Pain under the left shoulder blade is a common occurrence that can occur after a sudden movement or due to uncomfortable body position. They usually pass quickly and don't bother you anymore.
Constant discomfort under the shoulder blade can be a symptom of a serious illness that requires urgent treatment. In particular, do not underestimate this symptom if the pain spreads to the left to the sternum, or if the left arm is numb.
From the fact that the person turned to specialists for help in time, from its nature and location, an accurate diagnosis can be made, the direction of examination can be chosen, as well as the necessary treatment to choose not only the disease but also its causes.
Causes of pain under the left shoulder blade
What it means? There are a sufficient number of reasons for pain under the left shoulder blade in adults, they can be related to problems with the shoulder blade itself, as well as with diseases of internal organs. Let's look at the most likely causes of this condition below.
Certain diseases of the musculoskeletal system may be accompanied by a painful symptom in the area of the left shoulder blade. It usually manifests itself as follows:
- Osteochondrosis of the thoracic or cervical spine.
- Intercostal neuralgia.
- Traumatic scapular injury (suprascapular nerve compression injury).
- Rib fracture.
- Sprengel's disease (scapula alata) - pterygoid scapula.
- Myofascial syndrome.
Cardiac diseases. This does not mean that it hurts only in the area of the left shoulder blade. The pain then goes to the left arm, then goes to the collarbone, and then descends to the lower abdomen. Depending on the disease, patients have a feeling of shortness of breath, a feeling of cardiac arrest or a tight throat. Their breasts at this point feel tight or affected by the feeling of heat. These are such diseases:
- Ischemic heart disease.
- Myocardial infarction.
- Pericarditis.
- Angina pectoris (unstable, stable).
- Mitral valve prolapse.
- Less commonly, aortic aneurysm.
Constant pain under the left shoulder blade may indicate diseases of the broncho-pulmonary system. At the same time, the painful sensations are always directed towards the affected lungs, they are of average intensity and painful character, localized under the left shoulder blade at one painful point. this could be:
- Left-sided pneumonia.
- Pleuritis (dry, left-sided).
- Tracheobronchitis with autonomic dysfunction.
- Acute bronchitis.
- Left lung abscess.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract:
- YABZH (Ulcus gastrica) - gastric ulcer.
- Duodenal ulcer - an ulcer on the duodenum.
- Spasm of the esophagus.
- GERD is a gas-oesophageal reflux disease.
- Rarely - exacerbation of pancreatitis.
Common causes of pain under the left shoulder blade are as follows:
- Cervical osteochondrosis, which is most often manifested as unilateral pain at the base of the occipital bone. The pain is painful in nature, intensified by active movements of the head and constantly radiating under the shoulder blade, in the arm.
- Another disease, whose typical symptom is pain under the left shoulder blade, is intercostal neuralgia. It is a common consequence of osteochondrosis, and is manifested by lumbago and intense pain of a lumbar nature, radiating to the right or left, including under the shoulder blade.
- YABZH (stomach ulcer). The symptom is usually seasonal, depends on the nutritional factor and is characterized by paroxysmal, radiating pain.
Based on such a brief anatomical examination, all the causes of pain under the left shoulder blade can be divided into two major groups:
- Pain associated with pathology of internal organs (cardiovascular pathology, respiratory diseases, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and spleen).
- Pain associated with pathology of the musculoskeletal system and muscle pain, including neurogenic in nature.
To find out why there is pain under the left shoulder blade, you should undergo a comprehensive examination, which will be prescribed by a doctor based on specific complaints and examination data. After all, the pain of different diseases will differ in nature, intensity and factors that cause it.
Angina pectoris
Another heart disease can manifest as acute pain under the left shoulder blade - it is angina pectoris. In her pain occurs primarily in the retrosternal region, then as if "spilled" on the left side. By the nature of the manifestation, they are sharp and constricting, disappear at rest and after taking nitroglycerin. To a lesser extent, validol helps patients.
In most cases, the disease is caused by atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. Attacks of angina most often occur during physical and emotional stress, after sudden hypothermia or overheating of the body, alcohol consumption, as well as spicy and heavy foods.
Osteochondrosis
The most common cause of pain below the left shoulder blade behind the back is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, characterized by compression of the spinal nerve root.
This disease is characterized by pulling, dull pain, often unilateral just below the occipital region. It can be both permanent and manifested by lumbago, which always radiates under the scapula on the affected side. A sharp increase in symptoms occurs with head movements, after a night's sleep.
It is often the result of prolonged stress on the neck. Also, patients notice numbness of the hands, migraines, dizziness.
Pneumonia and pleurisy
In left-sided pneumonia (pneumonia), moderate pain, accompanied by coughing with sputum and wheezing in the lungs, will also bother the scapular area. At the same time, temperature "candles" are often noticed.
Pleuritis (inflammation of the pleura) can be dry or purulent. Both types of this pathology are accompanied by severe pain when breathing, while the person protects the affected side: breathing becomes shallower.
In purulent pleurisy, puncture is required, followed by analysis of the discharge and drainage of the pleural cavity.
Stomach ulcer
Gastric ulcer is a common disease that causes increasing pain under the left shoulder blade. The sensations gradually spread to the whole chest, nausea and vomiting appear. Severe back pain occurs after consuming unhealthy foods: too salty, spicy and fatty. Also mentioned:
- pale skin.
- nervously frightened state.
- cold sweat.
- blood clots in vomiting (the main sign that it is urgent to call a doctor at home).
A person cannot move normally when painful sensations appear. The excruciating pain increases with each perfect movement. Acute pain can be a signal that an exacerbation has occurred and that you need to call an ambulance.
Intercostal neuralgia
This pathology often occurs in patients with complaints of pain under the left shoulder blade. In this case, the pain extends to one intercostal space, is accompanied by a feeling of numbness or tingling along the affected area, increases when leaning to the affected side, or to the left side. In some cases, a skin rash or redness may appear along the inflamed intercostal nerve.
Trauma
Most often, pain caused by traumatic shoulder injuries occurs by a direct blow to the shoulder blades or when falling on the back. The pain syndrome is intense, especially in the first hours after the injury.
In the future, it appears or intensifies with movement, edema and swelling develop. Traumatic pain can also be caused by a broken shoulder or rib. Therefore, it is imperative to take an X-ray.
Myocardial infarction
A heart attack is characterized by a sharp sharp pain under the left shoulder blade, which can also appear all over the left side of the body (in the left arm, left side of the neck).
The cause of an acute attack of angina in a heart attack can be the most common emotional stress, which is why people with heart problems are advised not to be nervous.
The pain of a heart attack can be of different natures - cutting, squeezing or pressing. But there are also non-standard cases when the pain can manifest in the most unexpected place and in the most non-standard way, for example, in the peritoneal region.
Pericarditis
The disease is associated with inflammation of the serous membrane of the heart. This disease often develops tachycardia, so it is the cause of pain in the left side of the back. The pain is sharp, but disappears when the person calms down or leans forward.
This disease is dangerous because it can form adhesions and contractions of the organs together with the contraction of the heart. Also, calcium salts can be deposited in the pericardium of the heart, which leads to thickening of the mucous membrane of the heart.
Psychosomatic diseases
Often pain under the left shoulder blade is noted along with psychological stress and illnesses of a psychosomatic nature. The reasons lie in stress and emotional turmoil, which the body cannot cope with on its own and signals problems with the help of psychosomatic pain.
In addition to painful sensations in the back of the shoulder blade, the following accompanying symptoms may occur in psychosomatics:
- heat;
- chest discomfort;
- sore throat;
- lack of air.
Diagnosis
To understand how to treat pain under the left shoulder blade, you must undergo a comprehensive examination to determine the exact cause of this symptom.
First of all, these are:
- Collection of anamnesis. It is quite short, because the pain under the left shoulder blade in the back is not considered a life-threatening pathology.
- Introducing the doctor to a detailed description of the nature of pain.
- Examination of the patient's back.
- Instrumental examination is performed only in case of suspicion of acute infection, oncology, trauma and pronounced neurological symptoms.
First of all, the doctor conducts a complete diagnosis to exclude myocardial infarction, spinal oncology, neurological disorders that require urgent treatment. And only after that does he decide how to treat this patient.
Which doctor should I go to?
Depending on how the feelings of pain arise, what their characteristics are and what they are related to, you need to choose a specialist with whom you will go for a consultation:
- Gastroenterologist - for pain associated with eating, the presence of dyspepsia.
- Therapist or pulmonologist - for pain, increased breathing, followed by difficulty breathing, cough, fever.
- Neurologist - for pain associated with movement, stress.
- Traumatologist - when it indicates an injury that precedes the onset of pain.
- Cardiologist - with a burning sensation behind the sternum with radiation under the shoulder blade, in the tongue, left arm.
- Psychologist and psychiatrist - for pain, the causes of which have not been found based on the results of a detailed examination, especially if there are other signs of psychosomatic disorders and neuroses.
Sickness and pain are much easier and safer to prevent than to cure. Even if there are no health problems and discomfort, it is necessary to visit a doctor regularly and undergo a medical examination. If the pain still appears, you cannot treat yourself, it is necessary to contact an expert in this area immediately. By removing pain with the help of painkillers and without complex treatment, you contribute to the development of serious diseases of the heart, gastrointestinal tract or spine.