Pain under the left shoulder blade from the back can occur due to sudden movement, prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position, sitting or lying.But in this case, it quickly passes on its own.If the pain syndrome persists for a long time, becomes sharp, stabbing or cutting, and pain relievers do not help, then you should urgently consult a doctor.Such pain under the shoulder blade on the left side of the back indicates pathology and is likely to be 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 can be caused by osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic region, intercostal neuralgia, osteomyelitis, bone tuberculosis, injuries of the scapula, fracture or crack of the ribs, myofascial or scapulocostal syndrome, glenohumeral periarthritis.
- Pain that occurs due to diseases of the internal organs.Pain under the left shoulder blade can be a symptom of heart disease, bronchopulmonary system, gallbladder, stomach ulcers, esophageal spasm, and exacerbation of pancreatitis.
Rare pathologies that cause pain radiating to the shoulder blade include ruptured spleen.This pathology requires immediate surgical treatment, since massive abdominal bleeding occurs with risk of death.
No less dangerous for the body is pain in the left back under the shoulder blade, which develops against the background of heart diseases:
- dissection of an ascending aortic aneurysm;
- coronary heart disease;
- angina pectoris;
- pericarditis, myocarditis, pericarditis;
- myocardial infarction.
Pain in the left shoulder blade from the back, radiating to the arm and chest area, may indicate heart disease.Numbness of the limb often occurs.Depending on the disease, accompanying symptoms appear: shortness of breath, compression of the throat, tightness in the chest, a feeling of cardiac arrest.
Let's take a closer look at the main causes of pain under the shoulder blade on the left back.
Gallbladder diseases
With cholecystitis and cholelithiasis, heaviness appears on the right side and radiating pain under the shoulder blade on the left side.An acute attack of gallbladder inflammation causes severe pain, nausea, vomiting, and increased body temperature.If it is caused by obstruction of the bile ducts by a stone, the pain syndrome occurs in the form of biliary colic.
With chronic inflammation, the nature of the pain is painful.Unpleasant sensations appear after eating fatty foods, with long breaks between meals.
Relapses of attacks can occur after physical or nervous exertion, against a background of stress.
subphrenic abscess
It is a collection of pus under the diaphragm.Most often, an abscess forms on the right side, but localization on the left side is also possible.The pathology is manifested by the following symptoms:
- pain in the left side, radiating under the scapula to the sternum;
- sharp pain in the chest, which intensifies when inhaling;
- high body temperature;
- hiccup;
- increased sweating;
- non-productive cough;
- dyspnoea.
Without treatment, the disease can cause empyema, pneumonia and lung abscess.
bronchopulmonary diseases
Diseases of the lower respiratory tract (bronchi, lungs and pleura) cause both chest and scapular pain, which are always complemented by a specific bronchopulmonary clinical picture:
- increased body temperature;
- weakness, lethargy;
- difficulty breathing;
- chest pain (usually in the affected lung) of moderate intensity, which intensifies when coughing or inhaling;
- cough;
- wheezing.
Pain syndrome in the back of 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
Scapular pain can occur due to problems with the right kidney, as it is located near the scapula.In case of inflammation, the formation of purulent infiltrates or stones, the pain is often localized on the right side, but can also radiate to the left side.The pain is usually dull or aching, but can also be sharp.It is paroxysmal, ascending, that is, it rises from the lumbar area, accompanied by nausea, vomiting and elevated body temperature.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Spinal problems and neurological disorders associated with them are the main cause of back pain in the left shoulder blade area.Pain can occur with any movement, turning the body, sneezing, breathing, or taking deep breaths.They may radiate down the arm, combined with a crackling sound and limited mobility.
Often pain in the scapula area arises due to the following diseases:
- cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis;
- herniated intervertebral discs;
- outgoing;
- scoliosis;
- radiculitis.
Against the background of degenerative processes in the spine, not only blood vessels and nerve endings are pinched, but also muscle spasms.Muscle spasm causes the appearance 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 occur, it becomes sharp and stabbing.The pain is accompanied by dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision and increased blood pressure.
Rare diseases of the musculoskeletal system that can cause scapular pain include osteomyelitis, bone tuberculosis, and malignancies.
Muscle strain and inflammation.
The back muscles surrounding the shoulder blade support the spine in an anatomically correct position and protect nearby internal organs.Its inflammation or injury is not only accompanied by pain, but also causes a decrease in muscle tone and the appearance 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 timeliness of treatment.Pain can be painful, but sometimes it hurts so much that you can't stand it.
It is important to contact a neurologist in time, who will provide you with qualified and, most importantly, timely assistance;Otherwise, intercostal neuralgia will cause the person severe discomfort:
- the pain becomes stabbing and cutting in nature;
- the pain increases when moving the hand, coughing or inhaling;
- numbness occurs in the affected area of the body;
- the heart rhythm is altered.
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 pinched nerve endings.
Scapular injuries are more common among athletes, patients with osteoporosis and bone tissue cancer.
Types of pain under the left shoulder blade.
Before proceeding with diagnosis and treatment, it is important to understand the nature, location, intensity of the pain and its connection with movement, breathing and eating.If after eating it hurts under the left shoulder blade, cardiac pathologies and diseases of the musculoskeletal system can be ruled out.The cause of pain is diseases of the gallbladder, pancreas and stomach.
The nature of the pain syndrome can be stabbing, sharp, burning, growing, aching, dull, sharp.
Aching pain in the left shoulder blade.
It can be constant or periodic, indicating both pathologies of the internal organs and diseases of the spine.Without treatment, it can develop into a stinging burning sensation.Attacks occur most often when raising your arm, doing physical activity, or staying in one position for a long time.
It appears with scoliosis, chronic cholecystitis, scapulo-costal syndrome, intervertebral disc herniation, initial stages of cervical osteochondrosis, hematomas and other minor injuries, intercostal neuralgia.
Sharp pain under the left shoulder blade.
It is a syndrome of intense pain in the back, below the shoulder blade, which limits movement and makes breathing difficult.Characteristic of myocardial infarction, bursitis of the shoulder joint, exacerbation of osteochondrosis, spondylosis, hernia, subphrenic abscess, pleurisy, acute cholecystitis, intercostal neuralgia.
Acute pain in the area of the left shoulder blade.
It may occur suddenly or be the result of prolonged pain.Sharp, stabbing pain is a sign of osteochondrosis, hernia, trauma, intercostal neuralgia, tuberculosis of the scapula, aortic aneurysm, perforated gastric ulcer, radiculitis.
Stabbing pain behind the left shoulder blade.
It manifests itself as lumbago, which is typical for pinching of nerve endings in diseases of the musculoskeletal system.If accompanied by chest compression and shortness of breath, a myocardial infarction or lung abscess cannot be ruled out.
Persistent pain on the left side of the back below the shoulder blade.
Inherent in most pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, as well as bronchopulmonary diseases.
Constant pain on the left side under the shoulder blade.
This pain does not leave the patient even in a lying position.It interferes with sleep, breathing and walking.More often, the pain intensifies with physical activity, coughing, and sneezing.
Constant and persistent pain occurs due to injuries to the spine or scapula, scapulochibular syndrome, bronchopulmonary diseases, pyelonephritis and oncology.Waist 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 and muscle strain.
Important!If a burning sensation spreading to the sternum is accompanied by difficulty breathing, you should immediately call an ambulance.This is a sign of a heart attack.
How to relieve pain under the left shoulder blade.
Painful sensations under the left shoulder blade, especially if they are quite intense, interfere with movement and free breathing, require qualified help, as they pose a threat to human health and life.You can't ignore them and self-medicate.Taking analgesics, antispasmodics and other pain relievers can relieve pain, but does not eliminate the cause, which must be discovered by a doctor.
Important!Emergency care will be required in case of severe pain with increasing intensity and rapid deterioration of well-being.
Which doctor should I see if I have pain on the left side below the scapula?
At the first painful sensation in the shoulder blade area, you should consult a specialist and undergo diagnosis.Since the nature of back pain is usually neurological, it is advisable to make an appointment with a neurologist.
The doctor will conduct a visual examination, study the patient's complaints, draw up a clinical picture: the nature and conditions of the pain syndrome (in a lying position, during movement), its intensity and accompanying symptoms.
To understand exactly why your back hurts, your doctor will prescribe an additional examination:
- laboratory: clinical analysis of blood and urine, which will show the inflammatory process;
- instrumental, necessarily including MRI, since this diagnostic method provides the most accurate information about the state of the spine, muscle tissue, nerve endings and blood vessels.
If 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 relieving pain.The doctor selects medications depending on the reason why pain occurs in the shoulder blade area.
If the cause is a disease of the musculoskeletal system or its complications, then drug therapy looks like this:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- muscle relaxants;
- pain relievers;
- local anesthetic agents.
Pharmacotherapy must be complemented by physiotherapy treatments, massages and therapeutic exercises.
If conservative therapy does not provide the desired therapeutic effect, surgery is indicated for the patient.
When it is important which side of the shoulder blade pain: right or left
Heart diseases, especially more serious ones such as myocardial infarction, manifest with left-sided symptoms.The situation is similar with injuries and ruptured spleen.These pathologies can cause the death of the patient, so the location of the pain is of utmost importance.
Remember, self-medication can only worsen your health condition and contribute to the development of complications.If there is constant discomfort in the left shoulder blade area, professional help is required.