Pain under the left scapula, in the back

Pain under the left scapula in the back occurs in all age groups of the population, both in children and in the elderly.

This fact is due to a wide range of reasons that provoke negative feelings, from prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position for the body to serious pathologies in the body.

a little anatomy

The scapula is a flat triangular bone adjacent to the rib cage, in the region of ribs II to VII. It performs binding, protection, strengthening and motor functions.

The shoulder blade connects the waist of the upper limbs with the arms and sternum. It protects the shoulder joint, protects the lungs and aorta from mechanical stress. Certain muscles that extend from the shoulder blades are designed to strengthen and support the shoulder joints. Thanks to these parts of the skeleton, the mobility of the shoulder girdle is guaranteed, its functions extending to the lower limbs. Bone is provided with nerve roots that emanate from the cervicothoracic region.

Classification

The underlying causes of pain in the left shoulder blades are quite varied. Painful sensations can be;

• sore;
• as dull pains;
• with increased intensity;
• rough when you catch your breath;
• to pull;
• Burning;
• permanent, not transient;
• stabbing (lumbago);
• oppressive;
• pulsating;
• Score.

Important! Often the cause of pain is the prolonged presence of the body in an uncomfortable position, as well as muscle stretching due to physical exertion. They leave on their own and, as a rule, do not require medical intervention.

Long-term pain syndrome, as well as its systematic nature, makes specialist consultation a necessity. Acute pain in the left scapula region requires urgent medical attention, because the factor does not exclude the manifestation of angina pectoris, exacerbation of stomach ulcers, activation of inflammatory processes in the pancreas.

Pain affecting the lower part of the left scapula in the back is usually the result of injuries, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, and internal organ pathologies.

musculoskeletal system

The pathologies of the musculoskeletal system are caused by several injuries:

• fractures and cracks caused by impacts, falls, traffic accidents, etc. The sharp pain intensifies when the person makes movements. In addition, the damaged area swells, bruises appear, mobility is reduced;
• dislocations, which are seen in rare cases and occur with a strong jerk of the arm or a blow to the shoulder blade. In this case, the bone rotates, shifts, assumes an abnormal position. Its lower edge is compressed between the ribs.

The muscles connecting the scapula and spine are overloaded, causing stretching with possible breakage.

Pain in the left scapula region in the back, caused by trauma, occurs immediately after the injury and disappears only when the patient recovers.

In addition to injuries, pain in the scapula region in the back is usually caused by diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

Pain syndrome under the scapula, which is a consequence of cervical osteochondrosis (dystrophic-degenerative processes in the spinal intervertebral discs) is spontaneous, can be painful and pull. Increased pain is seen when the person remains seated for a long time and during physical exertion. Taking medications does not bring relief.

An inflamed and compressed intercostal nerve becomes the cause of excruciating pain in the sternum where it runs. The syndrome intensifies during a person's movement, when he coughs, sneezes, takes a deep breath, changes the position of the body. Permanent or paroxysmal pain syndrome is acute, severe and penetrating. Sometimes the pain manifests itself in the heart area, lower back, and is reflected in the neck and arms. It can also affect the scapula.

The manifestations of intercostal neuralgia are similar to those caused by heart problems, cholecystitis, angina pectoris, pleurisy. Only a qualified specialist can make a correct diagnosis.

With inflammation in the shoulder tendon and shoulder joint capsule without directly damaging the joint and cartilage (periarthritis), the pain affects the shoulder joint, sometimes the area between the shoulder blades and the bone itself. They differ in sharpness and amplification at night. The disease is accompanied by a slight swelling of the shoulder, an increase in temperature between 37-37, 4ºС, limitation of circular movements of the shoulder. The pathology is widespread and is diagnosed as a consequence of injuries, bruises, increased stress on the shoulder joint.

With inflammation of the cervical muscles (myositis), caused by overexertion or infection, intense pain affects the entire cervical-brachial region, radiating to the scapula, occipital region and arms.

Muscle pain in the scapula area manifests as a result of physical exertion or impact on the bone.

Pain in a malignant lesion of the bone structure or soft tissue refers to the initial manifestation of the disease. At first, they do not differ in intensity and appear periodically, which makes timely diagnosis difficult. The development of pathological processes leads to an increase in the severity of negative feelings that haunt the person even at rest, especially at night. They are not eliminated by non-narcotic pain relievers. Furthermore, the bone is deformed, the surrounding tissues swell, the skin over the malignant focus changes, fractures occur that are not associated with injuries.

In the presence of an inflammatory process in the bone (osteomyelitis) caused by streptococci, staphylococci, salmonella, Escherichia coli, and other infectious agents, the patient is exposed to high temperatures, chills, and increased heart rate. There are complaints of back pain in the region of the scapula and muscles, which decrease with the opening of the abscess.

Consider! Painful manifestations below or above the left scapula and in the bone area are inherent to congenital anomalies. These include aplasia (lack of an organ), hypoplasia (insufficient bone development), pterygoid scapula, Sprengel's disease. At the same time, a person often suffers from a cosmetic defect and limited physical activity.

Herniated discs and protrusion of the cervical spine discs lead to compression of the nerve roots by bone formations, which causes pain during movement, especially when the head is tilted.

heart and blood vessels

Back pain below the left shoulder blade is often a result of cardiovascular problems.

Chest pain in the middle or left, expanding to the upper body, signals a myocardial infarction. At the same time, there may be a strong burning sensation under the left shoulder blade behind the back. It is impossible to clearly characterize the painful syndrome. It can be painful or it can be acute.

Lack of blood supply to the myocardium causes an attack of angina pectoris, characterized by severe or severe pain in the chest, often radiating to the left shoulder, upper arm, and lower jaw. In this case, blood pressure may rise, sweating and paleness appear.

Angina attacks usually occur in stressful situations or due to increased physical exertion. They are stopped by nitroglycerin. When the duration of the painful syndrome exceeds 20 minutes or medications do not provide relief, a myocardial infarction is suspected.

Hypertension or atherosclerotic lesions lead to aneurysm (enlargement) or aortic dissection (rupture or incomplete rupture of the endothelium, followed by the spread of blood between the layers of the vessel wall).

Small aneurysms do not manifest at all. As they increase, the person begins to feel dull pain in the back. Exfoliating aneurysm is characterized by a pronounced clinical picture. With a tear, the painful sensation is sharp and short-lived. It affects the chest and back, causing a reflex drop in blood pressure and fainting. After a certain period of time, the person feels a burning pain in the chest, arms, neck, under the left shoulder blade. The syndrome cannot be eliminated with the help of available medications. In such a condition, a lethal outcome is very possible therefore urgent medical attention is needed.

Pain below the left shoulder blade is caused by:

• ischemia - lack of blood supply to the heart;
• pericarditis - inflammatory processes in the pericardium;
• endocarditis - an inflammatory disease of the inner lining of the heart;
• myocarditis - inflammation of the heart muscle.

Disorders in the autonomic nervous system cause vegetative dystonia. The disease is characterized by a number of manifestations, including pain syndrome under the left shoulder blade, similar to the heart. Also, a person suffers from irritability, memory problems, increased sweating, etc.

Respiratory system

Painful sensations under the left shoulder blade are not excluded with diseases of the respiratory system.

With left-sided pneumonia, there is dull pain in the chest or under the left shoulder blade—a dull, painful character, made worse by movement or with deep breathing. Concomitant symptoms include an increase in temperature to critical values, shortness of breath, shortness of breath and more.

With the formation of necrotic cavities in the left lung, accompanied by inflammatory processes and pus formation, there is a painful syndrome in the chest region, in some cases with irradiation to the scapula. The pathology is accompanied by cough with purulent sputum, shortness of breath, shortness of breath while breathing.

The diagnosis of left-sided pleurisy (accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity) is based on the following symptoms: acute chest pain, sometimes radiating to the scapula, fever, shortness of breath, dry cough, and other manifestations.

Important! Almost all diseases of the respiratory system, accompanied by pain, are characterized by a cough of another nature.

Pain under the left shoulder blade is also possible due to acute bronchitis, tracheitis, or tracheobronchitis.

gastrointestinal tract

Pain in the left scapula area is often inherent to gastrointestinal tract pathologies and requires urgent medical intervention.

For ulcerative lesions of the stomach and duodenum, paroxysmal pain is characteristic. Prolonged hunger causes them. They can appear immediately after a meal or later.

Perforated ulcers cause unbearable acute pain, accompanied by fever, nausea, vomiting, etc. Failure to provide patient care within 12 hours of disease onset leads to acute intoxication and can lead to the patient's death.

Acute inflammation of the pancreas causes pain in the upper, middle or left part of the abdomen. In some cases, they give way under the scapula. The condition causes nausea, vomiting, bloating and other disorders of the digestive system.

Some injuries can cause the spleen to rupture. This does not cause immediate internal bleeding, but it does cause dull pain under the left shoulder blade. In such cases, delaying treatment can cost the patient his or her life.

In addition, esophageal spasm, calculous cholecystitis, gastroegophagitis, and reflux can cause left shoulder pain.

methods of diagnosis, treatment

In each case, the specialist questions the patient about accompanying manifestations, palpates the painful area, checks blood pressure and heart rate stability to rule out pathological processes that may require urgent action.

Self-diagnosis is strictly prohibited. If the spine hurts without reason for a long period, it is necessary to consult a therapist who, according to the general clinical picture, will determine the need for special diagnoses.

An accurate determination of the causes of the pathology is made using:

• general and biochemical blood tests;
• urine analysis;
• radiography for possible problems with the musculoskeletal system and respiratory organs;
• electrocardiograms to rule out heart disease;
• computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging with insufficient data obtained with radiography;
• fibrogastroduodenoscopy for suspicious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Depending on these diagnostic measures, the therapist determines why the pain is manifested, then forwards it to a physician with a restricted profile (traumatologist, vertebrologist, cardiologist, gastroenterologist or neuropathologist), who determines the treatment regimen.

Important! For pain below the left shoulder, analgesics only weaken the syndrome and often prevent a reliable diagnosis. Pain relief medications should only be prescribed by a specialist as part of a comprehensive treatment.

There is no universal remedy for pain under the left shoulder blade. As the patient recovers, the negative symptom gradually disappears. Therapy is aimed at eliminating the underlying disease and involves a variety of methods.

To avoid pain in the shoulder blade region, you must take care of your health and, if a negative symptom occurs, seek help from a specialist immediately.