Pain under the left scapula from the back can occur as a result of sudden movement, prolonged uncomfortable posture, sitting or lying down.But in this case, it goes away quickly.If the pain syndrome persists for a long time, becomes acute, stabbing or cutting, and painkillers do not help, you should urgently consult a doctor.Such pain under the shoulder blade on the left side of the back indicates a pathology and may be serious.The patient needs immediate 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 two groups:
- Pain associated with pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.Pain under the left shoulder blade can be caused by osteochondrosis of the neck or chest region, intercostal neuralgia, osteomyelitis, bone tuberculosis, scapula injuries, rib fracture or crack, myofascial or scapulocostal syndrome, glenohumeral periarthritis.
- Pain that occurs due to diseases of the internal organs.Pain under the left shoulder blade can be a symptom of worsening heart disease, bronchopulmonary system, gall bladder, stomach ulcer, esophageal spasm, pancreatitis.
Rare pathologies that cause pain radiating to the scapula are splenic rupture.This pathology requires immediate surgical treatment, as severe abdominal bleeding occurs, which carries a 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 diseases:
- dissection of an aneurysm of the ascending aorta;
- coronary heart disease;
- angina pectoris;
- pericarditis, myocarditis, pericarditis;
- heart attack.
Pain behind the left shoulder blade that radiates to the arm and chest may indicate heart disease.Numbness of the limb is common.Depending on the disease, accompanying symptoms appear: shortness of breath, constriction of the throat, tightness of the chest, feeling of cardiac arrest.
Let's take a closer look at the main causes of pain under the shoulder blade from the back on the left.
Gallbladder diseases
With cholecystitis and cholelithiasis, heaviness appears in the right side, pain radiating under the shoulder blade on the left.An acute attack of cholecystitis causes severe pain, nausea, vomiting and elevated body temperature.If it is caused by the blockage of the bile ducts by a stone, the pain syndrome appears in the form of biliary colic.
In case of chronic inflammation, the nature of the pain is aching.Unpleasant sensations appear after eating fatty foods, with long breaks between meals.
Relapses of attacks can occur after physical or nervous strain, against a background of stress.
Subphrenic abscess
It is an accumulation of pus under the diaphragm.Now often, an abscess forms on the right side, but left-sided localization is also possible.The pathology is manifested by the following symptoms:
- pain on the left side, below the shoulder blade, radiating to the sternum;
- acute pain in the chest that increases when inhaling;
- high body temperature;
- hiccups;
- increased sweating;
- non-productive cough;
- difficulty breathing.
Without treatment, the disease can cause empyema, pneumonia, and lung abscess.
Bronchopulmonary diseases
Lower respiratory diseases (bronchus, lungs and pleura) also cause chest and shoulder pain, which is always accompanied by a specific bronchopulmonary clinical picture:
- increased body temperature;
- weakness, lethargy;
- difficulty breathing;
- moderate chest pain (usually from the affected lung) that gets worse when you cough or inhale;
- cough;
- panting.
Pain syndrome in the back of the back in the area of the left scapula most often occurs in cases of pneumonia, dry pleurisy, pneumothorax, acute bronchitis or abscess of the left lung.
Kidney diseases
Scapular pain may occur due to problems with the right kidney, since it is located close to the scapula.With inflammation, purulent infiltrates or formation of 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 can also be sharp.Paroxysmal, ascending, i.e. rising from the lower back, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and elevated body temperature.
Diseases of the locomotor system
Spinal problems and related neurological disorders are the main cause of back pain in the left shoulder blade area.Pain can occur with any movement, turning the body, sneezing, breathing or taking a deep breath.They can radiate to the arm, combined with a cracking sound and limited movement.
Often pain in the scapula area occurs due to the following diseases:
- cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis;
- intervertebral disc herniation;
- protrusion;
- scoliosis;
- radiculitis.
In the background of the degenerative processes of the spine, not only the blood vessels and nerve endings are pinched, but also the muscles spasm.Muscle spasm provokes the occurrence of scapula-costal syndrome.
One of the most common causes of shoulder pain is cervical osteochondrosis.At first, the pain syndrome is mild, but as degenerative changes occur, it becomes acute and shooting.The pain is accompanied by dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision and increased blood pressure.
Less common diseases of the musculoskeletal system that can cause scapular pain are osteomyelitis, bone tuberculosis and malignant tumors.
Muscle tension and inflammation
The back muscles surrounding the scapula keep 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 instability of the shoulder.
Intercostal neuralgia
The disease is accompanied by inflammation of the intercostal nerves and appears against the background of the following provoking factors:
- injuries to the ribs or spine;
- 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 hurt, but sometimes it hurts so much that you can't bear it.
It is important to contact a neurologist in time, who is qualified and, most importantly, provides timely help, otherwise intercostal neuralgia will cause a person serious discomfort:
- the pain becomes shooting, cutting;
- the pain increases when moving the hand, coughing or inhaling;
- numbness occurs in the affected area of the body;
- heart rhythm disorder.
Diseases or injuries of the scapula
Cracks and fractures of the scapula, glenohumeral arthritis are accompanied by pain, limited movement, vascular damage, and pinching of nerve endings.
Scapula injuries are more common among athletes, osteoporotic patients, and bone cancer patients.
Types of pain under the left shoulder blade
Before starting the diagnosis and treatment, it is important to understand the nature, localization, intensity of pain, their relationship with movement, breathing and eating.If you have pain under the left shoulder blade after eating, heart pathologies and diseases of the locomotor 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 intense, acute, burning, increasing, aching, dull, sharp.
Aching pain in left shoulder blade
It can be permanent or periodic, indicating both pathologies of internal organs and diseases of the spine.Without treatment, it can become a stinging, burning sensation.Attacks occur more frequently during arm raising, physical activity, or prolonged standing in one position.
Appears with scoliosis, chronic cholecystitis, scapular-costal syndrome, intervertebral disc herniation, in the initial stages of cervical osteochondrosis, bruises and other mild injuries, intercostal neuralgia.
Acute pain under the left shoulder blade
It is a severe pain syndrome in the back under the scapula, which limits movement and makes breathing difficult.Typical for heart attack, bursitis of the shoulder joint, exacerbation of osteochondrosis, spondylosis, hernia, subphrenic abscess, pleurisy, acute cholecystitis, intercostal neuralgia.
Sharp pain in the area of the left shoulder blade
It can occur suddenly or as a result of long-lasting aching pain.Shooting, sharp pain is a sign of osteochondrosis, hernia, trauma, intercostal neuralgia, scapular tuberculosis, aortic aneurysm, perforated gastric ulcer, radiculitis.
Stitching pain behind left shoulder blade
It manifests itself as lumbago, which is characteristic of pinched nerve endings in diseases of the locomotor system.If it is accompanied by chest compression and shortness of breath, a heart attack or lung abscess cannot be ruled out.
Humming pain on the left side of the back under the shoulder blade
It lies in most pathologies of the locomotor system, as well as in 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 sleep, breathing and walking.More often, the pain intensifies with physical activity, coughing and sneezing.
Constant nagging or aching pain occurs as a result of spinal or scapular injuries, scapulochibular syndrome, bronchopulmonary diseases, pyelonephritis, and oncology.Belt pain associated with disorders of the digestive system is typical for patients with acute pancreatitis.
Burning pain on the left side of the scapula
It is simply unbearable and occurs with intercostal neuralgia, heart attack, angina pectoris, muscle tension.
Important!If the burning sensation spreading to the sternum is accompanied by shortness of breath, an ambulance should be called immediately.This is a sign of a heart attack.
How to relieve pain under the left shoulder blade
Pain sensations under the left shoulder blade, especially if they are quite intense, hinder movement and free breathing, require professional help, as they pose a threat to human health and life.You cannot ignore them and self-medicate.Taking painkillers, anticonvulsants, and other pain relievers can relieve the pain, but it does not eliminate the cause, which must be determined by a doctor.
Important!Emergency care will be required in case of severe pain that increases and rapidly deteriorates well-being.
Which doctor should I see for pain under the left shoulder blade?
At the first painful sensation in the scapula area, a specialist should be consulted and a diagnosis should be made.Since back pain is often neurological in nature, it is worth making an appointment with a neurologist.
The doctor performs a visual examination, examines the patient's complaints, and creates a clinical picture: the nature and state of the pain syndrome (lying down, while moving), its intensity, accompanying symptoms.
To understand exactly why your back hurts, your doctor will prescribe additional tests:
- laboratory - clinical analysis of blood and urine, which shows the inflammatory process;
- instrumental, 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 the instrumental diagnosis reveals a pathology that is not within the competence of the neurologist, the doctor refers the patient to a therapist, pulmonologist, cardiologist, gastroenterologist, traumatologist or other specialist.
Treatment of pain on the left side of the shoulder blade
All therapeutic measures are aimed at eliminating the underlying cause and alleviating the pain.The doctor selects the drugs based on why the pain occurs in the shoulder blade area.
If the cause is a disease or complications of the musculoskeletal system, drug therapy looks like this:
- anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs;
- muscle relaxants;
- pain relievers;
- local anesthetics.
Drug treatment should be supplemented with physiotherapy, massage, and therapeutic exercises.
If conservative therapy does not provide the desired therapeutic effect, surgical intervention is recommended.
When is it important on which side of the shoulder blade pain: right or left
Heart diseases, especially those as severe as heart attacks, present with 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 it is extremely important to localize the pain.
Remember that self-medication can only worsen your health and contribute to the development of complications.If there is constant discomfort in the area of the left shoulder blade, professional help is needed.