Pain that appears on the left side below the scapula is a fairly common symptom that can manifest in both men and women, as well as in children. At first glance, such symptoms seem trivial, but in fact, pain under the left shoulder blade from behind can be a sign of some dangerous disease.
There are many reasons for the occurrence of such pain syndromes, and they are usually not at all associated with problems on the shoulder blade itself. Often, the cause of pain is an inflammatory and pathological process in other organs and systems.
Why does it hurt under the left shoulder blade?
To understand why it hurts under the scapula, one must remember one’s anatomical structure. Indeed, it is often the nearby organs that are painful, although it happens that the pain radiates along the nerve fibers far 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 between each rib there is an intercostal canal and an intercostal nerve. In contrast, the intercostal nerve branches from the spinal cord, which is located in the spinal trunk, the center of the scapula. Along with the ribs, the scapula 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 causes of pain in the scapula can be determined based on their nature, intensity and localization:
- The pain spreads to the left shoulder blade. . .The pathological source of such pain may be located far from the site of pain. Often, these symptoms are typical for stomach or heart disease.
- Painful pain under the left shoulder blade. . . Indicates the presence of a protracted chronic process. Such painful manifestations can be associated with chronic heart disease (pericarditis, myocarditis), as well as osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
- Dull pain under left shoulder blade. . . Often it occurs against the background of the development of thoracic or cervical osteochondrosis. Usually the painful sensation spreads down from the back of the head along the back, arms, under the shoulder blades and is accompanied by nausea, dizziness, numbness (tingling) of the hands.
- Severe pain under the left shoulder blade. . . Strong pain is not typical for the scapular zone, which means it serves as a signal of a life -threatening pathological condition. At best, severe pain may indicate intercostal neuralgia, but more often such sensations indicate the presence of a peptic ulcer and the development of a pre-infarct condition.
- Sharp pain under the left shoulder blade. . . Intercostal neuralgia can cause sharp pain - at the same time, when inhaling, the pain syndrome clearly increases, there is a feeling that "he is taking a breath. " Acute pain can be caused by left side pneumonia in the acute phase, while the patient feels symptomscutting and stabbing across the left side of the chest, radiating to the left shoulder blade. Less often, sharp pain can occur with exacerbation of pancreatitis - the pain is like shingles and cramps.
- Drawing pain under the left shoulder blade. . .May indicate an early stage of development of cervical osteochondrosis. The pain starts just below the occipital bone and radiates to the left (or right) back.
- Burns under the scapula. . . These symptoms may indicate prolonged intercostal neuralgia, angina attacks, myocardial infarction. Occasionally, 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, hand tremors, and strong feelings of fear.
- Persistent pain under the scapula on the left side. . . This pain syndrome may indicate the development of left sided pneumonia. In this case, the pain is accompanied by tuberculosis, low -grade fever, shortness of breath, shortness of breath.
- Pain in the stitches under the left shoulder blade. . .Suture pain (called "lumbago") is often a sign of osteochondrosis, but may also indicate intercostal neuralgia. A tingling sensation in the back caused by energy, deep inhalation, or coughing can be a sign of pleurisy or pneumonia.
- It hurts to press. . . Indicates the development of osteochondrosis, may also indicate early stages of coronary heart disease and exacerbation of vegetative-vascular dystonia.
- Throbbing pain. . .Often, the protrusion of the left side of the intervertebral disc in the thoracic or cervical spine manifests itself in this way. Pulsating pain may indicate a herniated intervertebral disc or new aortic dissection.
- Acute pain under the left shoulder blade. . . Indicates a dangerous condition and requires immediate medical attention. Causes of pain syndrome can be: angina pectoris attack, protrusion of the left side of the intervertebral disc, stomach ulcers.
The nature of the pain and its localization may vary, but often a painful sensation under the left shoulder blade is a very dangerous symptom that requires immediate medical intervention.
What diseases can cause pain under the left shoulder blade?
Painful syndrome on the left side below the scapula is most often caused by pathology of the musculoskeletal system, heart, stomach and bronchopulmonary system.
Consider the possible illness, accompanied by pain under the left shoulder blade, and the accompanying symptoms.
| Disease | The nature of pain | Related symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Musculoskeletal system | ||
| Shoulder-scapular periatritis | The pain appears in the shoulder area and radiates to the scapula. | The patient cannot move freely (cannot place his hands behind the head due to pain), there is irritation to the joints when moving. |
| Intercostal neuralgia | The painful sensation is localized in one of the intercostal spaces and is accompanied by numbness. The pain syndrome increases when bending to the left. | In the course of the inflamed area, redness may appear, a characteristic rash on the skin may occur. |
| Back muscle disease (myositis, inflammation, lesions) | Back pain occurs suddenly, it can be painful in nature. | On the left, pain appears when the scapula is injured, when the muscles are stretched. |
| Oncology | Painful pain below the left shoulder blade or sharp pain of a persistent nature. | With scapular tumors, the thoracic portion behind is deformed. |
| Trauma | Severe pain syndrome, especially in the first few hours immediately after injury. | If the pain increases with movement, swelling or puffiness occurs, it may be a fracture of the shoulder blades or ribs. |
| Osteochondrosis, spondylosis, thoracic scoliosis, intervertebral hernia | Severe pain is manifested either continuously or "lumbago". | Unpleasant sensations appear in the spine - the feeling that they have been "driven in spikes". |
| Heart disease | ||
| Angina pectoris | Pain under the left scapula from behind from behind occurs during exercise and radiates to the left arm, left scapula, sometimes to the left jaw. | It is accompanied by shortness of breath, fear of death. |
| Myocardial infarction | Burning pain under the left shoulder blade from the side of the heart. | Heart pain does not go away with pills. The left hand becomes numb, there is severe shortness of breath, the sternum begins to "burn". |
| Pericarditis and myocarditis | The character is aching pain on the left side. | It is accompanied by chills, more often appearing at night and an increase in temperature. |
| Aneurysms dissect the ascending aorta | The pain syndrome migrates from top to bottom. Initially, the pain occurs in the chest, then gradually moves under the left shoulder blade and further to the lower back. | A sharp drop in pressure. |
| Diseases of the bronchopulmonary system | ||
| Left side pneumonia | The pain is moderately strong. | Cough, phlegm, wheezing in the lungs, fever. |
| Pleurisy | Pain appears when breathing | Shortness of breath, wheezing in the lungs. |
| Gastrointestinal pathology | ||
| Stomach ulcer | Pain under the scapula is accompanied by a burning sensation (more often at night). | Pain associated with eating. |
| Perforated ulcers | Sharp and stabbing pain (like a stab). | Fever, vomiting. |
| Acute pancreatitis | Shingles pain, can sometimes radiate to the side. | Flatulence, recurrent vomiting, fever. |
Other symptoms that accompany pain syndrome can help determine the disease caused by pain on the left side below the scapula:
- The pain worsens after eating- peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, gastritis.
- The pain gets worse when you sneeze- bone disease, trauma, pleurisy, neuralgia, joint and muscle pathology.
- The pain showed itself when turning the head- osteochondrosis, collarbone injuries.
- Pain occurs when swallowing- esophageal diseases, psychosomatic disorders.
- Pain accompanied by shortness of breath- pleurisy, cardiac pathology, intercostal neuralgia.
- With pain, a cough appears- damage to the respiratory system.
- The emergence of temperature- infectious and inflammatory processes: pericarditis, purulent pleurisy, subphrenic abscesses.
- The pain is accompanied by numbness in the left arm.- angina pectoris, osteochondrosis, myocardial infarction.
- Nausea and belching accompany the pain- pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (pancreatitis, ulcers, gastritis).
- With pain, numbness occurs on the tongue- angina pectoris, osteochondrosis, heart attack.
In pregnant women, pain under the scapula occurs for the same reasons as in others, but in pregnant women, the risk of developing certain diseases is much higher. The most likely causes of left back pain in pregnant women are osteochondrosis (caused by a greater load on the spine), pyelonephritis (caused by displacement of the kidneys and activation of their activity), overstrain of the back muscles.
In children, pain under the scapula usually occurs as a result of trauma, with neuralgia (after hypothermia), myositis, pleurisy.
Diagnostics and treatment. Which doctor should I go to?
You should choose a doctor to make an appointment, depending on the nature of the pain and its manifestations:
- Anxiety doctor- with sharp, intense pain, burning sensation in the chest, shortness of breath, accompanied by pain with severe dizziness, severe weakness or loss of consciousness.
- Neurologist- if pain is associated with energy or movement.
- Trauma specialist- if pain appears after injury.
- Cardiologist- with a burning sensation behind the sternum, extending below the scapula, in the left hand, in the jaw.
- Pulmonologist (or therapist)- if the pain increases with breathing and is accompanied by cough, shortness of breath, fever.
- Gastroenterologist- if the pain is associated with food and is accompanied by dyspeptic disorders.
- surgeons- pain under the scapula accompanied by deformation of the sternum, with sharp pain accompanied by high fever.
If it is difficult to decide independently about the choice of doctor, it is worth contacting a therapist, who, based on the results of the examination, will appoint an appointment with a narrow specialist.
Diagnostic measures are prescribed depending on the cause of the pain under the left shoulder blade, in the back:
- General examination - taking anamnesis and interviewing the patient, visual examination (measuring pulse, blood pressure, temperature, palpation, listening), taking blood and urine tests.
- X-ray examination, CT and MRI-determine the pathology of the spine and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, as well as diseases of the pulmonary system.
- Ultrasound of the abdominal organs, EGD - gastrointestinal diseases.
- Ultrasound and ECG - prescribed for examination of cardiovascular disease.
The treatment regimen for pain below the left shoulder blade was chosen for each disease specifically - there was no single treatment protocol.
Important!The treatment of pain under the scapula on the left side is primarily the treatment of the pain syndrome that gives rise to the disease.
If pain is associated with cardiovascular pathology, cardiac medications are prescribed, a diet that saves physical and psycho-emotional activity is prescribed.
The gastrointestinal pathology that causes pain is treated with antacids and a gentle diet.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system are treated with the help of long-term therapy, including the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, the performance of special therapeutic exercises.
Surgical treatment is prescribed when conservative therapy is ineffective. Surgical intervention is mandatory for perforated ulcers, severe pathology of the gastrointestinal tract, rupture of the spleen, intervertebral hernia.
If pain appears under the left shoulder blade, it is important to be examined by a doctor to prevent the onset and development of life -threatening pathology.