, the longer the healing process often takes. It is therefore not possible to precisely determine a certain period of healing without a specific diagnosis.
The pain can only last a few days in uncomplicated cases, but can extend over weeks to months in more complex cases.
Read more on the subject at: Rib pain - how dangerous is it?
Costal arch pain from coughing during pregnancy
Pain in the costal arch from coughing occurs most often in the second half of pregnancy. The reason for this is that the child is getting bigger and bigger and the abdominal muscles, which often have their origin on the costal arch, are extremely stretched. Therefore, pain due to musculoskeletal complaints results in the form of tension and stretching pain in the area of the costal arch. In addition, internal organs can trigger tension and pressure pain, because on the one hand there is generally less space in the abdomen and on the other hand the little space becomes even narrower due to strong coughing and the associated contraction.
Especially during pregnancy you should be careful and pay attention to signals from the body, such as pain in the costal arch. If the pain persists or if it gets worse during the cough, it is essential to see a gynecologist.
On the one hand, a cough often speaks for a bacterial or viral infection, which should be treated accordingly during pregnancy and, on the other hand, possible complications in pregnancy must be ruled out. This includes, for example, the so-called "HELLP syndrome". An enlarged liver is typical, which is why there is tension pain under the right costal arch. Other characteristics of the HELLP syndrome are increased liver values and decreased blood platelet values.
Read more on the subject at: Costal arch pain during pregnancy
Pain in the costal arch from coughing and sneezing
Whether the pain occurs when coughing or sneezing has little meaning to tell what is ultimately the cause of the pain. Coughing and sneezing both have the effect of reflexively contracting (contracting) the core muscles. The soft tissue is compressed, so that inflammation, injury or enlargement of certain organs causes pain.
Even fractures that are less painful at rest can irritate the surrounding nerves when the muscles contract and then cause severe pain. In both cases there is an indication that musculoskeletal causes are considered to be the trigger for pain in the costal arch.
Pain in the costal arch from coughing on the right side
If the pain is explicitly localized on the right side of the costal arch, this can be an indication of a disease or injury to the organs on the corresponding side. In the abdomen, these would be the intestines, bile or liver, and in the chest, the right lung.
If those affected can provide more detailed information on whether the pain on the costal arch is above or below the diaphragm, possible diagnoses can already be narrowed down. The lungs can trigger pain in the form of pneumonia (lat. Pneumonia) or pleurisy (lat. Pleurisy). The bowel often causes pain in the costal arch area as part of digestive disorders.
If the liver is responsible for the pain, it is usually due to an enlargement of this organ, so that it comes to tension pain. If there are problems with the bile, for example with gallstones, the pain on the costal arch occurs more intensely when coughing, but it has the property of being colicky.
Of course, it can also be a one-sided bruise after a fall or the like on the costal arch. A fracture, blockage or sprain would also be conceivable.
Read more on the subject at: Pain in the right costal arch - that's behind it
Pain in the costal arch from coughing on the left side
If the pain is limited to the left side of the costal arch, the left lung can also be used as an organ in the chest area, but only the spleen in the abdomen. As on the right side, the indication of the height of the pain on the costal arch, i.e. above or below the diaphragm, can be indicative.
If the left lung is considered to be the trigger in the context of pneumonia or pleurisy, the pain manifests itself as on the other side. Musculoskeletal causes also differ on the left side only in terms of localization and not in terms of symptoms.
If the symptoms come from the spleen, it is usually because the organ is enlarged. The resulting capsular tension pain can often be felt under the costal arch area and is aggravated by the cough. A more detailed examination of the spleen should definitely be carried out in the case of left-sided pain in the costal area, as some causes can end in life-threatening complications.
Another organ that can cause pain under the costal arch is the heart. However, all of the reasons for the pain mentioned are not necessarily triggered by the cough, but sometimes also occur at rest.
Read more on the subject at: Pain on the left costal arch - causes and therapy
