Pain under the left shoulder blade from behind can occur due to sudden movement, stretching into an uncomfortable position, sitting or lying down.But in this case, it quickly passes by itself.If the pain syndrome lasts for a long time, is sharp, stabbing or cutting in nature, and painkillers do not help, then you should immediately consult a doctor.This pain under the shoulder blade on the left side of the back indicates pathology, and it is possible that it is severe.The patient needs immediate treatment, which depends not only on the nature of the pain, but also on the cause of its occurrence.
The main causes of pain under the left shoulder blade
There are many causes of pain, but they can all be divided into 2 groups:
- Pain associated with pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.Pain under the left shoulder blade, cervical or thoracic region, intercostal neuralgia, osteomyelitis, bone tuberculosis, scapular injuries, rib fracture or crack, myofascial or scapulocostal syndrome, myofascial or scapulocoston.
- Pain caused by diseases of internal organs.Pain under the left shoulder blade can be an exacerbation of heart disease, bronchopulmonary system, gall bladder, stomach ulcers, esophageal spasm, pancreatitis.
Rare pathologies that cause pain radiating to the shoulder blade include splenic rupture.This pathology requires immediate surgical treatment, as massive abdominal bleeding occurs with the risk of death.
No less dangerous for the body is pain in the back under the shoulder blade, which develops against the background of heart diseases:
- dissection of an enlarged aortic aneurysm;
- coronary heart disease;
- angina pectoris;
- pericarditis, myocarditis, pericarditis;
- myocardial infarction.
Pain in the left shoulder blade radiating to the arm and chest can indicate heart disease.Limb numbness is common.Depending on the disease, accompanying symptoms appear: lack of air, throat tightness, chest tightness, feeling of heart failure.
Take a closer look at the main causes of pain under the shoulder blade from the left back.
Gallbladder diseases
With Cholecystitis and cholelithiasis, heaviness appears on the right side, on the left there is radiation under the shoulder blade.An acute attack of inflammation of the gallbladder causes severe pain, nausea, vomiting and an increase in body temperature.If this is due to blockage of the bile ducts with a stone, the pain syndrome occurs as Biliar Colis.
The nature of pain with chronic inflammation is painful.Unpleasant feelings after eating fatty foods appear with long breaks between meals.
The release of attacks can occur after physical or nervous tension against the background of stress.
Subphrenic abscess
It is an accumulation of pus under the diaphragm.Most often, an abscess on the right side, but left-sided localization is also possible.The pathology is manifested by the following symptoms:
- pain on the left side, radiating under the scapula;
- sharp pain in the chest that intensifies when inhaling;
- high body temperature;
- hiccups;
- increased sweating;
- non-productive cough;
- dyspnea.
Without treatment, the disease can cause empynema, pneumonia and lung abscess.
Bronchopulmonary diseases
Diseases of the lower respiratory tract (bronchus, lungs and pleura) cause both chest and scapular pain, and are always accompanied by a certain bronchopulmonary clinical picture:
- increase in body temperature;
- weakness, lethargy;
- Difficulty breathing;
- chest pain (usually from the affected lung) of moderate intensity), of moderate intensity that increases when coughing or inhaling;
- cough;
- snoring.
Pain syndrome in the back in the area of the left shoulder blade most often occurs with pneumonia, dry pleurisy, pneumothorax, acute bronchitis or abscess of the left lung.
Kidney diseases
Because it is close to the scapula, scapular pain can occur due to problems in the right kidney.With inflammation, ugly infiltrates or the formation of stones, the pain is often localized on the right, but radiates to the left.The pain is often dull or aching, but can be sharp.It is increasing paroxysmal, that is, it rises from the bottom accompanied by nausea, vomiting and high body temperature.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
Problems in the spine and neurological disorders associated with them are the main cause of back pain in the region of the left shoulder blade.Pain can occur with any movement of the body, sneezing, breathing or taking a deep breath.These can be combined with a sound and limited mobility.
Pain in the scapula region is often caused by the following diseases:
- cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis;
- ruptured intervertebral discs;
- ledge;
- scoliosis;
- radiculitis.
Against the background of degenerative processes in the spine, not only blood vessels and nerve endings are compressed, but also muscle spasm.Muscle spasm provokes the formation of scapular-costal syndrome.
One of the most common causes of pain in the scapula is cervical osteochondrosis.At first, the pain syndrome is mild, but as degenerative changes, it becomes sharp and feverish.Pain is accompanied by dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision and blood pressure.
Less common diseases of the musculoskeletal system that can provoke scapular pain include osteomyelitis, bone tuberculosis, and malignant neoplasms.
Muscle tension and inflammation
The back muscles surrounding the shoulder blade support the back in an anatomically correct position and protect the internal organs located nearby.Their inflammation or injury is not only accompanied by pain, but also decreases in muscle tone and the formation of instability in the shoulder.
Intercostal neuralgia
The disease is accompanied by inflammation of the intercostal nerves and appears against the background of the following provoking factors:
- injuries to the ribs or spine;
- hypothermia;
- excessive physical activity;
- osteochondrosis.
The intensity of the pain syndrome depends on the severity of the pathology and the time of treatment.Pain hurts, but sometimes it hurts so much, you can't stand it.
It is important to contact a neurologist in time, someone, most importantly, an assistant in time, otherwise intercostal neuralgia will cause a person severe anxiety:
- Pain is cutting, drawing in nature;
- The pain increases when you raise your hand, cough or inhale;
- The fit occurs in the affected area of the body;
- heart rhythm is disturbed.
Diseases or injuries of the scapula
Cracks and fractures of the scapula, glenohumeral arthritis are accompanied by pain, limitation of movement, damage to blood vessels and nerve endings.
Injuries to the scapula are more common among athletes, patients with osteoporosis, and cancer of the bone tissue.
Types of pain under the shoulder blade on the left side
Before proceeding with the diagnosis and treatment, it is important to understand the nature, localization, intensity of pain, movement, breathing and relationship with eating.If it hurts under the left shoulder blade after eating, then heart pathologies and diseases of the musculoskeletal system can be excluded.The cause of pain is gall bladder, pancreas and stomach diseases.
The nature of the pain syndrome can be belt, sharp, burning, increasing, aching, dull, acute.
Aching pain in left shoulder blade
It can be permanent or periodic, indicating pathology of internal organs, as well as diseases of the spine.Without treatment, stabbing can turn into a burning sensation.Attacks occur more often with an arm, physical activity or staying in a position for a long time.
Scoliosis, chronic cholecystitis, scapular-caval syndrome, intervertebral disc herniation, early stages of cervical osteochondrosis, bruises and other mild injuries, intercostal neuralgia.
Sharp pain under the left shoulder blade
This is a severe pain syndrome under the shoulder blade that limits movement and breathing.Myocardial infarction is characteristic for exacerbation of shoulder joint, osteochondrosis, spondylosis, hernia, subphrenic abscess, pleurisy, acute cholestasis, intercostal neuralgia.
Sharp pain in the area of the left shoulder blade
It can happen suddenly or it can be the result of long crying pains.Shooting, acute pain, osteochondrosis, hernia, trauma, intercostal neuralgia, scapula, aortic aneurysm, perfused gastric ulcer, radiculitis.
Aching pain behind the left shoulder blade
It manifests itself as Lumbago, which is typical for compressed nerve endings in diseases of the musculoskeletal system.If it is accompanied by chest and lack of air, myocardial infarction or lung abscess cannot be excluded.
Pain under the shoulder blade on the left side of the back
Diseases of bronchopuleria, characteristic of most pathologies of most pathologies.
Constant pain on the left side under the shoulder blade
Such pain does not leave the patient even in a lying position.It interferes with sleep, breathing and walking.More often, the pain is aggravated by physical activity, coughing and sneezing.
Continuous bare or aching pain occurs due to injuries of the back or scapula, scapulochibular syndrome, bronchopulmonary diseases, pyelonephritis and oncology.Back pain with disorders of the digestive system is characteristic of patients with acute pancreatitis.
Burning pain on the left side of the shoulder blade
It is simply unbearable and occurs with intercostal neuralgia, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, muscle tension.
It is important!If a burning sensation spreading to the sternum is accompanied by shortness of breath, you should immediately call an ambulance.This is a sign of a heart attack.
How to relieve pain under the left shoulder blade
Feelings of pain under the shoulder blade on the left side, especially if it is quite intense, interfere with movement and breathing, require qualified help, as they pose a threat to human health and life.You can't attack them and yourself.Analgesics, antispasmodics, and other pain relievers may relieve pain, but they will not eliminate the cause, which must be discovered by a doctor.
It is important!An emergency will be required in case of severe pain with increasing intensity and rapid deterioration of well-being.
Which doctor should I consult for pain on the left side under the scapula?
At the first painful sensation in the area of the shoulder blade, you should consult a specialist and undergo diagnostics.Since back pain is often neurological in nature, you should make an appointment with a neurologist.
The doctor will conduct a visual examination, study the patient's complaints, draw a clinical picture: the nature and conditions of the pain syndrome (during movement, during movement), its intensity, accompanying symptoms.
Why does the back hurt, your doctor will prescribe an additional examination:
- Laboratory - clinical analysis of blood and urine that will show the inflammatory process;
- Instrumental, including MRI, this diagnostic method provides the most accurate information about the condition of the spine, muscle tissue, nerve endings and blood vessels.
If the instrumental diagnosis reveals a pathology that is not within the competence of a neurologist, the doctor will refer the patient to a therapist, pulmonologist, cardiologist, gastroenterologist, traumatologist or other specialists.
Treatment of pain on the left side of the shoulder blade
All therapeutic measures are aimed at eliminating the root cause and pain.The doctor chooses drugs based on the cause of the pain in the shoulder blade region.
If the cause is a disease of the musculoskeletal system or its complications, drug therapy is similar to:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- muscle currents;
- analgesics;
- local anesthetic agents.
Drug therapy should be supplemented with physiotherapeutic treatment, massage and therapeutic exercises.
If conservative therapy does not provide the desired therapeutic effect, surgery is indicated for the patient.
When it is important on which side of the pain in the shoulder blade: right or left
Heart diseases, especially severe ones such as myocardial infarction, present with left-sided symptoms.The situation is similar to injuries and rupture of the spleen.These pathologies can lead to the death of the patient, therefore pain localization is extremely important.
Remember, self-medication can only worsen your health condition and contribute to the development of complications.If there is constant discomfort in the area of the left shoulder blade, professional help is required.