Any pain syndrome is a sign that gives the body. Unfortunately, many people do not take back pain in the left shoulder blade seriously and do not pay attention to it. And this is a big mistake, since it is this symptom that indicates the occurrence or presence of serious pathologies. There are a lot of factors causing this condition. At the same time, the nature of such feelings of envy of a particular disease. The article will discuss the main causes of various kinds of back pain in the left shoulder blade, and also briefly dwell on treatment.
Shoulder pain
Pain in the subscapular region is considered a typical localization in the back. The shoulder blade is a triangular flat bone that is closely adjacent to the chest region from the second to eighth ribs. Its main task is to protect the chest. The main muscles of the left limb are attached to the left shoulder blade from the back. The shoulder blades protrude slightly on the back, and each individual knows exactly and can show where they are, so there is no difficulty in describing the pain in the region of the left shoulder blade from the back.
There are quite a few causes of discomfort in the area of the shoulder blades, and it is difficult to determine on their own what they provoked. In addition to a clear pain symptom, you should pay attention to other manifestations that will help the doctor find out the true cause, make a diagnosis and prescribe the right therapy. It is important to remember that the causes of this symptom under the right and left scapula are different.
Most common causes
Such sensations in the back under the left shoulder blade are caused by various reasons. It:
- symptom of pathology of internal organs or injuries;
- sign of spinal injury;
- overwork;
- Crick.
Key factors:
- Osteochondrosis - pain begins to bother the individual closer to the morning, that is, he wakes up already with this unpleasant sensation. At the same time, it radiates to the head or upper limb.
- Peptic ulcer of the stomach - with such a pathology, the pain in the character is aching, accruing and accompanied by heartburn, vomiting and belching. The appearance of cramps is associated with food intake. Its localization in the epigastrium, and it spreads to the thoracic spine, the left nipple and scapula, as well as the sternum.
- Heart disease, for example a heart attack or angina pectoris - pain is present simultaneously behind the sternum and under the shoulder blade on the left, and also gives to the left arm, neck. Attacks provoke emotional and physical stress, and in some cases they disturb and at rest.
- Inconvenient posture during sleep - an individual, upon awakening, feels pain in his left shoulder and under his shoulder blade. Soon she passes.
- Panic state, stress - against the background of fever, dizziness, sensation of a lump in the throat, an unpleasant sensation appears in the chest area and gives under the left shoulder blade. Further, it can spread to the neck and head.
- Inflammatory lung diseases - pneumonia, in which pleura is involved in the pathological process, provokes a dull point pain under the left shoulder blade. When coughing, sneezing, there is an increase in this syndrome, which subsides when lying down.
- Intercostal neuralgia is a seizure of paroxysmal or permanent character. Strengthens with deep breathing, coughing or sneezing, as well as when walking, physical activity. With this type of neuralgia, the muscles are tense, sensitivity is disturbed along the trunk and its branches. As a result, the pain spreads to the region of the heart, back, under the right or left shoulder blade and lower back.
When to consult a doctor
If the pain appeared for the first time and quickly passed, the reason is to be in an uncomfortable position for a long period, lack of movement, sedentary work. However, if such feelings persist, cause discomfort or intensify, then you should contact the clinic at the place of residence. If necessary, the attending physician will give direction to narrow specialists. There are situations in which help should be provided immediately. An emergency call is indicated if the pain:
- under the left shoulder blade from the back is associated with an injury;
- accompanied by fainting and dizziness;
- swelling, redness and swelling are observed simultaneously;
- accompanied by difficulty in breathing, i.e., the individual feels a lack of air, and he has shortness of breath, as well as an increased heartbeat.
Spinal diseases
Pain of a dull nature on the left side is possible due to a violation of the structure of the skeleton. For example, with brachio-scapular periarthritis - inflammation of the shoulder, the pain syndrome limits the mobility of the left limb and gives to the left half of the back. As a result, the scapular joint does poorly with its functions. Large loads, hypothermia and injuries provoke the ailment.
People suffering from the following pathological conditions often complain of pain that occurs in the left back:
- hernia;
- spondylarthrosis;
- osteochondrosis;
- protrusion;
- spondylosis;
- scoliosis.
The following options for unpleasant syndrome are distinguished:
- Thoracalgia is aching pain under the left shoulder blade from the back, which does not allow to make bends to the left, sharp movements, as well as deep breaths.
- Strong pulsating or vertebrogenic - this trouble occurs on the left side of the back in the scapular region. It can be associated with inflammation, overload, strokes, muscle sprains, neoplasms, injuries.
Constant pain under the left shoulder blade
This symptom usually precedes the development of dry pleurisy or left-sided pneumonia. This condition is called non-specific, but if the pain increases when coughing, sneezing or deep breathing, then an additional examination of the bronchopulmonary system is required. Continuous pain in the region of the left shoulder blade from the back occurs as a result of an inflammatory process that occurs in the lungs. It passes when the individual takes a horizontal position and turns on a healthy side. In addition, such a pain syndrome is considered a sign of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. This disorder is considered chronic, and in some cases worsens and manifests itself in the form of seizures. Provoke them:
- increased activity;
- cough;
- deep breathing.
Differentiate left-sided constant res using instrumental examination methods, for example, by means of X-ray diffraction.
Pressive pain under the left shoulder blade
This type of problem is considered a symptom of osteochondrosis, vegetative-vascular dystonia (abbreviated as VVD), or a beginning attack of coronary artery disease. Pressing pain in the left side of the back under the shoulder blade requires immediate medical attention.
She feels burning, bursting and needs urgent relief. Vegetative-vascular crisis is also manifested by pressing pain under the left scapular region. In the clinic, such sensations are similar to cardiological pains, but taking heart medications does not eliminate them. In this case, tranquilizers and sedatives do an excellent job. The next difference is that with physical activity, intense stress or intense work, the pain syndrome is aggravated with coronary artery disease, and with a VVD such a causal relationship is not traced.
Pulsating pain under the left shoulder blade
This clinical picture is characteristic of left-sided protrusion of the sternum or intervertebral disc of the cervical spine. Hernia of the intervertebral disc is manifested:
- galloping pressure;
- dizziness;
- throbbing back pain in the region of the left shoulder blade;
- violation of the sensitivity of the left upper limb;
- pain in the left shoulder, as well as the entire left half of the body.
Protrusion can be detected using x-rays or MRI. If pulsation is observed below the scapular region, then the doctor may suspect aortic dissection. This condition is considered to be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
Sudden pain under the left shoulder blade
The causative factor of this condition is compression, which is associated with damage to the suprascapular nerve. This kind of trauma gives a sudden and sharp pain at the bottom of the scapula. Then it goes to the shoulder and reduces the motor activity of the upper limb. In addition, a sudden back pain in the left shoulder blade signals radiculopathy (radiculitis). In this case, the nerve roots are pinched with a left-side displacement of the intervertebral discs of the thoracic or cervical spine. A long ongoing destructive process is accompanied by constant painful sensations, and a sharp exacerbation causes:
- large swelling in the displacement area;
- pathology (protrusion) of the intervertebral hernia.
In very rare cases, a sudden cut in the left scapular region may be a sign of pneumatic cancer of the left lung. Therefore, if you experience sudden pain, dizziness and shortness of breath, you should not independently help an individual, but you need to call an ambulance doctor.
Acute pain under the left shoulder blade
This sensation warns of an attack of angina pectoris. Unpleasant sensations begin in the sternum and then spread to the left side of the individual's body. There is compressive and constricting pain under the left shoulder blade from behind from the back, which disappears after taking medications containing nitrates, or Validol, and also passes at rest. Another reason for the acute condition is associated with left-sided protrusion of the intervertebral disc. In this case, it increases with any movement.
The most dangerous acute pain syndrome occurs with perforation of the cardiac section with gastric ulcer. This condition is accompanied by symptoms such as increased sweat glands, pressure loss. The sense of pain is so unbearable and strong that patients characterize it as if a dagger pierced the body. The localization site is the epigastric zone, and the pain radiates to the place where the perforation is going on, that is, to the left or to the right. With atypical perforation, pain always affects the left side of the individual’s body.
Aching unpleasant symptom under the left shoulder blade
This type of syndrome is considered a faithful companion of the protracted course of the pathological process. Doctors associate aching pains with the following diseases:
- Pericardium - it has a distinctive feature. This is a clear localization of pain on the left side of the body, giving to the upper limb, as well as under the scapula, back.
- Myocardial damage - while the pain under the left shoulder blade from behind from the back is not constant. The provocateurs are stress, general fatigue, any overstrain. Unpleasant sensations occur against the background of general weakness, nausea, shortness of breath. In addition, the skin of the individual becomes pale.
- Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is different in nature, it can be pressing, aching, shooting. Then there is a certain lull, then unpleasant symptoms reappear. The main sign of pathology at the initial stage of development is considered dull pain.
Pulling thread under the left shoulder blade
The main cause of such pain under the left shoulder blade from the back is the initial stage of the occurrence of cervical osteochondrosis. At the same time, it is aggravated with an increase in tension on the cervical spine. Most often, this symptom is found in individuals whose labor activity is associated with finding the body in one position, i.e., sitting or standing. Drawing pain in the left subscapular area disturbs some people in the early morning. The reason for this phenomenon is the wrong position during sleep. As a result of this, the load on the nervous and muscle tissue of the cervical spine increases, which subsequently results in unpleasant sensations.
Sharp pain under the left shoulder blade from the back
Its reason is related to:
- Left-sided pneumonia in the acute period. In this case, the individual has cutting and prickly pains in the left half of the chest, which are reflected under the scapula. Due to the fact that cough is associated with pneumonia, the malaise is aggravated and aggravated.
- Intercostal neuralgia - irritation of the nerve roots can be constant or episodic. Most often, an unpleasant symptom occurs abruptly. It subsides after relaxing or warming up this area.
- Pancreatitis in the acute stage. A sharp, cramping pain appears, giving to the left side of the back and the subscapular area. This phenomenon is quite rare in practice.
Treatment of back pain in the left shoulder blade. Prevention
Therapy of peripheral nerve diseases (thoracalgia), discomfort under the left shoulder blade will depend on diagnostic measures. Initially, therapeutic manipulations aimed at relieving an acute condition that threatens the life of the patient are shown. For example, if an individual is diagnosed with:
- Chronic ischemic heart disease - cardiac medication is indicated, they stop unpleasant sensations and relieve the condition. However, if the pain persists ten minutes after taking the medicine, then an ambulance team should be called.
- Stomach ulcer - in the event of a sharp in nature pain, you must immediately call the doctors. It is not worth it to undertake any medical manipulations on your own.
Often unpleasant sensations in the area of the back and shoulder blades are projection, i.e., reflective pain. And the source itself is in a different place. Therefore, the diagnosis is required. Therefore, the treatment of back pain in the left shoulder blade is a conservative therapy aimed at curing the main culprit, which provokes unpleasant sensations.
Preventive measures - this is a regular visit to a health care facility in order to undergo dispensary observation. In addition, the systematic implementation of all the doctor's recommendations, including taking medication, diet and physical activity.