Pain under the left shoulder blade from the back can occur due to sudden movement, prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position, sitting or lying down.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, 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 serious.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, shoulder blade injuries, rib fracture or crack, myofascial or scapular 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, gall bladder, stomach ulcer, esophageal spasms, exacerbation of pancreatitis.
Rare pathologies that cause pain radiating to the scapula include rupture of the spleen.This pathology requires immediate surgical treatment, as massive abdominal bleeding occurs with the risk of death.
No less dangerous for the body is back pain on the left below the shoulder blade, which develops against the background of heart disease:
- dissection of an aneurysm of the ascending aorta.
- coronary artery 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: lack of air, compression of the throat, compression of the chest, feeling of cardiac arrest.
Let's take a closer look at the main causes of pain under the shoulder blade from the back on the left.
Gallbladder diseases
With cholecystitis and cholelithiasis, heaviness appears on the right side, pain radiating under the shoulder blade 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 bile ducts by a stone, the pain syndrome appears as biliary colic.
With chronic inflammation, the nature of the pain hurts.Unpleasant sensations appear after eating fatty foods, with long breaks between meals.
Recurrences of seizures may occur after physical or nervous strain, against a background of stress.
Hypophrenic abscess
It is an accumulation of pus under the diaphragm.Most often, an abscess forms on the right side, but it is also possible to locate on the left side.The pathology is manifested by the following symptoms:
- pain in left side, radiating below scapula to sternum.
- sharp pain in the chest, which intensifies during inhalation.
- high body temperature;
- hiccups;
- increased sweating;
- non-productive cough;
- shortness of breath.
Without treatment, the disease can cause empyema, pneumonia and lung abscess.
Bronchopulmonary diseases
Diseases of the lower respiratory tract (bronchi, lungs and pleura) cause pain in both the chest and the shoulder blade, which are always complemented 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 coughing or inhaling.
- cough;
- whistling.
Pain syndrome in the back of the back in the region of the left shoulder blade 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 with 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 located on the right, but it can also radiate to the left.The pain is often dull or aching, but it can also be sharp.It is paroxysmal, ascending, i.e. rising from the lower back, accompanied by nausea, vomiting and increased body temperature.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
Problems with the spine and the neurological disorders associated with them are the main cause of back pain in the area of the left shoulder blade.Pain can occur with any movement, turning the body, sneezing, breathing or deep breathing.They can radiate to the hand, accompanied by a cracking sound and limited mobility.
Often pain in the shoulder blade area occurs due to the following diseases:
- cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis.
- herniated disc;
- projection;
- scoliosis;
- rhizitis.
In the context of degenerative processes in the spine, not only blood vessels and nerve endings pinch, but also muscle spasms.Muscle spasm causes shoulder blade syndrome.
One of the most common causes of shoulder pain is cervical osteochondrosis.At first, the pain syndrome is mild, but as degenerative changes occur, it becomes acute and artillery.The pain is accompanied by dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision and increased blood pressure.
Rarer diseases of the musculoskeletal system that can cause pain in the scapula 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 appearance of instability in the shoulder.
Intercostal neuralgia
The disease is accompanied by inflammation of the intercostal nerves and occurs in the context of the following causative 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 timely treatment.Pain may hurt, but sometimes it hurts so much that you can't stand it.
It is important to contact a neurologist in time, who will provide specialized and, most importantly, timely help, otherwise intercostal neuralgia will cause a person serious discomfort:
- pain becomes shooting, cutting in nature.
- the pain increases when you move your arm, 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 pinched 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, localization, intensity of pain, their relationship with movement, breathing and 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 the pain is diseases of the gallbladder, pancreas and stomach.
The nature of the pain syndrome can be banded, acute, burning, increasing, aching, dull, sharp.
Aching pain in left scapula
It can be constant or periodic, indicating both pathologies of internal organs and diseases of the spine.Without treatment, it can turn into a stabbing, burning sensation.Attacks occur more often when lifting a hand, physical activity or staying in one position for a long time.
Occurs with scoliosis, chronic cholecystitis, scapula-rib syndrome, intervertebral disc herniation, early stages of cervical osteochondrosis, bruises and other mild injuries, intercostal neuralgia.
Sharp pain under left scapula
This is a syndrome of severe 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, hypophrenic abscess, pleurisy, acute cholecystitis, intercostal neuralgia.
Intense pain in the region of the left shoulder blade
It can appear suddenly or be the result of prolonged pain.Shooting, sharp pain is a sign of osteochondrosis, hernia, trauma, intercostal neuralgia, tuberculosis of the scapula, aortic aneurysm, perforated gastric ulcer, radiculitis.
Stitching pain behind left shoulder blade
It manifests itself as a lumbar spine, which is characteristic of pinched nerve endings in diseases of the musculoskeletal system.If it is accompanied by chest compression and lack of air, then myocardial infarction or lung abscess cannot be ruled out.
Irritating pain in left side of back below scapula
It is inherent in most pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, as well as in bronchopulmonary diseases.
Constant pain on left side below shoulder blade
Such pain does not leave the patient even in a lying position.It interferes with sleeping, breathing and walking.Most often, the pain intensifies with physical activity, coughing and sneezing.
Constant moaning or pain occurs due to injuries of the spine or shoulder blade, shoulder blade syndrome, bronchopulmonary diseases, pyelonephritis and oncology.Pain in the zone with disorders of the digestive system is characteristic of patients with acute pancreatitis.
Burning pain in left side of scapula
It is simply unbearable and appears with intercostal neuralgia, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, muscle strain.
Great!If a burning sensation that spreads 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
Sensations of pain under the shoulder blade on the left, especially if they are quite intense, interfere with movement and free breathing, require special help, as they are a threat to human health and life.You cannot ignore them and self-medicate.Taking analgesics, antispasmodics and other painkillers can relieve the pain, but will not eliminate the cause, which must be discovered by a doctor.
Great!Urgent 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 on the left side under the shoulder blade?
At the first painful sensation in the shoulder blade area, you should consult a specialist and undergo diagnostics.Since the nature of back pain is often neurological, you should 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, accompanying symptoms.
To understand exactly why your back hurts, your doctor will prescribe an additional test:
- laboratory - clinical analysis of blood and urine, which will show the inflammatory process.
- instrumental, necessarily including magnetic resonance imaging, as 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 does not fall under 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 chooses drugs based on why the pain in the shoulder blade area occurs.
If the cause is a disease of the musculoskeletal system or its complications, then drug treatment looks like this:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Muscle relaxants;
- pain relievers?
- local anesthetic agents.
Drug therapy should be supplemented with physical therapy, massage and therapeutic exercises.
If conservative treatment 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 serious ones such as myocardial infarction, manifest themselves with left-sided symptoms.Similar is the situation 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 area of the left shoulder blade, professional help is needed.