Pain that appears on the left under the scapula is a fairly common symptom that can manifest itself in men and women, and even in children. At first glance, such symptoms seem frivolous, but in fact, the pain under the left shoulder blade from the back can be a harbinger of a number of dangerous diseases.
There are many reasons for the occurrence of this pain syndrome and they are usually not associated with shoulder blade problems at all. Most often, the cause of pain is 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 scapula, one must remember the anatomical structure of a person. In fact, most of the time it is precisely the nearby organs that hurt, although it happens that the pain radiates along the nerve fibers away 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 intercostal muscles and ligaments, and between each rib are intercostal vessels and intercostal nerves. In turn, the intercostal nerves branch from the spinal cord, which is located in the trunk of the spine, in the center of the scapula. Along 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 pain in the scapula can be determined based on its nature, intensity and location:
- Pain radiating to the left shoulder blade.. . .The pathological source of such pain may be located far from the pain site. Most often, this symptom is typical of diseases of the stomach or heart.
- Aching pain under the left shoulder blade.. . . Indicates the presence of a prolonged chronic process. Such painful manifestations can be associated with chronic heart diseases (pericarditis, myocarditis), as well as cervical osteochondrosis of the spine.
- Dull pain under the left shoulder blade. . . Most often it occurs against the background of the development of thoracic or cervical osteochondrosis. Painful sensations usually extend from the back of the head along the back, arm, under the shoulder blade and are accompanied by nausea, dizziness, numbness (tingling) of the hands.
- Severe pain under the left shoulder blade. . . Severe pain is not typical of the scapular area, which means that it serves as a sign of a pathological condition that can be life threatening. At best, severe pain may indicate intercostal neuralgia, but more often these sensations indicate the presence of a peptic ulcer and the development of a pre-infarct state.
- Sharp pain under the left shoulder blade. . . Intercostal neuralgia can cause sharp pain; at the same time, when inhaling, the pain syndrome clearly increases, there is a feeling that "it is taking your breath away. "Acute pain can be caused by left-sided pneumonia in the acute phase, while the patient feels sharp, stabbing symptoms all over the left side of the chest, radiating to the left shoulder blade. Less often, pains of an acute nature can occur with an exacerbation of pancreatitis; the pains are of the character of shingles and cramps.
- Drawing pain under the left shoulder blade. . .It can 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.
- Burning under the scapula. . . This symptom may indicate prolonged intercostal neuralgia, angina attacks, myocardial infarction. Sometimes the appearance of a burning sensation under the scapula can indicate the development of vegetative-vascular dystonia. In this case, the pains are accompanied by tachycardia, tremors in the hands and a strong sense of fear.
- Constant pain under the scapula on the left.. . . This pain syndrome may indicate the development of left-sided pneumonia. In this case, the pain is accompanied by a dry cough, low fever, a feeling of shortness of breath, shortness of breath.
- Shooting pain under the left shoulder blade. . .Shooting pains (so-called "low back pain") are usually a sign of osteochondrosis, but can also indicate intercostal neuralgia. A tingling sensation in the back caused by exertion, deep inhalation, or coughing can be signs of pleurisy or pneumonia.
- Pressing the pain. . . Indicates the development of osteochondrosis, it can also indicate the initial stage of coronary disease and exacerbation of vegetative-vascular dystonia.
- Throbbing pain. . .Most often, the bulge on the left side of the intervertebral disc in the thoracic or cervical spine manifests itself in this way. Throbbing pains may indicate a herniated intervertebral disc or early aortic dissection.
- Sharp pain under the left shoulder blade.. . . Indicates dangerous conditions and requires immediate medical attention. The causes of pain syndrome can be: angina attacks, protrusion of the intervertebral disc on the left side, stomach ulcer.
The nature of the pain and its location can vary, but most of the time painful sensations under the left shoulder blade are a very dangerous symptom that requires immediate medical intervention.
What diseases can cause pain under the left shoulder blade?
Pain syndrome on the left under the scapula is most often caused by pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, heart, stomach and bronchopulmonary system.
Consider the possible diseases, accompanied by pain under the left shoulder blade and the accompanying symptoms.
| Diseases | The nature of pain | Associated symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Musculoskeletal system | ||
| Shoulder-scapular periatritis | The pain appears in the shoulder area and radiates to the scapula. | The patient cannot move freely (he cannot put his hands behind his head due to pain), there is a cracking sound in the joints when moving. |
| Intercostal neuralgia | The painful sensation is localized in one of the intercostal spaces and is accompanied by a sensation of numbness. The pain syndrome is intensified by leaning to the left. | In the course of the inflamed area, redness may appear, characteristic rashes may appear on the skin. |
| Diseases of the back muscles (myositis, inflammation, injuries) | Back pain occurs acutely, it can be painful in nature. | On the left side, pain appears when the scapula is injured, when the muscles are stretched. |
| Oncology | Aching pain under the left shoulder blade or sharp pains of a constant nature. | With scapula tumors, the thoracic part behind is deformed. |
| Trauma | Severe pain syndrome, especially in the first hours immediately after the injury. | If the pain increases with movement, swelling or swelling occurs, it may be a fracture of the scapula or a rib. |
| Osteochondrosis, spondylosis, thoracic scoliosis, intervertebral hernia | Severe pain manifests itself continuously or "lumbago". | Unpleasant sensations appear in the spine - the feeling that they have "nailed to a stake. " |
| Heart disease | ||
| Angina pectoris | Pain under the left scapula from the back from the back occurs during exertion and radiates to the left arm, the left scapula, sometimes to the left jaw. | It is accompanied 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. The left hand goes numb, there is a lot of shortness of breath, the sternum begins to "burn". |
| Pericarditis and myocarditis. | Painful character of pain in the left side. | It is accompanied by chills, which appear more often at night, and an increase in temperature. |
| Ascending dissecting aortic aneurysm | The pain syndrome migrates from top to bottom. The pain initially occurs in the chest, then gradually moves under the left shoulder blade and further into the lower back. | A strong pressure drop. |
| Diseases of the bronchopulmonary system. | ||
| Left side pneumonia | The pain is moderately intense. | Cough with phlegm, wheezing in the lungs, fever. |
| Pleuritis | Pain manifests itself when breathing. | Difficulty breathing, wheezing sensation in the lungs. |
| Gastrointestinal pathologies | ||
| Stomach ulcer | Pain under the scapula is accompanied by a burning sensation (more often at night). | Pain associated with food. |
| Perforated ulcer | Sharp, stabbing pain (like a stab). | Fever, vomiting |
| Acute pancreatitis | Shingles pains, sometimes they can radiate to the sides. | Flatulence, repeated vomiting, fever. |
Other symptoms that accompany the pain syndrome can help determine the disease caused by pain on the left side under the scapula:
- The pain worsens after eating.- peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, gastritis.
- The pain worsens when sneezing.- bone diseases, trauma, pleurisy, neuralgia, joint and muscular pathologies.
- The pain manifests itself when turning the head.- osteochondrosis, clavicle injury.
- Pain occurs when swallowing- diseases of the esophagus, psychosomatic disorders.
- The pain is accompanied by shortness of breath.- pleurisy, cardiac pathology, intercostal neuralgia.
- With pain, a cough appears.- damage to the respiratory system.
- The appearance of temperature- Infectious and inflammatory processes: pericarditis, purulent pleurisy, subphrenic abscess.
- The pains are accompanied by numbness in the left arm.- angina pectoris, osteochondrosis, myocardial infarction.
- Nausea and belching accompany the pain.- pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (pancreatitis, ulcer, gastritis).
- With pain, numbness occurs in the tongue. - angina pectoris, osteochondrosis, heart attack.
In pregnant women, pain under the scapula occurs for the same reasons as in other people, but in the expectant mother, the risk of developing certain diseases is much higher. The most likely cause of left back pain in a pregnant woman is osteochondrosis (due to increased load on the spine), pyelonephritis (due to displacement of the kidneys and activation of their activity), overexertion of the muscles of the back.
In children, pain under the scapula usually occurs as a result of trauma, with neuralgia (after hypothermia), myositis, pleurisy.
Diagnosis and treatment. What doctor should I see?
You need to choose a doctor to make an appointment, depending on the nature of the pain and its manifestations:
- Emergency doctor- with sharp and intense pain, burning sensation in the chest, shortness of breath, accompanied by pain with severe dizziness, severe weakness or loss of consciousness.
- Neurologist- if the pain is associated with effort or movement.
- Traumatologist- if the pain appeared after an injury.
- Cardiologist- with a burning sensation behind the sternum, extending under the scapula, in the left hand, in the jaw.
- Pulmonologist (or therapist)- if the pain sensations increase with breathing and are accompanied by cough, shortness of breath, fever.
- Gastroenterologist- if the pain is associated with meals and is accompanied by dyspeptic disorders.
- Surgeon- Pain under the scapula is accompanied by deformation of the sternum, with sharp pains accompanied by high fever.
If it is difficult to independently decide the choice of a doctor, it is worth contacting a therapist, who, based on the results of the examination, will appoint an appointment with a limited specialist.
Diagnostic measures are prescribed based on the reasons that caused the pain under the left shoulder blade, behind:
- General examination: anamnesis and interview of the patient, visual examination (measurement of pulse, blood pressure, temperature, palpation, listening), blood and urine tests.
- X-ray examination, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging - determines the pathology of the spine and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, as well as diseases of the pulmonary system.
- Ultrasound of the abdominal organs, EGD - gastrointestinal diseases.
- Ultrasound and ECG - prescribed for the examination of cardiovascular diseases.
The treatment regimen for pain under the left shoulder blade is selected specifically for each disease; there is no single treatment protocol.
Important!Treatment of pain under the scapula on the left is primarily the treatment of a disease causing pain syndrome.
If the pain is associated with cardiovascular pathologies, cardiac drugs are prescribed, a diet is prescribed that avoids physical and psycho-emotional activity.
Gastrointestinal pathologies that cause pain are treated with antacids and a bland diet.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system are treated with the help of long-term therapy, including the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and the performance of special therapeutic exercises.
Surgical treatment is prescribed when conservative therapy is ineffective. Surgical intervention is mandatory for a perforated ulcer, severe pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, ruptured spleen, intervertebral hernia.
If pain appears under the left shoulder blade, it is imperative that a doctor examine it to avoid the appearance and development of life-threatening pathologies.