Too often, pain under the left shoulder blade from behind can be bothersome. Occurs after a sharp and strong movement or prolonged stay in a failed position. However, it can also be a sign of a serious illness that requires compulsory 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 can be a secondary sign of injury. The causes of pain under the left shoulder blade in the back may be different.
Osteochondritis of the spine
Osteochondrosis is caused by changes in the spine when bone tissue is destroyed under the influence of various factors. And there are many factors that cause 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 excessive volume.
- Excess weight and nutrition.
- Back injury.
- Weak immunity and hereditary factor.
- Straight legs.
- Colds and frequent hypothermia, chronic intoxication.
- Metabolic disease.
- Prolonged exposure to vibration.
- Stress and sedentary lifestyle.
With cervicothoracic osteochondrosis, severe pain appears in the neck, back, shoulders, and upper extremities, which can pull under the shoulder blade. There are sensations of pain in the teeth, muscles, abdomen, heart area. When struck under the shoulder blade, the sensation of numbness in the cervical and thoracic region, as well as in the neck and abdomen, begins to be disturbed. Sleep is disturbed, the sensitivity of the hands, blood pressure begins to fluctuate, performance decreases. It can also be cooked behind the sternum.
Intercostal neuralgia
The disease occurs when the intercostal nerves become irritated, inflamed, constricted, or compressed. It occurs with inflammation, infections, chemical poisoning, allergies and hypothermia. The main symptom of neuralgia is pain concentrated in the heart area. It can be dull or sharp, stabbing, painful or burning. It can be episodic or permanent.
In some areas, there may be increased sweating, skin discoloration, tingling, or loss of sensation. Pain syndrome can be reversed with a forced fixed position.
Traumatic injury of the scapula
If the left shoulder blade hurts, the causes may be injuries. They can appear after 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 appears. This is a sign of a fracture of the backbone or rib. Swelling and edema develop in the future. A fracture of the ribs makes it difficult for a person to breathe, and bone damage is noticeable on palpation.
Sprengel's disease
The disease is an abnormal congenital location of the scapula. The cause of this pathology is still unknown to science. There is an opinion that the disease develops in the fetus at 3-4 weeks of pregnancy, under the influence of external and internal adverse factors. At this time, the shoulder girdle and spine are formed. Often this disease is associated with other pathologies: the fusion of the ribs, the leg of the rod, the formation of additional hemivertebrae and the abnormal structure of the cervical region.
The pathology is detected immediately after birth. With the mild development of the disease, the following are prescribed: exercise therapy, massage, water procedures, physiotherapy. In moderate and severe cases, surgical treatment is prescribed.
Myofascial syndrome
Under the influence of various factors, the function of the muscular apparatus and the membranes surrounding the muscles is disrupted. The muscles have small painful seals called trigger points. They appear under the influence of trauma and muscle tension. There are several factors that cause them: forced posture, spinal diseases, bruises, monotonous movements, somatic diseases, emotional overload.
The main symptom is painful, cramping, increased pain with tension and activation of triggers. Sensitivity of the skin also increases, the color of the skin changes, movement in the affected area is limited. Complex treatment is prescribed. To prevent it, you need to monitor your weight, lead a healthy lifestyle, wear comfortable shoes and clothes, and 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 a violation of internal organs. In many diseases, the symptom is pain on the left side. They are divided into diseases of the cardiology, bronchopulmonary system and gastrointestinal tract.
Heart disease
With heart disease, it hurts not only in the region of the left shoulder blade, but also in the region of the collarbone, left arm, abdomen. Myocardial infarction is a type of coronary heart disease in which necrosis of the heart muscle occurs as a result of coronary circulatory disorders. Behind the sternum is a burning, squeezing, or squeezing pain that spreads to the left clavicle, shoulder blade, arm, and chin. The patient appears cold sweat, there is a feeling of fear. These symptoms are a direct indication for emergency hospitalization in a medical facility. If medical care is not provided in time, a fatal outcome is possible.
The cause of coronary heart disease is a lack of adequate blood supply to the heart muscle due to coronary heart disease. The arteries of the heart become clogged or narrowed by cholesterol plaques. The heart does not receive enough blood to function normally. The reasons are:
- Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries.
- arterial hypertension.
- Disorders of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism.
- To smoke.
- High cholesterol and excess weight.
- Diabetes.
Symptoms include shortness of breath, weakness, arrhythmia, increased sweating. There are spontaneous chest pains that are not affected by nitroglycerin. The patient experiences a lack of oxygen, fear of death, apathy, dull mood or unreasonable anxiety. With an attack of angina pectoris, the pain is concentrated behind the sternum. Manifestation is cutting, squeezing, squeezing and burning. The attack lasts from 2 to 5 minutes and is effectively stopped with medication.
With pericarditis, an inflammatory process appears in the outer layer of the heart. Causes of inflammation are infections, autoimmune diseases, injuries, tumors, metabolic disorders. There is excruciating 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 ventricle and the atrium is impaired. It is detected by chance and does not pose a threat to the patient's life. It can be congenital or acquired. Another disease that is usually asymptomatic is an aortic aneurysm. With this pathology, the rupture of the vessel wall occurs due to its weakening or a sharp rise in blood pressure. The vessel wall is weakened by the deposition of foreign substances, inflammation or tissue destruction.
Pathologies of the bronchopulmonary system
In diseases of the bronchopulmonary system, pain appears in the left scapula.
Causes of pain symptoms: acute bronchitis and tracheobronchitis, left-sided pneumonia, dry left-sided pleurisy, abscess of the left lung. Acute bronchitis manifests itself with cough, weakness, increased sweating, shortness of breath and decreased activity, fever up to 38 degrees. The reasons for the development of pathology are of viral or bacterial origin. Physical, chemical and allergic factors also play a role.
Left-sided pneumonia is rare, but life-threatening. The main reason is the penetration of pathogens into the left lung. This occurs with a strong decrease in immunity. On the left side of the chest there is a strong debilitating cough, burning and pain, body temperature rises. You need to seek help as soon as possible, this will help prevent the development of complications. A disease such as dry pleurisy can be a complication of other lung pathologies. Lung abscess is a complication. It is caused by inadequately treated pneumonia.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
A very common group of diseases in which the pain spreads from the back to the left shoulder blade. The reasons may be different. The growth of pathologies is associated with nutritional errors, the use of foods containing flavorings and preservatives. The symptoms of these diseases are as follows:
- Stomach ache.
- Heartburn.
- Beating.
- Flatulence.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Constipation.
- Diarrhea.
- Bad breath.
- Weight loss and loss of appetite.
- Dizziness.
- Weakness.
Gastric or peptic ulcer: It is the most common gastric ulcer in the world. The feature is the hunger pains that occur against the background of hunger. After a meal, they decrease. Another symptom is acidic vomiting. Also, gastric motility is impaired, resulting in belching and heartburn. A complication of the disease may be bleeding due to the defeat of the vascular ulcer. It is a very serious disease that is dangerous to self-medicate, as it can lead to perforation of the ulcer and death.
The main symptom of duodenal ulcer is pain in the epigastric region, which can spread to the left side of the chest and back, lumbar or thoracic spine.
The pain occurs both after eating and after a while. Stopped by antacids, antispasmodics and antisecretors. Ulcers are also characterized by dyspeptic disorders, lack of appetite, which leads to weight loss and painful weight loss. An ulcer causes complications: bleeding, perforation and penetration into the pancreas, duodenal stenosis, tumor formation at the site of the ulcer, and inflammation of the intestinal mucosa.
Spasm of the esophagus is characterized by impaired absorption.
The cause may be anxiety, as well as rapid absorption and poor chewing of food, consumption of fiber-rich foods. You can alleviate anxiety by drinking plenty of fluids, inhaling air, and exercising. Another symptom is reverse reflux of the contents of the esophagus. It often occurs during sleep or when the patient is in a horizontal position. It manifests itself in the form of vomiting without a mixture of gastric juice and bile.
When the contents of the stomach and duodenum are reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease develops.
The main reason is the weakness of the lower esophageal sphincter. In this case, when the stomach contracts, the contents are thrown back into the esophagus. It is characterized by heartburn, which is visible when bending, exercising, after a heavy meal. There is an eructation that has a bitter or sour taste. You may also experience nausea and vomiting.
Symptoms of acute pancreatitis are severe, persistent, sharp pain felt under the ribs.
There are two reasons: alcohol abuse and cholelithiasis. Symptoms are not always pronounced. Pain is weakly reduced by painkillers, sometimes it is necessary to prescribe drugs. Also, pain under the scapula can cause intestinal colitis. Appears due to infections, medications, chemical or food poisoning, circulatory disorders.