Pain under the left shoulder blade from the back sometimes occurs due to simple muscle tension or body overload.But sometimes such pain indicates the presence of a serious illness.To understand why it appears between the shoulder blade and the spine on the left, let's recall the organs located there.Let's take a short excursion into human anatomy.
Causes of pain
The left scapula is the name of the bony formation on the back, close to the ribs.Its task is to protect the chest.The scapula on the left side is part of the shoulder girdle and is part of the joint.Between the ribs are located the endings of the nerves and the branches of the blood vessels connected by muscles and ligaments.The major muscles of the scapula and the left arm are attached to the scapula posteriorly.
Pain under the shoulder blade on the left is associated with:
- In diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
- With cardiac pathology;
- In diseases of the bronchopulmonary system;
- With abnormalities in the functioning of the stomach.
Let's look below at the causes of pain between the shoulder blade and the spine.The question of why it hurts under the left shoulder blade worries many people who experience pain.
Diseases of the spine
At times, the dull pain on the left side is due to disturbances in the structure of the skeleton.Back pain on the left side is experienced by people with osteochondrosis, spondyloarthrosis, scoliosis, hernia and protrusion, spondylosis, spondylolisthesis.Pain comes in two forms.The first type of pain in the left shoulder blade is associated with thoracalgia.It is painful and does not allow sudden movements, deep breathing or bending to the left.The second type of pain under the scapula from the back is manifested by a strong throbbing pain.Pain in the shoulder blades is sometimes mistakenly associated with weakness of the internal organs.
A condition called glenohumeral periarthritis is inflammation of the shoulder.The shoulder pain radiates from the left side of the back, thus limiting the mobility of the left arm.The scapular joint is not working well.
Severe pain occurs in the area of the scapula and in Sprengel's disease.This is the name given to the existence of a pterygoid scapula in man, which appears at birth or is acquired in connection with past diseases.The pain is constant and usually gets worse when you raise your arm up.
When the nerve endings located between the ribs are pinched, the affected area tingles or tingles, and the pain increases when bending over.
If your back hurts in the shoulder blade area, it may be due to the affected muscles becoming inflamed.Pain occurs when muscles are stretched, overworked or hit.Pain on the left under the scapula and is possible with the appearance of tumors.Behind, a deformation of the chest wall occurs.Pain also occurs with injuries to the scapula or its blows.Severe pain appears in the first hours of injury, then it hurts when moving, swelling and swelling appear.In these cases, an X-ray is taken to make sure there is no fracture.Pain under the left scapula on the side of the back is associated with osteomyelitis and tuberculosis of the scapula, which occur quite rarely.
Diseases of internal organs
Diseases associated with heart abnormalities, such as angina pectoris and myocardial infarction, also cause pain on the left side of the back.Only this type of pain differs in character from the previous ones.The attack at these moments is not shooting, but burning and viscous.Such attacks are provoked by great physical exertion and strong nervous shock.
The center of pain is usually located in the chest and radiates to the left side.Shortness of breath and fear of death appear.Sometimes the lower back hurts during attacks.Alleviation of attacks occurs with the help of nitroglycerin and similar drugs.The duration of such phenomena is no more than fifteen minutes.
Cases in which the drugs have no effect and the attack lasts more than half an hour indicate a heart attack.
Sometimes there is no pain, but there is a stabbing and burning sensation on the left side of the back, or the arm is removed.You have to be careful with this.The condition is especially dangerous when the aorta dissects the aneurysm.Pain tends to migrate from top to bottom.From the chest, it moves below the shoulder blade area and then stops at the lower back.Aortic rupture and internal bleeding leading to death may occur.The symptom of the origin of such disorders can be recognized by a sharp drop in pressure.The pain is accompanied by myocarditis, pericarditis and endocarditis.
The cause of the pain may be diseases related to the bronchopulmonary system.These include left-sided pneumonia, pleurisy, and lung tissue abscess.The pathology of the respiratory system manifests itself in the appearance of cough, shortness of breath, fever, wheezing in the chest and pain when inhaling.An X-ray is taken to confirm the diagnosis.Another cause of pain is the malfunctioning of the stomach.These diseases require surgery.With a perforated gastric ulcer, a sharp pain appears under the left shoulder blade.It's like a stab.It occurs when there is a defect in the stomach called an ulcer.It is characterized by symptoms such as fever, tense abdominal muscles and nausea.X-rays and fibrogastroscopy are performed to confirm the diagnosis.In acute pancreatitis, the pain occurs under the left ribs and in the area called the epigastrium.It also radiates in the area of the left scapula.The symptoms are the same as for an ulcer.
When the spleen is damaged, its two-phase rupture develops.It and the appearance of internal bleeding does not occur instantly.The main tissue is torn, but the integrity of the capsule of the organ is preserved, in which blood continues to accumulate.When its volume increases to its limit, the capsule ruptures and bleeding occurs.These are almost all types of pain under the left shoulder, the causes of which we have considered.The exact diagnosis is made when the patient undergoes an additional examination and is made by a specialist.
Making a diagnosis
Determining the cause of pain under the left shoulder blade includes:
- Establishing the patient's relationship between pain and diet and lifestyle, with his feelings;
- Carrying out a visual and medical examination.Pulse, pressure and temperature are measured;
- Taking X-rays;
- Conducting electrocardiogram and computed tomography;
- Carrying out fibrogastroduodenoscopy;
- Conducting the UAC.
How to treat pain
It must be said that the treatment depends on the diagnosis.The first step is to treat an acute life-threatening condition.In heart diseases, drugs are prescribed to relieve pain in the heart.In cases where he cannot calm down for ten minutes, an ambulance is called.The pain of an ulcer, osteochondrosis or protrusion is relieved by a specialist.Self-medication is not recommended.Usually, the root of pain in the shoulder blade is located in a completely different part of the body.
The treatment of back pain is carried out by the following doctors:
- Traumatologist;
- vertebrologist;
- neuropathologist;
- gastroenterologist;
- Cardiologist;
- therapist;
- Psychotherapist and psychiatrist.
The prerogative to conduct the initial examination belongs to the doctor at the site.After examining the patient, he refers him to the next specialist, who will conduct an additional examination.
Prevention
To prevent pain, it is necessary to know the cause of its occurrence.Only then can you achieve the desired effect of preventing pain.Patients suffering from angina pectoris, heart disease or heart attack should always take heart medication, follow a proper diet and limit physical and psychological activities.
Disease of the spine requires long-term treatment, during which special therapeutic exercises are performed and non-steroidal drugs are taken to prevent inflammation.
Stomach diseases require a proper diet and special medicines.These diseases require the intervention of a psychologist to maintain the emotional-mental balance of the patient.Prevention requires regular medical examinations.Consultation with a doctor and conducting preventive examinations lead to a low rate of occurrence of pain and illness in the near future.These measures are simply necessary.After all, it is easier to prevent the pain between the shoulder blade and the spine on the left than to get sick and treat yourself.