Basically, pain under the scapula on the left side of the back is more often characteristic of older people, but a similar condition often manifests itself at a younger age.
Poor posture, hereditary factors or sports injuries can be the causes of this condition. The main causes of pain under the left shoulder blade of the back of the back should be examined in more detail. After all, this discomfort can be considered a good reason to see a specialist.
Causes and types of pain under the left shoulder blade in the back of the back
The reasons for the development of this pathology are different, they have their own characteristics. Pain on the left side under the scapula in the back of the back is characterized by the following sensations:
- sharp;
- stupid;
- pulling;
- sting;
- filming.
Pain under the left shoulder blade of the back may be of the same type or alternate. There are times when one type of discomfort is replaced by another, for example, a stabbing turns into a gunshot. Pathology is caused by various injuries and their consequences, disorders of the musculoskeletal system:
- rib damage - discomfort is felt throughout the shoulder;
- osteoporosis, arthritis - affects, in addition to the scapula, neck and shoulders;
- displacement of discs - pain causes stenosis of the spinal canal;
- wear and tear (aging) of the skeletal system - unpleasant sensations in the scapula can occur when the bone structure changes with old age;
- bursitis - the formation of exudate during inflammation of the periarticular bag also causes pain;
- rotator cuff rupture - sharp, sharp pain in the left scapula region from back to back with the inability to rotate the arm signals a violation of the responsible shoulder muscles or tendonscoordination of the shoulder joint;
- dislocation - discomfort on the left side of the back may be the result of dislocation of the collarbone or shoulder joint;
- nerve injury - pinching of the dorsal scapular nerve is also characterized by painful sensations in the back (under the left scapula).
The irradiation of back pain in the shoulder blades on the left is considered a signal indicating the following pathologies:
- abscessed pneumonia;
- acute inflammation of the bronchial mucosa;
- focal pneumonia;
- pulmonary pleurisy;
- gastric ulcer;
- esophageal spasm;
- pancreatitis;
- gastro reflux.
Another reason for the patient's back pain on the left side under the scapula is heart disease:
- heart attack;
- pericarditis;
- angina pectoris;
- mitral valve prolapse.
In addition, it causes discomfort and pain under the left shoulder blade of the back - increased muscle tone:
- bad position;
- uncomfortable position during sleep;
- stretching of the cervical muscles.
Only a visit to a specialist will help to correctly determine the causes of the burning sensation under the left shoulder blade from back to back.
Diseases of the bronchopulmonary system
Pain in the left scapula in the back from the back can occur in case of problems of the lower respiratory tract (bronchi, lungs, pleura). The main cause of respiratory pathologies is considered to be diseases caused by pathogenic viruses and bacteria:
- bronchitis;
- pneumonia;
- pleurisy.
Neoplasms in the lungs or bronchi are also capable of causing a burning sensation under the left scapula from back to back.
Pleurisy of the lungs
Increased pain under the left shoulder blade behind when coughing, breathing, or sneezing is characteristic of dry pleurisy. The process takes place with an increase in temperature (up to 38 ° C), a feeling of general weakness, sweating, headaches, as well as muscle and joint pain.
Pneumonia
If the back hurts on the left under the scapula for a long time, this may be a sign of pneumonia. Its symptoms are similar to those of pleurisy and are often accompanied by the following symptoms:
- blood clots in saliva;
- fatty cough (less often dry);
- lack of oxygen;
- increase in body temperature (37, 5 ° C - 37, 9 ° C).
Digestive tract
Diseases of the digestive system, especially peptic ulcer and pancreatitis, are one of the most common causes of scapular back pain.
Pancreatitis
Back pain under the left scapula, based on pancreatitis, is not that common. They usually occur in parallel with lower back pain and convulsive contractions. They occur unexpectedly in the region of the heart, chest or back.
Peptic ulcer
With the development of a peptic ulcer, a person experiences belching or heartburn. A significant proportion of patients (approximately 75%) experience relief from vomiting, which is caused by severe pain with previous nausea. Initially, discomfort is observed in the epistragal region, then the pain may spread to the left side (nipple, breastbone, back). Often, an increase in pain occurs after a meal.
The cardiovascular system
Pain under the left shoulder blade of the back of the back is not considered a sign that characterizes a specific disease, but dysfunctions of the cardiovascular system are considered to be one of the important factors. The main diseases for which these symptoms are characteristic are: angina, myocardial infarction, aortic aneurysm, hypertensive crisis and pericarditis.
Angina pectoris
With angina, a person experiences sharp pain in the left subscapularis of the back, for the elimination of which nitroglycerin is used. An angina attack can be caused by physical exertion, psychophysical factors, hypothermia, overeating, and heavy alcohol consumption.
Myocardial infarction
The characteristic pain under the scapula on the left back of the back may be caused by a complete lack of coronary blood supply to one of the myocardial sites due to a blockage of the vessel. The cause of a heart attack is:
- atherosclerosis;
- thrombosis.
When a thrombus (plaque) is pulled out, it enters the heart with the blood flow, and once in the small-diameter coronary arteries, they block the vessel and stop the flow of blood to the tissues. With a lack of oxygen, the process of myocardial cell death begins.
Symptoms of myocardial infarction include a sharp, throbbing pain, concentrated in the left side of the breastbone. Distributed in the area:
- left hand;
- shoulder blades;
- lower jaw.
Pain in a heart attack cannot be stopped with pain relievers, and nitroglycerin can only slightly reduce the pain.
Aortic aneurysm
In half of cases of early-stage thoracic aortic aneurysm, there is no sign of the disease. Symptoms depend on the location of the aneurysm, its size and the presence (absence) of dissection. In addition to pain in the shoulder blade of the back, the following complaints are possible:
- discomfort in the left back, neck, lower jaw;
- chest pain;
- cough, hoarseness, shortness of breath.
May be accompanied by signs of heart failure due to heart failure. Symptoms may appear suddenly and manifest as severe pain in the chest and left back.
Hypertension crisis
Contrary to popular belief, a hypertensive crisis is not characterized by any standard blood pressure number, they are purely individual. In addition to the sign that the patient has colitis under the left scapula from back to back, symptoms of a hypertensive crisis should include:
- headache at the back of the head;
- pulsation in the temples;
- shortness of breath;
- nausea and vomiting;
- eyesight problems;
- redness of the skin;
- an increase in diastolic blood pressure values above 110-120 mm Hg. From art.
When a hypertensive crisis occurs, the risk of complications from a number of systems and organs, the central nervous system, etc. increases.
Pericarditis
Patients may have symptoms of inflammation (acute pericarditis) or signs of fluid accumulation (pleural effusion). They vary depending on the degree of the inflammatory process and the volume of pericardial fluid. With acute pericarditis, pain occurs on the left side under the scapula in the back, in the chest, and sometimes shortness of breath is noted. And also the first manifestation can be tamponade with the development of hypotension, shock or pulmonary edema.
Musculoskeletal system
Various destructive pathologies of the spine, bones, can cause back pain under the left scapula. Also, they include: intercostal neuralgia, osteochondrosis, and intervertebral hernia.
Intercostal neuralgia
Pain in the back in the area of the left shoulder blades with neuralgia has its own characteristics, for example, its intensification during physical exertion, and the pain point can be determined by palpation. Pain with neuralgia is long lasting and is not minimized with nitroglycerin.
Osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is often a common cause of pain under the scapula on the left side of the back and is characterized by the following symptoms:
- muscle cramps, numbness;
- the development of dizziness;
- the appearance of "goose bumps" (paresthesia);
- frequent headaches.
Intervertebral hernia
A hernia occurs when the fibrous ring surrounding the intervertebral disc ruptures, causing the disc nucleus to shift. The symptoms of a herniated disc depend on its location. The most prominent symptom of a herniated disc is pain in the left side of the back, which increases with movement or lifting.
Psychosomatic illnesses
One of the causes of pain under the left shoulder blade of the back of the back can be considered psychosomatic illness. Not all specialists will be able to recognize this disease and its true causes, since they often do not have special features. Different organ systems can have a direct relationship with the dynamics of the patient's mental state:
- Digestive tract;
- cardiovascular system;
- the nervous system;
- immunity.
Treatment of pain under the left shoulder blade of the back of the back in psychosomatic diseases occurs without the use of traditional therapy. In such cases, it is important to establish psychological motivations and to carry out treatment with a psychotherapeutic bias.
Diagnostic measures
Our specialists will establish a more precise diagnosis after carrying out the necessary laboratory and instrumental diagnostics using the most modern equipment. When will the testimony take place:
- blood tests;
- urinalysis to assess kidney function;
- Liver function tests;
- gastric endoscopy;
- Ultrasound to diagnose somatic disorders, heart ailments, blood vessels;
- CT of the liver, pancreas;
- ECG of the heart;
- pulmonary radiography.
Since the pain under the left shoulder blade of the back of the back may not be a symptom of a disease, a full examination by several specialists is not excluded. Our clinic offers patients one of the modern complex types of examinations - check-up, which includes many types of analyzes with the smallest set of diagnostic procedures. Timely contacting our specialists and ensuring a correct diagnosis will help the patient to carry out high-quality and successful treatment.