Pain under the shoulder blade on the left side is a fairly common symptom that can occur in both men and women and even children. At first glance, such symptoms may seem frivolous, but in fact, pain under the left shoulder from behind can be a sign of many dangerous illnesses.
There are many reasons for such pain syndrome, and they are usually not related to the shoulder blade problems themselves at all. The most common cause of pain is inflammatory and pathological processes in other organs and systems.
Why does it hurt under the left shoulder blade?
To understand why it hurts under the shoulder blade, we need to recall the anatomical structure of man. In fact, it is most often the organs that are nearby that are painful, although the pains sometimes radiate along the nerve fibers away from the focus of the disease.
The left shoulder blade is located on the ribs that make up the chest. The ribs are connected by ligaments and intercostal muscles, and there are intercostal vessels and intercostal nerves between each rib. The intercostal nerves, on the other hand, branch off from the spinal cord, which is located in the spinal column, in the middle of the scapula. The scapula, along with the ribs, protects the left heart, left lungs, stomach, spleen, pancreas, and aorta.
Based on this location, the causes of pain can be divided into two main groups:
- Pain associated with musculoskeletal disorders as well as muscle pain.
- Pain associated with pathological changes in the work of the internal organs (diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, spleen, respiratory system).
The cause of scapular pain can be determined by their nature, intensity and localization:
- Pain radiating to the left shoulder blade. . .The pathological source of such pain may be away from the site of pain. This symptom is most common in diseases of the stomach or heart.
- Painful pain under the left shoulder blade. . . Indicates the presence of a prolonged chronic process. Such painful manifestations have been associated with chronic heart disease (pericarditis, myocarditis) as well as cervical osteochondrosis of the spine.
- Dull pain under the left shoulder blade. . . It is most commonly associated with the development of chest or cervical osteochondrosis. Painful feelings usually spread from the back of the head to the back, arm, under the shoulder blade, and are accompanied by nausea, dizziness, tingling in the hands (tingling).
- Severe pain under the left shoulder blade. . . Intense pain is not characteristic of the shoulder blade zone, which means it serves as an indication of a pathological condition that can be life-threatening. At best, severe pain may indicate intercostal neuralgia, but such feelings are more likely to indicate the presence of a peptic ulcer and a pre-infarction condition.
- Sharp pain under the left shoulder blade. . . Intercostal neuralgia can cause sharp pain - however, when you inhale, the pain syndrome clearly increases, there is a feeling that you are "breathing". Acute pain can be caused by left pneumonia in the acute phase, while the patient feels cut-stabbing symptoms on the entire left side of the chest that radiate toward the left scapula. Less commonly, acute pain may occur as the inflammation of the pancreas worsens - the pain is shingles and crampy in nature.
- Drawing pain under the left shoulder blade. . .It may indicate the initial stage of development of cervical osteochondrosis. The pain begins just below the occipital bone and radiates to the left (or right) side of the back.
- Burning under the shoulder blade. . . This symptom may indicate prolonged intercostal neuralgia, angina attacks, and myocardial infarction. Sometimes a burning sensation under the shoulder blade may indicate the development of vegetative-vascular dystonia. In this case, the pain is accompanied by tachycardia, shaking hands, and a strong sense of fear.
- Constant pain under the shoulder blade on the left side. . . This pain syndrome may indicate the development of left pneumonia. In this case, the pain is accompanied by a dry cough, low fever, shortness of breath, shortness of breath.
- Sewing pain under the left shoulder blade. . .Suturing pain (called "lumbago") is the most common sign of osteochondrosis, but it can also indicate intercostal neuralgia. A tingling sensation in the back caused by exertion, deep inhalation, or coughing may be a sign of pleurisy or pneumonia.
- Depressing pain. . . It also indicates the development of osteochondrosis and may indicate an early stage of coronary heart disease and exacerbation of autonomic vascular dystonia.
- Throbbing pain. . .Most often, the left protrusion of the intervertebral disc manifests itself in this way in the thoracic or cervical spine. Pulsating pain may indicate intervertebral disc herniation or incipient aortic dissection.
- Acute pain under the left shoulder blade. . . Indicates a hazardous condition and requires immediate medical attention. Causes of pain syndrome may include: angina pectoris attacks, left protrusion of the intervertebral disc, gastric ulcer.
The nature and localization of the pain can vary, but most often the painful feelings under the left shoulder blade are a very dangerous symptom that requires immediate medical attention.
What diseases can cause pain under the left shoulder blade?
The pain below the shoulder blade on the left side is most commonly caused by pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, heart, stomach, and bronchopulmonary system.
Consider the possible illnesses associated with pain under the left shoulder blade and the accompanying symptoms.
| Diseases | The nature of pain | Related symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Musculoskeletal system | ||
| Shoulder-shoulder periatritis | The pain appears in the shoulder area and radiates toward the shoulder blade. | The patient cannot move freely (due to pain he cannot put his hand behind his head), the joints crackle when moving. |
| Intercostal neuralgia | The painful feeling is localized in one of the intercostal spaces and is accompanied by a feeling of numbness. The pain syndrome intensifies when you lean to the left. | Redness and characteristic skin rashes may occur during the inflamed area. |
| Diseases of the back muscles (myositis, inflammation, lesions) | Back pain is sharp and can be painful. | On the left side, there is pain when the shoulder blade is injured and the muscles are tightened. |
| Oncology | Painful pain under the left shoulder blade or sharp pain of a permanent nature. | In tumors of the scapula, the underlying chest is deformed. |
| Injury | Severe pain syndrome, especially in the first few hours after injury. | If the pain intensifies with movement, swelling or swelling may occur, there may be a fracture of the shoulder blade or rib. |
| Osteochondrosis, spondylosis, chest scoliosis, intervertebral hernia | Severe pain occurs either continuously or in the form of "lumbago. " | Unpleasant feelings appear in the spine - the feeling of being "stuck". |
| Heart disease | ||
| Angina pectoris | The pain under the left scapula occurs from the back to the back when loaded and radiates to the left arm, the left scapula, sometimes the left jaw. | Shortness of breath, fear of death. |
| Myocardial infarction | Burning pain under the left shoulder blade from the side of the heart. | Heart pain is not relieved by pills. The left hand becomes numb, severe shortness of breath occurs, the sternum begins to "burn". |
| Pericarditis and myocarditis | Aching pain on the left side. | It is accompanied by chills, occurs more often at night, and the temperature rises. |
| Ascending aortic dissecting aneurysm | Pain syndrome migrates from top to bottom. Initially, the pain occurs in the chest, then gradually moves under the left shoulder blade and further into the lower back. | Sharp pressure drop. |
| Diseases of the bronchopulmonary system | ||
| Left pneumonia | The pain is moderately severe. | Cough with discharge, wheezing in the lungs, fever. |
| Pleurisy | The pain is manifested by breathing | Shortness of breath, wheezing in the lungs. |
| Gastrointestinal pathologies | ||
| Peptic ulcer | The pain under the shoulder blade is accompanied by a burning sensation (more often at night). | Eating pain. |
| Perforated ulcer | Sharp and stabbing pain (like a sting). | Fever, vomiting. |
| Acute pancreas | The pain of shingles can sometimes radiate to the side. | Swelling, repeated vomiting, fever. |
Other symptoms that accompany pain syndrome may help determine the disease caused by pain under the shoulder blade on the left side:
- The pain increases after eating- peptic ulcer, inflammation of the pancreas, gastritis.
- When sneezing, the pain increases- bone diseases, trauma, pleurisy, neuralgia, joint and muscle pathologies.
- The pain occurs when the head is turned- osteochondrosis, collarbone injury.
- Pain occurs if swallowed- diseases of the esophagus, psychosomatic disorders.
- The pain is accompanied by shortness of breath- pleurisy, cardiac pathology, intercostal neuralgia.
- A cough appears with pain- damage to the respiratory system.
- Appearance of temperature- infectious and inflammatory processes: pericarditis, purulent pleurisy, subphrenic abscess.
- The pain is accompanied by numbness in the left arm.- angina pectoris, osteochondrosis, myocardial infarction.
- Nausea and belching are accompanied by pain- pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (inflammation of the pancreas, ulcer, gastritis).
- In case of pain, numbness occurs in the tongue- angina pectoris, osteochondrosis, heart attack.
Pregnant women experience shoulder pain for the same reasons as other people, but the mother is much more at risk of developing certain diseases. The most likely causes of left back pain in pregnant women are osteochondrosis (due to increased spinal strain), pyelonephritis (due to kidney displacement and activation), and overload of the back muscles.
In children, the pain under the shoulder blade is usually due to trauma, neuralgia (after hypothermia), myositis, pleurisy.
Diagnosis and treatment. Which doctor should I go to?
Depending on the nature and manifestations of the pain, you should choose a doctor to make an appointment with:
- Emergency doctor- sharp, intense pain, a burning sensation in the chest, shortness of breath accompanied by severe dizziness, severe weakness or loss of consciousness.
- Neurologist- if the pain is related to exercise or movement.
- Traumatologist- if the pain occurred after an injury.
- Cardiologistwith a burning sensation behind the sternum, under the shoulder blade, in the left hand, in the jaw.
- Pulmonologist (or therapist)- if your pain gets worse and you have a cough, shortness of breath or fever.
- Gastroenterologist- if the pain is accompanied by a meal and is accompanied by dyspepsia.
- Surgeon- the pain under the shoulder blade is accompanied by deformity of the sternum, sharp pain with high fever.
If it is difficult to decide on your own to choose a doctor, it is a good idea to see a therapist who will prescribe an appointment with a narrow specialist based on the results of the test.
Diagnostic measures are prescribed depending on the cause of the pain under the left scapula:
- General examination - medical history and examination of the patient, visual examination (pulse, blood pressure, temperature measurement, palpation, listening), blood and urine examination.
- X-ray examination, CT and MRI - determine the pathology of the spine and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, as well as diseases of the lung system.
- Ultrasound examination of abdominal organs, EGD - diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Ultrasound and ECG - prescribed for the examination of cardiovascular diseases.
The treatment regimen for pain under the left scapula is selected separately for each disease - there is no single treatment protocol.
Important!The treatment of pain under the left scapula is primarily the treatment of the disease that causes the pain syndrome.
If the pain is accompanied by cardiovascular pathologies, heart medications are prescribed, prescribing a diet that spares physical and psycho-emotional activity.
Gastrointestinal pathologies that cause pain are treated with antacids and a gentle diet.
Musculoskeletal disorders are treated with long-term therapy, including the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and special physiotherapy.
Surgical treatment is prescribed if conservative therapy is ineffective. Surgery is mandatory for perforated ulcers, severe pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, rupture of the spleen, intervertebral hernia.
If pain occurs under the left shoulder blade, a medical examination should be performed to avoid the development and development of life-threatening pathologies.