Back pain below the left shoulder blade occurs in people of all ages, including young children and the elderly.
This fact is due to a variety of causes that lead to negative feelings, ranging from prolonged exposure to uncomfortable body positions to serious physical pathologies.
a little anatomy
The scapula is a flat, triangular bone located in the area of the second to seventh ribs on the back, adjacent to the chest.Performs restraint, protection, reinforcement, and locomotor functions.
The scapula connects the girdle of the upper body to the arm and sternum.It protects the shoulder joint and protects the lungs and aorta from mechanical stress.Certain muscles extending from the shoulder blade are designed to strengthen and support the shoulder joint.Thanks to these parts of the skeleton, mobility of the shoulder girdle is ensured; their function even extends to the lower limbs.The bones are equipped with nerve roots that originate from the cervicothoracic region.
Classification
There are various causes of pain in the left shoulder blade area.There may be pain;
- pain;
- Like a dull ache;
- Increased intensity;
- Sharp enough to take your breath away;
- pull;
- combustion;
- permanent, never passing away;
- Puncture (low back pain);
- urgent;
- pulsation;
- Point by point.
Important!Pain is often caused by the body being held in uncomfortable positions for long periods of time, as well as muscle strain from physical activity.They go away on their own and usually do not require medical intervention.
Long-term pain syndromes and their systemic nature make it necessary to consult a specialist.Acute pain in the area of the left scapula requires urgent medical intervention because ... This factor does not exclude manifestations of angina pectoris, exacerbation of gastric ulcers or activation of the inflammatory process in the pancreas.
Pain from the back affecting the lower part of the left shoulder blade is usually caused by injuries, diseases of the musculoskeletal system and pathologies of the internal organs.
musculoskeletal system
Pathologies of the musculoskeletal system are caused by various injuries:
- Fractures and cracks caused by impacts, falls, traffic accidents, etc.The pain worsens when the person moves.In addition, the damaged area may become swollen, bruised, and have reduced mobility;
- Dislocation, observed in rare cases, occurs when the arm is subjected to a strong pull or when the shoulder blade is struck.In this case, the bones rotate, move, and assume abnormal positions.Its lower edge is compressed between the ribs.
The muscles that connect your shoulder blades to your spine are put under excessive stress, causing them to stretch and possibly rupture.
Pain in the left shoulder blade area of the back due to injury occurs immediately after the injury and disappears only after the patient recovers.
In addition to injuries, pain in the shoulder blade area of the back is often caused by disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Subscapular pain syndrome is the result of cervical osteochondrosis (a degenerative process of dystrophied discs in the spine) and is idiopathic and may cause pain and pulling.Increased pain is observed when a person remains seated for long periods of time and performs physical activity.Taking medication does not relieve symptoms.
Compression and inflammation of the intercostal nerves can cause excruciating pain in the area where the breastbone is located.The syndrome is exacerbated when a person moves, coughs, sneezes, takes deep breaths, and changes body position.Persistent or paroxysmal pain syndromes are sharp, intense, and shooting.Sometimes pain occurs in the heart area, lower back, and affects the neck and arms.It can also affect the shoulder blades.
The symptoms of intercostal neuralgia are similar to those caused by heart problems, cholecystitis, angina, and pleurisy.Only a qualified expert can make a correct diagnosis.
When there is inflammation of the shoulder tendons and shoulder joint capsule without damaging the joint and cartilage itself (perihumeral inflammation), pain can affect the shoulder joint and sometimes the area between the shoulder blade and the bone itself.They become sharp and intensified at night.The disease is accompanied by slight swelling of the shoulder, an increase in body temperature of 37-37.4°C, and limited shoulder circular movement.This pathology is common and is diagnosed as a result of injury, bruising, and increased loading on the shoulder joint.
Due to inflammation of the neck muscles (myositis) caused by overexertion or infection, severe pain can affect the entire neck and arm area and radiate to the shoulder blades, occipital area, and arms.
Muscle pain in the shoulder blade area occurs due to physical strain or impact on the bones.
Pain caused by malignant lesions of bone structures or soft tissues is the first manifestation of the disease.Initially, there is no difference in their intensity and they appear periodically, which makes timely diagnosis difficult.The development of the pathological process leads to an increase in the severity of negative feelings that bother the person even at rest (mainly at night).Non-narcotic analgesics cannot be eliminated.Next, the bone deforms, surrounding tissue swells, the skin over the malignant lesion changes, and fractures occur that are not related to the trauma.
When Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Salmonella, E. coli, and other infectious agents cause bone inflammation (osteomyelitis), patients develop high fever, chills, and a rapid heart rate.Some people complain of shoulder blade and muscle back pain, which is relieved after the abscess is opened.
Please pay attention!Painful manifestations below or above the left scapula and in the bony area are inherent to the congenital anomaly.These include agenesis (missing organs), aplasia (insufficient bone development), winging of the scapula, and Sprengel's disease.At the same time, a person often suffers from cosmetic defects and limited motor activities.
Intervertebral hernias and cervical disc herniations can cause bony structures to compress nerve roots, causing pain with movement, especially when tilting the head.
heart and blood vessels
Back pain below the left shoulder blade is often caused by problems with the cardiovascular system.
Pain in the center or left side of the sternum that extends to the upper part of the body is a sign of myocardial infarction.At the same time, there was a strong burning sensation under the left shoulder blade when viewed from behind.It is impossible to clearly characterize pain syndromes.It can be painful or acute.
Insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle can lead to an attack of angina, which is characterized by pressure or squeezing pain under the sternum that often radiates to the left shoulder blade, arm, and jaw.At the same time, blood pressure may increase, sweating may occur, and the face may appear pale.
Angina usually occurs during stressful situations or with increased physical activity.They treated with nitroglycerin.When pain lasts longer than 20 minutes or is not relieved by medication, a myocardial infarction can be assumed.
Hypertensive or atherosclerotic lesions lead to aneurysm (enlargement) or aortic dissection (incomplete rupture or tearing of the endothelium with subsequent spread of blood 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.Dissecting aneurysms are characterized by distinct clinical manifestations.When a tear occurs, the pain is sharp and short-lived.It affects the chest and back, causing a reflex drop in blood pressure and fainting.After some time, a person will feel a burning sensation in the chest, arms, neck, and under the left shoulder blade.The syndrome cannot be eliminated with existing medications.In this case, death is very likely and urgent medical care is required.
Pain under the left shoulder blade is caused by:
- Ischemia - insufficient blood supply to the heart;
- Pericarditis – an inflammatory process of the pericardium;
- Endocarditis - an inflammatory disease of the lining of the heart;
- Myocarditis – inflammation of the heart muscle.
Disorders of the autonomic nervous system can lead to vegetative vascular dystonia.The disease is characterized by a variety of manifestations, including pain below the left shoulder blade that is similar to heart pain.In addition, people may also experience symptoms such as irritability, memory loss, and increased sweating.
respiratory organs
Pain under the left shoulder blade due to respiratory disease cannot be ruled out.
With left-sided pneumonia, mild chest pain or pain under the left shoulder blade—essentially a dull ache that worsens with movement or deep breathing—is observed.Related symptoms include fever to critical levels, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, etc.
When a necrotic cavity forms in the left lung, accompanied by an inflammatory process and the formation of pus, pain occurs in the chest area, sometimes radiating to the shoulder blade.Pathological manifestations include cough with purulent sputum, shortness of breath, and lack of air during breathing.
The diagnosis of left-sided pleurisy (fluid in the pleural space) is based on the following symptoms: acute chest pain, sometimes radiating under the shoulder blade, fever, shortness of breath, dry cough and other symptoms.
Important!Almost all respiratory diseases accompanied by pain are characterized by various types of cough.
Pain under the left shoulder blade may also be due to acute bronchitis, tracheitis, or tracheobronchitis.
gastrointestinal tract
Pain in the area of the left scapula is usually inherent to gastrointestinal pathology and requires urgent medical intervention.
Ulcerative lesions of the stomach and duodenum are characterized by paroxysmal pain.They are caused by prolonged fasting.They may appear immediately after eating or later.
Perforated ulcers can cause acute, unbearable pain, accompanied by fever, nausea, and vomiting.Failure to provide assistance to the patient within 12 hours of onset of illness can lead to acute poisoning and possibly death.
Acute inflammation of the pancreas can cause pain in the upper, mid, or left side of the abdomen.In some cases, they extend below the shoulder blades.This pathology can cause nausea, vomiting, bloating, and other digestive disorders.
Some injuries can cause the spleen to rupture.This will not cause immediate internal bleeding, but it will cause a dull ache under the left shoulder blade.In this case, delay in treatment may cost the patient's life.
In addition, esophageal spasm, calculus cholecystitis, gastroesophagitis, and reflux are also causes of pain in the left scapular region.
diagnostic methods, treatment
In each case, the specialist will ask the patient about the accompanying symptoms, palpate the painful area, understand the stability of blood pressure and heart rhythm in order to rule out pathological processes that may require urgent treatment.
Self-diagnosis is strictly prohibited.If you have chronic, unexplained pain in your back, you need to see a therapist, who will determine whether a specific diagnosis is needed based on the general clinical picture.
The cause of the pathology can be accurately determined using the following methods:
- General and biochemical blood tests;
- urinalysis;
- X-rays to check for possible problems with the musculoskeletal system and respiratory organs;
- An electrocardiogram to rule out heart disease;
- Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, insufficient data obtained from radiography;
- Fiberoptic gastroduodenoscopy was performed for suspected gastrointestinal disease.
Based on these diagnostic measures, the therapist determines the cause of the pain and then makes a referral to a specialist (traumatologist, chiropractor, cardiologist, gastroenterologist or neurologist) who determines the treatment plan.
Important!For pain below the left shoulder blade, painkillers only blunt symptoms and often prevent a reliable diagnosis.Pain-relieving medications should only be prescribed by a specialist as part of a comprehensive treatment.
There is no universal treatment for pain under the left shoulder blade.As the patient recovers, negative symptoms gradually disappear.Treatment aims to eliminate the underlying disease and involves a variety of methods.
To avoid shoulder blade pain, you should take care of your health and seek expert help immediately if you develop negative symptoms.