If a person has back pain in the area of the shoulder blades, he automatically associates it with the condition of the spine. They are partly right: this long-suffering core of our skeleton takes on heavy loads, which can only affect its condition.
But often pain in this area of the back indicates a disorder in the internal organs. The nature of the pain corresponds to the disease, so at the appointment with the doctor it is important to describe its manifestations in as much detail as possible.
What causes shoulder pain?
Pathological changes in:
- spine;
- internal organs;
- surrounding structures.
It hurts in the scapular zone and with some rare diseases:
- Spinal fractures and their systemic injuries;
- Metastases in the spine in stomach cancer, and sometimes in other organs.
Pain according to the type of disease is localized:
- Above the shoulder blades;
- Below the shoulder blades;
- between the shoulder blades;
- In shoulder blades.
Symptoms associated with pathologies of internal organs.
The stomach, lungs, liver, and heart can all project their pain below the shoulder blade, right or left.
If it hurts on the left side, this may be a sign:
- Peptic ulcer of the stomach: the pains are periodic, associated with seasonal exacerbations. They are accompanied by pain in the upper abdomen. During increased pain, vomiting occurs;
- Myocardial infarction - the disease is accompanied by sharp retrosternal pain, which extends below the left shoulder blade. Cardiac ischemia has similar signs, but in this case there are also sensations of pain in the left hand;
- Breakthrough of a stomach ulcer - the patient's body is covered with cold sweat, he may feel sick until the opening of vomiting. The patient tries to alleviate the suffering by changing position, but these actions do not give the expected effect;
- Intercostal neuralgia - pain under the left shoulder blade occurs in attacks, aggravated by the slightest physical exertion. It tingles and burns in the region of the heart. It hurts to cough and take a deep breath.
It can hurt under the right shoulder blade when:
- Psychological flaws in the body. At the same time, the patient feels warmth in the chest, he may complain of tightness and tingling in the heart muscle;
- Pathological changes in the gallbladder: additional symptoms: bitterness in the mouth after fatty, salty and fried foods, pain in the right hypochondrium;
- Pleurisy and pneumonia - pain under the right shoulder blade is reflected when coughing;
- Kidney diseases: In this case, the cough also causes increased pain, but, unlike lung diseases, the patient has difficulty urinating.
Pain associated with pathologies of the spine
Spine problems can occur after injuries, fractures, or bruises. But there are also diseases that have no obvious causes. And all of them are manifested by pain in the scapular region.
With any pathology of the spine, the pain between the shoulder blades should join:
- rigidity;
- Goosebumps sensation;
- Numbness.
Interscapular pain when coughing is typical of heavy smokers.
osteochondrosis
If the nutrition of the tissues is disturbed, dystrophic changes occur in them. In the spine, this process affects the intervertebral discs. They can no longer resist the pressure exerted on them by the vertebrae. The loss of elasticity of the disc leads to compression of the spine. The nerve endings of the spinal cord are put under pressure; this is where intense pain occurs.
The body tries to protect the spine from heavy loads by growing bone tissue along the edges of the vertebral processes. The bony growths are called osteophytes. They can be removed, but against the background of osteochondrosis, they will grow back.
Pain in osteochondrosis is localized at the site of damage to the spine. If the cervical region is affected, the patient has pain in the morning on the right side of the neck. The pain radiates to the shoulder and arm, is felt over the shoulder blade. The head may feel dizzy, the torment is aggravated by deep breathing and coughing.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region manifests itself as pain between the shoulder blades, to the right and left of the spine. The pain can be aggravated by sneezing, coughing, and sudden movements. When you try to straighten your shoulders, your chest and interscapular area begin to crack.
It becomes difficult for a person to breathe from the chest, since the mobility of the ribs decreases and he subconsciously switches to breathing from the stomach.
Treat osteochondrosis with a conservative method. The patient is prescribed:
- Analgesics and anti-inflammatories;
- Physiotherapy procedures;
- therapeutic gymnastics;
- Reflexology;
- massages;
- Spinal traction;
- Manual therapy.
If none of the treatment methods do not work, the surgeons go to work.
spondyloarthrosis
The symptoms of this disease are similar to osteochondrosis. But in this case, the intervertebral disc is displaced, not depleted. The hyaline cartilage is forced to take on the load. Under such extreme conditions, your tissue becomes thinner and loses its ability to perform its functions.
If spondyloarthrosis is not treated, the entire joint can become inflamed and then completely lose mobility. The patient's condition is aggravated by osteophytes.
Scoliosis
The curvature of the spine with respect to its axis to the right or to the left is common: almost half of humanity is affected by this disease. But for most, the disease is not pronounced, and therefore pains appear periodically, if a person overstretched his back or stood or sat in one position for a long time.
Early scoliosis cannot be determined visually, therefore, if pain occurs in the scapular region, it is in the patient's interest to consult a doctor. He will prescribe an x-ray, direct and lateral.
With the further development of scoliosis, it can be detected independently - the "zigzags" of the spine become clearly pronounced. Running scoliosis is also determined by the relative position of the shoulders: one shoulder will be lower than the other.
Scoliosis treatment is a long-term affair even at its high intensity. Massages, special exercises and wearing a corset will help to eliminate the curvature of the spine.
intervertebral hernia
The intervertebral disc is made up of:
- Gelatinous nucleus;
- Fibrous ring, formed by fibers;
- The two thin layers of cartilage that cover the discs above and below.
The core is located inside the annulus, and the cartilaginous tissue, which closes the structure, simultaneously serves as a conductor of nutrition from the vessels of the vertebral body to the disc.
Pathological changes in the vertebrae lead to disruption of metabolic processes in the intervertebral discs. Its thickness decreases, the fibrous ring cracks under the influence of loads, opening the way to the outside of the jelly-like mass of the core. This process is accompanied by severe pain. It is concentrated in one point, but sometimes there is a return to the pulmonary and cardiac regions.
An intervertebral hernia in the thoracic region is extremely rare, therefore, when pain appears in the scapular region, the patient is first checked for other diseases.
An intervertebral hernia is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, and special exercises. In severe conditions, only surgery can help.
tuberculosis of the spine
Tuberculosis mycobacteria can affect any part of the spine, but 60% of cases occur in the thoracic region. Most often men suffer from this disease. Basically, one pair of vertebrae is involved in the process, but there are cases when tuberculosis spreads to three or more.
The symptoms of the disease can vary depending on the number of vertebrae affected. But there is a constant symptom: it is pain. If it is felt between the shoulder blades, then this indicates an injury to the cervical vertebra.
It also hurts with tuberculosis of the thoracic region, but in that case the pain will radiate (give) to the chest, groin or abdomen. Patients complain of burning, twisting, "piercing" in the back.
Tuberculosis of the spine is difficult to diagnose, severe pain appears already at the stage of the appearance of various complications. If you have the slightest suspicion of this disease, immediately go to a specialist for examination.
Overtension and hypothermia
If the back is excessively overloaded, painful sensations in the scapular area may also appear. In itself, this phenomenon is not considered a disease, but constant overload can cause osteochondrosis, curvature of the spine, and the formation of intervertebral hernias.
Seamstresses, drivers, surgeons, people who do sedentary jobs, etc. complain of back pain. If hypothermia (drafts, a working air conditioner) is added to the surge, then a backache can be taught - severe pain concentrated under the shoulder blades or in the spine.
This problem is treated with warm ointments, anti-inflammatory drugs and massage.
myositis
Influenza, SARS, and severe hypothermia can lead to myositis, an inflammation of muscle tissue. Most often, this disease affects the muscles located in the scapular region. This condition does not threaten the body with anything terrible, but aching pain creates discomfort.
shoulder blade pain
Pain occurs for several reasons:
- Fracture or injury resulting from a fall. The shoulder joint swells, it hurts to move the limb;
- Osteomyelitis (inflammation of bone tissue) - accompanied by fever, fever from intoxication of the whole organism;
- Pterygoid shoulder blade - this effect is caused by damage to the anterior teeth (located on the side of the chest), paralysis of the rhomboid muscles, trapezius, or their traumatic rupture (suffered by circus acrobats and gymnasts, professional athletes).
If the synovial bag is inflamed, the shoulder blade begins to crack. In addition to this problem, the patient is concerned about heaviness and clicking in the shoulder joint.
Diagnosis
Since pain in the scapular zone of the back indicates one of many diseases, the examination is carried out according to different methods:
- chest x-ray;
- laboratory research;
- ultrasound;
- magnetic resistance or computed tomography;
- electrocardiogram
All examinations are prescribed by the surgeon: if your back hurts, go to him first. But in the future, according to the results of the investigation, he will need advice:
- Orthopedist;
- Gastroenterologist;
- Neurologist;
- Pulmonologist.
If for some reason the doctor did not pay attention to the accompanying symptoms, consult on his own initiative.
Treatment
Self-medication for pain in the scapular area is categorically contraindicated. The maximum that the patient can afford is to take painkillers and painkillers. Reception should be single and only if it is necessary to stop the pain syndrome before visiting the doctor.
Treatment is prescribed by a doctor: usually, to relieve the condition, it is enough to take painkillers, chondroprotectors and anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, the doctor paints a treatment regimen designed to eliminate the root causes of pain in the scapular region.