When a person has back pain in the shoulder blade area, they automatically associate it with the condition of the spine.To some extent they are right: this long-suffering core of our skeleton takes on heavy loads that can only impair its condition.
But pain in this area of the back often signals a disorder of the internal organs.The type of pain corresponds to the disease, so it is important to describe its manifestations in as much detail as possible when visiting a doctor.
What causes pain in the shoulder blade area?
Pain is caused by pathological changes in:
- spine;
- internal organs;
- Surrounding structures.
Pain in the shoulder blade area and in some rare diseases:
- Fractures of the spine and their systemic lesions;
- Metastases in the spine due to cancer in the stomach and sometimes other organs.
The pain is localized depending on the type of disease:
- Above the shoulder blades;
- Under the shoulder blades;
- Between the shoulder blades;
- In the shoulder blades.
Symptoms associated with pathologies of internal organs
The stomach, lungs, liver and heart can project their pain under the shoulder blade - right or left.
If it hurts on the left side, this may be a sign:
- Peptic ulcer: The pain is periodic in nature and is associated with seasonal exacerbations.They are accompanied by painful sensations in the upper abdomen.As the pain intensifies, vomiting occurs;
- Myocardial infarction: The disease is accompanied by acute chest pain that radiates below the left shoulder blade.Cardiac ischemia has similar symptoms, but in this case there is also pain in the left arm;
- Perforation of a stomach ulcer: the patient's body is covered in cold sweat, nausea and even vomiting may occur.The patient tries to relieve the suffering by changing positions, but these measures do not produce the expected effect;
- Intercostal neuralgia: Pain under the left shoulder blade occurs in episodes that worsen with the slightest physical exertion.There is a tingling and burning sensation in the heart area.It hurts to cough and take deep breaths.
Pain under the right shoulder blade can occur when:
- Psychological problems in the body.At the same time, the patient feels heat in the chest, he may complain of compression 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 diseases: Here too, coughing leads to increased pain, but in contrast to lung diseases, the patient has difficulty urinating.
Pain associated with spinal pathologies
Spinal problems can occur after injuries, fractures, or bruises.But there are also diseases that have no obvious causes.And all of them manifest as pain in the shoulder blade area.
With any pathology of the spine, pain between the shoulder blades is inevitably accompanied by:
- Stiffness;
- sensation of tingling and tingling;
- Deafness.
Osteochondrosis
If tissue nutrition is disrupted, dystrophic changes occur in them.In the spine, this process affects the intervertebral discs.They can no longer withstand the pressure that the vertebrae exert on them.The loss of elasticity of the intervertebral discs leads to compression of the spine.This puts pressure on the nerve endings of the spinal cord, causing severe pain.
The body attempts to protect the spine from severe stress by growing bone tissue along the edges of the vertebral processes.Bone growths are called osteophytes.They can be removed, but against the background of osteochondrosis they grow back.
Pain in osteochondrosis is localized at the site of damage to the spine.If the cervical spine is affected, the patient feels pain on the right side of the neck in the morning.The pain radiates into the shoulder and arm and can be felt above the shoulder blade.You may feel dizzy and the pain may increase with deep breathing and coughing.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is manifested by pain between the shoulder blades - on the right and left of the spine.Sneezing, coughing, and sudden movements can increase pain.When you try to straighten your shoulders, your chest and the area between your shoulder blades begin to crunch.
Breathing through the chest becomes difficult for a person because the mobility of the ribs decreases and he unconsciously switches to breathing with his stomach.
Osteochondrosis is treated with a conservative method.The patient is prescribed:
- painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications;
- Physiotherapeutic procedures;
- therapeutic gymnastics;
- reflexology;
- massages;
- spinal traction;
- Manual therapy.
If none of the treatment methods are effective, surgeons get to work.
Spondyloarthrosis
The symptoms of this disease are similar to those of osteochondrosis.But in this case the disc is displaced and not exhausted.The hyaline cartilage has to bear the load.Under such extreme conditions, tissue becomes thinner and loses its ability to perform its functions.
If spondyloarthrosis is not treated, it can lead to inflammation of the entire joint and subsequent complete loss of mobility.The patient's condition is aggravated by osteophytes.
Scoliosis
Curvature of the spine relative to its axis to the right or left is common - almost half of humanity is affected by this disease.However, in most people, the disease is not clearly expressed, which is why pain occurs periodically - when a person overloads his back or stands or sits in one position for a long time.
Early scoliosis cannot be detected visually.Therefore, if pain occurs in the scapula area, it is in the patient's best interest to consult a doctor.He will order an x-ray - direct and lateral.
As scoliosis develops further, it can be recognized independently: the “zigzag lines” of the spine become clearly defined.Advanced scoliosis is also determined by the relative position of the shoulders - one of which is lower than the other.
Despite its high intensity, the treatment of scoliosis is a long-term process.Massages, special exercises and wearing a corset help eliminate the curvature of the spine.
Intervertebral hernia
The intervertebral disc consists of:
- Gel-like core;
- The fibrous ring, consisting of fibers;
- Two thin layers of cartilage that cover the intervertebral discs above and below.
The nucleus is located inside the ring, and the cartilage tissue that closes the structure also serves as a conductor of nutrition from the vessels of the vertebral body to the intervertebral disc.
Pathological changes in the vertebrae lead to disruptions in the metabolic processes in the intervertebral discs.Their thickness decreases, the fibrous ring cracks under the influence of loads and opens the way to the gelatinous mass of the core.This process is accompanied by severe pain.It concentrates in one point, but sometimes returns to the lung and heart region.
An intervertebral fracture in the thoracic area is extremely rare.Therefore, if pain occurs in the scapula area, the patient is first examined for the presence of other diseases.
A herniated disc is treated with anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and special exercises.For serious illnesses, only surgery can help.
Advanced pathology leads to damage to the pelvic organs and paralysis of the legs.
Spinal tuberculosis
Tuberculosis microbacteria can affect any part of the spine, but 60% of cases occur in the chest area.Men most often suffer from this disease.Most often a few vertebrae are involved in the process, but there are cases when tuberculosis spreads to three or more vertebrae.
Symptoms of the disease can vary depending on the number of vertebrae affected.But there is one constant sign – pain.If it can be felt between the shoulder blades, this indicates damage to the cervical vertebra.
With tuberculosis of the thoracic region it also hurts, but in this case the pain radiates to the chest, groin or abdomen.Patients complain of burning, twisting and “drilling” in the back.
Spinal tuberculosis is difficult to diagnose;Severe pain occurs already at the stage of various complications.If you have the slightest suspicion of this disease, immediately go to a specialist for an examination.
Overvoltage and hypothermia
If the back is overloaded, painful sensations can also occur in the shoulder blade area.This phenomenon in itself is not considered a disease, but constant overload can lead to osteochondrosis, curvature of the spine and the formation of intervertebral hernias.
Seamstresses, drivers, surgeons, sedentary people, etc. complain of back pain.If overexertion (drafts, running air conditioning) is combined with hypothermia, lumbago can occur - severe pain that is concentrated below the shoulder blades or in the spine.
This problem is treated with warming ointments, anti-inflammatory drugs and massage.
Myositis
Flu, ARVI and severe hypothermia can lead to myositis - inflammation of muscle tissue.The muscles in the shoulder blade area are most commonly affected by this disease.This condition does not threaten the body with anything terrible, but the aching pain causes discomfort.
Painkillers and warming ointments relieve the suffering.
Pain in the shoulder blades
Painful sensations arise for several reasons:
- Fracture or injury caused by a fall.The shoulder joint swells, it hurts to move the limb;
- Osteomyelitis (inflammation of bone tissue): accompanied by an increase in temperature, fever due to intoxication of the whole body;
- Pterygoid scapula: This effect is caused by damage to the serratus anterior (on the side of the chest), paralysis of the rhomboid and trapezius muscles, or their traumatic rupture (which affects circus acrobats and gymnasts, as well as professional athletes).
When the bursa becomes inflamed, the shoulder blade begins to crunch.In addition to this problem, the patient suffers from heaviness and clicking in the shoulder joint.
diagnosis
Since pain in the shoulder blade area of the back indicates one of many diseases, the examination is carried out using different methods:
- chest x-ray;
- laboratory research;
- Ultrasonic;
- magnetic resistance or computed tomography;
- ECG.
All examinations are prescribed by the surgeon - if you have back pain, go to him first.But in the future, based on the research results, he will need advice:
- orthopedist;
- gastroenterologist;
- Neurologist;
- Pulmonologist.
If for some reason the doctor did not pay attention to the accompanying symptoms, seek advice on your own.
Treatment
Self-medication for pain in the shoulder blade area is strictly contraindicated.The maximum that a patient can afford is to take painkillers and analgesics.The appointment should be made once and only if pain relief is required before seeing the doctor.
Treatment is prescribed by a doctor: to alleviate the condition, it is usually enough to take analgesics, chondroprotectors and anti-inflammatory drugs.In addition, the doctor describes a treatment regimen aimed at eliminating the causes of pain in the scapula area.