Pain under the left shoulder blade from behind can occur due to sudden movements, prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position, sitting or lying.But in this case, it quickly disappeared on its own.If the pain syndrome lasts a long time, is of an acute nature, like a knife or cut, 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 pathology and can be serious.The patient needs immediate treatment, which depends not only on the nature of the pain, but also on the cause of its appearance.
The main cause of pain under the left shoulder blade
There are many causes of pain but can be divided into 2 groups:
- Pain related to pathology of the musculoskeletal system.Pain under the left shoulder blade can be caused by cartilage degeneration in the neck or chest area, intercostal neuralgia, osteomyelitis, bone tuberculosis, scapular injury, broken or cracked ribs, myofascial or scapular syndrome, and periarticular inflammation of the glenoid joint.
- Pain occurs due to diseases of internal organs.Pain under the left shoulder blade can be a symptom of heart disease, bronchopulmonary system, gallbladder, stomach ulcer, esophageal spasm, acute exacerbation of pancreatitis.
Rare conditions that cause pain radiating down the shoulder blade include ruptured spleen.This condition requires immediate surgical treatment because massive abdominal bleeding carries the risk of death.
No less dangerous for the body is pain in the left back under the shoulder blade, which develops against the background of heart diseases:
- dissection of ascending aortic aneurysm;
- coronary heart disease;
- angina;
- pericarditis, myocarditis, pericarditis;
- myocardial infarction.
Pain in the left shoulder blade from behind, spreading to the arm and chest, can be a sign of heart disease.Numbness of the limbs often occurs.Depending on the disease, accompanying symptoms appear: lack of breath, throat tightness, chest tightness, feeling of heart stopping.
Let's take a closer look at the main causes of pain under the shoulder blade from the left back.
Gallbladder disease
When suffering from cholecystitis and gallstones, a feeling of heaviness appears on the right side, and the pain spreads below the left shoulder blade.An acute attack of cholecystitis causes severe pain, nausea, vomiting, and increased body temperature.If the bile duct is obstructed by stones, pain syndrome occurs in the form of biliary colic.
With chronic inflammation, the nature of the pain is aching.Discomfort appears after eating fatty foods, with long breaks between meals.
Recurrent attacks can occur after physical or nervous stress, against the background of stress.
Abscess under the diaphragm
It is an accumulation of pus under the diaphragm.Most often, abscesses form on the right side, but can also be localized on the left side.Pathology is manifested by the following symptoms:
- pain on the left side, spreading from the shoulder blade to the sternum;
- Acute pain in the chest, intensifies when inhaling;
- high body temperature;
- hiccups;
- increased sweating;
- cough without phlegm;
- shortness of breath.
If left untreated, the disease can cause empyema, pneumonia and lung abscess.
Bronchopulmonary disease
Diseases of the lower respiratory tract (bronchi, lungs and pleura) cause both chest pain and shoulder blade pain, always accompanied by a specific bronchopulmonary clinical picture:
- increased body temperature;
- weakness, lethargy;
- shortness of breath;
- chest pain (usually due to the affected lungs) of moderate intensity, gradually increasing when coughing or inhaling;
- cough;
- wheeze.
Left shoulder blade back pain syndrome most often occurs with pneumonia, dry pleurisy, pneumothorax, acute bronchitis or left lung abscess.
Kidney disease
Shoulder blade pain can occur due to problems in the right kidney because it is located near the shoulder blade.When inflammation occurs, purulent infiltrates or stones form, the pain is usually localized on the right side but can also spread to the left side.The pain is usually dull or aching but can also be severe.It is paroxysmal, progressive, meaning it emerges from the lower back, accompanied by nausea, vomiting and increased body temperature.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
Spinal problems and neurological disorders related to them are the main cause of back pain in the left shoulder blade area.The pain can occur when moving, turning, sneezing, breathing or taking a deep breath.They may radiate into the arms, associated with a crunching sound and limited mobility.
Shoulder blade pain often occurs due to the following diseases:
- cervical and thoracic bone degeneration;
- disc herniation;
- protruding;
- scoliosis;
- Radiation inflammation.
Against the background of degenerative processes in the spine, not only blood vessels and nerve endings are compressed, but also muscles are spasmed.Muscle spasms cause scapular syndrome.
One of the most common causes of pain in the shoulder blades is cervical spondylosis.At first, the pain syndrome is mild, but as degenerative changes occur, it becomes acute and explosive.The pain is accompanied by dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision and increased blood pressure.
Rarer diseases of the musculoskeletal system that can cause pain in the scapula include osteomyelitis, bone tuberculosis, and malignant tumors.
Muscle tension and inflammation
The back muscles that surround the shoulder blades support the spine in its 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 the appearance of instability in the shoulder.
Intercostal neuralgia
The disease is accompanied by inflammation of the intercostal nerves and appears based on the following provoking factors:
- injury to the ribs or spine;
- hypothermia;
- excessive physical activity;
- osteoarthritis.
The intensity of the pain syndrome depends on the severity of the pathology and the timeliness of treatment.The pain can be painful, but sometimes it is so painful that it is unbearable.
It is important to promptly contact a neurologist, who will provide qualified and, most importantly, timely help, otherwise intercostal neuralgia will cause the patient severe discomfort:
- the pain has a shooting, cutting nature;
- pain that increases when moving your hands, coughing or inhaling;
- numbness occurs in the affected area of the body;
- heart rhythm disorder.
Disease or injury of the shoulder blade
Fractures and fractures of the shoulder blade, glenohumeral arthritis are accompanied by pain, limitation of movement, damage to blood vessels and compression of nerve endings.
Shoulder blade injuries are more common in athletes, patients with osteoporosis and bone tissue cancer.
Types of pain under the left shoulder blade
Before proceeding with diagnosis and treatment, it is important to understand the nature, location, intensity of pain, their relationship with movement, breathing and eating.If after eating there is pain under the left shoulder blade, heart diseases and diseases of the musculoskeletal system can be ruled out.The causes of pain are diseases of the gallbladder, pancreas and stomach.
The nature of the pain syndrome can be tight, acute, burning, increasing, aching, dull, sharp.
Pain in left shoulder blade
It can be continuous or periodic, indicating both pathology of internal organs and diseases of the spine.If left untreated, it can turn into a stabbing, burning sensation.Attacks occur more often when raising arms, doing physical activity, or remaining in one position for long periods of time.
Appears with scoliosis, chronic dacryocystitis, scapulohumeral syndrome, disc herniation, early stages of cervical spondylosis, bruises and other minor injuries, intercostal neuralgia.
Acute pain under left shoulder blade
This is a syndrome of severe pain in the back area below the shoulder blades, limiting movement and causing difficulty breathing.Characteristic for myocardial infarction, shoulder bursitis, exacerbation of osteonecrosis, spondylosis, hernia, subdiaphragmatic abscess, pleurisy, acute cholecystitis, intercostal neuralgia.
Sharp pain in left shoulder area
It can happen suddenly or as a result of long-term pain.Shooting, sharp pain are signs of osteoarthritis, hernia, trauma, intercostal neuralgia, scapular tuberculosis, aortic aneurysm, perforated stomach ulcer, and radiculitis.
Stitch pain behind left shoulder blade
It manifests itself in the form of low back pain, typical of nerve endings being compressed in diseases of the musculoskeletal system.If accompanied by chest compression and lack of air, the possibility of myocardial infarction or lung abscess cannot be ruled out.
Persistent pain on the left side of the back below the shoulder blade
Inherent in most pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, as well as 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 sleeping, breathing and walking.More often, the pain increases with physical activity, coughing and sneezing.
Constant or persistent pain occurs due to spinal or scapular injuries, scapulohumeral syndrome, bronchopulmonary disease, pyelonephritis, and cancer.Low back pain due to digestive system disorders is a characteristic of patients with acute pancreatitis.
Burning pain on the left side of the shoulder blade
It is simply unbearable and occurs with intercostal neuralgia, myocardial infarction, angina, muscle tension.
Important!If a burning sensation spreads to the sternum accompanied by difficulty breathing, you should immediately call an ambulance.This is a sign of a heart attack.
How to relieve pain under the left shoulder blade
Painful sensations below the left shoulder blade, especially if they are quite intense, hindering free movement and breathing, require professional help because they threaten human health and life.You cannot ignore them and self-medicate.Using analgesics, antispasmodics and other pain relievers can relieve pain but does not eliminate the cause and must be detected by a doctor.
Important!Urgent care is required in case of severe pain of increasing intensity and rapid deterioration of health.
Which doctor should I consult for pain on the left side below the shoulder blade?
When you feel the first pain in the shoulder area, you should consult a specialist and make a diagnosis.Because back pain is often neurological in nature, you should make an appointment with a neurologist.
The doctor will conduct a visual examination, study the patient's complaints, draw a clinical picture: nature and condition of the pain syndrome (in the lying position, during movement), intensity, accompanying symptoms.
To understand exactly why your back hurts, your doctor will prescribe additional examinations:
- laboratory - clinical analysis of blood and urine, which will show the inflammatory process;
- tool, which necessarily includes MRI, since this diagnostic method provides the most accurate information about the condition of the spine, muscle tissue, nerve endings and blood vessels.
If instrumental diagnosis reveals pathology that is not within the neurologist's jurisdiction, the doctor will refer the patient to a therapist, pulmonologist, cardiologist, gastroenterologist, traumatologist or other specialists.
Treatment of left shoulder pain
All treatments are aimed at eliminating the root cause and relieving pain.The doctor chooses the medicine based on the reason why the pain in the shoulder blade area occurs.
If the cause is a disease of the musculoskeletal system or its complications, then drug treatment will be as follows:
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- muscle relaxants;
- analgesic;
- local anesthetic.
Drug treatment must be supplemented with physiotherapy exercises, massage, therapy.
If conservative treatment does not bring the desired treatment effect, the patient will be referred for surgery.
When it matters which side of the shoulder blade the pain is on: right or left
Heart diseases, especially severe ones such as myocardial infarction, are manifested by symptoms on the left.The situation is similar to spleen injury and rupture.These diseases can lead to death for the patient, so determining the location of the pain is extremely important.
Remember, self-medication can only worsen your health condition and contribute to the development of complications.If there is a constant feeling of discomfort in the left shoulder blade area, professional help is needed.