Pain under the left shoulder blade is a common occurrence that can occur after a sudden movement or due to an uncomfortable body position. They usually pass quickly and no longer bother you.
Persistent discomfort under the scapula can be a symptom of a serious illness that requires immediate treatment. Especially do not underestimate these symptoms if the pain radiates from the left to the sternum, or the left arm becomes numb.
From whether a person turns to a specialist for timely help, from its nature and location, an accurate diagnosis can be made, the direction of examination can be chosen, as well as the necessary treatment can be chosen to eliminate not only the disease itself, but also its cause.
Causes of pain under the left shoulder blade
What is the meaning? There are a sufficient number of causes for pain under the left scapula in adults, they can be attributed to the problem of the scapula itself, and to diseases of internal organs. Let’s consider the most likely causes of this condition below.
Certain diseases of the musculoskeletal system may be accompanied by painful symptoms in the left shoulder blade area. Often he shows himself like this:
- Osteochondrosis of the thoracic or cervical spine.
- Intercostal neuralgia.
- Traumatic injury to the scapula (suprascapular nerve compression injury).
- Broken ribs.
- Sprengel's disease (scapula alata) - pterygoid scapula.
- Myofascial syndrome.
Cardiological diseases. This is not to say that it only hurts in the left shoulder blade area. The pain then goes to the left hand, then goes to the clavicle, then down to the lower abdomen. Depending on the disease, patients experience shortness of breath, a feeling of cardiac arrest or narrowing of the throat. The chest at this time looks like it is narrow or seized with a hot feeling. This is such a disease:
- Ischemic heart disease.
- Myocardial infarction.
- Pericarditis.
- Angina pectoris (unstable, stable).
- Mitral valve prolapse.
- Less common, aortic aneurysms.
Persistent pain under the left shoulder blade may indicate disease of the bronco-pulmonary system. At the same time, the painful sensations are always directed to the affected lungs, they have an average intensity and character of pain, localized under the left shoulder blade in one point of pain. This can be:
- Left side pneumonia.
- Pleurisy (dry, left side).
- Tracheobronchitis with autonomic dysfunction.
- Acute bronchitis.
- Left lung abscess.
Gastrointestinal tract diseases:
- YABZH (Ulcus gastrica) - gastric ulcer.
- Duodenal ulcer - duodenal ulcer.
- Esophageal spasm.
- GERD is a disease of the gastroesophageal reflux.
- Rarely - exacerbation of pancreatitis.
Common causes of pain below the left shoulder blade in prevalence are as follows:
- Cervical osteochondrosis, which most often manifests itself as lateral pain in the lower part of the occipitale os - the occipital bone. The pain is excruciating, intensified by active movement of the head and always radiating under the scapula, to the arm.
- Another disease, the typical symptom of which is pain under the left shoulder blade, is intercostal neuralgia. It is a frequent consequence of osteochondrosis and is manifested by lumbago and strong pain from the nature of the girdle, radiating to the right or left, including under the scapula.
- YABZH (gastric ulcer). Symptoms are most often caused by seasonal, depending on nutritional factors and are characterized by paroxysmal, radiating pain.
Based on a brief anatomical overview, all causes of pain under the left shoulder blade can be divided into two major groups:
- Pain associated with pathology of internal organs (cardiovascular pathology, respiratory diseases, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and spleen).
- Pain associated with pathology of the musculoskeletal system and muscle pain, including neurogenic nature.
To find out why it hurts under the left shoulder blade, you should undergo a comprehensive examination, which, based on complaints and specific examination data, will be prescribed by the attending physician. After all, pain in different diseases will differ in nature, intensity and provoking factors.
Angina pectoris
Another heart disease can manifest itself as acute pain under the left shoulder blade - this is angina pectoris. With him, the pain mainly occurs in the retrosternal area, then, seems to "spill" to the left. By the nature of manifestations, they are sharp and narrow, disappearing during rest and after taking nitroglycerin. At a lower level, validol helps patients.
In most cases, the disease is caused by coronary artery atherosclerosis. Angina attacks most often occur during physical and emotional stress, after sudden hypothermia or overheating of the body, alcohol intake, as well as spicy and heavy foods.
Osteochondrosis
The most common cause of pain below the left scapula posteriorly from the back is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, which is characterized by compression of the spinal nerve roots.
The disease is characterized by excruciating and dull pain, often sideways just below the occipital area. It can remain and is indicated by the lumbago, which constantly radiates under the scapula on the affected part. A sharp increase in symptoms occurs with movement of the head, after a night's sleep.
It is often the result of prolonged pressure on the neck. Also, patients noted numbness in the hands, migraines, dizziness.
Pneumonia and pleurisy
With left-sided pneumonia (pneumonia), moderate pain, accompanied by coughing with phlegm and wheezing in the lungs, will also interfere in the scapular area. At the same time, temperature "candles" are often observed.
Pleurisy (inflammation of the pleura) can be dry or purulent. Both of these types of pathology are accompanied by severe pain when breathing, while the person protects the affected part: breathing becomes shallower.
With purulent pleurisy, puncture is required, followed by clearance analysis and drainage of the pleural cavity.
Stomach ulcer
Stomach ulcers are a common disease that causes increasing pain under the left shoulder blade. The sensation gradually spreads throughout the chest, nausea and vomiting appear. Severe pain in the back is observed after eating snacks: too salty, spicy and greasy. Also note:
- pale skin.
- a nervous state of fear.
- cold sweat.
- blood clots in vomit (the main sign that the urgent need to contact a doctor at home).
A person cannot move normally when a painful sensation arises. The excruciating pain increases with perfect movement. A sharp pain can be a signal that deterioration has occurred and you need to call an ambulance.
Intercostal neuralgia
This pathology often occurs in patients with complaints of pain under the left shoulder blade. In this case, the pain extends to one intercostal space, accompanied by numbness or tingling along the affected area, increasing when tilted to the aching part, i. e. to the left. In some cases, along the inflamed intercostal nerve, a skin rash or redness may occur.
Trauma
Often, pain caused by a traumatic injury to the shoulder blade occurs with a direct impact on the shoulder blade or when falling backwards. The pain syndrome is intense, especially during the first hours after injury.
In the future, it appears or increases with movement, edema and swelling develop. Traumatic pain can also be caused by a fracture of the shoulder blades or ribs. Therefore, it is important to do an X-ray.
Myocardial infarction
A heart attack is characterized by a sharp sharp pain under the left shoulder blade, which can also appear all over the left side of the body (in the left hand, left side of the neck).
The cause of acute angina attacks in a heart attack can be the most common emotional stress, which is why people with heart problems are advised not to be nervous.
Pain in a heart attack can be of a different nature - cutting, squeezing or pressing. But there are also non-standard cases when pain can manifest in the most unexpected places and in the most non-standard ways, for example, in the peritoneal area.
Pericarditis
The disease is associated with inflammation of the serous membranes of the heart. With this disease, tachycardia often develops, hence the cause of pain in the left side of the back. The pain is sharp, but subsides when the person is calm or when bending forward.
The disease is dangerous because adhesions can form and organs shrink along with heart contraction. Also, calcium salts can be stored in the pericardium of the heart, which leads to a thickening of the lining of the heart.
Psychosomatic illness
Often, pain under the left shoulder blade is observed with psychological stress and illness of a psychosomatic nature. The reason lies in stress and emotional turmoil, which the body is unable to cope with on its own and signals problems with the help of psychosomatic pain.
In addition to the painful sensation behind the scapula, with psychosomatic, the following symptoms may occur:
- haba;
- discomfort in the chest area;
- cramps in the throat;
- lack of air.
Diagnostics
To understand how to treat pain under the left shoulder blade in the back from behind, you need to undergo a thorough examination to determine the true cause of these symptoms.
First of all, these are:
- Collect anamnesis. It is relatively short, as pain under the left shoulder blade in the back is not considered a life -threatening pathology.
- Contact a doctor with a detailed description of the nature of the pain.
- Examination of the patient's back.
- Instrumental examination is performed only in cases of suspected acute infection, oncology, trauma and with severe neurological symptoms.
First of all, the doctor conducts a full diagnosis to exclude myocardial infarction, spinal oncology, neurological disorders that require immediate treatment. And only after that did he decide how to treat this patient.
Which doctor should I go to?
Depending on how the sensation of pain arises, what are its characteristics and what is associated with it, you should choose a specialist with whom you will go to consult:
- Gastroenterologist - for food -related pain, the presence of dyspepsia.
- Therapist or pulmonologist - for pain, exacerbated by shortness of breath, accompanied by shortness of breath, cough, fever.
- Neurologist - for pain associated with movement, stress.
- Traumatology - when showing an injury that precedes the onset of pain.
- Cardiologist - with a burning sensation in the back of the sternum with irradiation under the scapula, into the tongue, left arm.
- Psychologists and psychiatrists - for pain, the cause of which is not found based on the results of detailed examination, especially if there are signs of psychosomatic disorders and other neuroses.
Illness and pain are easier and safer to prevent than to treat. While there are no health problems and discomfort, you should visit a doctor regularly and undergo a medical checkup. If the pain still appears, you can not cure yourself, you should immediately contact a specialist in this area. By eliminating pain with painkillers and without taking complex treatments, you contribute to the development of serious diseases of the heart, gastrointestinal tract or spine.