If a person experiences back pain in the shoulder area, he or she automatically associates this with a spinal condition. Partly right: the core of our long -suffering skeleton receives a heavy load, which inevitably affects its condition.
But often this pain in the back indicates a disturbance in the internal organs. The nature of the pain corresponds to the disease, so at the doctor's appointment it is important to describe its manifestations in as much detail as possible.
What causes shoulder pain
Pathological changes in:
- backbone;
- internal organ;
- surrounding structure.
It is painful in the scapular area and with some rare diseases:
- Spinal fractures and their systemic lesions;
- Metastases in the spine in stomach cancer, and sometimes other organs.
Pain by type of disease is localized:
- Above the shoulder blades;
- Under the shoulder blades;
- Between the shoulder blades;
- In the shoulder blades.
Symptoms associated with pathology of internal organs
The stomach, lungs, liver and heart can highlight their pain under the shoulder blades - right or left.
If it hurts on the left side, this may be a sign:
- Peptic ulcer of the stomach: pain of a periodic nature, associated with exacerbation of seasonal nature. They are accompanied by pain in the upper abdomen. During an increase in pain, vomiting occurs;
- Myocardial infarction: the disease is accompanied by acute retrosternal pain, extending below the left shoulder blade. Cardiac ischemia has similar signs, but in this case, the sensation of pain also occurs in the left hand;
- Stomach ulcer breakthrough: the patient's body is filled with cold sweat, he may feel sick to the point of vomiting. The patient tried to alleviate the suffering by changing position, but this action did not give the expected effect;
- Intercostal neuralgia: pain under the left scapula comes in attacks, exacerbated by little physical effort. It shivers and burns in the heart area. Pain to cough and take deep breaths.
It can be painful under the right shoulder blade when:
- Psychological failure in the body. At the same time, the patient feels heat in the chest, he may complain of squeezing 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 disease: in this case, coughing also leads to increased pain, but, unlike lung disease, the patient has difficulty urinating.
Pain associated with spinal pathology
Spinal problems can occur after an injury, fracture or bruise. But there are also diseases that have no obvious cause. And it is all indicated by pain in the scapular area.
With any spinal pathology, pain between the shoulder blades must be connected:
- stiffness;
- Chills;
- Numb.
Interscapular pain when coughing is typical of hardcore smokers.
Osteochondrosis
If tissue nutrition is disturbed, dystrophic changes occur in it. In the spinal space, this process affects the intervertebral disc. They can no longer withstand the pressure exerted on them by the vertebrae. Loss of disc elasticity leads to spinal compression. The nerve endings of the spinal cord get stressed - this is where severe pain occurs.
The body tries to protect the spine from heavy loads by growing bone tissue along the edges of the vertebral process. Bone growth is called osteophyte. They can be removed, but with a background of osteochondrosis, they will grow back.
Pain in osteochondrosis is localized at the site of damage to the spinal space. If the cervical area is affected, the patient experiences pain in the morning on the right side of the neck. The pain spread to the shoulders and arms, felt over the shoulder blades. The head may feel dizzy, the torture exacerbated 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 spinal column. The pain can be made worse by sneezing, coughing, and sudden movements. When you try to straighten your shoulders, the chest area and interscapular zone start to crackle.
It becomes difficult for a person to breathe from the chest, as the mobility of the ribs decreases, and he unconsciously switches to breathing with his stomach.
Treat osteochondrosis with conservative methods. Patients assigned:
- Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Physiotherapy procedures;
- Therapeutic gymnastics;
- Reflexology;
- Sort;
- Spinal traction;
- Manual therapy.
If no treatment method is ineffective, the surgeon goes down to business.
Spondylarthrosis
The symptoms of this disease are similar to osteochondrosis. But in this case, the intervertebral disc is displaced, not depleted. Prone to hyaline had to bear the burden. In such extreme conditions, the tissue becomes thinner and loses its ability to perform its functions.
If spondylarthrosis is not treated, the entire joint may become inflamed, and then lose mobility completely. The patient's condition was exacerbated by osteophytes.
Scoliosis
The curvature of the spinal column relative to its axis to the right or left is common - almost half of humans are affected by the disease. But for the majority, the disease is not expressed, and therefore the pain appears periodically - if a person strains his back, or stands or sits in one position for a long time.
Early scoliosis cannot be determined visually, therefore, if pain occurs in the scapular area, it is in the patient’s interest to consult a physician. He will set the x -rays - direct and lateral.
With further development of scoliosis, it can be detected independently: the "zigzag" of the spinal column becomes apparent. Walking scoliosis is also determined by the relative position of the shoulder - one of them will be lower than the other.
Treatment of scoliosis is a long -term affair even at high intensity. Massage, special exercises and wearing a corset will help eliminate curvature of the spine.
Intervertebral hernia
The intervertebral disc consists of:
- Gelatin terrace;
- Fibrous rings, composed of fibers;
- Two thin layers of cartilage covering the disc above and below.
The nucleus is located inside the ring, and the cartilaginous tissue, covering the structure, at the same time serves as a nutritional conductor from the vertebral body ducts to the discs.
Pathological changes in the vertebrae lead to disruption of metabolic processes in the intervertebral disc. Their thickness decreases, the fibrous rings crack under the influence of the load, paving the way out of the nuclear gelatin mass. This process is accompanied by severe pain. It is concentrated at one point, but sometimes there is a return to the pulmonary and heart areas.
Intervertebral hernias in the thoracic region are very rare, therefore, when pain appears in the scapular area, the patient is first examined for other diseases.
Intervertebral hernias are treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy, and special exercises. In severe cases, only surgery can help.
Spinal tuberculosis
Tuberculosis microbacteria can affect any part of the spine, but 60% of cases occur in the thoracic area. Often men suffer from this disease. Basically, several vertebrae are involved in the process, but there are cases when tuberculosis spreads to three or more.
The symptoms of the disease may vary depending on the number of vertebrae affected. But there is one persistent symptom - it is pain. If it is felt between the shoulder blades, this indicates a lesion on the cervical vertebrae.
It is also painful with tuberculosis of the thoracic area, but in that case the pain will radiate (give) to the chest, groin or abdomen. The patient complained of burning, twisting, "drilling" in the back.
Spinal tuberculosis is difficult to diagnose, severe pain appears already at the stage of appearance of various complications. If you have the slightest suspicion of the disease, immediately go to a specialist for examination.
Overvoltage and hypothermia
If the back is too much loaded, a painful sensation may also appear in the scapular area. By itself, this phenomenon is not considered a disease, but constant load can lead to osteochondrosis, curvature of the spine, and the formation of intervertebral hernias.
Tailors, drivers, surgeons, people doing sedentary work, etc. complained of back pain. If hypothermia (draft, working air conditioner) is added to the overvoltage, then back pain can be taught - severe pain concentrated under the shoulder blades, or in the spine.
This problem is treated with warming ointments, anti-inflammatory medications and massage.
Myositis
Influenza, SARS, severe hypothermia can cause myositis - inflammation of muscle tissue. Often, the disease affects the muscles located in the scapular area. This condition does not threaten the body with anything horrible, but the excruciating pain causes discomfort.
Pain in the shoulder blades
Pain occurs for several reasons:
- Fractures or injuries from falls. The shoulder joint is swollen, painful to move the limb;
- Osteomyelitis (inflammation of bone tissue): accompanied by fever, fever due to intoxication of the whole organism;
- Pterygoid scapula: this effect is caused by damage to the anterior dentate (located next to the chest), rhomboid paralysis, trapezius muscle or its traumatic rupture (experienced by circus acrobats and gymnasts, professional athletes).
If the synovial bag is inflamed, the shoulder blades begin to crackle. In addition to these problems, patients worry about weight and clicks on the shoulder joint.
Diagnostics
Since pain in the posterior scapular zone 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;
- ECG.
All examinations are prescribed by a surgeon - if your back hurts, first of all go to him. But in the future, based on the results of research, he needs advice:
- Orthopedic Specialist;
- Gastroenterologist;
- Neurologist;
- Pulmonologist.
If for any reason the doctor does not pay attention to the accompanying symptoms, go consult on your 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 analgesics. Admission should be single and only if necessary to stop the pain syndrome before visiting the doctor.
Treatment is prescribed by a doctor: usually, to alleviate the condition, it is enough to take analgesics, chondroprotectors, anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, doctors draw up treatment regimens designed to eliminate the cause of pain in the scapular area.