Pain and burning between the shoulder blades in the spine can significantly ruin the quality of life. It is far from always possible to independently understand what is the cause of unpleasant sensations. If troubles often recur, the syndrome is worrying, do not pull. The most reasonable option is to seek the help of a qualified doctor. Back pain is a serious reason to take care of your health.
Where to begin?
Modern medicine knows many factors that can provoke pain in the spine between the shoulder blades. Each of them requires its own individual approach to treatment. To understand how to deal with the syndrome in a particular case, it is important to determine what is the cause of its occurrence. To do this, at the reception, the doctor will ask you to describe the nature of the sensations and tell exactly where they are localized. This will allow you to first outline the circle of possible root causes. After that, the doctor will direct to specialized instrumental studies, issue directions for laboratory tests. A comprehensive study will help you understand exactly what the cause of the pain is, how to deal with it.
When the doctor says why the spine between the shoulder blades is very sore, treatment can begin. It is important not to delay this, but to proceed with fixing the problem as soon as possible. Otherwise, there is a risk of not only suffering from pain for a long time, but also of losing the usual mobility for the rest of your life. Sensations prevent walking and lying down, sitting and turning, many even feel painful to breathe. It is impossible to sleep for a long time - with each movement the pain awakens, and the lack of a full night's rest affects the nervous system, productivity, and human performance.
So different!
If the spine between the shoulder blades hurts, you need to go to the doctor. Already on the way to the hospital, you should prepare for the admission procedure, clearly articulate exactly where the sensations are concentrated, what kind of character they are. Allocate growing, dull and aching, acute pain. The syndrome can prick, give to other parts of the body. In order for the doctor to formulate the initial diagnosis, it is necessary to accurately explain in which area the sensations are concerned about how much they spread throughout the body. In some diseases, the pain radiates to the neck or shoulders, to the chest area, affects the sensations in the back on the right or on the left - or everywhere at once. There may be different moments of pain. Some people are disturbed by the syndrome in the morning or in the evening, others after a load or its absence, after sleep, prolonged active movements. All this needs to be analyzed in order to quickly give the doctor answers to all the questions important for the diagnosis.
Most often, diseases become the cause of pain between the shoulder blades in the spine. Also possible causes are inadequately high loads, the unevenness of those, lack of mobility in everyday life. Often, people who are forced to occupy one position for a long time suffer from painful sensations. Injuries can provoke pain, including long-standing ones. Those who are not practicing any training are more at risk of pain. To minimize the likelihood of discomfort, you should do exercises every day, and whenever possible regularly engage in any sport.
Causes and consequences
Although sometimes the answer to the question of why the spine between the shoulder blades hurts is quite prosaic - everything is explained by excessive loads, often, unfortunately, there are cases when things are much worse and the root cause is a serious illness that requires urgent medical attention. Curvature of the spine, hernia or osteochondrosis can provoke pain. Kyphosis, radiculitis, periarthrosis are sometimes diagnosed. A possible cause of the pain syndrome is infection of the body, diseases affecting the respiratory system, heart, mediastinum.
Osteochondrosis and sciatica
In osteochondrosis that affects the thoracic region, the quality of the cartilage suffers, from which the discs between the vertebrae are formed. The nucleus begins to bulge, which leads to the infringement of blood vessels, nerve fibers. In this case, the spine hurts between the shoulder blades. The reasons for the sensations are also in the tension of muscle tissue, constantly maintained in good shape without the ability to relax. To slightly alleviate pain, it is necessary to regularly do therapeutic exercises. Warming gels and ointments will come in handy. The use of correctly selected drugs helps to quickly relieve the patient’s condition, but it is important to choose medications after consulting with a doctor.
If the back between the shoulder blades on the spine hurts due to sciatica, the sensations are more like numbness. The patient cannot move normally, the movements are as if constrained. The essence of the disease is the defeat of the roots of the nerves. This leads to a failure of the nervous system, the tissues swell, and the discs between the vertebrae become less elastic. This provokes a displacement of the vertebrae, leading to pinching of the nerve. Doctors say that radiculitis manifests itself with very specific sensations, so it is simply impossible to confuse the disease with others.
Scoliosis
If the reason why the back hurts in the spine between the shoulder blades, in scoliosis, the syndrome is explained by twisting of the spinal column. The disease is chronic, discomfort is especially pronounced at the time of awakening and soon after. Only a qualified doctor can help. Of course, sometimes the reason is only in an uncomfortable sleeping place, because of which the muscle tissue remains toned even at night. In some cases, scoliosis is provoked by more difficultly removable causes. Possible pain associated with insufficient quality of the discs between the vertebrae. Such sensations are stronger than anything in the morning, as nerves and blood vessels are compressed.
When it hurts and not only
Sometimes there is a burning pain between the shoulder blades in the spine. A vertebral hernia, muscle spasm, narrowness of the spinal canal can provoke this phenomenon. In the first case, the sensations become stronger if you cough, laugh, bend over. Muscle spasms are usually triggered by increased stress if a person does not allow the body to relax. But problems with the spinal canal are accompanied by a continuous burning sensation. No matter how much the patient changes his position, relief does not come.
In some cases, the neck and spine between the shoulder blades are sore due to osteochondrosis. This pathology affects the vertebrae of the neck relatively rarely (in comparison with other parts of the column), but this is also possible. It is believed that it is the form that affects the neck is the most dangerous, since degenerative processes take place in the immediate vicinity of the brain. The vertebrae of the neck are quite small, especially if you evaluate how many vessels and nerves are located here. Even the most insignificant changes in the structure become the reason for the correction of the human condition. Osteochondrosis can be suspected by pain, simultaneously affecting the shoulder blades and neck. With such a disease, muscles that are in tension without rest suffer - this becomes a cause of impaired blood flow, which provokes pain. Following this, the head begins to hurt, often in fits, hands go numb, a sore throat or a lump sensation. This is due to problems in the conductivity of the nerve tissue of the swallowing center. Due to lack of blood, the patient is dizzy.
What to do?
If the spine between the shoulder blades hurts, how to treat this syndrome, it is necessary to find out immediately. Such feelings strongly affect the daily routine of the patient, limit mobility, activity, and possible activities. It’s difficult to tolerate pain, because the syndrome manifests itself literally with every movement. This causes a decrease in work activity, mental disorders, conflicts with others, provokes depressive states, refusal to communicate with people and even retreat. In order not to encounter the grave consequences affecting various aspects of life, it is necessary to start treating trouble in a timely manner. Do not try to cope with the trouble on your own, you must make an appointment with a doctor who can formulate a diagnosis and develop a course of treatment. If the doctor recommends doing daily gymnastics, this instruction will have to be unquestioningly followed. Otherwise, the patient can be referred for inpatient treatment - in no case should you refuse.
If there is no way to get to the clinic as soon as possible, at home, you can take primary measures to treat pain in the spine between the shoulder blades. They imply constant moderate physical activity. The main task of the patient is to relieve pain. As a rule, gymnastics, therapeutic massage for a person suffering from severe pain are initially impossible, but here you should focus on the sensations. If the pain is very severe, the cause is probably inflammation, and in this state any external action provokes a sharp response from the body. It is wise to use anti-inflammatory medications to relieve pain. They are applied to the skin, injected. Active compounds quickly penetrate the affected area, stop the inflammatory process by reducing the activity of prostaglandin production.
What to do next?
When the most acute manifestations of pain between the shoulder blade and spine on the left and right are removed, you can stop using anti-inflammatory components. Typically, the duration of the primary course is about a week, after which they switch to local ointments that affect the peripheral nervous system. Under the influence of specific compounds, blood vessels become wider, the supply of nutrients to the damaged area is activated, and regenerative processes are accelerated.
Let's go to the doctor!
If there is a possibility, with acute, dull pain in the spine between the shoulder blades, you must make an appointment with the doctor. Having examined the patient and sent to laboratory, instrumental studies, the specialist can accurately say what is the cause of the discomfort. The approach to their elimination is practiced comprehensive. The doctor prescribes pain-relieving drugs, drugs for relieving inflammation, muscle spasm. Additionally, the patient is prescribed a course of therapeutic massage, physiotherapy, physical education in a lightweight form with such exercises that are especially relevant in a particular case.
The treatment program is chosen based on the individual characteristics of the case. For example, sharp pain between the shoulder blades in the spine requires a different approach than, say, dull, burning, leaning in the right hand - such syndromes provoke different initial problems. Assessing the picture of the disease, the doctor can determine the most effective treatment methods. Self-medication is categorically not recommended, as many products of the pharmaceutical industry provoke side effects. Means intended for treating backs adversely affect the liver, kidneys, heart, which means that using them at random is strictly prohibited. Most effective items have a wide list of contraindications that the doctor must take into account when choosing a drug - but for the average person it is often difficult, the amount of specific information is too large, and it is difficult to adequately assess the risks and dangers.
Physiotherapy: how will it help?
If the spine between the shoulder blades and the chest hurt, the doctor can direct you to physiotherapy. Use special magnetic techniques, laser, ultrasound, electricity. True, resorting to these techniques is not always wise. Doctors take into account the individual characteristics of the body, monitor the person’s reaction to the chosen course and replace it with a more suitable one, if a negative answer is observed, there is not enough efficiency.
It will be no less useful if the aching pain between the shoulder blades in the spine is disturbing, a special massage. Properly performed manipulations help to relax muscle fibers, relieve excess tone, stimulate blood flow, and therefore, ensure the delivery of nutrient components and oxygen to cells. Normalization of metabolic processes is an important step in eliminating any disease that provokes a pain syndrome.
We train: moderately and regularly
In order for the pain between the shoulder blade and spine to the right or left to not return, the doctor will recommend the patient to introduce special gymnastics into everyday habits. Properly dosed load helps normalize tissue function. If the patient was referred for treatment to a hospital, nurses will at first remind when and what exercises should be done. If the treatment takes place at home, you will have to take it on your own control. Exercise helps prepare muscle tissue for everyday stress, prevents the accumulation of lactic acid, and has a positive effect on overall health.
Gymnastics should be done at times when the pain between the spine and the right shoulder blade (or left) is not as strong as usual. The main task of the patient is to listen to the response of the body, move smoothly, slowly, concentrating on the sensations. If the body responds with pain, tingles inside, the tissues seem to stretch, you should abandon the practiced exercise in favor of simpler ones, otherwise the body will only be harmed. You should pay attention to exactly which exercises you can’t perform at first, but over time, the body’s response becomes positive - this is a mark that allows you to realize recovery. Complex practices should be tried no more than once a week. You can even keep a list, gradually striking out what was not given before, but became available over time.
Does the back hurt with an ulcer?
Sometimes pain in the spine between the shoulder blades is due to peptic ulcer. Indeed, the root cause is in the stomach, but sensations can give out throughout the body. A distinctive feature is the frequency of pain attacks, with sensations becoming stronger and stronger over time. If the patient vomits, after that the pain completely recedes for a while. In general, there is a dependence of discomfort and eating. In most patients, an ulcer hurts with an ulcer, but in some patients the sensations shift to the nipple of the chest on the left, to the scapula on the left or to the spine, spreading to the entire chest area. There are early pains, feelings of hunger and late. After vomiting, it becomes easier for almost everyone, and this phenomenon itself usually appears at the peak of pain, comes spontaneously, and does not vomit beforehand. Up to 85% of patients report heartburn, belching.
If the pain in the spine between the shoulder blades is provoked by an ulcer, the patient sometimes complains of compression, it stabs in the chest, hot. Sometimes the sensations are acute, sometimes weak, unusual, difficult to define. In any of the options for an ulcer, the patient feels unwell, it is difficult to bear the symptoms of the disease, and the pain will spread throughout the body. Others note that it throws into a cold sweat, chills are possible. It happens that an ulcer is accompanied by a feeling of causeless fear, provokes hypochondria.
Neuralgia as a cause of pain
In acute form, this disease causes seizures, although in some patients the syndrome seems to encircle. Sometimes unpleasant sensations worry only from one half of the body, but it also happens that they apply to both. The direction of pain in the spine between the shoulder blades corresponds to the gaps between the ribs. Activation is observed at the time of sneezing, coughing, touching, torso movements. The patient is given difficulty walking. Sensitivity often suffers due to a violation of the functionality of the peripheral nervous system, the muscles are constantly in tension, the patient feels sharp injections.
With neuralgia, pain in the spine between the shoulder blades, near the heart, is sometimes disturbed, sometimes they are given to the lower back. There are unpredictable and sharp discomfort in different parts of the body. The disease requires urgent treatment by a qualified doctor to prescribe adequate treatment, as it can cause complications. Often acute neuralgia is indicated by nausea, the urge to vomit, due to the negative effect on the nerve endings in the diaphragm. As can be seen from medical statistics, this problem is most difficult to diagnose from other provoking back pains.
Reasons: why does it hurt?
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Pain between the spine and the left shoulder blade can cause heart disease. Sometimes angina pectoris, ischemia. The reason may be in diseases of the respiratory organs - pleurisy, pulmonary inflammation. Sometimes severe pain is due to infection of the body. Quite often, unpleasant sensations in the back are accompanied by tuberculosis, polio. People with specific jobs whose working conditions adversely affect the health of the spinal column suffer from back pain. Finally, it should be noted the negative impact on the patient's well-being of various lesions of internal organs. As a rule, in such a situation, pain in the spine is only a concomitant phenomenon that develops against the background of the main symptomatology. This is characteristic of an abscess under the diaphragm, diseases of the kidneys, gall bladder.
What to look for?
For the most accurate diagnosis, CT, MRI, X-ray, and ultrasound should be done. But in some cases it’s already in appearance that it becomes clear what the reason is. Sometimes the patient himself may suspect by his appearance that the time has come to urgently visit a doctor. For example, if the spine is bent in one direction, the body and arms are asymmetrical, scoliosis can be suspected. In this case, the pain intensifies if you spend a long time without changing position. The patient's condition becomes worse if the pathology is actively progressing. However, even if the pain has not yet arrived, but the asymmetry, the curvature is already visible visually, you should not delay visiting a doctor.
If the pain comes in seizures, the duration of which is within five minutes, perhaps the root cause is angina pectoris. Burning sensations, stronger in the left half of the body, affect not only the shoulder blade, but also the arm. But if the pain is longer, then a heart attack can be suspected. In addition, sensations extend to the lower jaw. Check shows a reduced pressure, shortness of breath develops.