If a person experiences back pain in the shoulder blade area, he automatically associates it with a spinal condition.Part of their point is correct: This long-suffering core of our bones is under a heavy load, which is bound to affect its condition.
But pain in this area of the back often indicates disease of the internal organs.The nature of the pain corresponds to the disease, so when seeing a doctor it is important to describe its manifestations in as much detail as possible.
What causes pain in the shoulder blade area?
Pain is caused by the following pathological changes:
- spine;
- internal organs;
- surrounding buildings.
Scapular area pain and some rare diseases:
- Spinal fractures and systemic lesions;
- Metastasis to the spine due to cancer of the stomach and sometimes other organs.
Pain is localized according to disease type:
- above scapula;
- below scapula;
- between shoulder blades;
- At the scapula.
Symptoms associated with internal organ pathology
The stomach, lungs, liver, and heart can project pain below the shoulder blade—either the right shoulder blade or the left shoulder blade.
If you have pain on your left side, this could be a sign of:
- Gastric ulcers: Pain is cyclic in nature and is associated with seasonal exacerbations.They are accompanied by a painful sensation in the upper abdomen.When pain intensifies, vomiting may occur;
- Myocardial infarction: This disease is associated with acute chest pain radiating under the left scapula.Cardiac ischemia has similar symptoms, but in this case there is also pain in the left arm;
- Gastric ulcer breakthrough: The patient breaks out in a cold sweat, feels nauseous, and even vomits.The patient attempts to relieve pain by changing positions, but these actions do not have the desired effect;
- Intercostal Neuralgia: An attack of pain just below the left shoulder blade that is aggravated by slight physical pressure.A stinging and burning sensation in the heart area.Pain when coughing and taking deep breaths.
Pain under the right shoulder blade may occur when:
- Physical psychological problems.At the same time, the patient feels warm in the chest and may complain of myocardial compression and tingling;
- Pathological changes in the gallbladder: additional symptoms - bitter taste in the mouth after greasy, salty, fried food, pain in the right rib;
- Pleurisy and pneumonia: Pain under the right shoulder blade when coughing;
- Kidney disease: In this condition, coughing can also cause increased pain, but unlike lung disease, patients will have difficulty urinating.
Pain associated with spinal pathology
Spinal problems can occur after an injury, fracture, or bruise.But there are also some illnesses that have no obvious cause.All of these present with pain in the scapular region.
As with any spinal pathology, pain between the shoulder blades is invariably accompanied by:
- stiffness;
- tingling sensation;
- numbness.
osteochondrosis
If tissue nutrition is destroyed, they undergo nutritional changes.In the spine, this process affects the intervertebral discs.They can no longer resist the pressure their vertebrae exert on them.Loss of elasticity in the intervertebral discs can cause stress on the spine.There is pressure on the nerve endings of the spinal cord, which is where severe pain occurs.
The body attempts to protect the spine from heavy loads by growing bone tissue along the edges of the vertebrae.Bone growths are called osteophytes.They can be removed, but against the background of osteochondrosis they grow again.
The pain of osteochondrosis is localized to the site of spinal injury.If the cervical spine is affected, patients will experience right-sided neck pain in the morning.The pain radiates into the shoulder and arm and is felt just above the shoulder blade.You may feel dizzy and the pain worsens when you take deep breaths and cough.
Osteochondrosis in the chest area manifests itself as pain between the shoulder blades - the right and left sides of the spine.Sneezing, coughing, and sudden movements can worsen the pain.When you try to straighten your shoulders, your chest and interscapular area begin to contract.
Due to the reduced mobility of the ribs, it becomes difficult for a person to breathe through the chest, and he unconsciously switches to breathing from the stomach.
Osteochondrosis is treated conservatively.Patients are prescribed:
- pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs;
- physical therapy procedures;
- therapeutic gymnastics;
- Reflexology;
- massage;
- spinal traction;
- Manual therapy.
If none of the treatments work, the surgeon gets down to business.
spondyloarthropathy
The symptoms of this disease are similar to those of osteochondrosis.But in this case, the disc is displaced rather than exhausted.The hyaline cartilage is forced to bear the load.Under such extreme conditions, its tissue becomes thinner and loses the ability to perform its functions.
If spondyloarthropathy is not treated, the entire joint may become inflamed and then completely lose mobility.Osteophytes can worsen a patient's condition.
scoliosis
It's common for the spine to curve to the right or left relative to its axis—almost half of all humans are affected by this condition.But for most people, the disease isn't well-articulated, which is why the pain appears periodically—if a person strains their back excessively, or stands or sits in one position for an extended period of time.
Early scoliosis cannot be determined visually, so it is in the patient's best interest to consult a physician if pain occurs in the shoulder blade area.He will order X-rays - direct and lateral.
As scoliosis progresses further, it can be detected independently: the "zigzag" of the spine becomes clearly visible.Severe scoliosis also depends on the relative position of the shoulders - one shoulder will be lower than the other.
Treatment for scoliosis, although intensive, is also a long-term process.Massage, special exercises, and wearing a corset will help eliminate spinal curvature.
intervertebral hernia
The intervertebral disc is made up of:
- gelatinous core;
- annulus fibrosus, composed of fibers;
- Two thin layers of cartilage cover the top and bottom of the disc.
The core is located inside the annulus, with cartilaginous tissue sealing the structure while serving as a nutrient conductor from the vertebral blood vessels to the disc.
Pathological changes in the vertebrae lead to disruption of the metabolic processes of the intervertebral disc.Their thickness decreases, and the annulus fibrosus ruptures under the influence of load, opening an outlet for the gelatinous material of the core.This process is accompanied by severe pain.It is concentrated in one point but sometimes returns to the lung and heart areas.
Intervertebral hernias in the thoracic region are extremely rare, so when pain occurs in the scapular region, the patient should first be examined for other disorders.
Intervertebral hernias can be treated with anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and special exercises.In severe cases, only surgery can help.
Advanced pathology can lead to damage to pelvic organs and paralysis of the legs.
spinal tuberculosis
Tuberculosis bacteria can affect any part of the spine, but 60% of cases occur in the chest area.Most commonly men suffer from this disease.In most cases, several vertebrae are involved in the process, but there are cases where TB spreads to three or more vertebrae.
Symptoms of the disease may vary depending on the number of vertebrae affected.But there was one persistent sign - pain.If you feel a tingling sensation between your shoulder blades, this may indicate damage to your cervical spine.
Chest TB can also cause pain, but in this case, the pain radiates to the chest, groin, or abdomen.Patients complain of burning, twisting, and "drilling" sensations in their backs.
Spinal tuberculosis is difficult to diagnose; severe pain occurs already at the stage of various complications.If you have the slightest suspicion that you have this disease, see a specialist immediately for a check-up.
Overvoltage and low temperature
Pain may also occur in the shoulder blade area if the back is overloaded.This phenomenon is not considered a disease in itself, but continued overload can lead to the development of osteochondrosis, spinal curvature, and intervertebral hernias.
Tailors, drivers, surgeons, people with sedentary jobs, etc. all complain of back pain.If hypothermia is combined with overexertion (windows, air conditioning), you may develop low back pain—severe pain that is centered under your shoulder blades or along your spine.
This problem can be treated with warm ointments, anti-inflammatories, and massage.
Myositis
Influenza, ARVI, and severe hypothermia can cause myositis—inflammation of muscle tissue.Most commonly, the muscles located in the shoulder blade area are affected by this disease.This condition does not pose any dire threat to the body, but the pain can cause discomfort.
Painkillers and warming ointments can relieve pain.
shoulder blade pain
Pain can occur for several reasons:
- Broken bones or injuries from a fall.Swelling of shoulder joints and pain when moving limbs;
- Osteomyelitis (inflammation of bone tissue): accompanied by an increase in body temperature and fever caused by systemic poisoning;
- Winging of the scapula: This effect is caused by injuries to the serratus anterior muscle (located on the side of the chest), rhomboids paralysis, the trapezius muscle or its traumatic rupture (affecting circus acrobats and gymnasts, professional athletes).
If the bursa becomes inflamed, the shoulder blade will begin to creak.In addition to this problem, patients also suffer from heaviness and clicking sounds in their shoulder joints.
diagnosis
Since pain in the scapular area of the back indicates one of several diseases, different methods are used to examine it:
- Chest X-ray;
- laboratory research;
- ultrasound;
- magnetoresistance or computed tomography;
- Electrocardiogram.
All tests are prescribed by your surgeon - see him first if you have back pain.But in the future, based on the findings, he will need to consult:
- orthopedic surgeon;
- gastroenterologist;
- Neurologist;
- Pulmonologist.
If for some reason your doctor doesn't notice accompanying symptoms, take the initiative to see a doctor.
treat
Self-treatment of scapular area pain is strictly prohibited.The best patients can do is take painkillers and analgesics.This appointment should be a one-time visit and only done if you need pain relief before seeing your doctor.
Treatment is prescribed by a doctor: usually, to relieve the condition, it is enough to take analgesics, chondroprotectants and anti-inflammatory drugs.In addition, the doctor introduced a treatment plan designed to eliminate the source of pain in the scapular area.