Causes of pain under the left shoulder blade in the back from the back

To understand what pathology has affected your body, you need to describe the symptoms accurately. Back pain below the left shoulder blade from the back is a common symptom of serious health problems. The difficulty in determining a particular disease is that pain in this area of the back can manifest in various pathologies. From vascular lesions to pathology of the nervous system.

pain under the left shoulder blade on the back on the back photo 1

Types of pain sensations

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

  1. The pain under the left shoulder blade of the shingles character lasts a long time, the discomfort covering one area of the back. During a painful attack there is a feeling of shortness of breath, coughing and difficulty breathing. The situation is related to the fact that there is a nerve pulsation in the intercostal space.
  2. Burning is accompanied by numbness of part of the skin. The patient feels tingling that spreads throughout the body.
  3. Growing character. The peculiarity of this type is that the whole left arm begins to ache, causing an increase in muscle tone. The movement of the hands becomes unbearable.
  4. Sharply intense. The person loses the ability to take a lying position on the left side. Difficulty breathing is observed with difficulty breathing. Movement increases the pain, then it becomes difficult to move.
  5. Discomfort in the back of the shoulder blade, characterized by displacement. The cut pain occurs in the left shoulder blade, and then it is localized in the center along the spinal column. The patient hears a sigh.
  6. Dull and painful, one could say, the easiest manifestation of the above. Whining in the shoulder blade area will only be when the person moves, raise the sore arm.
  7. Withdrawal syndrome will appear in the upper back, down the spine to the lumbar region.
  8. And the other kind - a sharp character.
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The list is not limited to the listed types of pain symptoms. There are severe pains and tingling that cannot be confused with other manifestations.

Attention should be paid to the nature of the pain syndrome. It will be easier for the doctor to determine your pathology.

What causes the syndrome?

Why is there discomfort under the shoulder blade? The appearance of pain under the shoulder blade can be explained by human anatomy. One part of the body is often affected, and an uncomfortable feeling from it spreads along the nerve trunks to other organs. The left shoulder blade "lies" on the coastal arches, which together form the thorax. With the help of ligaments and intercostal muscles, the coastal arches are interconnected.

Beneath each rib are veins and nerves that extend from the spinal cord, from the spinal column. The rib and left shoulder blade complex has a protective function. They limit the internal organs from any damage: 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:

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  1. The cause is a violation of the musculoskeletal system. This also includes muscle pain syndrome.
  2. Feelings due to dysfunction of internal organs.

Diagnosis

In order to determine the cause of pain and make a correct diagnosis, the following types of diagnostics are prescribed:

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

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

What is it connected with

If you have back pain, the sensation is localized under the left shoulder blade - usually associated with one of the following disorders:

  • Pathology of the musculoskeletal system;
  • Heart disease;
  • Diseases of the bronchopulmonary sphere;
  • Digestive tract dysfunction.

Musculoskeletal disorders

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There are cases when the manifestations of painful sensations occur as a consequence of the destruction of the skeleton. Patients suffering from osteochondrosis, curvature of the spine, spondyloarthritis, hernia and other disorders feel pain on the left side below the shoulder blade. The symptom is of two types.

  • First, aches and pains are associated with chest ailments. The character is painful, restricts movements, does not allow deep breathing.
  • The second type is felt in the form of intense colic.

Shoulder periarthritis is an inflammatory disease of the shoulder structure. Irradiation pain occurs in the left arm, left half of the back, causing stiffness and pain in movements.

Sprengel syndrome is the presence of a pterygoid scapula in a patient, congenital or a consequence of some disease. Prolonged, tingling pain is characteristic.

Pathologies related to the heart and blood vessels

Acute ischemia of the heart muscle - myocardial infarction. In a heart attack, compression in the chest area is characteristic. It extends from the heart to the left shoulder blade, arm, and lower back. This condition can be fatal if left untreated. It is characterized by pronounced tingling and severe pain under the left shoulder blade, which interferes with normal inhalation and exhalation.

The difference between myocardial infarction is that it is not stopped by taking nitroglycerin, the attack lasts longer than 15 minutes. Numbness of the hands is a common occurrence. The development of the state cannot be hesitated.

Disease of the cardiac sphere, which is manifested by acute cuts in the heart with radiation under the left shoulder blade - an attack of angina pectoris. Primary manifestations - compression in the area of the heart spreads to the left. Cardialgia is constricting and sharp, it can be worsened by movement.

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

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Vegetative crisis is a condition similar to the manifestations of angina or heart attack. Weight and compression occur under the left shoulder blade and in the sternum. It extends over the left shoulder, forearm, reaches the distal phalanges of the fingers. It radiates to the left side 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. By taking sedatives and tranquilizers, you can stop the vegetative crisis.

Bronchopulmonary diseases

Diseases of the respiratory system are also the cause of unpleasant sensations in the left back. The main site is pneumonia or pleuritis, if at least one lung is affected. The pain syndrome is accompanied by coughing, sneezing and intensified pain with deep breathing. It is characterized by fever, weight loss, wheezing on auscultation. It is very difficult to breathe. The kind of pain is cutting.

Disorders of the digestive system

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An increase in pain is characteristic of a stomach ulcer. It is associated with the use of food, after vomiting, the pain subsides. In the area of the stomach it begins to recede. A reliable sign that it is a peptic ulcer is heartburn. It is painful not only in the subcapularis, but also on the left side of the chest. The process is accompanied by muscle tension, shortness of breath.

If the pain syndrome occurs suddenly and is manifested by sharp impulses, it is necessary to contact an ambulance immediately. Acute pancreatitis can cause serious discomfort. Sensations are shingles in nature, the attack develops suddenly. A rare cause may be a ruptured spleen. With trauma to the spleen tissue, bleeding occurs, almost impossible to stop. Urgent surgery is needed.

Damage to the scapular region

  1. Cervical osteochondrosis.
  2. Injury to the walls of the intercostal nerves.
  3. Scapular-rib syndrome (occurs with physical overload, injury, can slip through and cause this syndrome).
  4. Malignant skeletal neoplasm.
  5. Osteomyelitis (may occur after a gunshot wound)
  6. Defeat subscapularis.
  7. Shoulder scapular periarthritis.

Psychosomatics

There are cases when painful feelings on the left side occur with psychological pathologies or strong psychoemotional stress. The reason for the appearance of the pain syndrome is clear to everyone, it is caused by stress and emotional stress. Psychosomatic illnesses are accompanied by pain in the scapular area, somatic disorders have been reported. This includes:

  1. The temperature rises to high numbers.
  2. Compression, burning in the sternum.
  3. Dumplings in the throat.
  4. Feeling short of breath.

Who to contact

Given the intensity and nature of the pain under the shoulder blade, you can seek help from the following experts:

  • An ambulance should be called in case of sudden onset of symptoms with increasing pain and deteriorating health.
  • In case of trauma that resulted in uncomfortable feelings (stretching, lifting weights), consult a traumatologist.
  • Difficulties in calling a cardiologist should be difficulty breathing, bluish skin tone, tingling in the chest area.
  • It is necessary to consult a neurologist and orthopedist in case of pain that is intensified by hand exercises, physical activity, with known disorders of the spine.
  • see a doctor for back pain under the left shoulder blade
  • Postprandial pain, dyspeptic disorders (nausea, vomiting) are reasons to visit a gastroenterologist.
  • Consult a pulmonologist if your back hurts, especially the left under the shoulder blade, followed by coughing and shortness of breath.
  • When the pain is permanent or temporary, it appears for no apparent reason, they consult a therapist. After a thorough examination and diagnosis, the therapist refers the patient to a narrow specialist.
  • If due to instrumental methods of examination it was not possible to determine the cause of the symptoms, with frequent stress, psycho-emotional stress, a consultation with a psychologist and psychiatrist is required.

Subscapularis pain therapy

There is no general treatment plan for treating patients with upper back pain. 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:

The patient needs special treatment.

  • Ensure peace. There are times when enough rest removes muscle tension, restores work and relieves pain.
  • The medical method of treatment is used for inflammatory processes. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are prescribed.
  • For long-term, chronic pain, antidepressants are prescribed.
  • Muscle relaxants are used for muscle spasms. To achieve maximum effect, more often the drug is prescribed in combination with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, massage and physiotherapy procedures, exercise therapy.
  • Naming massage courses favorably affects the condition of the muscles. It helps relieve muscle cramps, relieves pain, improves blood circulation and well-being.
  • Acupuncture is used to restore nerve conduction and eliminate painful symptoms.

The method of therapy is prescribed for bronchopulmonary, cardiac and gastrointestinal diseases individually. The necessary vitamins, antibacterial drugs, analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are selected.

Patients with symptoms of heart attack and angina pectoris are subject to emergency hospitalization.

Surgical intervention is resorted to when diagnosing aneurysms and severe pathologies.

Prophylaxis

  1. Daily exercise, gymnastics. Walk for half an hour.
  2. Completely balanced diet.
  3. Prevent joint and bone injuries.

What the doctor says

Medical experts recommend that patients who have had an attack of angina pectoris or a heart attack take regular prescribed medications, adhere to a diet and avoid stress. Spinal disease requires long-term therapy with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and exercise therapy. Gastrointestinal tract pathologies are stopped by the use of special medications and adherence to a diet.

Doctors advise you to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, it is easier to prevent the disease than to treat it.

Conclusion

If you know for sure the cause of the discomfort under the left shoulder blade, then you can start treatment faster. The cause of the discomfort needs to be properly identified. As soon as you notice the symptoms of any of the considered pathologies, consult a doctor immediately. Be healthy!