Pain that appears on the left under the shoulder blade is a fairly common symptom that can occur in men, women and even children.At first glance, such symptoms seem trivial, but in fact, pain under the left shoulder blade from behind can be a harbinger of a number of dangerous diseases.
There are many reasons for the occurrence of such a pain syndrome, and they are usually not related to problems with the shoulder blades themselves.Often, the cause of pain is inflammatory and pathological processes in other organs and systems.
Why does my left shoulder blade hurt?
To understand why it hurts under the shoulder blade, you need to remember the anatomical structure of a person.After all, often nearby organs hurt, although the pain spreads along nerve fibers far from the source of the disease.
The left shoulder blade is located in the ribs that form the chest.The ribs are connected to each other by ligaments and intercostal muscles, and between each rib are intercostal vessels and intercostal nerves.In turn, the intercostal nerves arise from the spinal cord located in the vertebral body centered on the scapula.The scapula, along with the ribs, protects the left heart, left lung, stomach, spleen, pancreas, and aorta.
Based on this location, the causes of pain can be divided into two main groups:
- Pain associated with disorders of the musculoskeletal system, as well as muscle pain.
- Pain associated with pathological changes in the work of internal organs (diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, spleen, respiratory organs).
The cause of pain in the scapula can be determined depending on its nature, intensity and location:
- Pain radiating to the left shoulder blade.The pathological source of such pain may be located far from the pain site.Often this symptom is characteristic of stomach or heart diseases.
- Aching pain under the left shoulder blade.It indicates the presence of a long-term chronic process.Such painful manifestations can be associated with chronic heart diseases (pericarditis, myocarditis), as well as cervical osteochondrosis of the spine.
- Dull pain under the left shoulder blade.It often occurs against the background of the development of thoracic or cervical osteochondrosis.Typically, the pain spreads from the back of the head to the back, arm, under the shoulder blade and is accompanied by nausea, dizziness, numbness (tingling) of the hands.
- Severe pain under the left shoulder blade.Strong pain is not characteristic of the scapula region, that is, it serves as a signal of a pathological condition that can be life-threatening.At best, severe pain can indicate intercostal neuralgia, but more often such sensations indicate the presence of a stomach ulcer and the development of a pre-infarction condition.
- Sharp pain under the left shoulder blade.Intercostal neuralgia can cause acute pain - when breathing, the pain syndrome is clearly intensified and there is a feeling that you are "holding your breath".Acute pain can lead to left-sided pneumonia in the acute stage, and the patient feels cutting and stabbing symptoms on the entire left side of the chest, spreading to the left shoulder blade.Less often, during an exacerbation of pancreatitis, severe pain can occur - the pain is girdle and cramp in nature.
- Nagging pain under the left shoulder blade.It can indicate the initial stage of the development of cervical osteochondrosis.The pain starts just below the occipital bone and spreads to the left (or right) side of the back.
- Burning under the shoulder blade.This symptom can indicate long-term intercostal neuralgia, angina attacks or myocardial infarction.Sometimes the appearance of a burning sensation under the scapula may indicate the development of vegetative-vascular dystonia.In this case, the pain is accompanied by tachycardia, trembling of the hands, and a strong feeling of fear.
- Constant pain under the shoulder blade on the left side.Such a pain syndrome may indicate the development of left-sided pneumonia.In this case, the pain is accompanied by a dry cough, low temperature, a feeling of lack of air, shortness of breath.
- Stitching pain under left shoulder blade.Stitching pains (called "lumbago") are most often a symptom of osteochondrosis, but can also indicate intercostal neuralgia.Tingling in the back that occurs during physical exertion, deep breathing or coughing can be a sign of the development of pleurisy or pneumonia.
- Pressing pain.It indicates the development of osteochondrosis, and may also indicate the initial stage of coronary heart disease and exacerbation of vegetative-vascular dystonia.
- Throbbing pain.Most often, a left-sided protrusion of the intervertebral disc in the thoracic or cervical spine manifests itself in this way.Throbbing pain may indicate a herniated disc or incipient aortic dissection.
- Sharp pain under the left shoulder blade.Indicates dangerous conditions and requires immediate medical attention.The causes of pain syndrome can be: angina attacks, left-sided protrusion of the intervertebral disc, stomach ulcer.
The nature and location of the pain can be different, but often the pain under the left shoulder blade is a very dangerous symptom that requires immediate medical attention.
What diseases can cause pain under the left shoulder blade?
Painful syndrome on the left under the scapula is most often caused by pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, heart, stomach and bronchopulmonary system.
Let's consider possible diseases accompanied by pain under the left shoulder blade and accompanying symptoms.
| Diseases | Nature of pain | Associated symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Musculoskeletal system | ||
| Humeroscapular periarthritis | Pain appears in the shoulder region and spreads to the shoulder blade. | The patient cannot move freely (he cannot put his hands behind his head due to pain);there is a crisis in the joints when moving. |
| Intercostal neuralgia | The pain is localized in one of the intercostal spaces and is accompanied by a feeling of numbness.The pain increases when bending to the left. | Redness may appear along the inflamed area, and a characteristic rash may appear on the skin. |
| Diseases of back muscles (myositis, inflammation, lesions) | Back pain occurs suddenly and can be painful in nature. | Pain appears on the left side when the shoulder blade is injured or the muscles are strained. |
| Oncology | Aching pain or constant sharp pain under the left shoulder blade. | With tumors of the scapula, the posterior thoracic part is deformed. |
| Injuries | Severe pain, especially in the first few hours immediately after the injury. | If the pain increases with movement, swelling or swelling occurs, it may be a fracture of the scapula or rib. |
| Osteochondrosis, spondylosis, thoracic scoliosis, intervertebral hernia | Severe pain is manifested either constantly or in "lumbago". | Unpleasant sensations appear in the spine - the feeling of "being hit with a stake". |
| Heart diseases | ||
| Angina pectoris | From the back, pain under the left shoulder blade arises during tension and spreads to the left arm, left shoulder blade, and sometimes to the left jaw. | It is accompanied by shortness of breath and fear of death. |
| Myocardial infarction | Burning pain under the left shoulder blade on the side of the heart. | Heartache cannot be cured with pills.The left arm goes numb, acute shortness of breath appears, and the sternum begins to "burn". |
| Pericarditis and myocarditis | Aching pain in the left side. | It is accompanied by chills, which appear more often at night, and an increase in temperature. |
| Dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta | Pain syndrome migrates from top to bottom.At first, the pain occurs in the chest, then gradually moves under the left shoulder blade and further down the back. | A sharp drop in pressure. |
| Diseases of the bronchopulmonary system | ||
| Left-sided pneumonia | Moderate pain. | Cough with sputum, wheezing in the lungs, fever. |
| Pleurisy | Pain occurs when breathing | Shortness of breath, wheezing in the lungs. |
| Pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract | ||
| Stomach ulcer | Pain under the shoulder blade is accompanied by a burning sensation (usually at night). | Pain is associated with eating. |
| Perforated ulcer | Sharp and stabbing pain (like a knife). | Fever, vomiting. |
| Acute pancreatitis | The pain is girdle-like and can sometimes spread to the side. | Flatulence, repeated vomiting, fever. |
Other symptoms accompanying the pain syndrome can help to identify the disease caused by the pain on the left side under the scapula:
- The pain is worse after eating- gastric ulcer, pancreatitis, gastritis.
- Pain intensifies when sneezing- bone diseases, injuries, pleurisy, neuralgia, pathologies of joints and muscles.
- Pain occurs when turning the head- osteochondrosis, collarbone injuries.
- Pain occurs during swallowing- esophageal diseases, psychosomatic disorders.
- Pain accompanied by shortness of breath- pleurisy, heart pathologies, intercostal neuralgia.
- Pain causes coughing- damage to the respiratory system.
- Appearance of temperature- infectious and inflammatory processes: pericarditis, purulent pleurisy, subphrenic abscess.
- Numbness in left arm– angina pectoris, osteochondrosis, myocardial infarction.
- Nausea and belching are accompanied by pain- pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract (pancreatitis, ulcers, gastritis).
- Pain causes numbness in the tongue– angina pectoris, osteochondrosis, heart attack.
Pregnant women feel pain under the shoulder blade for the same reasons as other people, but the future mother has a higher risk of developing certain diseases.The most likely cause of left lower back pain in a pregnant woman is osteochondrosis (due to a greater load on the spine), pyelonephritis (due to the displacement of the kidneys and activation of their activity) and excessive tension of the back muscles.
Pain under the shoulder blade in children usually occurs due to injuries, neuralgia (after hypothermia), myositis, pleurisy.
Diagnosis and treatment.Which doctor should I see?
Depending on the nature of the pain and its manifestations, you should choose a doctor to make an appointment:
- Emergency doctor- sharp, severe pain, burning in the chest, with shortness of breath, when the pain is accompanied by severe dizziness, severe weakness or fainting.
- Neurologist– if the pain is related to loads or movements.
- Traumatologist- if the pain occurred after an injury.
- Cardiologist– with a burning sensation behind the sternum, extending under the shoulder blade, to the left arm, to the chin.
- Pulmonologist (or therapist)- if the pain intensifies while breathing and is accompanied by cough, shortness of breath and fever.
- Gastroenterologist- if the pain is related to food and is accompanied by dyspeptic disorders.
- Surgeon- pain under the shoulder blade is accompanied by sharp pain accompanied by deformation of the sternum, high fever.
If it is difficult to decide on the choice of a doctor yourself, you should contact a therapist who will schedule an appointment with a specialist based on the results of the examination.
Depending on the causes of pain behind the left shoulder blade, diagnostic measures are prescribed:
- General examination - taking anamnesis and talking with the patient, visual examination (pulse, blood pressure, temperature, palpation, auscultation measurement), conducting blood and urine tests.
- X-ray examination, CT and MRI - determine pathologies of the spine and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, as well as diseases of the lung system.
- Abdominal ultrasound, FGDS - gastrointestinal diseases.
- Ultrasound and EKG are prescribed for examination of cardiovascular diseases.
The treatment regimen for pain under the left shoulder blade is selected specifically for each disease - there is no single treatment protocol.
It is important!The treatment of pain under the left shoulder blade is primarily the treatment of the disease that causes the pain syndrome.
If the pain is associated with cardiovascular pathologies, cardiological drugs and physical and psycho-emotional activity are prescribed a soft diet.
Pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract that cause pain are treated by taking antacids and prescribing a soft diet.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system are treated with long-term therapy, including taking anti-inflammatory drugs and performing special therapeutic exercises.
When conservative therapy is ineffective, surgical treatment is prescribed.Surgical intervention is mandatory in case of perforated ulcers, severe gastrointestinal pathologies, splenic hernia, intervertebral hernia.
If you feel pain under the left shoulder blade, you should definitely undergo a medical examination to prevent the occurrence and development of life-threatening pathologies.