The pain under the left scapula from the back occurs in all age groups of the population, both in small children and the elderly.
This fact is due to a number of reasons that cause negative sensations, from prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position for the body to serious pathologies of the body.
A little anatomy
The scapula is a flat triangular bone located behind the chest between the 2nd and 7th ribs.It performs binding, protective, strengthening and motor functions.
The scapula connects the girdle of the upper limbs with the arms and sternum.It protects the shoulder joint and protects the lungs and aorta from mechanical stress.Certain muscles extending from the shoulder blades are designed to strengthen and support the shoulder joints.Thanks to these parts of the skeleton, the mobility of the shoulder girdle is ensured;their functions also extend to the lower limbs.The bone is supplied with nerve roots that originate in the cervicothoracic region.
Classification
The causes of pain in the area of the left shoulder blades are quite diverse.Pain may occur;
- sore;
- like a dull ache;
- with increased intensity;
- sharp when you stop breathing;
- drag;
- burning;
- constant, not transient;
- piercing (lumbago);
- pressing;
- pulsating;
- punctual.
Important!The cause of pain is often the body staying in an uncomfortable position for a long time, as well as muscle tension due to physical activity.They go away on their own and usually do not require medical intervention.
The syndrome of prolonged pain and its systematic nature make it necessary to consult a specialist.Acute pain in the area of the left scapula requires urgent medical intervention, because... the factor does not exclude the manifestation of angina pectoris, the aggravation of gastric ulcer or the activation of inflammatory processes of the pancreas.
Pain affecting the lower part of the left scapula from the back is often the result of injuries, locomotor diseases and pathologies of internal organs.
Locomotor system
Pathologies of the musculoskeletal system are provoked by various injuries:
- bumps, falls, road accidents, etc.breaks and cracks caused byThe aching pain intensifies when someone moves.In addition, the injured area swells, bruises appear, and mobility decreases;
- dislocations, which are observed in rare cases, and occur when a strong pull on the arm or a blow to the scapula.In this case, the bone rotates, shifts and assumes an abnormal position.Its lower edge is pressed between the ribs.
The muscles that connect the scapula to the spine are overstressed, causing them to stretch and potentially tear.
In the area of the left scapula, the pain caused by the injury occurs immediately after the injury and goes away only after the patient recovers.
In addition to injuries, pain in the area of the back scapula is often caused by diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
The syndrome of pain under the scapula, which is a consequence of cervical osteochondrosis (dystrophic-degenerative processes of the intervertebral discs of the spine), can be spontaneous, painful and pulling.Increased pain is observed when a person remains in a sitting position for a long time and during physical exertion.Taking medicines does not bring relief.
A pinched, inflamed intercostal nerve causes unbearable pain in the sternum, in the area where it lies.The syndrome is aggravated when a person moves, coughs, sneezes, takes deep breaths and changes his body position.Constant or paroxysmal pain syndrome is sharp, strong, shooting.Sometimes the pain occurs in the area of the heart, in the lower back, and affects the neck and arms.It can also affect the scapula.
The manifestations of intercostal neuralgia are similar to those caused by heart problems, cholecystitis, angina pectoris, and pleurisy.Only a qualified specialist can make a correct diagnosis.
If inflammation occurs in the tendon of the shoulder and the capsule of the shoulder joint without damage to the joint and cartilage (humeral periarthritis), the pain affects the shoulder joint, sometimes the shoulder blades and the bone itself.They are sharp and intensify at night.The disease is accompanied by a slight swelling of the shoulder, a temperature rise of 37-37.4 ° C and limited circular movement of the shoulder.The pathology is widespread and is diagnosed due to injuries, bruises and increased load on the shoulder joint.
Inflammation of the neck muscles (myositis) caused by overuse or infection, severe pain affects the entire neck-arm region, radiating to the scapula, occipital and arms.
Muscle pain in the scapula area occurs as a result of physical stress or impact on the bone.
Pain due to malignant changes in the bone structure or soft tissues indicates the initial manifestation of the disease.At first, they do not differ in intensity and appear regularly, which makes timely diagnosis difficult.The development of pathological processes leads to an increase in the severity of negative feelings, which haunt a person even at rest, especially at night.Non-narcotic pain relievers do not eliminate it.Then the bone is deformed, the surrounding tissues swell, the skin over the malignant focus changes, and fractures occur that are not associated with trauma.
In the presence of an inflammatory process (osteomyelitis) caused by streptococci, staphylococci, salmonella, E. coli and other infectious agents, the patient is exposed to high fever, chills and increased heart rate.They complain of pain in the back of the scapula and muscles, which subside when the abscess is opened.
Please note!Painful manifestations under or above the left scapula, as well as in the bone area, are inherent in congenital disorders.These include aplasia (absence of an organ), hypoplasia (insufficient bone development), pterygoid scapula, and Sprengel's disease.At the same time, the person often suffers from cosmetic defects and limited motor activity.
Intervertebral hernia and the protrusion of the discs of the cervical spine lead to compression of the nerve roots by bone formations, which causes pain during movement, especially when tilting the head.
Heart and blood vessels
Back pain under the left shoulder blade is often the result of cardiovascular problems.
Substratal pain in the middle or left side, extending to the upper part of the body, indicates a heart attack.At the same time, a strong burning sensation can be observed under the left shoulder blade from the back.It is impossible to clearly characterize the pain syndrome.It can be painful, or it can manifest itself in an acute form.
Lack of blood supply to the myocardium causes an anginal attack characterized by a pressing or squeezing retrosternal pain, often radiating to the left scapula, arm, and lower jaw.At the same time, blood pressure may rise, sweating and pallor may appear.
Angina attacks usually occur in stressful situations or as a result of increased physical activity.They are treated with nitroglycerin.If the pain lasts longer than 20 minutes or is not relieved by medication, a heart attack may be suspected.
High blood pressure or atherosclerotic lesions lead to aneurysm (enlargement) or aortic dissection (incomplete rupture or rupture of the endothelium and subsequent spreading of blood between the layers of the vessel wall).
Small aneurysms are not manifested in any way.As they grow, a person begins to feel a dull pain in the back.Dissecting aneurysms are characterized by a pronounced clinical picture.In the event of a tear, the pain sensation is sharp and short-lived.It affects the chest and back, leading to a reflex drop in blood pressure and fainting.After a certain time, a person feels a burning pain in the chest, arms, neck, under the left shoulder blade.The syndrome cannot be eliminated with available drugs.In this condition, death is very likely, so urgent medical attention is required.
Pain under the left shoulder blade is caused by:
- ischemia - lack of blood supply to the heart;
- pericarditis - inflammatory processes in the pericardium;
- endocarditis - inflammatory disease of the inner lining of the heart;
- myocarditis - inflammation of the heart muscle.
Disorders of the autonomic nervous system cause vegetative-vascular dystonia.The disease is characterized by many manifestations, including pain under the left shoulder blade, which is similar to heartache.In addition, the person suffers from irritability, memory loss, increased sweating, etc.
Respiratory organs
Pain under the left scapula cannot be ruled out due to respiratory diseases.
In left-sided pneumonia, mild chest pain or pain under the left shoulder blade is observed - dull, painful in nature, aggravated by movement or deep breathing.Associated symptoms include fever rising to critical levels, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, etc.
When necrotic cavities are formed in the left lung, accompanied by inflammatory processes and pus formation, pain is observed in the chest area, which in some cases radiates to the shoulder blade.The pathology is accompanied by cough, purulent sputum, shortness of breath and lack of air during breathing.
The diagnosis of left-sided pleurisy (accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity) is made based on the following symptoms: acute chest pain, sometimes radiating below the shoulder blade, fever, shortness of breath, dry cough and other manifestations.
Important!Almost all diseases of the respiratory system accompanied by pain are characterized by different types of cough.
The occurrence of pain under the left shoulder blade is also possible due to acute bronchitis, tracheitis or tracheobronchitis.
Gastrointestinal system
Pain in the area of the left shoulder blade often lies in the pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract 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 a meal or later.
Perforated ulcers cause acute, unbearable pain, accompanied by fever, nausea, vomiting, etc.accompany.Failure to provide assistance to the patient within 12 hours of the onset of the illness can cause acute poisoning and lead to the patient's death.
Acute inflammation of the pancreas causes pain in the upper, middle or left side of the abdomen.In some cases, they extend below the shoulder blade.The pathology causes nausea, vomiting, bloating and other digestive disorders.
Some injuries cause the spleen to rupture.This does not lead to immediate internal bleeding, but causes a dull ache under the left shoulder blade.In such cases, delaying treatment can cost the patient's life.
In addition, esophageal spasm, calculous cholecystitis, gastroesophagitis, and reflux can be blamed for pain in the area of the left scapula.
Diagnostic methods, treatment
In each case, the specialist asks the patient about the accompanying symptoms, palpates the painful area, determines the blood pressure and the stability of the heart rhythm in order to rule out pathological processes that may require urgent intervention.
Self-diagnosis is strictly prohibited.If your back hurts for a long time for no reason, you should see a therapist who will determine the need for special diagnostics based on the general clinical picture.
The exact causes of the pathology are determined with the help of:
- general and biochemical blood tests;
- urine analysis;
- X-rays for possible problems of the locomotor system and respiratory organs;
- electrocardiogram to rule out heart disease;
- computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging with insufficient data obtained from radiography;
- fibrogastroduodenoscopy in case of suspicion of the gastrointestinal tract.
Depending on these diagnostic measures, the therapist determines the cause of the pain and then makes a referral to a specialist (traumatologist, vertebrologist, cardiologist, gastroenterologist or neurologist) who determines the treatment regimen.
Important!In the case of pain under the left shoulder blade, painkillers only weaken the syndrome and often prevent a reliable diagnosis.Painkillers can only be prescribed by a specialist as part of a comprehensive treatment.
There is no universal cure for pain under the left shoulder blade.As the patient recovers, the negative symptom gradually disappears.Therapy is aimed at eliminating the underlying disease and includes various methods.
To avoid pain in the shoulder blades, take care of your health and if negative symptoms appear, contact a specialist immediately.