Pain under the left shoulder blade in the back of the back is a serious discomfort, in which the ability to move will inevitably suffer, the person experiences great discomfort. With certain pathologies, even at rest, the patient experiences discomfort.
But it is worth noting that pain under the left shoulder blade does not always indicate the presence of a complex pathology. Sometimes it can appear due to a long stay in the same unnatural position.
Summary of the disorder
If you look at the human back, you will notice that the left shoulder blade is attached to the ribs that make up the rib cage. Nerves and blood vessels are found in the grooves between them. The ribs are connected by ligaments and muscles.
The spinal column, which contains the spinal cord, is located in the center of the back, with the shoulder blades on either side. The nerves run from the spine. Well-developed back muscles surround the shoulder blade.
The purpose of the bone is to provide protection to the lung, spleen, stomach, and heart, the portion of the aorta located in the chest.
Why is there discomfort in the subscapularis?
Pain in the left shoulder blade is often caused by the following factors:
- Gastric ulcer. In this disorder, back pain often increases. It often appears after the next meal, but decreases if the patient vomits. To find out if the pain is really due to an ulcer, it is necessary to trace the presence of episodes of heartburn, belching. Unpleasant sensations, the pains can begin in the region of the subscapularis on the left side or radiate towards the sternum. At the same time, the sick person loses the ability not only to move freely, but also to breathe deeply. Inspiration is complicated by the discomfort a person experiences when trying to relax. Due to such difficulties, other functional disorders may begin, malfunction of the nervous system. If the pains under the left shoulder blade are sharp, appear unexpectedly, it is worth calling a medical team for help;
- Acute pancreatitis is a body disorder that can cause severe pain under the scapula on the left side. The uncomfortable sensations always have a certain character, with this ailment the pain appears as sudden, enveloping;
- Vegetative crises. The symptoms appear vividly and complicate the life of the patient. In addition to the annoying pain in the left scapula, a feeling of tightness in the chest may begin, the patient notices fever in the same place, while it is not possible to accurately identify the problem area. Due to respiratory problems, the patient often feels fear, anxiety, suffocation gradually appears, a feeling of the presence of a lump in the throat. Discomfort can also be felt in other parts of the body;
- Sometimes it hurts under the left shoulder blade from behind due to myocardial infarction. This condition in most cases is considered life threatening. The earlier it is recognized, the more effective the treatment will be. The sick person feels a burning sensation in the problem area, cannot breathe deeply. The pain in the scapula on the left is quite severe, there is no reaction to the nitroglycerin drug, this condition can last about 10 minutes. The disease is characterized by numbness of the hand during each attack;
- Angina pectoris. A pathological condition in which it often hurts on the left side under the scapula as well. The sensations are extremely unpleasant and sharp, which seem to compress the chest. The cause of the unpleasant condition is a change in the size of the lumens of the blood vessels. Attacks can be triggered by significant physical exertion, alcoholism, hypothermia of the body. To alleviate the attack, you can use nitroglycerin;
- Pathological conditions of the respiratory organs. If it often hurts under the left shoulder blade, the cause may be dry pleurisy or pneumonia. Discomfort will be noted with every attempt to cough, sneeze, and even take a deep breath. The direction of pain always rushes to the area of the affected lung. The character can change depending on the state of the person: pain sensations are insignificant and, as it were, cutting and even piercing;
- Aortic aneurysm: characterized by an increased load on the heart valve. The heart then stops fully performing its functions. Due to this, venous blood begins to stagnate in the lungs and edema develops. Where the aneurysm attaches to the vessel, the wall becomes thinner; it can rupture at any time and lead to bleeding in the abdominal cavity;
- When it hurts under the left scapula on the back, the cause may be a biphasic rupture of the spleen. Such a case belongs to the category of the rarest. The damage causes the appearance of abdominal bleeding, which cannot be stopped. The disease requires immediate surgery, especially if the pain under the scapula on the left side is severe.
Pathologies of this type must be recognized as soon as possible. The sooner the treatment is prescribed, the more effective the fight against the disease will be.
Not receiving proper help from healthcare workers in due time, the patient will only achieve the progression of the disease, the result can be fatal.
Supportive apparatus diseases, which cause discomfort.
Pain under the left shoulder blade from behind can be caused by problems with the spine and other skeletal regions. Treatment will be determined after diagnosis. Discomfort sometimes occurs for the following reasons:
- Cervical osteochondrosis. In the early stages of the disease, feelings of discomfort are muffled, the patient cannot always clearly explain where he is concerned. In this case, the most vivid sensations are in the area of the damaged nerve roots. Painful attacks can start suddenly, pull and fade if the patient spends some time in a warm bath. In the cervical spine region, vessels and nerves can be pinched, this is quite painful. The course of the disease is complemented by pain that radiates to the arm. Cervical osteochondrosis mainly develops in people with a sedentary lifestyle. Pain in the scapula on the left may be stabbing or painful;
- The intercostal nerves can be affected. This condition is called the main cause of back pain left under the scapula. They can be aggravated by coughing, deep breathing, and even bending the trunk to the left. They are very strong, sharp, often shoot. With the progression of the disease, pain in the area of the left scapula can turn into burning;
- Scapular-costal syndrome is characterized by sensations of pain or tightness. The location of the discomfort is usually below the shoulders, above and below the shoulder blades. The main feature of the pathology is that when you move your shoulders and arms, you hear a crunch. The cause of the disease is severe physical stress or injury to the arm, and sometimes severe hypothermia;
- The skeleton can be affected by a malignant tumor, causing discomfort. On the scapula, in such cases, a tumor or the resulting metastases are located;
- Crackling of the scapula. Such a disease belongs to the category of rare occurrences. The pains under the left shoulder blade in this case are not strong, but when it moves in the area of the upper back there is a clear crunch;
- Sometimes the left scapula hurts due to osteomyelitis after a specific injury. For example, a weapon injury may be the cause;
- Periarthritis of the shoulder scapula. With a simple form of development, the sensations are not particularly bright; manifestations of the disease usually occur as a result of movements. A pathology that takes an acute stage of development can manifest itself as an increase in symptoms, which tend to worsen at night. In the shoulder for this period, mobility is limited, the basal temperature rises, and muscle spasms are noted.
Pain under the left shoulder blade from the back may indicate severe pathological conditions, a special suspicion arises in cases where its character is burning, stabbing.
Even as a result of pregnancy, this condition can appear due to increased stress.
Attacks, when the left side scapula hurts, can be caused by injuries such as fractures or cracks. Discomfort in this case is expressed as a sore ache under the left shoulder blade, any uncomfortable movement can intensify it.
Significant stresses of an emotional and psychological nature, which the body cannot bear, are capable of provoking sensations. If the patient treats the symptoms with disdain, the severity of the condition may worsen.
Before proceeding with the treatment of the pathology, the reason for which the painful condition arose should be determined. It is important for a correct diagnosis to clarify the nature of the pain syndrome.
The options are as follows:
- Pain girdle, in which the localization of discomfort in one place. A person can feel it all the time, the pains can intensify when inhaling. The patient's condition is aggravated by sudden movements and coughing. The reason is the passage of a nerve impulse between the ribs;
- Burning sensation under the left scapula behind the back, tingling, numbness in certain areas;
- Pain caused by increased tone of the muscles of the shoulders and back can take on an increasing character;
- Acute pain - can lead to the fact that the patient cannot inhale, movement is difficult, it becomes impossible to lie on the left side;
- Cutting pain can be localized to the left, then directed to the center;
- Dull aching pain under the left shoulder blade in the back of the back occurs, as a rule, when raising the arms;
- Sharp and severe pain under the left shoulder blade;
- Tight sensations that extend from the scapula to the lumbar region;
- The pain can be constant, which does not allow you to lie down, move, breathe.
Since the types of sensations in different diseases may differ, it is unlikely that it will be possible to accurately determine the cause on our own.
In case of severe pain syndrome, it is necessary to consult a doctor for an examination.
Diagnostic methods
When the back hurts on the left under the scapula, pain sensations appear, you should begin treatment with a comprehensive examination of the body. For diagnosis, the following procedures are used:
- X-ray of the spine in different views. The snapshot can simultaneously help identify problems with the lungs;
- magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography;
- ECG study: if there are appropriate symptoms;
- Organ ultrasound examination;
- Blood test - general, biochemistry;
- Evaluation of blood pressure, pulse.
When the patient is examined and the cause of the pathology is established, the selection of therapeutic measures is made. Additional consultation from limited specialists may be required.
How is the disease treated?
When it has already been precisely established why it hurts under the left shoulder blade from behind and the patient cannot breathe deeply, it is time to start treatment. Ways to eliminate discomfort are determined based on the factors that caused the development of pathology. Simply eliminating the symptoms is not enough, they will reappear soon.
Each disease is characterized by separate symptoms, depending on the selected treatment regimen. Each includes recommendations for the selection of a diet and compliance with the daily regimen, if the pain is dull, then treatment is carried out with the help of drugs.
The use of conservative therapy may not bring a positive dynamic; in this case, the patient needs an operation. With the help of surgery, it is possible to treat a large enough hernia, correct the situation with a ruptured spleen, and heal a stomach ulcer.
You should go immediately to the hospital if the patient notices severe pain and burning under the left shoulder blade, constant discomfort, which increases with deep breathing. To begin with, you need to contact a therapist: he will decide which specialist to refer the patient to, based on the existing symptoms.
You cannot completely protect yourself from all existing diseases, but you can try to follow some preventive measures. Pay more attention to the selection of the diet, do warm-up exercises daily.
If it is known why the back hurts on the left under the scapula, it is time to start treatment. Not all pathologies can be completely conquered, but in this case it is possible to act on them to slow down the course of the disease.