Back pain below the left shoulder blade may occur due to sudden movements, prolonged exposure to uncomfortable positions, sitting or lying down.But in this case, it will disappear on its own very quickly.If the pain syndrome persists for a long time and becomes acute, stinging or cutting in nature, and painkillers do not help, then you should see a doctor urgently.This pain on the left side of the back below the shoulder blade indicates pathology and can be severe.The patient requires immediate treatment, which depends not only on the nature of the pain but also on why it occurs.
Main causes of pain below left shoulder blade
There are many causes of pain, but they can all be divided into two categories:
- Pain associated with pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.Pain under the left scapula can be caused by osteochondrosis of the neck or chest, intercostal neuralgia, osteomyelitis, bone tuberculosis, scapula injury, rib fractures or cracks, myofascial or scapulocostal syndrome, or glenohumeral periarthritis.
- Pain that occurs due to disease of the internal organs.Pain under the left shoulder blade may be a symptom of exacerbation of heart disease, bronchopulmonary disease, gallbladder disease, gastric ulcer, esophageal spasm, or pancreatitis.
Rare pathologies causing scapular pain include splenic rupture.This pathology requires immediate surgical treatment, as massive abdominal bleeding can lead to death.
Equally dangerous for the body is pain in the back below the left shoulder blade, which occurs against the background of heart disease:
- Anatomy of ascending aortic aneurysm;
- coronary heart disease;
- Angina pectoris;
- Pericarditis, myocarditis, pericarditis;
- Myocardial infarction.
Pain in the left shoulder blade that radiates from the back and radiates to the arm and chest area may indicate heart disease.Numbness of the limbs often occurs.Depending on the disease, accompanying symptoms may appear: lack of air, pressure in the throat, chest squeezing, feeling of cardiac arrest.
Let’s take a closer look at the main causes of pain below the left posterior shoulder blade.
gallbladder disease
With cholecystitis and cholelithiasis, there is a feeling of heaviness on the right side and pain under the left shoulder blade.Acute attacks of gallbladder inflammation can cause severe pain, nausea, vomiting, and a rise in body temperature.If a stone blocks the bile duct, the painful syndrome of biliary colic occurs.
With chronic inflammation, the essence of pain is pain.After eating greasy food and taking a long break between meals, unpleasant feelings can occur.
Attacks may recur after physical or nervous tension in a stressful context.
subphrenic abscess
This is a collection of pus under the septum.Most often, abscesses form on the right side, but they can also occur on the left side.Pathological manifestations include the following symptoms:
- Pain on the left side, radiating from under the shoulder blade to the sternum;
- Severe pain in the chest, aggravated by inhalation;
- high body temperature;
- hiccups;
- increased sweating;
- Cough without phlegm;
- Difficulty breathing.
If left untreated, the disease can lead to empyema, pneumonia, and lung abscesses.
bronchopulmonary disease
Lower respiratory tract (bronchial, pulmonary and pleural) diseases cause chest and scapular pain and are always accompanied by specific bronchopulmonary clinical manifestations:
- Increased body temperature;
- Weakness, lethargy;
- difficulty breathing;
- Moderate chest pain (usually from the affected lung) that worsens when coughing or breathing in;
- cough;
- respite.
Back pain syndrome in the left scapular region most commonly occurs with pneumonia, dry pleurisy, pneumothorax, acute bronchitis, or left lung abscess.
kidney disease
Shoulder blade pain can be caused by problems with the right kidney because of its proximity to the shoulder blade.Pain is usually localized on the right side due to inflammation, purulent infiltration, or stone formation, but may also radiate to the left side.The pain is usually dull or stabbing, but can also be sharp.It is paroxysmal and ascending, that is, rising from the lower back, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and elevated body temperature.
Musculoskeletal system diseases
Spinal problems and the neurological disorders associated with them are the main causes of back pain in the left shoulder blade area.Pain occurs with any movement, turning of the body, sneezing, breathing or deep breathing.They can radiate into the arms and are accompanied by a crunching sound and limited mobility.
Pain in the shoulder blade area is often caused by:
- Osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine;
- Herniated disc;
- protrude;
- scoliosis;
- Radiculitis.
Against the background of degenerative processes of the spine, not only blood vessels and nerve endings are squeezed, but also muscles spasm.Muscle spasm can trigger scapulocostal syndrome.
One of the most common causes of shoulder blade pain is cervical osteochondrosis.Initially, the pain syndrome is mild, but as degenerative changes occur, the pain can become severe and severe.The pain is also accompanied by dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision and increased blood pressure.
More rare musculoskeletal disorders that can cause shoulder pain include osteomyelitis, bone tuberculosis, and malignancy.
Muscle strains and inflammation
The back muscles around the shoulder blades support the spine in an anatomically correct position and protect nearby internal organs.Their inflammation or damage is not only accompanied by pain, but can also cause decreased muscle tone and shoulder instability.
intercostal neuralgia
The disease is accompanied by inflammation of the intercostal nerves and appears against the background of the following predisposing factors:
- Injury to ribs or spine;
- low temperature;
- excessive physical activity;
- Osteochondrosis.
The intensity of the pain syndrome depends on the severity of the pathology and the promptness of treatment.The pain can be painful, but sometimes it can be so painful that you can't stand it.
It is important to promptly contact a neurologist who will provide qualified and, most importantly, prompt help, otherwise intercostal neuralgia can cause serious discomfort to the person:
- The pain essentially becomes a sting, a cut;
- Pain that worsens when you move your hands, cough, or breathe in;
- Numbness in the affected part of the body;
- Heart rhythm disturbance.
Shoulder blade disease or injury
Cracks and fractures of the scapula and glenohumeral arthritis are associated with pain, limited mobility, damage to blood vessels, and compression of nerve endings.
Scapular injuries are more common in athletes, patients with osteoporosis and bone tissue cancers.
Types of pain below left shoulder blade
Before proceeding with diagnosis and treatment, it is important to understand the nature, location, intensity of pain, and its connection to movement, breathing, and diet.If there is pain under the left shoulder blade after eating, heart disease and diseases of the musculoskeletal system can be ruled out.The cause of the pain is diseases of the gallbladder, pancreas and stomach.
The nature of the pain syndrome can be cerclage pain, acute pain, burning pain, worsening pain, soreness, dull pain, or severe pain.
Dull pain in left shoulder blade
It can be constant or cyclic, indicating pathological conditions of the internal organs and diseases of the spine.If left untreated, it may turn into a stinging, burning sensation.Seizures occur more often when raising an arm, performing physical activity, or remaining in one position for an extended period of time.
Scoliosis, chronic cholecystitis, scapulocostal syndrome, intervertebral disc herniation, early stage of cervical osteochondrosis, minor injuries such as bruises, and intercostal neuralgia occur.
Severe pain below left shoulder blade
This is a syndrome of severe pain in the back below the shoulder blades that can limit movement and make breathing difficult.Characterized by myocardial infarction, shoulder bursitis, exacerbation of osteochondrosis, spondylosis, hernia, subphrenic abscess, pleurisy, acute cholecystitis, intercostal neuralgia.
Severe pain in left shoulder blade
It can happen suddenly or as a result of long-term pain.Tingling, stabbing pain is a sign of osteochondrosis, hernia, trauma, intercostal neuralgia, scapular tuberculosis, aortic aneurysm, perforated gastric ulcer, radiculitis.
Pins and needles pain behind left shoulder blade
It manifests as low back pain, a typical symptom of nerve ending compression in diseases of the musculoskeletal system.If it is accompanied by chest compression and lack of air, myocardial infarction or lung abscess cannot be ruled out.
Persistent pain on the left side of the back below the shoulder blade
Inherent to most pathologies of the musculoskeletal system as well as bronchopulmonary diseases.
Persistent pain below left shoulder blade
This pain does not go away even if the patient is in the recumbent position.It can interfere with sleeping, breathing and walking.More commonly, the pain worsens with physical activity, coughing, and sneezing.
Persistent, ongoing pain or soreness can occur due to injuries to the spine or shoulder blades, scapular syndrome, bronchopulmonary disease, pyelonephritis, and tumors.Belt pain associated with digestive disorders is characteristic of patients with acute pancreatitis.
Burning sensation in left shoulder blade
It is simply unbearable, accompanied by intercostal neuralgia, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, muscle strain, etc.
Important!If the burning sensation spreads to the sternum and is accompanied by shortness of breath, call an ambulance immediately.This is a sign of a heart attack.
How to relieve pain under left shoulder blade
Pain sensations under the left shoulder blade, especially if they are very severe and interfere with movement and free breathing, require qualified help, as they pose a threat to human health and life.You cannot ignore them and self-medicate.Taking analgesics, antispasmodics, and other pain relievers can relieve pain, but it cannot eliminate the cause, which must be discovered by a doctor.
Important!Urgent care is needed if severe pain develops and your health deteriorates rapidly.
Which doctor should I consult if I have pain under my left shoulder blade?
When pain first occurs in the shoulder blade area, you should consult a specialist and receive a diagnosis.Because back pain is often neurological in nature, you should make an appointment with a neurologist.
The doctor will perform a visual examination, study the patient's complaints, draw a clinical picture: the nature and status of the pain syndrome (recumbent position, during movement), its intensity, accompanying symptoms.
To understand exactly the cause of your back pain, your doctor will perform additional tests:
- Laboratory - clinical analysis of blood and urine, which will reveal inflammatory processes;
- Instruments, necessarily including MRI, as this diagnostic method provides the most accurate information about the condition of the spine, muscle tissue, nerve endings and blood vessels.
If instrumental diagnosis reveals pathology that is outside the neurologist's competence, the physician will refer the patient to a therapist, pulmonologist, cardiologist, gastroenterologist, traumatologist, or other specialist.
Treat left shoulder blade pain
All treatments are designed to eliminate the underlying cause and relieve pain.Doctors choose medications based on the cause of pain in the shoulder blade area.
If the cause is a disease of the musculoskeletal system or its complications, then medical treatment is as follows:
- anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs;
- Muscle relaxants;
- analgesics;
- Local anesthetic.
Medication must be supplemented with physical therapy, massage, and therapeutic exercises.
If conservative treatment does not provide the desired therapeutic effect, the patient may need to undergo surgery.
When it matters which side of your shoulder blade you have pain on: the right or the left
Heart disease, especially serious illnesses such as myocardial infarction, can cause symptoms on the left side.The situation is similar to injuries and spleen ruptures.These pathologies can lead to patient death, so localization of pain is extremely important.
Remember, self-medication will only worsen your health and lead to complications.If discomfort persists in the left shoulder blade area, professional help is needed.