Intercostal neuralgia is neuropathic pain involving the intercostal nerves. These are the nerves that arise from the spinal cord, below the ribs.

Intercostal neuralgia tends to cause thoracic pain, which affects your chest wall and upper trunk.  Intercostal muscle strain is an injury moving the muscles between 2 or a lot of ribs.

The intercostal muscles have completely different layers that ar connected to the ribs to help build the chest wall and assist in breathing.  When an intercostal muscle gets twisted, strained, or stretched too far, it can tear, causing intercostal muscle strain.