Typical Symptoms: Pain in chest is the main symptom of intercostal neuralgia. This pain is often described in many terms such as stabbing, sharp and shooting, aching and gnawing, burning etc. The pain may be experienced between the two rib spaces or it can be felt in whole of the chest. In some cases, the pain may radiate from back to front of the chest as if it is wrapped with a band. Pain is experienced more while breathing deeply. Intercostal neuralgic pain can be constant and dull remaining all the time or there can be acute exacerbation in between.

Usually the patient complains of pain aggravated with slightest physical exertion. Activities such as lifting an object, bending, coughing, laughing loudly, and twisting etc can cause pain in the chest and in the intercostals space. Sometime the space between two ribs is tender to touch. Due to pain there is restricted movement of the chest. Even the patient is not able to breathe properly as inhalation of air leads to expansion of chest wall which may put pressure on the intercostal nerves.