![pain under the left shoulder blade](/images/article/1376/pain%20under%20the%20left%20shoulder%20blade.jpg)
Very often it can be disturbed by pain under the left shoulder blade from behind. It occurs after a sharp and strong movement or a long stay in an unsuccessful position. But it can also be a symptom of a serious illness that requires mandatory treatment. The causes of pain can be divided into two main groups: pain caused by diseases of the musculoskeletal system and pain associated with disorders of internal organs.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
Various diseases of the spine can cause pain in the shoulder blade. In addition, pain may be a secondary symptom of injury. The reasons why there is pain under the left shoulder blade from the back can be different.
Spinal osteochondritis
Osteochondrosis occurs due to changes in the spine, when bone tissue is destroyed under the influence of various factors. And there are many factors that lead to this pathology:
- Curvature of the spine as a result of poor posture. It is often found in students, schoolchildren and office workers.
- Statistical and dynamic overload of the body in immoderate quantities.
- Overweight and malnutrition.
- Back injury.
- Weak immunity and hereditary factor.
- Flat feet.
- Colds and frequent hypothermia, chronic intoxication.
- Metabolic disease.
- Prolonged exposure to vibration.
- Stress and a sedentary lifestyle.
With cervicothoracic osteochondrosis, there is severe pain in the neck, back, shoulders and upper limbs, it can pull under the shoulder blade. There is pain in the teeth, muscles, abdomen, heart area. The sensation begins to be disturbed when it stings under the shoulder blade, numbness in the area of the cervix and chest, as well as in the neck and abdomen. Sleep is disturbed, arm sensitivity, blood pressure readings begin to fluctuate, and performance decreases. It can also be baked behind the sternum.
Intercostal neuralgia
This disease occurs when the intercostal nerves are irritated, inflamed, pinched or compressed. This occurs with inflammation, infections, chemical poisoning, allergies and hypothermia. The main symptom of neuralgia is pain, concentrated in the area of the heart. It can be blunt or sharp, stinging, sore or burning. It can be episodic or permanent.
Increased sweating, discoloration of the skin, burning or loss of sensation in certain areas may also occur. In a forced fixed position, the pain syndrome can be withdrawn.
Traumatic scapular lesion
If the left shoulder blade hurts, the causes can be caused by injuries. They can occur from a direct blow to the shoulder blades or after falling on the back or shoulder. In the first hours after the injury, a very strong pain syndrome occurs. It is a symptom of a broken shoulder or rib. Swelling and edema will develop in the future. With rib fractures, it is difficult for a person to breathe, and bone damage is visible on palpation.
Sprengel's disease
![Sprengel's disease as a cause of pain under the left shoulder blade](/images/article/1376/Sprengel's%20disease%20as%20a%20cause%20of%20pain%20under%20the%20left%20shoulder%20blade.jpg)
This disease is an abnormal congenital location of the scapula. The cause of this pathology is not yet known to science. It is believed that the disease develops under the influence of external and internal negative factors on the fetus, in 3-4 weeks of pregnancy. At this point, the shoulder girdle and spine are formed. Often this disease is combined with other pathologies: merging of the ribs, club feet, formation of additional hemivertebrae and abnormal structure of the cervical region are noted.
The pathology is detected immediately after the birth of the child. With a mild degree of disease development are prescribed: exercise, massage, water treatments, physiotherapy. In moderate and severe cases, surgical treatment is prescribed.
myofascial syndrome
Under the influence of various factors, there is a disturbance in the work of the muscular apparatus and the membranes that cover the muscles. There are small painful seals in the muscles, so-called trigger points. They occur under the influence of trauma and muscle tension. There are several factors that lead to their occurrence: forced posture, spinal diseases, bruises, monotonous movements, somatic diseases, emotional strain.
The main symptom is pain, which has a painful, withdrawing character, which is intensified by straining and activating the trigger. Skin sensitivity also increases, skin color changes, and movement in the affected area is limited. Complex treatment is prescribed. For prevention, you need to monitor your weight, adhere to a healthy lifestyle, wear comfortable shoes and clothes, avoid stress and hypothermia.
Changes in the work of internal organs
If there is pain in the left shoulder blade from the back, the reasons may be an injury to internal organs. In many diseases, the symptom is pain in the left side. They are divided into cardiac, diseases of the bronchopulmonary system and gastrointestinal tract.
Heart disease
In heart disease, it hurts not only in the area of the left shoulder blade, but also in the area of the collarbone, in the left arm, in the abdomen. Myocardial infarction is one of the variants of coronary heart disease, in which necrosis of the heart muscle occurs as a result of a violation of coronary circulation. Behind the sternum there is a burning, squeezing or pressing pain that spreads to the left collarbone, shoulder blade, arm and jaw. The patient develops cold sweat, a feeling of fear. These symptoms are a direct indication for emergency hospitalization. Failure to provide timely medical care could result in death.
The cause of coronary heart disease is insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle due to coronary vascular disease. The coronary arteries are clogged or narrowed with cholesterol plaques. The heart does not receive enough blood to function normally. The reasons are:
- Atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels.
- arterial hypertension.
- Violation of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism.
- Smoking.
- High cholesterol and overweight.
- Diabetes.
Symptoms include difficulty breathing, weakness, arrhythmia, and increased sweating. There are spontaneous chest pains that are not affected by nitroglycerin. The patient feels a lack of oxygen, there is a fear of death, apathy, gloomy mood or unreasonable anxiety. In an attack of angina pectoris, the pain is concentrated behind the sternum. It has a cutting, pressed, compressive and burning character of the manifestation. The attack lasts from 2 to 5 minutes and is effectively stopped by medication.
In pericarditis, an inflammatory process occurs in the outer shell of the heart. Causes of inflammation are infections, autoimmune diseases, injuries, tumors, metabolic disorders. They occur with pressing pain in the chest, swelling of the face and neck, severe shortness of breath, dry cough and hoarse voice.
Mitral valve prolapse is a pathology in which the function of the valve located between the ventricles and the atria is disturbed. It is detected accidentally and does not pose a threat to the patient's life. It can be congenital or acquired. Another disease that is usually asymptomatic is aortic aneurysm. In this pathology, the vessel wall bulges due to its weakening or strong increase in blood pressure. The wall of blood vessels is weakened by the deposition of foreign substances, inflammation or destruction of tissues.
Pathologies of the bronchopulmonary system
In diseases of the bronchopulmonary system, there is pain in the left shoulder blade.
Reasons why the pain symptom occurs: acute bronchitis and tracheobronchitis, left-sided pneumonia, dry left-sided pleurisy, left lung abscess. Acute bronchitis is manifested by cough, weakness, increased sweating, shortness of breath and decreased activity, fever up to 38 degrees. The causes of the development of pathology are of viral or bacterial origin. Physical, chemical and allergic factors also affect.
Left-sided pneumonia is rare but a threat to the patient's life. The main reason is the penetration of pathogens into the left lung. This happens with a strong decrease in immunity. There is a strong debilitating cough, burning and pain on the left side of the chest, body temperature rises. It is necessary to seek help as soon as possible, this will help to avoid the development of complications. A disease such as dry pleurisy can be a complication of other lung pathologies. Lung abscess is a complication. It occurs as a result of insufficiently treated pneumonia.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
A very common group of diseases in which the pain radiates to the left shoulder blade from the back. The reasons may be different. The growth of pathologies is associated with dietary errors, the use of foods that contain flavors and preservatives. The symptoms of these diseases are:
- Abdominal pain.
- Heartburn.
- Burping.
- Flatulence.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Prison.
- Diarrhea.
- Bad breath.
- Reduced body weight and appetite.
- Dizziness.
- Weakness.
With an ulcer on the stomach, the integrity of the tissues of the stomach walls is disturbed, due to which they are corroded by gastric juice and an ulcer appears. Characteristic are hunger pains that appear on the background of hunger. After eating, they calm down. Another symptom is vomiting with acidic contents. Also, gastric motility is impaired, causing belching and heartburn. A complication of the disease can be bleeding, due to the defeat of ulcers in blood vessels. This is a very serious disease in which self-medication is dangerous because it can lead to ulcer perforation and death.
The main symptom of an ulcer on the duodenum is pain in the epigastric region, which can radiate to the left side of the chest and shoulder blades, lumbar or thoracic spine.
The pain occurs after eating, but also after some time. It is stopped with antacids, antispasmodics and antisecretory agents. Also, ulcers are characterized by dyspeptic disorders, lack of appetite, leading to weight loss and painful weight loss. The ulcer causes complications: bleeding, perforation and penetration of the pancreas, duodenal stenosis, tumor formation at the site of ulcer formation and inflammation of the intestinal mucosa.
Esophageal spasm is characterized by a violation of swallowing.
The cause can be excitement, as well as rapid absorption and poor chewing of food, consumption of foods rich in fiber. You can alleviate the discomfort by drinking plenty of fluids, swallowing air and performing exercises. Reverse reflux of esophageal contents is also a symptom. It often occurs in sleep or when the patient is in a horizontal position. It manifests itself in the form of vomiting without the addition of gastric juice and bile.
When the contents of the stomach and duodenum reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease develops.
The main cause is weakness of the lower esophageal sphincter. In this case, when the stomach shrinks, its contents return to the esophagus. It is characterized by heartburn, which occurs when bending over, exercising, after a hearty meal. There is an eructation of bitter or sour taste. You may also experience nausea and vomiting.
Signs of acute pancreatitis are strong, constant, sharp pain that is felt under the ribs.
There are two causes: alcohol abuse and cholelithiasis. Symptoms are not always pronounced. Pain is poorly alleviated with painkillers, and sometimes it is necessary to prescribe narcotics. Also, pain under the shoulder blade can bother with intestinal colitis. It occurs due to infections, medications, poisoning by chemicals or food, circulatory disorders.