What you may feel
- Band-like pain along a rib, one chest side or the upper abdomen.
- Pain may feel burning, shooting or sharply stabbing.
- Twisting, deep breathing or coughing may worsen pain.
- The same strip of skin may feel numb or painful to touch.
- New chest pain must not be assumed to be nerve pain.
How it is assessed
Assessment first considers cardiac, lung and other internal causes, then nerve distribution and previous surgery or rash.
Identify the precise areas of pain and numbness and describe the effect of touch. Bring details of other conditions, medicines and previous procedures.
Approaches to care
Confirmed nerve pain is treated according to its cause. New chest pain with breathlessness or cold sweating needs emergency care.
Discuss how pain affects sleep, work and movement. At follow-up, report changes in sensation and strength as well as pain intensity.
When to seek urgent help
New or unexplained chest pain, especially with breathlessness, cold sweating, fainting or spread to the arm or jaw, needs emergency care. Do not assume it is nerve pain without assessment.
Further reading: NCBI Bookshelf / StatPearls
This is educational information and does not replace an individual medical assessment. Similar symptoms alone do not establish a diagnosis.