Pain that appears on the left under the scapula is a fairly common symptom that can appear in men and women, and even in children. At first glance, such symptoms seem frivolous, but in fact, pain under the blade of the left shoulder from the back can be a vanguard of a range of dangerous diseases.
There are many reasons for the appearance of such a pain syndrome, and they are usually not associated at all with problems in the very edges of the shoulders. Most often, the cause of pain are inflammatory and pathological processes in other organs and systems.
Why does it hurt under the blade of the left shoulder?
To understand why it hurts under the scapula, you need to remember the anatomical structure of a person. Indeed, most often it is precisely those nearby organs that hurt, although it happens that the pain radiates along the nerve fibers away from the focus of the disease.
The blade of the left shoulder is located at the ribs that form the chest. The ribs are connected by intercostal ligaments and muscles, and between each rib are intercostal vessels and intercostal nerves. On the other hand, the nerves between the ribs branch off from the spinal cord, which is located in the trunk of the spine, in the center of the scapula. Together 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 scapular pain can be determined based on their nature, intensity and localization:
- Pain radiating to the blade of the left shoulder. . .The pathological source of such pain can be found far from the site of pain. Most often, this symptom is typical of stomach or heart disease.
- Painful pain under the blade of the left shoulder. . . Indicates the presence of a prolonged chronic process. Such painful manifestations may be associated with chronic heart disease (pericardium, myocardium), as well as cervical osteochondrosis of the spine.
- Dull pain under the blade of the left shoulder. . . Most often it occurs against the background of the development of osteochondrosis of the chest or cervix. Usually the painful sensations spread down 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 blade of the left shoulder. . . Intense pain is not typical of the scapular area, which means that it serves as a signal of a life-threatening pathological condition. At best, severe pain may indicate intercostal neuralgia, but more often such sensations indicate the presence of a peptic ulcer and the development of a condition prior to infarction.
- Severe pain under the blade of the left shoulder. . . Intercostal neuralgia can cause sharp pain - at the same time, when you inhale, the pain syndrome clearly increases, there is a feeling that "he is breathing". Acute pain can be caused by pneumonia of the left side in the acute phase, while the patient feels symptoms of cutting and stinging all over the left side of the chest, radiating to the edge of the left shoulder. Rarely, pain of a sharp nature can occur with a worsening of pancreatitis - the pain is of the character of herpes and cramps.
- Drawing pain under the blade of the left shoulder. . .May indicate the initial stage of development of cervical osteochondrosis. The pain starts 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. Occasionally, the appearance of a burning sensation under the scapula may indicate the development of vegetative-vascular dystonia. In this case the pain is accompanied by tachycardia, hand tremors and a strong feeling of fear.
- Persistent pain under the left shoulder. . . This pain syndrome may indicate the development of left pneumonia. In this case, the pain is accompanied by dry cough, low temperature, feeling of shortness of breath, shortness of breath.
- Sewing pain under the blade of the left shoulder. . .Suture pain (so-called "lumbago") is most often a sign of osteochondrosis, but can also indicate intercostal neuralgia. A tingling sensation in the spine caused by straining, deep sucking, or coughing may be signs of pleurisy or pneumonia.
- Oppressive pain. . . Indicates the development of osteochondrosis, may also indicate the initial stage of coronary heart disease and worsening of vegetative-vascular dystonia.
- Pulsating pain. . .Most often, the left extension of the intervertebral disc in the thoracic or cervical spine is manifested in this way. Pulsating pains may indicate an intervertebral disc herniation or an initial aortic dissection.
- Acute pain under the blade of the left shoulder. . . Indicates dangerous conditions and requires immediate medical attention. Causes of pain syndrome can be: angina pectoris attacks, left intervertebral disc lengthening, stomach ulcer.
The nature of the pain and its localization can vary, but more often the painful sensations under the left shoulder are a very dangerous symptom that requires immediate medical intervention.
What diseases can cause pain under the blade of the left shoulder?
Painful syndrome on the left under the scapula is most often caused by pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, heart, stomach and bronchopulmonary system.
Consider possible diseases, accompanied by pain under the blade of the left shoulder and accompanying symptoms.
| Diseases | The nature of pain | Related symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Musculoskeletal system | ||
| Supra-scapular periarthritis | The pain appears in the shoulder area and radiates to the scapula. | The patient can not move freely (can not put his hands behind his head due to pain), there is a crack in the joints when moving. |
| Intercostal neuralgia | The painful sensation is localized in one of the intercostal spaces and is accompanied by a feeling of numbness. The pain syndrome intensifies when bending to the left. | In the course of the inflamed area, redness may appear, characteristic redness may appear on the skin. |
| Back muscle diseases (myositis, inflammation, lesions) | Back pain appears severe, can be painful in nature. | On the left side, pain appears when the scapula is injured, when the muscles are stretched. |
| Oncology | Painful pain under the blade of the left shoulder or sharp pain of a persistent nature. | With scapular tumors, the back of the chest is deformed. |
| Trauma | Intense pain syndrome, especially in the first hours immediately after injury. | If the pain increases with movement, swelling or swelling appears, it may be a scapular or rib fracture. |
| Osteochondrosis, spondylosis, thoracic scoliosis, intervertebral hernia | Severe pain manifests itself either continuously or "lumbago". | Unpleasant sensations appear in the spine - the feeling that they "have pushed on a peg". |
| Heart dissases | ||
| Angina pectoris | Pain under the left shoulder from the back to the back occurs during exertion and radiates to the left arm, left scapula, sometimes to the left jaw. | It is accompanied by shortness of breath, fear of death. |
| Myocardial infarction | Burning pain under the blade of the left shoulder on the side of the heart. | Heart pain is not relieved with pills. The left hand becomes numb, there is severe shortness of breath, the sternum begins to "burn". |
| Pericarditis and myocarditis | Painful character of pain on the left side. | It is accompanied by chills, appearing more often at night and fever. |
| Dissecting aortic aneurysm | Pain syndrome migrates from top to bottom. Initially, pain appears in the chest, then gradually moves below the blade of the left shoulder and further down the lower back. | A sharp drop in pressure. |
| Diseases of the bronchopulmonary system | ||
| Left-sided pneumonia | The pain is moderately strong. | Cough with phlegm, shortness of breath, fever. |
| Pleurisy | Pain appears during breathing | Shortness of breath, whistling sensation in the lungs. |
| Gastrointestinal pathologies | ||
| Stomach ulcer | Pain under the scapula is accompanied by a burning sensation (most often at night). | Eating-related pain. |
| Perforated ulcer | Sharp and stabbing pain (like a stab wound). | Fever, vomiting. |
| Acute pancreatitis | Herpes pains, sometimes they can radiate sideways. | Flatulence, recurrent vomiting, fever. |
Other symptoms that accompany pain syndrome can help diagnose left-sided pain under the scapula:
- The pain worsens after eating- Peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, gastritis.
- The pain worsens when you sneeze- bone diseases, trauma, pleurisy, neuralgia, joint and muscle pathologies.
- The pain appears when you turn your head- osteochondrosis, damage to the clavicle bones.
- Pain appears during swallowing- esophageal diseases, psychosomatic disorders.
- The pain is accompanied by shortness of breathpleurisy, cardiac pathology, intercostal neuralgia.
- With pain, a cough appears- damage to the respiratory system.
- Temperature display- infectious and inflammatory processes: pericarditis, purulent pleura, subphrenic abscess.
- Pain is accompanied by numbness in the left arm.- angina pectoris, osteochondrosis, myocardial infarction.
- Nausea and vomiting accompany pain- Pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (pancreatitis, ulcers, gastritis).
- With pain, numbness appears on the tongue- angina pectoris, osteochondrosis, heart attack.
In pregnant women, pain under the scapula appears for the same reasons as in other people, but in the expectant mother the risk of developing some diseases is much higher. The most likely cause of left back pain in a pregnant woman is osteochondrosis (due to greater load on the spine), pyelonephritis (due to displacement of the kidneys and activation of their activity), excessive strain ofback muscles.
In children, pain under the shoulder usually appears as a result of trauma, with neuralgia (after hypothermia), miosis, pleurisy.
Diagnosis and treatment. Which doctor should I go to?
You should choose a doctor to make an appointment with, depending on the nature of the pain and its manifestations:
- Emergency doctor- with sharp, 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 accompanied by effort or movement.
- traumatology- if the pain has appeared after an injury.
- Cardiologist- with a burning sensation behind the sternum, which lies under the scapula, in the left hand, in the jaw.
- Pulmonologist (or therapist)- if the sensations of pain increase with breathing and are accompanied by cough, shortness of breath, fever.
- Gastroenterologist- if the pain is accompanied by meals and is accompanied by dyspeptic disorders.
- Surgeon- pain under the scapula is accompanied by deformity of the sternum, with sharp pain accompanied by high fever.
If it is difficult to decide independently on the choice of a doctor, it is worth contacting a therapist, who, based on the results of the examination, will schedule an appointment with a close specialist.
Diagnostic measures are prescribed depending on the reasons that caused the pain under the blade of the left shoulder, back:
- General examination - taking the anamnesis and interviewing the patient, visual examination (measurement of pulse, blood pressure, temperature, palpation, hearing), taking blood and urine tests.
- X-ray examination, CT and MRI - 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 disease.
- Ultrasound and ECG - prescribed for the examination of cardiovascular disease.
The treatment regimen for pain under the left shoulder is chosen specifically for each disease - there is no single treatment protocol.
Important!The treatment of pain under the left shoulder is mainly the treatment of a pain syndrome that provokes disease.
If pain is associated with cardiovascular pathology, cardiac medication is prescribed, a diet prescribed that saves physical and psycho-emotional activity is prescribed.
Gastrointestinal pathologies that cause pain are treated with antacids and a gentle diet.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system are treated with the help of long-term therapy, including the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, performing special therapeutic exercises.
Surgical treatment is prescribed when conservative therapy is ineffective. Surgical intervention is mandatory for a perforated ulcer, severe pathology of the gastrointestinal tract, rupture of the spleen, intervertebral hernia.
If the pain appears under the blade of the left shoulder, it is necessary to be examined by a doctor to avoid the appearance and development of life-threatening pathologies.