Pain under the left shoulder blade in the back from behind is a serious disorder, in which the ability to move will inevitably be affected, the person experiences severe discomfort. With certain pathologies, even at rest, the patient experiences discomfort.
But it should be noted that pain under the left shoulder blade does not always indicate the presence of a complex pathology. Sometimes it can appear because of a long stay in the same unusual position.
An overview of the disorder
If you look at the back of a human, you will see that the left shoulder blade is attached to the ribs that make up the ribs. Nerves and blood vessels are located in the grooves between them. The ribs are connected using ligaments and muscles.
The spine, which contains the spinal cord, is located in the middle of the back, with shoulder blades on either side. Nerves extend from the spinal column. The well -developed back muscles surround the shoulder blades.
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The purpose of the bones is to provide protection to the lungs, spleen, stomach and heart, the part of the aorta located in the chest.
Why there is discomfort in the subscapularis
Pain in the left shoulder blade is usually 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 whether the pain is really caused by an ulcer, it is necessary to detect the presence of heartburn, belching. Unpleasant, painful sensations can start in the subscapularis area on the left or radiate to the sternum. At the same time, the sick person loses the ability not only to move freely, but also to breathe deeply. Deep breathing is complicated by the discomfort a person experiences when trying to relax. Due to such difficulties, other functional disorders, damage to the nervous system may begin. If the pain under the left shoulder blade is sharp, appears unexpectedly, it is worth contacting the medical team for help;
- Acute pancreatitis is a bodily disorder that can cause severe pain under the scapula on the left side. Uncomfortable sensations always have a certain character, with this disease the pain appears suddenly, surrounding;
- Vegetative crisis. Symptoms appear clearly and complicate the patient's life. In addition to the annoying pain in the left scapula in the back, a feeling of chest tightness may begin, the patient records a fever in the same place, while it is not possible to accurately identify the problem area. Due to respiratory problems, sick people often feel fear, anxiety, shortness of breath gradually appear, the feeling of the presence of a lump in the throat. Discomfort can also be felt in other parts of the body;
- Sometimes it hurts below the left shoulder blade from behind due to myocardial infarction. This condition is in most cases considered life threatening. The sooner it is known, the more effective the treatment. The sick person feels a burning sensation in the problem area, he cannot breathe deeply. The pain in the scapula on the left is quite high in intensity, there is no response to nitroglycerin medication, this condition can last about 10 minutes. The disease is characterized by numbness of the hands during each attack;
- Angina pectoris. A pathological condition in which it is also often painful on the left side below the scapula. The sensation is very unpleasant and sharp, which seems to compress the chest. The cause of the unpleasant condition is a change in the size of the lumen of the blood vessel. Attacks can be triggered by significant physical exertion, alcoholism, hypothermia of the body. To relieve 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 observed with each attempt to cough, sneeze, and even take a deep breath. The direction of the pain is always rushing to the affected lung area. The character can change depending on the person’s condition - the sensation of pain is insignificant, and, as it were, cutting and even stabbing;
- Aortic aneurysm - is characterized by increased load on the heart valves. The heart then stops performing its function fully. Because of 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 trigger bleeding into the abdominal cavity;
- When it hurts below the left scapula in the back, the cause may be a biphasic rupture of the spleen. Such cases belong to the most rare category. The damage gave rise to the onset of abdominal bleeding, which could not be stopped. The disease requires immediate surgery, especially if the pain under the scapula on the left side is very strong.
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This type of pathology must be recognized as soon as possible. The sooner treatment is prescribed, the more effective the fight against the disease.
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Not receiving proper assistance from health workers within the allotted time, the patient will only reach the progression of the disease, the result can be fatal.
Diseases of the support device, causing discomfort
Pain below the left shoulder blade from behind from behind can be caused by problems with the spine and other skeletal areas. Treatment will be determined after diagnosis. Discomfort sometimes occurs for the following reasons:
- Cervical osteochondrosis. In the early stages of the disease, the sensation of discomfort is muted, the patient is not always able to clearly explain where he is worried. In this case, the most obvious sensation is in the area of the damaged nerve root. Painful attacks can start suddenly, they pull and lose intensity if the patient spends little time in a warm bath. In the area of the cervical spine, ducts and nerves can then be pinched, this is quite painful. The course of the disease is compounded by the pain radiating to the arm. Cervical osteochondrosis mainly develops in people with an inactive lifestyle. Pain in the scapula on the left may be stabbing or aching;
- The intercostal nerve may be affected. This condition is called the leading cause of back pain on the left side below the scapula. They can be made worse 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 left scapular area can become burning;
- Scapular-costal syndrome is characterized by pain or pulling. Localization of discomfort is usually below the shoulder, above and below the shoulder blades. The main feature of pathology is that when you move your shoulders and arms, you hear a buzzing sound. The cause of the disease is severe physical stress or injury to the arm, and sometimes severe hypothermia;
- The skeleton can be affected by malignant tumors, which cause discomfort. On the scapula, in such cases, the resulting tumor or metastasis is localized;
- The scapula is throbbing. Such diseases belong to the category of rare occurrences. The pain under the left shoulder blade in this case is not strong, but when moving in the upper back area there is a clear cramping;
- Sometimes the left scapula hurts as a result of osteomyelitis after certain injuries. For example, gun injuries may be the cause;
- Periarthritis of the shoulder scapula. With a simple form of development, the sensation is not so bright - usually the manifestation of the disease occurs as a result of movement. Pathologies that take an acute stage of development can manifest themselves as an increase in symptoms, which tend to worsen at night. In the shoulder for this period, limited mobility, increased basal temperature, muscle spasms were observed.
Pain under the left shoulder blade from behind may indicate a severe pathological condition, special suspicion arises in cases where their character is burned, stabbed.
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Even as a result of pregnancy, this condition may appear due to increased stress.
An attack, when the scapula on the left side is sore, can be triggered by an injury, such as a fracture or crack. The discomfort in this case is expressed as a sharp pain below the left shoulder blade, any awkward movement can increase it.
Significant stress of an emotional, psychological nature, which the body cannot cope with, is capable of evoking sensations. If the sick person treats the symptoms with contempt, the severity of the condition may worsen.
Before proceeding with pathological treatment, one should determine the reason why the painful condition has arisen. It is important for a correct diagnosis to clarify the nature of the pain syndrome.
The options are as follows:
- Belt pain, in which the localization of discomfort is only in one place. One can feel it all the time, the pain can get stronger when inhaling. The patient's condition worsened with sudden movements and coughing. The reason is the nerve impulse pathway between the ribs;
- Burning sensation under the left scapula from behind from behind, tingling, numbness of certain areas;
- Pain caused by increased shoulder and back muscle tone can take on an increasing character;
- Acute pain - can lead to the fact that the patient is unable to inhale, difficult movements, it becomes impossible to lie on the left side;
- The cutting pain can be localized to the left, then go to the middle;
- A sore, dull ache under the left shoulder blade in the back from behind occurs, as a rule, when lifting the arm;
- Sharp and severe pain under left shoulder blade;
- Exciting sensations extending from the scapula to the lumbar region;
- The pain can be constant, which does not allow you to lie down, move, breathe.
Since the type of sensation in different diseases may be different, it is not possible to determine the cause exactly on its own.
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In case of severe pain syndrome, it is necessary to consult a doctor for examination.
Diagnostic methods
When the back hurts on the left side below the scapula, a sensation of pain appears, you need to begin treatment with a complete examination of the body. For diagnostics, the following procedures are used:
- X-rays of the spine in different projections. Pictures at the same time can help identify problems with the lungs;
- MRI, CT;
- ECG examination - if there are appropriate symptoms;
- Ultrasound examination of organs;
- Blood tests - general, biochemical;
- Assessment of blood pressure, pulse.
Once the patient is examined and the pathological cause is established, a selection of therapeutic measures is made. Additional narrow expert consultation may be required.
How the disease is treated
Once it has been determined exactly why it hurts under the left shoulder blade from behind, and the patient cannot take a deep breath, it is time to begin treatment. The way to eliminate the discomfort is determined depending on the factors that cause the development of pathology. Just eliminating the symptoms is not enough - they will reappear soon.
Each disease is characterized by separate symptoms, depending on the treatment regimen chosen. Each includes recommendations for dietary selection and adherence to a daily regimen, if the pain is dull, treatment is carried out with the help of medications.
The use of conservative therapy may not bring positive dynamics - in this case, the patient requires surgery. With the help of surgery, it is possible to treat a fairly large hernia, correct the condition with a ruptured spleen, and heal a stomach ulcer.
You should immediately go to the hospital if the patient records severe pain and burning under the left shoulder blade, persistent discomfort, which increases with deep breathing. For starters, you should contact a therapist - he or she will decide which specialist to refer the patient to, depending on the symptoms present.
You can’t completely protect yourself from all pre -existing diseases, but you can try to follow some preventative measures. Pay more attention to diet selection, do daily warm -up exercises.
If it is known why it hurts in the back on the left side below 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 it to slow down the course of the disease.