Pain under the left shoulder blade from behind: causes, treatment, what to do if the shoulder blade hurts

Pain under the left shoulder blade from behind is a very unpleasant phenomenon that affects a person's mobility and affects his performance.It has been found that with some pathologies, such discomfort can persist even when a person is resting.However, this symptom does not always indicate the presence of complex back pathology.Sometimes it is provoked by a banal prolonged stay in a physiologically incorrect position.

General anatomical information

So if you look at the back from behind, you can see that the left shoulder blade is attached to the ribs that make up the chest.Between each of them there is a nerve and blood vessels in the recesses.The ribs are connected to each other by ligaments and muscles.

Closer to the middle of the scapula is the spine, where the spinal cord is located.All nerves come from him.The back muscles surrounding the scapula are quite well developed.Its purpose is to protect the left lung, heart, spleen, stomach and pancreas, and thoracic aorta.

What factors cause pain?

Pain under the left shoulder blade from behind can be caused by the following factors:

1. Stomach ulcer.Here the nature of back pain increases, it is associated with meals, but becomes weaker after an attack of vomiting.Another sign that it is the ulcer that is causing pain is the presence of belching or heartburn.Discomfort is not only felt in the left shoulder blade, but can also radiate to the sternum and left nipple.In this case, the patient is simply unable to move normally.Severe discomfort prevents him from taking deep breaths, so the person cannot fully relax, which leads to other equally serious dysfunctions of the body and nervous system.If the pain on the left side of the back becomes too noticeable, you should immediately contact an ambulance.
2. Acute pancreatitis.There can also be quite severe pain in the left back under the shoulder blade.The sensations have their own character, in this case overwhelming, sudden.
3. Vegetative crisis.The manifestation of the symptoms is very clear here.In addition to pain in the back area, the person experiences a feeling of compression in the chest, heat in the same area and the inability to determine the exact location of the discomfort.The patient cannot breathe normally and experiences an increased feeling of anxiety and fear.One cannot say that in such a condition it will be possible to accurately determine the location of pain.It often radiates to other parts of the body, even the lower abdomen.The patient feels a lump in the throat and a feeling of suffocation.
4. Myocardial infarction.There is also severe pain in the left shoulder blade area from behind.Since this condition is often life-threatening, it must be recognized early and treatment initiated.The patient feels a burning sensation and is unable to breathe deeply.The intensity of pain on the left side of the back is very high, the patient does not respond to glycerol trinitrate, and the pathological condition itself lasts more than 10 minutes.The disease is characterized by the fact that the patient's hand often becomes numb during an attack.
5. Angina pectoris.This heart disease is also characterized by pain under the shoulder blade on the left side of the back.The pain is sharp and presses the chest.The cause of this disease is considered to be a narrowing of the lumen of the blood vessels.The attack is provoked by physical activity, hypothermia and consumption of alcoholic beverages.Glycerol trinitrate can weaken it.
6. Pathologies of the respiratory system.If a person feels constant back pain under the left shoulder blade, the cause of this condition is pneumonia or dry pleurisy.At the same time, every deep breath, cough and sneeze is accompanied by unpleasant sensations.The pain will always be directed to the affected lung.Its character can vary depending on the severity of the pathology: it can be insignificant or become cutting and stabbing.
7. Dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta.This increases the load on the valve between the left atrium and the ventricle.At the same time, the heart cannot cope with its functions as quickly as necessary.This leads to stagnation of venous blood in the lungs and edema occurs.At the point where the aneurysm connects to the vessel, its wall becomes thinner and can rupture at any time.This leads to severe bleeding into the abdominal cavity.
8. Biphasic rupture of the spleen.This reason is considered very rare, but it still happens.If the tissue of the organ is damaged, the patient develops abdominal bleeding, which is difficult to stop.This disease requires immediate surgical treatment.

These pathologies must be recognized as quickly as possible.Otherwise, a person may die without proper medical care.

Which musculoskeletal diseases cause pain?

Damage to the spine or other parts of the skeleton can cause pain under the left shoulder blade from behind.The following reasons for the emergence of complaints can be identified:

• Osteochondrosis of the neck.At the beginning of the development of the disease, the patient's sensations are difficult to determine, but they are directed to the damaged nerve roots.The pain is spontaneous, excruciating and may disappear after a warm bath.As a result, severe pinching of nerves and blood vessels occurs in the neck area, which does not go unnoticed.Another symptom of pathology is the radiation of pain to the arm.Osteochondrosis of the neck most often develops in people who deliberately or forcedly lead a passive, sedentary lifestyle.As for the type of pain syndrome, there may be pain or stinging under the shoulder blade.
• Damage to the intercostal nerves.The presented condition is considered a common cause of back pain under the left shoulder blade.Deep breathing, coughing and bending to the left increase the pain syndrome.The sensations are very sharp, strong and shooting.As the pathology progresses, the pain under the scapula becomes burning from behind.
• Scapular-costal syndrome.The feeling is usually painful and pulling.The complaints are localized in the area above and below the shoulder blade, below the shoulders.A feature of the pathology is that a crunching sound is heard when moving the arm and shoulder.The cause of this disease is very strong physical stress, injury to the specified part of the body and hypothermia.
• A malignant tumor that affects the skeleton.In this case, the tumor itself or its metastases are localized on the scapula.
• Crunch of the scapula.This disease is not seen very commonly and affects the subscapular bursa.The pain here is not of high intensity.However, when moving, a crunching noise can be heard in the shoulder blade area.
• Osteomyelitis, which occur as a result of a specific injury, for example: injury caused by a weapon.
• Humeroscapular periarthritis.If it has a simple form of development, the sensations will not be too obvious.The symptoms are usually only recognized when there is some movement.In the acute stage of development, the pathology is characterized by an increase in appearance, especially at night.At the same time, shoulder mobility is limited, there is an increase in basal temperature and muscle cramps.

Pain under the left shoulder blade can be a symptom of a serious pathology, especially if it is of a burning, sharp or stabbing nature.Even pregnancy can provoke a pathological condition.This time is characterized by the fact that the female body is exposed to enormous stress.

An injury can cause pain in the back under the left shoulder blade: a break, a tear.Here the discomfort is painful in nature and tends to increase with movement.Psychosomatic reasons for the development of such a pathological condition are often cited.The trigger here is strong emotional or psychological stress that the body cannot adequately cope with.The peculiarity of this reason is that even a negative attitude of the patient towards the symptoms can further worsen his well-being.

Classification of unpleasant sensations

Before starting treatment of a pathological condition, it is necessary to determine the cause of its occurrence.The type of pain syndrome is also important for the diagnosis.It could be:

1. Surrounding.In this case, the complaints are localized in one place.A person feels it all the time.The patient cannot breathe normally as this leads to an exacerbation of the syndrome.The slightest movement or cough can provoke a deterioration in the patient's condition.The type of pain is caused by the passage of a nerve impulse between the ribs.
2. Combustion.The victim may experience numbness in certain areas of the skin and tingling in the body.
3. Cultivation.The pain radiates from below the shoulder blade to the side of the back into the arm.Increased muscle tone in the shoulders and back can cause these symptoms.
4. Sharp.The intensity of pain behind the left shoulder blade is considered to be very high.Often the patient cannot breathe, it is difficult for him to lie on his left side, movements become unbearable.

5. Cut.It is initially located on the left and then moves to the center.
6. Dull, aching painin the left shoulder blade.It usually occurs when you raise your arm.
7. PullPain syndromeIt often “spreads” from the shoulder blade to the lumbar spine.
8. Cut.
9. Constant pain, which does not allow you to breathe normally, lie down or make movements.

As you can see, there are many different types of complaints.Therefore, it is not possible to accurately determine the cause of the development of the pathology itself.That is, if pain occurs, the patient must see a doctor and undergo a thorough examination.

Features of disease diagnosis

If the patient feels a dull pain and begins to hurt in the left shoulder blade area, treatment begins with a comprehensive examination.Diagnosis includes the following procedures:

• X-ray of the spine, which is performed in multiple projections.The picture may also show problems with the lungs.
• Computed tomography.
• MRI.
• If the patient has heart problems, an ECG is prescribed.
• Ultrasound of internal organs.
• Instrumental examination of pulse and blood pressure.
• Biochemical and general blood test.

After examining and determining the cause of the pathological condition, the patient is prescribed treatment.He may also need to consult a cardiologist or gastroenterologist.

How to properly treat the disease?

If the patient begins to hurt in the back of the left shoulder blade, he cannot take a deep breath, of course he should start therapy.Methods for eliminating pain under the left scapula are determined by the factors that provoked the development of the pathological process.It is not enough to simply eliminate the symptoms as they quickly recur.

Each disease is characterized by its own symptoms, so the treatment regimen is always different.However, they each contain important recommendations for maintaining daily routine and nutrition.Of course, dull pain is treated with medication.

If conservative therapy does not provide positive dynamics, surgery is indicated for the patient.For example, a large hernia, a ruptured spleen or a stomach ulcer with internal bleeding must be treated surgically.

If pain triggers pregnancy, you should get more rest and see a gynecologist.

When should you go to the hospital?

Therefore, if you constantly experience discomfort and it becomes worse when you breathe deeply and begins to radiate to the arm and other parts of the body, you should immediately consult a specialist.Simply treating the symptoms will only make the situation worse as the disease progresses.

Even if the patient knows the cause of his illness, he should not immediately consult a specialist.It is better to consult a therapist who will show you where to go.

Preventive measures

It is impossible to completely insure yourself against all diseases.However, you can try to avoid factors that lead to deterioration in health.For example, you should eat right, exercise daily to keep your body in shape, and train your muscles.If you have a sedentary job, you need to warm up regularly.Of course, it is better to avoid all kinds of injuries.

If you know why it hurts under the back of the left shoulder blade, you can start effective treatment in a timely manner.Of course, some pathologies, especially degenerative-dystrophic ones, cannot be completely overcome.However, appropriate therapy can help slow its progression.Be healthy and do not neglect the advice of specialists!