Pain under the left shoulder blade is a fairly common symptom that can occur in men, women, and even children.At first glance, these symptoms may seem boring, but in fact, pain in the back below the left shoulder blade can be the harbinger of many dangerous diseases.
This pain syndrome can occur for a variety of reasons, often completely unrelated to problems with the shoulder blade itself.Most often, the cause of pain is inflammatory and pathological processes in other organs and systems.
Why does it hurt under my left shoulder blade?
To understand why there is pain below the shoulder blade, we need to remember a person's anatomy.After all, it is most often those nearby organs that are injured, although sometimes the pain radiates along nerve fibers far away from the source of the disease.
The left shoulder blade rests on the ribs that form the chest.The ribs are connected to each other by ligaments and intercostal muscles, and there are intercostal blood vessels and intercostal nerves between each rib.The intercostal nerves, in turn, originate from the spinal cord, which is located in the spinal trunk in the center of the shoulder blade.The scapula, along with the ribs, protect the left heart, left lung, stomach, spleen, pancreas, and aorta.
Depending on this location, the causes of pain can be divided into two broad categories:
- Pain associated with disorders of the musculoskeletal system and muscle pain.
- Pain associated with pathological changes in the function of internal organs (diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, spleen, respiratory organs).
The cause of shoulder blade pain can be determined based on its nature, intensity, and location:
- Pain radiating to left shoulder blade.The pathological origin of this pain may be located far away from the site of pain.Most often, this symptom is characteristic of stomach or heart disease.
- Dull pain under left shoulder blade.Indicates the existence of a long-term chronic process.This painful manifestation may be related to chronic heart disease (pericarditis, myocarditis) and cervical osteochondrosis.
- Dull pain under left shoulder blade.Most often, it occurs against the background of the development of osteochondrosis of the chest or neck.Typically, pain spreads from the back of the head down the back, arms, and under the shoulder blades, and is accompanied by nausea, dizziness, and numbness (tingling) in the hands.
- Severe pain below left shoulder blade.Severe pain in the shoulder blade region is not common, which means it is a sign of a potentially life-threatening pathological condition.In the best cases, severe pain may indicate intercostal neuralgia, but more commonly, this sensation indicates the development of peptic ulcers and pre-infarct conditions.
- Severe pain below left shoulder blade.Intercostal neuralgia causes severe pain - when breathing in, the pain syndrome is significantly worse, with a "breathless" feeling.Left-sided pneumonia in the acute stage can cause severe pain. The patient feels cuts and tingling symptoms on the entire left side of the chest, radiating to the left scapula.Less commonly, severe pain—pain that is cramping and cramping in nature—may occur during an exacerbation of pancreatitis.
- Persistent pain below left shoulder blade.May indicate the initial stages of development of cervical osteochondrosis.The pain starts just below the occipital bone and radiates to the left (or right) side of the back.
- Burning sensation under the shoulder blades.This symptom may indicate the presence of long-standing intercostal neuralgia, an angina attack, or a myocardial infarction.Sometimes, a burning sensation below the shoulder blade may indicate the development of vegetative vascular dystonia.In this case, the pain is accompanied by tachycardia, hand tremors, and an intense feeling of fear.
- Persistent pain below left shoulder blade.This pain syndrome may indicate left-sided pneumonia.In this case, the pain is accompanied by a dry cough, low temperature, a feeling of lack of air, and shortness of breath.
- Pins and needles pain below left shoulder blade.Suture pain (so-called "lumbar pain") is often a symptom of osteochondrosis, but may also indicate intercostal neuralgia.Tingling pain in the back that occurs with physical exertion, deep breathing, or coughing may be a sign of pleurisy or pneumonia.
- tenderness.Indicating the development of osteochondrosis, it may also indicate the initial stages of coronary heart disease and the progression of vegetative vascular dystonia.
- throbbing pain.Most commonly, a herniated disc on the left side of the thoracic or cervical spine manifests itself this way.Throbbing pain may indicate a herniated disc or incipient aortic dissection.
- Severe pain below left shoulder blade.Indicates a dangerous situation that requires immediate medical intervention.Possible causes of pain syndromes are: angina attacks, left disc herniation, gastric ulcers.
The nature of the pain and its location may vary, but most commonly pain below the left shoulder blade is a very dangerous symptom that requires immediate medical intervention.
What diseases can cause pain under the left shoulder blade?
Pain syndromes under the left scapula are most often caused by lesions of the musculoskeletal system, heart, stomach and bronchopulmonary system.
Let's consider possible diseases associated with pain under the left shoulder blade and their accompanying symptoms.
| disease | nature of pain | Related symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| musculoskeletal system | ||
| Humeral periscapulitis | Pain occurs in the shoulder area and radiates to the shoulder blade. | The patient cannot move freely (cannot put his hands behind his head due to pain); his joints creak when he moves. |
| intercostal neuralgia | The pain is localized on one side of the intercostal space and is accompanied by numbness.The pain worsens when bending to the left. | Along the inflamed area, the skin may develop redness and a characteristic rash. |
| Back muscle diseases (myositis, inflammation, lesions) | Back pain occurs suddenly and may be painful in nature. | Pain on the left side occurs when the shoulder blade is injured or a muscle is strained. |
| oncology | Soreness or persistent severe pain below the left shoulder blade. | Scapular tumors can cause deformation of the thoracic spine in the back. |
| Injuried | Severe pain, especially in the first few hours after the injury. | If the pain worsens with movement and there is swelling or puffiness, this may be a fractured shoulder blade or rib. |
| Osteochondrosis, spondylosis, thoracic scoliosis, intervertebral hernia | Severe pain either persists or manifests itself as "low back pain." | An unpleasant sensation develops in the spine - a "stake being driven in" feeling. |
| heart disease | ||
| Angina pectoris | When exerting force, pain occurs in the back below the left shoulder blade and radiates to the left arm, left shoulder blade, and sometimes to the left jaw. | Along with shortness of breath and fear of death. |
| myocardial infarction | A burning pain coming from the side of my heart just below my left shoulder blade. | Heart pain cannot be relieved by medication.My left arm became numb, I developed severe shortness of breath, and my sternum began to "burn." |
| Pericarditis and myocarditis | There is a dull pain on the left side. | Accompanied by chills, which often occur at night, the temperature rises. |
| ascending aorta dissection aneurysm | The pain syndrome migrates from top to bottom.Initially, the pain occurs in the chest, then gradually moves under the left shoulder blade and further into the lower back. | The pressure dropped dramatically. |
| bronchopulmonary disease | ||
| left side pneumonia | Moderately severe pain. | Cough with phlegm, wheezing in the lungs, and fever. |
| pleurisy | pain when breathing | Shortness of breath and a wheezing feeling in the lungs. |
| Gastrointestinal Pathology | ||
| gastric ulcer | Pain with a burning sensation below the shoulder blade (usually at night). | The pain is associated with eating. |
| perforated ulcer | Sharp, stinging (like stinging) pain. | Fever and vomiting. |
| acute pancreatitis | The pain is band-like and sometimes radiates to the side. | Gas, repeated vomiting, fever. |
Other symptoms that accompany pain syndromes can help identify the condition causing pain below the left shoulder blade:
- Pain that worsens after eating– Peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, gastritis.
- Pain that gets worse when you sneeze– Bone diseases, injuries, pleurisy, neuralgia, joint and muscle disorders.
- Pain when turning the head– Osteochondrosis, clavicle injuries.
- pain when swallowing– Esophageal diseases, psychosomatic diseases.
- Pain with shortness of breath– Pleurisy, heart disease, intercostal neuralgia.
- pain causing cough- Damage to the respiratory system.
- Appearance temperature– Infectious and inflammatory processes: pericarditis, purulent pleurisy, subphrenic abscess.
- Pain and numbness in left arm– Angina, osteochondrosis, myocardial infarction.
- Nausea and hiccups accompanied by pain– Gastrointestinal pathologies (pancreatitis, ulcers, gastritis).
- pain causing tongue numbness– Angina, osteochondrosis, heart disease.
Pregnant women experience shoulder blade pain for the same reasons as everyone else, but expectant mothers are at a much higher risk for certain medical conditions.The most likely causes of left back pain in pregnant women are osteochondrosis (due to the greater load on the spine), pyelonephritis (due to the displacement of the kidneys and activation of their activities) and excessive tension in the back muscles.
In children, pain under the shoulder blade usually occurs due to injuries, neuralgia (after hypothermia), myositis, pleurisy.
Diagnosis and treatment.Which doctor should I contact?
You should choose a doctor with whom to make an appointment depending on the nature of the pain and its manifestations:
- emergency doctor– with sharp, intense pain, burning in the chest, shortness of breath, when the pain is accompanied by severe dizziness, severe weakness or loss of consciousness.
- Neurologist– if pain is associated with loads or movements.
- traumatologist– If the pain occurs after an injury.
- cardiologist– with a burning sensation behind the sternum, extending under the shoulder blade, into the left arm, into the jaw.
- Pulmonologist (or therapist)– if pain intensifies when breathing and is accompanied by cough, shortness of breath, and fever.
- gastroenterologist– if the pain is associated with meals and is accompanied by dyspeptic disorders.
- surgeon– pain under the shoulder blade is accompanied by deformation of the sternum, with sharp pain accompanied by high fever.
If it is difficult to decide on the choice of a doctor on your own, you should contact a therapist, who, based on the results of the examination, will schedule an appointment with a specialist.
Diagnostic measures are prescribed depending on the reasons that caused the pain under the left shoulder blade, behind:
- General examination - taking an anamnesis and interviewing the patient, visual examination (measurement of pulse, blood pressure, temperature, palpation, auscultation), taking blood and urine tests.
- X-rays, CT and MRI - to identify pathologies of the spine, diseases of the musculoskeletal system and diseases of the pulmonary system.
- Abdominal Organ Ultrasound, FGDS – Gastrointestinal Disorders.
- Ultrasound and electrocardiogram - used to check for cardiovascular disease.
Treatment options for left subscapular pain are chosen specifically for each condition - there is no single treatment option.
Important!Treatment of left subscapular pain focuses on treating the disease causing the pain syndrome.
If the pain is related to cardiovascular disease, you should take heart medications and a diet that is gentle on physical and psycho-emotional activity.
Gastrointestinal disorders that cause pain can be treated by taking antacids and eating a bland diet.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system require long-term treatment, including anti-inflammatory medications and special therapeutic exercises.
When conservative treatment fails, surgical treatment is required.Surgery is necessary for perforated ulcers, severe gastrointestinal lesions, splenic rupture, and intervertebral hernias.
If you feel pain under your left shoulder blade, be sure to get checked out by a doctor to avoid developing and developing a life-threatening condition.