Causes of pain under the left shoulder blade in the posterior part of the back

To understand what pathology is befalling your body, you need to describe the symptoms accurately. Back pain below the left scapula from behind is a common symptom of a serious health problem. The difficulty in determining a particular disease is that pain in this area of the back can manifest itself in a variety of pathologies. From vascular lesions to nervous system pathology.

Kind of a pain sensation

When pain appears on the left side under the scapula, it is necessary to understand what character it is. Several types of pain are known:

1. The pain under the left scapula of the shingles character lasts a long time, the discomfort covers one part of the back. During a painful attack, there is a feeling of shortness of breath, coughing and shortness of breath appear. The situation is related to the fact that in the intercostal space there are nerve pulses.
2. The burning sensation is accompanied by numbness on the skin. The patient feels a tingling sensation that spreads throughout the body.
3. Growing character. The peculiarity of this type is that the entire left arm begins to ache, provoking an increase in muscle tone. Makes hand movements become unbearable.
4. Strong sharp. The person loses the ability to assume a lying position on the left side. Shortness of breath with inhalation that is difficult to observe. Movement increases the pain, then it becomes difficult to move.
5. Discomfort in the posterior part of the scapula, characterized by displacement. Cutting pain occurs in the left scapula, then is localized in the middle along the spine. The patient sighed.
6. Dull and sore, one might say, the easiest manifestation of the previous list. Whining in the scapular area only when the person moves, lift the sore arm.
7. Pulling syndrome will appear in the upper back, lower the spinal space to the lumbar region.
8. And another type - a sharp character.

This list is not limited to the types of pain symptoms listed. There is a sensation of pain and tingling that cannot be confused with other manifestations.

Attention should be paid to the nature of the pain syndrome. It is easier for a physician to determine your pathology.

What triggers the appearance of the syndrome?

Why is there discomfort under the scapula? The appearance of pain under the scapula can be explained by human anatomy. Often one part of the body is affected, and the unpleasant sensation from it spreads along the nerve trunk to other organs. The left shoulder blade "lies" in the arch of the costume, which together form the ribs. With the help of ligaments and intercostal muscles, the arches of the costume are connected to each other.

Beneath each rib there are vessels and nerves extending from the spinal cord, from the spinal space. The left rib and scapula complex has a protective function. They block the internal organs from any kind of damage: the heart, left lung, stomach, spleen, pancreas and aorta.

As a result of the anatomical location of the scapula, two large groups can be the cause of pain:

1. Caused by violations of the musculoskeletal system. This also includes muscle pain syndrome.
2. Feelings due to dysfunction of internal organs.

Diagnostics

To determine the cause of the onset of pain and make a correct diagnosis, he prescribes the following types of diagnostics:

• X-ray examination of the spinal space.
• Gastroscopy.
• CT, MRI.
• ECG.
• Ultrasound of the abdominal organs.
• UAC, LHC.

Depending on the damage factor, a specialist will prescribe treatment.

What to do with

If there is pain from the back, the sensation is localized below the left shoulder blade - usually associated with one of the following disorders:

• Pathology of the musculoskeletal system;
• Diseases of a heart nature;
• Bronchopulmonary sphere disease;
• Digestive tract dysfunction.

Musculoskeletal disorders

There are cases when manifestations of painful sensations appear as a result of skeletal damage. Patients suffering from osteochondrosis, curvature of the spine, spondyloarthrosis, hernias and other disorders feel pain on the left side below the scapula. There are two types of symptoms.

• First, aches and pains are associated with chest disease. His character is sick, restrains movement, does not allow deep breathing.
• The other type makes itself felt in the form of intense colic.

Shoulder-scapular periarthritis is an inflammatory disease of the shoulder structure. Radiant pain occurs in the left arm, the left half of the back, which causes stiffness and movement pain.

Sprengel syndrome is the presence of a pterygoid scapula in a patient, congenital or as a result of disease. Prolonged pain and tingling are characteristic.

Pathology related to the heart and blood vessels

Acute ischemia of the heart muscle - myocardial infarction. With a heart attack, compression in the thoracic area is characteristic. It spreads from the heart to the left scapula, arms and lower back. This condition can be fatal if left untreated. It is characterized by a burning sensation and severe pain under the left shoulder blade, which interferes with normal inhalation and respiration.

The difference between myocardial infarction is that it is not stopped by taking nitroglycerin, the attack lasts more than 15 minutes. Numbness of the hands is common. With the development of the country, one cannot doubt.

Cardiological sphere disease, indicated by acute lesions in the heart with irradiation under the left scapula - angina pectoris attack. Primary manifestation - compression in the heart area spreads to the left. Cardialgia narrows and sharpens, possibly exacerbated by movement.

The difference between angina pectoris and a heart attack is that an angina pectoris attack can be stopped by taking nitroglycerin or by physical and psychological rest. The cause of the attack is atherosclerosis of the arteries of the heart (coronary). Driving factors: hypothermia or overheating, alcohol abuse, excessive food intake.

Vegetative crisis is a condition similar to the manifestation of angina attack or heart attack. Weight and compression appear under the left scapula and in the sternum. It spreads to the left shoulder, forearm, reaching the phalanges of the distant fingers. Shine to the left of the jaw and to the area between the shoulder blades.

The pathology is characterized by chills, inspiratory dyspnea, chest tightness and shortness of breath. The syndrome is short -lived and spreads to the epigastric region, the neck. While taking sedatives and tranquilizers, you can stop a vegetative crisis.

Bronchopulmonary disease

Diseases of the respiratory system are also the cause of unpleasant sensations in the back area on the left side. The main place is occupied by pneumonia or pleurisy, if at least one lung is affected. Pain syndrome is accompanied by coughing, sneezing and increased pain with deep breathing. Characterized by increased temperature, weight loss, wheezing in the lungs on auscultation. Very difficult to breathe. One type of pain is cutting.

Disorders of the organs of the digestive system

Increased pain is characteristic of stomach ulcers. It is associated with food consumption, after vomiting, the pain worsens. In the abdominal area, it begins to pull. A reliable sign that this is a peptic ulcer is heartburn. Painful not only in the subscapularis, but also in the left side of the chest. The process is accompanied by muscle tension, difficulty breathing.

If the pain syndrome appears suddenly and is indicated by a sharp impulse, it is necessary to immediately call an ambulance. Acute pancreatitis can cause severe discomfort. Sensation that is in nature, the attack occurs suddenly. A rare cause is a ruptured spleen. With trauma to the splenic tissue, bleeding appears, almost impossible to stop. Emergency surgery is required.

Damage to the scapular area

1. Cervical osteochondrosis.
2. Violation of the intercostal nerve wall.
3. Scapular-rib syndrome (occurs with physical strain, injury, can also pass and cause this syndrome).
4. Malignant skeletal neoplasms.
5. Osteomyelitis (may appear after a gunshot wound)
6. Defeat of the subscapularis.
7. Shoulder-scapular periarthritis.

Psychosomatic

There are cases when a painful sensation on the left side arises with psychological pathology or strong psychoemotional stress. The reason for the emergence of pain syndrome is obvious to everyone, it is due to stress and emotional stress. Psychosomatic illness is accompanied by pain in the scapular area, somatic disorders are observed. This includes:

1. The temperature rises to a high number.
2. Compression, burning in the sternum.
3. A lump in the throat.
4. Feeling short of breath.

Who to contact

Given the intensity and nature of the pain under the scapula, you can seek help from the following specialists:

• Calling an ambulance team is necessary in the event of a sudden onset of symptoms with increased pain and deterioration of health.
• If trauma, which results in unpleasant sensations (stretching, weight lifting), contact a traumatologist.
• Difficulty breathing, bluish skin color, tingling in the chest area should be an impetus to refer to a cardiologist.
• You should see a neurologist and orthopedist if there is increased pain with exercise with the hands, physical activity, with known disorders of the spine.

• Pain after eating, dyspeptic disorders (nausea, vomiting) are reasons to visit a gastroenterologist.
• Consult a pulmonologist if your back hurts, especially on the left side below the scapula, accompanied by coughing and shortness of breath.
• When the pain is permanent or temporary, appearing for no apparent reason, they turn to a therapist. After a thorough examination and diagnosis, the therapist refers the patient to a narrow specialist.
• If, as a result of instrumental examination methods, it is not possible to determine the cause of symptoms, with frequent stress, psycho-emotional stress, consultation with a psychologist and psychiatrist is required.

Therapy of subcapularis pain

There is no general therapy plan for the management of patients suffering from pain in the upper back area. Therapy is carried out taking into account the etiology of the disease. For symptoms associated with disorders of the musculoskeletal system, treatment is carried out according to the following protocol:

It is necessary to give special treatment to patients.

• Give me peace. There are times when adequate rest relieves muscle tension, restores function and relieves pain.
• Medical treatment methods are used for inflammatory processes. NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are prescribed.
• For chronic pain, antidepressant medications are prescribed.
• With muscle spasms, muscle relaxants are given. To achieve maximum effect, more often drugs are prescribed along with NSAIDs, analgesics, massage procedures and physiotherapy, exercise therapy.
• The appointment of a massage course has a positive effect on the condition of the muscles. Helps relieve muscle cramps, relieve pain, improve blood circulation and well -being.
• To restore nerve conduction, relieve painful symptoms, acupuncture is used.

Therapeutic methods are prescribed for bronchopulmonary, cardiological and gastrointestinal diseases individually. The necessary vitamins, antibacterial drugs, analgesics and NSAIDs are selected.

Patients with symptoms of heart attack and angina pectoris were subjected to emergency treatment in the hospital.

When diagnosing aneurysms and severe pathology, they use surgical intervention.

Prophylaxis

1. Daily exercise, gymnastics. Travel for half an hour.
2. A complete balanced diet.
3. Prevents injuries to joints and bones.

What the doctor said

Physicians recommend that patients suffering from angina pectoris or heart attacks take prescribed medications regularly, follow a diet and avoid stress. Spinal disease requires long -term therapy with NSAIDs and exercise therapy. Pathology of the gastrointestinal tract is stopped with the use of special drugs and adherence to diet.

Doctors advise to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, it is easier to prevent disease than to cure.

In conclusion

If you know for sure the cause of the discomfort under the left shoulder blade, then you can start treatment more quickly. It is necessary to know the cause of discomfort correctly. As soon as you experience the symptoms of the pathology under consideration, immediately see a doctor. Be healthy!