Pain under the left shoulder blade in the back may occur due to sudden movement, prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position, sitting or lying down.But in this case, it passes quickly on its own.If the pain syndrome persists for a long time, becomes acute, throbbing or cutting in nature and painkillers do not help, then you need to urgently consult a doctor.Such pain under the shoulder blade on the left side of the back indicates pathology, and it is possible that it will 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 scapula can be caused by osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic region, intercostal neuralgia, osteomyelitis, bone tuberculosis, injuries to the scapula, fracture or crack of a rib, myofascial or scapulocostal syndrome, glenohumeral periarthritis.
- Pain due to diseases of internal organs.Pain under the left shoulder blade can be a symptom of heart disease, bronchopulmonary system, gallbladder, stomach ulcer, esophageal spasm, exacerbation of pancreatitis.
Rare conditions that cause pain radiating to the scapula include splenic rupture.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 left back under the shoulder blade, which develops against the background of heart diseases:
- dissection of an ascending aortic aneurysm;
- coronary heart disease;
- angina;
- pericarditis, myocarditis, pericarditis;
- myocardial infarction.
Pain in the left shoulder blade originating from the back, which radiates to the arm and chest, 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 of the back on the left.
Gallbladder diseases
With cholecystitis and cholelithiasis, heaviness appears on the right side, pain radiating under the scapula to the left.An acute attack of inflammation of the gallbladder causes severe pain, nausea, vomiting and an increase in body temperature.If it is caused by obstruction of the bile ducts by a stone, the pain syndrome manifests itself in the form of biliary colic.
In chronic inflammation, the nature of the pain is painful.Unpleasant sensations appear after eating fatty foods, with long breaks between meals.
Relapses of seizures can occur after physical or nervous effort, against a background of stress.
Subphrenic abscess
It is an accumulation 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 on left side, radiating under the scapula to the sternum;
- sharp pain in the chest, which intensifies when inhaling;
- high body temperature;
- hiccups;
- 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 thoracic and scapular pain, 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 is worse when coughing or inhaling;
- cough;
- wheezing.
Pain syndrome in the back of the back in 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 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, it rises from the lower back, accompanied by nausea, vomiting and high body temperature.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
Spinal problems and their associated neurological disorders are the main cause of back pain in the left shoulder blade.Pain can occur with any movement, whether turning the body, sneezing, breathing, or taking a deep breath.They can radiate into the arm, combined with a cracking sound and limited mobility.
Pain in the shoulder blade area is often caused by the following diseases:
- cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis;
- intervertebral disc herniation;
- protrusion;
- 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 spasms cause the appearance of scapular-costal syndrome.
Cervical osteochondrosis is one of the most common causes of shoulder blade pain.At first, the pain syndrome is mild, but as degenerative changes occur, it becomes acute and throbbing.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 tension and inflammation
The back muscles surrounding the shoulder blade support the spine in an anatomically correct position and protect nearby internal organs.Their inflammation or injury is accompanied not only by pain, but also causes a decrease in muscle tone and the appearance of shoulder instability.
Intercostal neuralgia
The disease is accompanied by inflammation of the intercostal nerves and appears against the background of the following provoking factors:
- rib or spine injuries;
- 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 stand it.
It is important to contact a neurologist in time who will provide qualified and, most importantly, timely assistance, otherwise intercostal neuralgia will cause severe discomfort to the person:
- the pain becomes throbbing, cutting by nature;
- pain increases when you move your hand, cough or inhale;
- numbness occurs in the affected area of the body;
- the heart rhythm is disturbed.
Scapula Diseases or Injuries
Cracks and fractures of the scapula, glenohumeral arthritis are accompanied by pain, limitations in movement, damage to blood vessels and pinched nerve endings.
Scapula 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 pain, its connection with movement, breathing and eating.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 girdling, sharp, burning, increasing, aching, dull, sharp.
Aching pain in the left shoulder blade
It can be constant or periodic, indicating both pathologies of internal organs and diseases of the spine.Without treatment, this can turn into a burning, throbbing sensation.Attacks occur more often when raising the arm, doing physical activity, or staying in the same position for a long time.
Appears with scoliosis, chronic cholecystitis, scapular-costal syndrome, intervertebral disc herniation, early stages of cervical osteochondrosis, bruises and other minor injuries, intercostal neuralgia.
Sharp pain under left shoulder blade
This is an intense 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.
Acute pain in left shoulder blade
It may occur suddenly or be the result of prolonged aching pain.Shooting, sharp pain is a sign of osteochondrosis, hernia, trauma, intercostal neuralgia, tuberculosis of the scapula, aortic aneurysm, perforated gastric ulcer, radiculitis.
Stinging pain behind left shoulder blade
It manifests itself as lumbago, typical of pinched nerve endings in diseases of the musculoskeletal system.If it is accompanied by chest compression and lack of air, myocardial infarction or lung abscess cannot be excluded.
Shooting pain in 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
Such pain does not leave the patient even in a lying position.This disrupts sleeping, breathing and walking.Most often, the pain intensifies with physical activity, coughing and sneezing.
Persistent or aching pain occurs due to injuries to the spine or scapula, scapulochibular syndrome, bronchopulmonary diseases, pyelonephritis and oncology.Belt pain accompanied by disorders of the digestive system are characteristic of patients with acute pancreatitis.
Burning pain on left side of shoulder blade
It is simply unbearable and occurs with intercostal neuralgia, myocardial infarction, angina, muscle tension.
Important!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
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 cannot ignore them and self-medicate.Taking painkillers, antispasmodics and other painkillers can relieve pain, but will not eliminate the cause, which must be discovered by a doctor.
Important!Emergency care will be required in case of severe pain of increasing intensity and rapid deterioration in well-being.
Which doctor should I consult if I have pain on the left under the shoulder blade?
At the first painful sensation in the shoulder blade, you should consult a specialist and undergo diagnosis.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 (when lying down, when moving), its intensity, accompanying symptoms.
To understand exactly why you have back pain, your doctor will order an additional test:
- 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 tissues, 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 why pain in the shoulder blade appears.
If the cause is a disease of the musculoskeletal system or its complications, drug treatment looks like this:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- muscle relaxers;
- pain relievers;
- local anesthetic agents.
Drug therapy should be supplemented with physiotherapeutic treatments, massages and therapeutic exercises.
If conservative treatment does not provide the desired therapeutic effect, surgical intervention is indicated for the patient.
When it matters which side of the pain in the shoulder blade: right or left
Heart diseases, especially the most serious ones like myocardial infarction, manifest themselves with left-sided symptoms.The situation is similar with injuries and ruptured spleen.These pathologies can lead to the death of the patient, so the location of the pain is extremely important.
Remember that 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, professional help is necessary.