Pain that appears on the left side below the shoulder blade is a fairly common symptom that can manifest in both men and women and even children. At first glance, such symptoms seem frivolous, but in fact, pain under the left shoulder blade from the back can be a precursor to a number of dangerous diseases.
There are many reasons for the appearance of this pain syndrome, and they are usually not related to the problems in the shoulder blades themselves. The most common causes of pain are 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, you need to remember the anatomical structure of the person. Indeed, it is most often those organs that are nearby that hurt, although it happens that the pain radiates along 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 are intercostal vessels and intercostal nerves. In turn, the intercostal nerves branch off from the spinal cord, which is located in the trunk of the spine, central to the scapula. Together 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 cause of shoulder pain 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. Most often, this symptom is typical for stomach or heart diseases.
- Aching pain under the left shoulder blade. . . Indicates the presence of a long-lasting chronic process. Such painful manifestations may be associated with chronic heart disease (pericarditis, myocarditis), as well as with cervical osteochondrosis of the spine.
- Blunt pain under the left shoulder blade. . . It most often occurs in the background of the development of thoracic or cervical osteochondrosis. Usually, painful sensations spread from the back of the head along the back, arms, under the shoulder blades and are accompanied by nausea, dizziness, numbness (tingling) of the arms.
- Severe pain under the left shoulder blade. . . Intense pain is not typical for the scapular zone, which means that it serves as a signal of a pathological condition that can be life-threatening. At best, severe pain may indicate intercostal neuralgia, but more often such feelings indicate the presence of a peptic ulcer and the development of a pre-infarction condition.
- Sharp pain under the left shoulder blade. . . Intercostal neuralgia can cause sharp pains - at the same time, when inhaling, the pain syndrome clearly increases, there is a feeling of "holding your breath". Acute pain can be caused by left pneumonia in the acute phase, while the patient feels symptoms of cutting and stinging all over the left side of the chest, radiating to the left shoulder blade. Less often, sharp pains can occur with exacerbation of pancreatitis - the pains are shingles and cramping.
- 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.
- Baking under the spatula. . . This symptom may indicate prolonged intercostal neuralgia, angina attacks, myocardial infarction. Sometimes the appearance of tingling under the shoulder blade may indicate the development of vegetative-vascular dystonia. In this case, the pain is accompanied by tachycardia, trembling hands and a strong feeling of fear.
- Constant pain under the shoulder blade on the left side. . . This pain syndrome may indicate the development of left-sided pneumonia. In this case, the pain is accompanied by a dry cough, low fever, shortness of breath, shortness of breath.
- Pain from stitching under the left shoulder blade. . .Neck pain (so-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 breathing, or coughing may be a sign of pleurisy or pneumonia.
- Pressure pain. . . Indicates the development of osteochondrosis, may also indicate the initial stage of coronary heart disease and exacerbation of vegetative-vascular dystonia.
- Pulsating pain. . .Left-sided protrusion of the intervertebral disc in the thoracic or cervical spine is most often manifested in this way. Pulsating pain may indicate an intervertebral disc herniation or initial aortic dissection.
- Acute pain under the left shoulder blade. . . Indicates dangerous conditions and requires urgent medical attention. The causes of the pain syndrome can be: attacks of angina pectoris, left protrusion of the intervertebral disc, gastric ulcer.
The nature of the pain and its localization can vary, but most often the painful sensations under the left shoulder blade are a very dangerous symptom that requires urgent medical intervention.
What diseases can cause pain under the left shoulder blade?
Pain syndrome on the left below the shoulder blade is most often caused by pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, heart, stomach and bronchopulmonary system.
Consider possible diseases, accompanied by pain under the left shoulder blade, and accompanying symptoms.
| Diseases | The nature of pain | Related symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Musculoskeletal system | ||
| Shoulder-scapular periatritis | The pain occurs in the shoulder area and radiates to the shoulder blade. | The patient cannot move freely (he cannot put his hands behind his head due to pain), there is a squeak in the joints when moving. |
| Intercostal neuralgia | The painful sensation is localized in one of the intercostal spaces and is accompanied by a feeling of numbness. The pain syndrome is exacerbated by bending to the left. | During the inflamed area, redness may appear, and characteristic skin rashes may appear. |
| Diseases of the back muscles (myositis, inflammation, lesions) | Back pain occurs sharply, it can be painful in nature. | On the left side pain occurs when the shoulder blade is injured, when the muscles are stretched. |
| Oncology | Painful pain under the left shoulder blade or sharp pains of a permanent nature. | In scapular tumors, the thoracic portion behind is deformed. |
| Trauma | Intense pain syndrome, especially in the first few hours immediately after the injury. | If the pain intensifies with movement, swelling or swelling occurs, it may be a fracture of the shoulder blade or rib. |
| Osteochondrosis, spondylosis, thoracic scoliosis, intervertebral hernia | Severe pain is manifested either continuously or "lumbago". | Unpleasant feelings appear in the spine - the feeling that they have "nailed the stake". |
| Heart disease | ||
| Angina pectoris | Pain under the left shoulder blade from the back occurs with exertion and radiates to the left arm, left shoulder blade, and sometimes to the left jaw. | He is followed by shortness of breath, fear of death. |
| Myocardial infarction | Burning pain under the left shoulder blade on the side of the heart. | Heart pain is not relieved by pills. Numbness of the left arm, there is a strong difficulty breathing, the sternum begins to "burn". |
| Pericarditis and myocarditis | Painful character of pain on the left side. | It is followed by chills, which occur more often at night and increase in temperature. |
| Aneurysm of dissecting ascending aorta | The pain syndrome migrates from top to bottom. Initially, the pain occurs in the chest, and then gradually moves under the left shoulder blade and further into the lower back. | A sharp drop in pressure. |
| Diseases of the bronchopulmonary system | ||
| Left-sided pneumonia | The pain is moderately intense. | Cough with mucus, wheezing, fever. |
| Pleurisy | Pain is manifested when breathing | Shortness of breath, wheezing in the lungs. |
| Gastrointestinal pathologies | ||
| Stomach ulcer | Pain under the shoulder blade is accompanied by tingling (more often at night). | Pain associated with eating. |
| Perforated ulcer | Sharp and stinging pain (like stinging). | 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 left under the shoulder blade:
- The pain worsens after eating- peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, gastritis.
- The pain intensifies when you sneeze- bone diseases, trauma, pleurisy, neuralgia, joint and muscle pathology.
- The pain is manifested when turning the head- osteochondrosis, injury of the collarbone.
- Pain occurs when swallowing- esophageal diseases, psychosomatic disorders.
- The pain is accompanied by difficulty breathing- pleurisy, cardiac pathology, intercostal neuralgia.
- Cough occurs with pain- damage to the respiratory system.
- Occurrence of temperature- infectious and inflammatory processes: pericarditis, purulent pleurisy, subphrenic abscess.
- The pain was accompanied by stiffness in the left arm.- angina pectoris, osteochondrosis, myocardial infarction.
- Nausea and belching are accompanied by pain- pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (pancreatitis, ulcer, gastritis).
- Numbness of the tongue accompanies the pain- angina pectoris, osteochondrosis, heart attack.
In pregnant women, pain under the shoulder blade occurs for the same reasons as in other people, but in pregnant women the risk of developing certain diseases is much higher. The most probable cause of left back pain in pregnant women is osteochondrosis (due to increased strain on the spine), pyelonephritis (due to kidney displacement and activation of their activity), back muscle strain.
In children, pain under the shoulder blade usually occurs as a result of trauma, with neuralgia (after hypothermia), myositis, pleurisy.
Diagnosis and treatment. Which doctor should I go to?
You should choose a doctor when you will make an appointment, depending on the nature of the pain and its manifestations:
- Ambulance doctor- with sharp, intense pain, burning sensation in the chest, difficulty breathing, followed by pain with severe dizziness, severe weakness or loss of consciousness.
- Neurologist- if the pain is related to exertion or movement.
- Traumatologist- if the pain appeared after the injury.
- Cardiologist- with a burning sensation behind the sternum, which extends below the shoulder blade, in the left hand, in the jaw.
- pulmonologist (or therapist)- if the sensations of pain intensify when breathing and are accompanied by cough, shortness of breath, fever.
- Gastroenterologist- if the pain is related to the meal and is accompanied by dyspeptic disorders.
- Surgeon- pain under the shoulder blade is accompanied by deformation of the sternum, with sharp pain accompanied by high temperature.
If it is difficult to decide on the choice of a doctor on your own, it is worth contacting a therapist, who will make an appointment with a specialist based on the results of the examination.
Diagnostic measures are prescribed depending on the reasons that caused the pain under the left shoulder blade, behind:
- General examination - taking anamnesis and interviewing the patient, visual examination (measuring pulse, blood pressure, temperature, palpation, listening), taking blood and urine.
- 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 abdominal organs, EGD - gastrointestinal diseases.
- Ultrasound and ECG - prescribed for examination of cardiovascular diseases.
The left shoulder blade treatment regimen is selected for each disease separately - there is no single treatment protocol.
Bitan!The treatment of pain under the left shoulder blade is primarily the treatment of the pain syndrome that causes the disease.
If the pain is associated with cardiovascular pathologies, cardiac drugs are prescribed, a diet that saves physical and psycho-emotional activity is prescribed.
Gastrointestinal pathologies that cause pain are 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, performing special therapeutic exercises.
Surgical treatment is prescribed when conservative therapy is ineffective. Surgical intervention 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, it is necessary to be examined by a doctor in order to avoid the occurrence and development of life-threatening pathologies.