Pain under the left shoulder blade from the back can occur due to sudden movement, prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position, sitting or lying down.But in this case, it quickly passes by itself.If the pain syndrome lasts for a long time, becomes acute, stabbing or gnawing in nature, and painkillers do not help, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor.Such pain under the shoulder blade on the left side of the back indicates a pathology, and it is possible that it is severe.The patient needs urgent treatment, which depends not only on the nature of the pain, but also on the cause of its occurrence.
The main causes of pain under the left shoulder blade
There are many causes of pain, but they can all be divided into 2 groups:
- Pain associated with pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.Pain under the left scapula can be caused by osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic region, intercostal neuralgia, osteomyelitis, bone tuberculosis, scapula injuries, rib fracture or crack, myofascial or scapulocostal syndrome, glenohumeral periarthritis.
- Pain caused by diseases of internal organs.Pain under the left shoulder blade can be a symptom of heart disease, bronchopulmonary system, gall bladder, stomach ulcer, esophageal spasm, exacerbation of pancreatitis.
Rare pathologies that cause pain radiating to the scapula include rupture of the spleen.This pathology requires urgent surgical treatment, because there is massive abdominal bleeding with the risk of death.
No less dangerous for the body is back pain on the left side under the shoulder blade, which develops against the background of heart disease:
- dissection of an ascending aorta aneurysm;
- coronary heart disease;
- angina pectoris;
- pericarditis, myocarditis, pericarditis;
- myocardial infarction.
Pain in the left scapula from the back, radiating to the arm and chest area, may indicate heart disease.Numbness of the extremities often occurs.Depending on the disease, accompanying symptoms also appear: lack of air, throat tightness, chest tightness, feeling of heart failure.
Let's take a closer look at the main causes of pain under the shoulder blade on the left side of the back.
Gallbladder diseases
With cholecystitis and cholelithiasis, heaviness occurs in the right side, pain radiating under the shoulder blade on the left side.An acute attack of inflammation of the gallbladder causes severe pain, nausea, vomiting and elevated body temperature.If it is caused by blockage of the bile ducts with a stone, the pain syndrome appears as biliary colic.
In chronic inflammation, the nature of the pain is painful.Unpleasant sensations occur after eating fatty foods, with long breaks between meals.
Relapses of attacks can occur after physical or nervous strain, in the background of stress.
Subphrenic abscess
It is a collection of pus under the diaphragm.Most often, the abscess forms on the right side, but left-sided localization is also possible.The pathology is manifested by the following symptoms:
- pain in the left side, extending below the scapula to the sternum;
- acute pain in the chest, which intensifies during inhalation;
- high body temperature;
- hiccups;
- increased sweating;
- non-productive cough;
- dyspnoea.
Without treatment, the disease can cause empyema, pneumonia and lung abscess.
Bronchopulmonary diseases
Diseases of the lower respiratory tract (bronchi, lungs and pleura) cause pain in the chest and scapulae, which are always accompanied by a specific bronchopulmonary clinical picture:
- increased body temperature;
- weakness, lethargy;
- difficulty breathing;
- chest pain (usually from the affected lung) of moderate intensity, which increases when coughing or inhaling;
- cough;
- squealing.
Pain syndrome in the back of the back in the area of the left shoulder blade most often occurs with pneumonia, dry pleurisy, pneumothorax, acute bronchitis or left lung abscess.
Kidney diseases
Pain in the scapula can be caused by problems with the right kidney, because it is located near the shoulder blade.Due to its inflammation, the formation of purulent infiltrates or stones, the pain is often localized on the right side, but it can also radiate to the left.The pain is often dull or aching, but it can also be sharp.It is paroxysmal, ascending, i.e. rising from the lower back, accompanied by nausea, vomiting and elevated body temperature.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
Spinal problems and related neurological disorders are the main cause of back pain in the area of the left shoulder blade.Pain can occur with any movement, turning the body, sneezing, breathing or taking a deep breath.They can radiate into the hand, combined with a screeching sound and limited mobility.
Pain in the scapula area often occurs due to the following diseases:
- cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis;
- hernia of intervertebral discs;
- protrusion;
- scoliosis;
- radiculitis.
Against the background of degenerative processes in the spine, not only blood vessels and nerve endings are compressed, but also muscle spasms.Muscle spasm provokes the appearance of scapular-costal syndrome.
One of the most common causes of pain in the shoulder blade is cervical osteochondrosis.At first, the pain syndrome is mild, but as degenerative changes occur, it becomes acute and bursting.The pain is accompanied by dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision and increased blood pressure.
Less common diseases of the musculoskeletal system that can cause pain in the scapulae are osteomyelitis, bone tuberculosis and malignant neoplasms.
Muscle strain and inflammation
The back muscles surrounding the scapula support the spine in an anatomically correct position and protect the internal organs located nearby.Their inflammation or injury is not only accompanied by pain, but also causes a decrease in muscle tone and the appearance of instability in the shoulder.
Intercostal neuralgia
The disease is accompanied by inflammation of the intercostal nerves and appears against the background of the following provoking factors:
- rib or spine injuries;
- hypothermia;
- excessive physical activity;
- osteochondrosis.
The intensity of the pain syndrome depends on the severity of the pathology and the timeliness of the treatment.Pain can be painful, but sometimes it hurts so much that you can't stand it.
It is important to consult a neurologist in time, who will provide qualified and, most importantly, timely help, otherwise intercostal neuralgia will cause serious discomfort to a person:
- pain becomes shooting, cutting;
- the pain intensifies when moving the hand, coughing or inhaling;
- numbness occurs in the affected part of the body;
- heart rhythm is disturbed.
Diseases or injuries of the scapula
Cracks and fractures of the scapula, glenohumeral arthritis are accompanied by pain, limitation of movement, damage to blood vessels and pinching of nerve endings.
Shoulder blade injuries are more common in athletes, patients with osteoporosis and bone cancer.
Types of pain under the shoulder blade on the left side
Before proceeding with diagnosis and treatment, it is important to understand the nature, localization, intensity of pain, their connection with movement, breathing and food.If there is pain under the left shoulder blade after eating, then heart pathologies 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 girdling, acute, burning, increasing, painful, dull, sharp.
Aching pain in left scapula
It can be constant or periodic, which indicates pathologies of internal organs and diseases of the spine.Without treatment, it can turn into stinging, burning.Attacks occur more often when raising the hand, doing physical activity or staying in one position for a long time.
It appears in scoliosis, chronic cholecystitis, scapular-costal syndrome, intervertebral disc herniation, initial stages of cervical osteochondrosis, bruises and other minor injuries, intercostal neuralgia.
Acute pain under the left shoulder blade
This is a severe syndrome of back pain below the shoulder blade, which limits movement and makes breathing difficult.Characteristic for myocardial infarction, bursitis of the shoulder joint, exacerbation of osteochondrosis, spondylosis, hernia, subphrenic abscess, pleuritis, acute cholecystitis, intercostal neuralgia.
Sharp pain in the area of the left shoulder blade
It can come on suddenly or be the result of long-term aching pain.Cracking, sharp pain is a sign of osteochondrosis, hernia, trauma, intercostal neuralgia, tuberculosis of the scapula, aneurysm of the aorta, perforated stomach ulcer, radiculitis.
Stitching pain behind left shoulder blade
It manifests itself as lumbago, which is typical for pinched nerve endings in diseases of the musculoskeletal system.If it is accompanied by chest compression and lack of air, then myocardial infarction or lung abscess cannot be ruled out.
Excruciating pain in the left side of the back below the shoulder blade
Inherent in most pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, as well as bronchopulmonary diseases.
Constant pain on the left side under the shoulder blade
Such pain does not leave the patient even in a lying position.It interferes with sleeping, breathing and walking.More often, the pain intensifies during physical activity, coughing and sneezing.
Constant pain that torments or occurs due to injuries of the spine or scapula, scapulohybular syndrome, bronchopulmonary diseases, pyelonephritis and oncology.Pain in the waist with disorders of the digestive system is characteristic of patients with acute pancreatitis.
Burning pain in the left side of the scapula
It is simply unbearable and occurs with intercostal neuralgia, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, muscle strain.
Important!If the burning sensation spreading to the sternum is accompanied by shortness of breath, call 911 immediately.This is a sign of a heart attack.
How to relieve pain under the left shoulder blade
Painful sensations under the shoulder blade on the left side, especially if they are quite intense, 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 painkillers can relieve the pain, but it will not eliminate the cause, which must be discovered by the doctor.
Important!Emergency help will be needed in case of severe pain of increasing intensity and rapid deterioration of well-being.
Which doctor should I consult for pain on the left side under the shoulder blade?
At the first painful sensation in the shoulder blade area, you should contact a specialist and undergo diagnostics.Since the nature of back pain is often neurological, it is necessary to make an appointment with a neurologist.
The doctor will conduct a visual examination, study the patient's complaints, create a clinical picture: the nature and state of the pain syndrome (in a lying position, during movement), its intensity, accompanying symptoms.
In order to understand exactly why your back hurts, the doctor will prescribe an additional examination:
- laboratory - clinical analysis of blood and urine, which will show the inflammatory process;
- instrumental, necessarily including magnetic resonance, because this diagnostic method provides the most accurate information about the condition of the spine, muscle tissue, nerve endings and blood vessels.
If the instrumental diagnosis reveals a pathology that is not within the competence of the neurologist, the doctor will refer the patient to a therapist, pulmonologist, cardiologist, gastroenterologist, traumatologist or other specialists.
Treatment of pain on the left side of the scapula
All therapeutic measures are aimed at removing the underlying cause and alleviating the pain.The doctor chooses drugs based on the reason why pain occurs in the shoulder blade area.
If the cause is a disease of the musculoskeletal system or its complications, then drug therapy looks like this:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- muscle relaxants;
- analgesics;
- local anesthetics.
Drug therapy must be supplemented with physiotherapeutic treatment, massage and therapeutic exercises.
If conservative therapy does not give the desired therapeutic effect, the patient is indicated for surgery.
When it is important on which side the pain in the scapula is: right or left
Heart diseases, especially severe ones such as myocardial infarction, are manifested by left-sided symptoms.The situation is similar with injuries and rupture of the spleen.These pathologies can lead to the death of the patient, so localization of pain is extremely important.
Remember, self-medication can only worsen your health condition and contribute to the development of complications.If there is constant discomfort in the area of the left scapula, professional help is needed.