Pain under the left shoulder blade from the back can occur due to sudden movements, prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position, sitting or lying.But in this case it quickly passes by itself.If the pain syndrome persists for a long time, becomes acute, stabbing or cutting in nature, and painkillers do not help, you need to urgently consult a doctor.Such pain under the shoulder blade on the left side of the back indicates a pathology and is possible that it is serious.The patient needs immediate treatment, which depends not only on the nature of the pain, but also on the cause of its onset.
The main causes of pain under the left shoulder blade
There are many causes of pain, but all of them can be divided into 2 groups:
- Pain associated with pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.Pain under the left scapula 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 internal organs.Pain under the left shoulder blade can be a symptom of heart disease, bronchopulmonary system, gallbladder, stomach ulcers, esophageal spasm, exacerbation of pancreatitis.
Rare conditions that cause pain radiating to the scapula include ruptured spleen.This pathology requires immediate surgical treatment, as massive abdominal bleeding occurs with a risk of death.
No less dangerous for the body is pain in the back on the left under the shoulder blade, which develops against the background of heart disease:
- 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, associated symptoms appear: lack of air, compression of the throat, squeezing of the chest, sensation of cardiac arrest.
Let's take a closer look at the main causes of pain under the shoulder blade from the back to the left.
Gallbladder diseases
With cholecystitis and cholelithiasis, heaviness appears in the right side, pain radiating under the scapula on the left.An acute attack of inflammation of the gallbladder causes severe pain, nausea, vomiting and increased body temperature.If it is caused by obstruction of the biliary tract by a stone, the painful syndrome presents as biliary colic.
With chronic inflammation, the nature of the pain is painful.Unpleasant sensations appear after eating fatty foods, with long pauses between meals.
Relapses of attacks can occur after physical or nervous effort, in a context of stress.
Subphrenic abscess
It is a buildup 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 manifests itself with the following symptoms:
- pain on the left side, radiating under the shoulder blade to the sternum;
- sharp pain in the chest, which intensifies during inhalation;
- high body temperature;
- hiccup;
- increased sweating;
- nonproductive cough;
- dyspnea.
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 accompanied by a specific bronchopulmonary clinical picture:
- increased body temperature;
- weakness, lethargy;
- difficulty breathing;
- chest pain (usually from the affected lung) of moderate intensity, which intensifies when you cough or inhale;
- cough;
- I hiss.
Pain syndrome in the back of the back in the area of the left scapula occurs most often with pneumonia, dry pleurisy, pneumothorax, acute bronchitis or abscess of the left lung.
Kidney diseases
Shoulder blade pain can occur due to problems in the right kidney, as it is located near the shoulder blade.With its inflammation, the formation of purulent infiltrates or stones, the pain is often localized on the right, but can also radiate to the left.The pain is often dull or aching, but can also be sharp.It is paroxysmal, ascending, that is, rising from the lower back, accompanied by nausea, vomiting and high body temperature.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
Spinal problems and associated neurological disorders are the main cause of back pain in the left scapula area.Pain can occur with any movement, turning the body, sneezing, breathing or taking a deep breath.They may radiate into the arm, accompanied by a creaking sound and limited mobility.
Often pain in the scapula area occurs due to the following diseases:
- cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis;
- herniated intervertebral discs;
- protrusion;
- scoliosis;
- radiculitis.
Against the background of degenerative processes in the spine, not only blood vessels and nerve endings are pinched, but also muscle spasm.Muscle spasm causes the onset of scapulocostal syndrome.
One of the most common causes of shoulder blade pain is cervical osteochondrosis.The pain syndrome is mild at first, but as degenerative changes occur, it becomes acute and excruciating.The pain is accompanied by dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision and increased blood pressure.
Rarer diseases of the musculoskeletal system that can cause scapular pain include osteomyelitis, bone tuberculosis, and malignant neoplasms.
Muscle strain and inflammation
The back muscles surrounding the scapula support the spine in an anatomically correct position and protect the internal organs located nearby.Their inflammation or injury is not only accompanied by pain, but also causes a decrease in muscle tone and the onset 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.The pain can be painful, but sometimes it hurts so much that you can't bear it.
It is important to contact a neurologist in time, who will provide qualified and, most importantly, timely assistance, otherwise intercostal neuralgia will cause a person serious discomfort:
- the pain becomes excruciating, cutting in nature;
- the pain increases when you move your hand, cough or inhale;
- numbness occurs in the affected area of the body;
- the 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 pinching of nerve endings.
Shoulder blade injuries are more common among athletes, patients with osteoporosis and bone cancer.
Types of pain under the shoulder blade on the left
Before proceeding with diagnosis and treatment, it is important to understand the nature, location, intensity of pain, its connection with movement, breathing and nutrition.If it hurts under the left shoulder blade after eating, heart pathologies and diseases of the musculoskeletal system can be excluded.The cause of pain is diseases of the gallbladder, pancreas and stomach.
The nature of the pain syndrome can be intense, sharp, burning, growing, aching, dull, sharp.
Aching pain in 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 turn into a stabbing, burning sensation.Attacks occur most often when raising an arm, doing physical activity, or remaining in the same position for a long time.
Appears with scoliosis, chronic cholecystitis, scapulocostal syndrome, intervertebral disc herniation, initial stages of cervical osteochondrosis, bruises and other minor injuries, intercostal neuralgia.
Sharp pain under the left shoulder blade
This is a severe pain syndrome in the back, under the shoulder blade, which limits movement and makes breathing difficult.Characteristic for myocardial infarction, bursitis of the shoulder joint, exacerbation of osteochondrosis, spondylosis, hernia, subphrenic abscess, pleurisy, acute cholecystitis, intercostal neuralgia.
Sharp pain in the left shoulder blade area
It may occur suddenly or be the result of prolonged aching pain.Excruciating, sharp pain is a sign of osteochondrosis, hernia, trauma, intercostal neuralgia, tuberculosis of the scapula, aortic aneurysm, perforated gastric ulcer, radiculitis.
Stinging pain behind the left shoulder blade
It manifests itself as low back pain, typical of the crushing of the nerve endings in diseases of the musculoskeletal system.If it is accompanied by chest compression and lack of air, a myocardial infarction or lung abscess cannot be ruled out.
Nagging pain in the left side of the back under 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
Such pain does not leave the patient even in a lying position.It interferes with sleeping, breathing and walking.More often, the pain intensifies with physical activity, coughing, and sneezing.
Constant, annoying pain occurs due to injuries of the spine or scapula, scapulochibular syndrome, bronchopulmonary diseases, pyelonephritis and oncology.Belt 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 strain.
Important!If a burning sensation spreading to the sternum is accompanied by shortness of breath, you should call an ambulance immediately.This is a sign of a heart attack.
How to relieve pain under the left shoulder blade
Pain sensations under the shoulder blade on the left, 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 painkillers 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 for pain under the left shoulder blade?
At the first painful sensation in the scapula area, you should consult a specialist and undergo a diagnosis.Since the nature of back pain is often neurological, you should make an appointment with a neurologist.
The doctor will carry out 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, associated 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 condition of the spine, muscle tissue, nerve endings and blood vessels.
If instrumental diagnostics reveal 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 drugs based on the reason why pain occurs in the scapula area.
If the cause is a disease of the musculoskeletal system or its complications, drug therapy looks like this:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- muscle relaxants;
- analgesics;
- local anesthetic agents.
Drug therapy must be integrated with physiotherapy treatments, massages and therapeutic exercises.
If conservative therapy does not provide the desired therapeutic effect, surgery is indicated for the patient.
When it matters from which side of the scapula pain: right or left
Heart disease, especially serious ones such as myocardial infarction, manifests with left-sided symptoms.The situation is similar with injuries and rupture of the spleen.These pathologies can lead to the death of the patient, so the localization of pain 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 left shoulder blade area, help from a professional is needed.