Pain under the left shoulder blade from behind occurs in all ages, both in children and in the elderly.
This fact is due to many causes of negative feelings, from prolonged exposure in positions that are uncomfortable for the body to serious diseases in the body.
A bit of anatomy
The shoulder blade is a flat triangular bone adjacent to the chest in the back of the area from the 2nd to the 7th rib. Performs functions of connection, protection, strengthening and movement.
The scapula connects the girdle of the upper limb to the arm and sternum.It protects the shoulder joint and protects the lungs and aorta from mechanical stress.Several muscles extend from the shoulder blades that are designed to strengthen and support the shoulder joint.Thanks to these parts of the skeleton, the mobility of the shoulder girdle is ensured;Their function even extends to the lower limbs.The bones are equipped with nerve roots that emanate from the cervical and thoracic region.
Classify
The reasons for pain in the left shoulder blade area are quite diverse.There may be pain;
- pain;
- like a dull pain;
- with increased intensity;
- sharp, when it takes your breath away;
- drag;
- burn;
- permanent, not passing away;
- piercing (lumbago);
- squeeze;
- dam;
- by points.
Important!Usually the cause of pain is the body being in an uncomfortable position for a long time, as well as muscle tension due to physical activity.They resolve on their own and usually do not require medical intervention.
Persistent pain syndrome, as well as its systemic nature, make consultation with a specialist essential.Acute pain in the left shoulder blade area requires urgent medical intervention, because... this factor does not exclude the manifestation of angina, exacerbation of stomach ulcers or activation of inflammatory processes in the pancreas.
Pain affecting the lower part of the left shoulder blade from the back is often a consequence of injuries, diseases of the musculoskeletal system and pathologies of internal organs.
Musculoskeletal system
Pathologies of the musculoskeletal system are provoked by various injuries:
- Fractures and cracks caused by impacts, falls, traffic accidents, etc.The pain increases when a person moves.In addition, the damaged area swells, bruises appear, and mobility decreases;
- dislocation, is rare and occurs when there is a strong pull on the arm or a blow to the shoulder blade.In this case, the bones rotate, shift and have an abnormal position.Its lower edge is compressed between the ribs.
The muscles connecting the shoulder blades and spine are subjected to excessive pressure, causing strain and possible rupture.
Pain in the left shoulder area behind the back due to injury occurs immediately after injury and only goes away when the patient recovers.
In addition to injury, pain in the shoulder area from the back is often caused by diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Subscapular pain syndrome, a consequence of cervical spondylosis (degenerative-dystrophic process in the spinal discs), occurs spontaneously and can be painful and stretching.Increased pain is observed when a person maintains a sitting position for a long time and during physical exertion.Taking medication does not bring relief.
The intercostal nerve is compressed and inflamed, causing unbearable pain in the sternum, where it is located.The syndrome intensifies when a person moves, when coughing, sneezing, breathing deeply and changing body position.Continuous or paroxysmal pain syndrome has a sharp, strong, aching nature.Sometimes pain manifests itself in the heart area, lower back and affects the neck and arms.It can also affect the shoulder blades.
Symptoms of intercostal neuralgia are similar to symptoms caused by heart problems, cholecystitis, angina, and pleurisy.Only a qualified specialist can make an accurate diagnosis.
When there is inflammation in the shoulder tendons and capsule without damage to the joint and cartilage (periarthritis), the pain affects the shoulder joint, sometimes the area between the shoulder blade and the bone itself.They sharpen and intensify at night.The disease is accompanied by mild swelling in the shoulder, elevated temperature in the range of 37–37.4°С and limited circular movements of the shoulder.This pathology is common and is diagnosed as a result of injuries, bruises and increased loads on the shoulder joint.
With inflammation of the neck muscles (myositis), due to excessive stress or infection, severe pain affects the entire neck-arm area, spreading to the shoulder blades, occipital area and arms.
Muscle pain in the shoulder blade area occurs due to physical stress or impact on the bones.
Pain due to malignant lesions of bone structures or soft tissues is the initial manifestation of the disease.At first, they do not differ in intensity and appear periodically, making timely diagnosis difficult.The development of pathological processes leads to an increase in the severity of negative feelings that haunt a person even at rest, mainly at night.Cannot be removed with non-narcotic pain relievers.Next, the bone becomes deformed, surrounding tissues swell, the skin over the malignant site changes, and fractures unrelated to trauma occur.
When there is an inflammatory process in the bones (osteomyelitis) caused by streptococcus, staphylococcus, salmonella, E. coli and other infectious agents, the patient will experience high fever, chills and increased heart rate.There are complaints of back pain in the shoulder blades and muscles, which gradually subsides when the abscess is opened.
Please note!Pain below or above the left shoulder blade and in the bone area is a birth defect.These include aplasia (absence of organs), hypoplasia (inadequate bone development), pterygoid squamosal, and Sprengel's disease.At the same time, a person often has cosmetic defects and limited motor activity.
Disc herniation and disc protrusion in the cervical spine lead to the formation of bone that compresses the nerve roots, causing pain when moving, especially when tilting the head.
Heart and blood vessels
Back pain below the left shoulder blade is often the result of problems in the cardiovascular system.
Pain under the sternum in the center or left side, spreading to the upper part of the body, signals a heart attack.At the same time, a strong burning sensation can be observed under the left shoulder blade from the back.The pain syndrome cannot be clearly described.It can cause pain or can present in an acute form.
Lack of blood supply to the heart muscle causes angina, characterized by pain caused by pressure or pressure behind the sternum, often radiating to the left shoulder blade, arm and lower jaw.At the same time, blood pressure may increase, sweating and paleness may occur.
Angina often occurs in stressful situations or due to increased physical activity.They were treated with nitroglycerin.When the pain duration exceeds 20 minutes or medication does not help relieve pain, it can be assumed that there is a myocardial infarction.
High blood pressure or atherosclerotic lesions lead to an aneurysm (enlargement) or aortic dissection (rupture or incomplete tear of the endothelium leading to blood spreading between the layers of the vessel wall).
Small aneurysms do not manifest themselves in any way.As they increase, a person begins to feel a dull pain in the back.Dissection aneurysms are characterized by a pronounced clinical picture.When torn, the pain is very obvious and only lasts a short time.It affects the chest and back, leading to a reflex drop in blood pressure and fainting.After a certain period of time, the patient feels burning pain in the chest, arms, neck, and under the left shoulder blade.The syndrome cannot be eliminated using available medications.In this condition, the possibility of death is very high, so urgent medical attention is needed.
Pain under the left shoulder blade is caused by:
- ischemia – lack of blood supply to the heart;
- pericarditis – inflammatory process in the pericardium;
- endocarditis - an inflammatory disease of the heart's inner lining;
- myocarditis – inflammation of the heart muscle.
Disorders in the autonomic nervous system cause vegetative-vascular dystonia.The disease is characterized by many manifestations, including pain under the left shoulder blade, similar to a heart attack.In addition, the patient also experiences irritability, memory loss, excessive sweating, etc.
Respiratory organs
Pain under the left shoulder blade cannot be ruled out due to respiratory diseases.
When suffering from left-sided pneumonia, you may experience mild chest pain or under the left shoulder blade - a dull, aching pain that becomes more intense when moving or breathing deeply.Related symptoms include fever reaching critical levels, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, etc.
When necrotic cavities form in the left lung, accompanied by inflammation and pus formation, pain is observed in the chest area, in some cases spreading to the shoulder blade.The disease is accompanied by cough with purulent phlegm, difficulty breathing, and lack of air when breathing.
Diagnosis of left-sided pleurisy (fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity) is made based on the following symptoms: acute chest pain, sometimes spreading below the shoulder blade, fever, difficulty breathing, dry cough and other manifestations.
Important!Almost all diseases of the respiratory system, accompanied by pain, are characterized by coughs of various types.
The appearance of pain under the left shoulder blade can also be caused by acute bronchitis, tracheitis or tracheitis.
Digestive tract
Pain in the left shoulder blade is often an inherent disease of the digestive tract and requires urgent medical intervention.
Gastric and duodenal ulcer lesions are characterized by paroxysmal pain.They are caused by prolonged fasting.They may appear immediately after eating or later.
Perforated ulcers cause acute unbearable pain, accompanied by fever, nausea, vomiting, etc.Failure to assist the patient within 12 hours of the onset of illness will lead to acute poisoning and possibly death.
Acute pancreatitis causes pain in the upper, middle, or left side of the abdomen.In some cases, they extend below the shoulder blades.The disease causes nausea, vomiting, bloating and other digestive system disorders.
Some injuries cause the spleen to rupture.This does not lead to immediate internal bleeding but causes a dull pain under the left shoulder blade.In such cases, delaying treatment can cost the patient his or her life.
In addition, esophageal spasm, cholecystitis, gastroesophagitis and reflux are causes of pain in the left shoulder area.
Diagnosis and treatment methods
In each case, the specialist will ask the patient about the accompanying manifestations, palpate the painful area, find out blood pressure and heart rate stability to exclude pathological processes that may require urgent action.
Self-diagnosis is strictly prohibited.If your back has been experiencing unexplained pain for a long time, you need to see a therapist who, based on the general clinical picture, will determine the need for a special diagnosis.
Accurate determination of the cause of the disease is carried out using:
- General blood and biochemical tests;
- urinalysis;
- X-ray to detect possible problems with the musculoskeletal system and respiratory organs;
- electrocardiogram to rule out heart disease;
- computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging with incomplete data obtained from radiography;
- Fibrogastroduodenoscopy for suspected gastrointestinal diseases.
Depending on these diagnostic measures, the therapist determines why the pain is manifested, then refers to a specialist (traumatologist, vertebrologist, cardiologist, gastroenterologist or neurologist), who will determine the treatment regimen.
Important!For pain under the left shoulder blade, painkillers only weaken the syndrome and often prevent a reliable diagnosis.Pain relievers should only be prescribed by a specialist as part of a comprehensive treatment approach.
There is no universal treatment to eliminate pain under the left shoulder blade.As the patient recovers, negative symptoms will gradually disappear.Therapy is aimed at eliminating the underlying disease and includes a variety of methods.
To avoid shoulder blade pain, you should take care of your health and if negative symptoms appear, immediately seek help from a specialist.