Pain that appears on the left side under the shoulder blade is a fairly common symptom that can occur in men, women, and even children.At first glance, these symptoms seem frivolous, but in fact, pain under the left shoulder blade from the back can be a harbinger of a number of dangerous diseases.
There are many reasons for the appearance of this pain syndrome, and usually they are not at all related to problems with the shoulder blades.Most often, the cause of pain is inflammatory and pathological processes in other organs and systems.
Why does it hurt under my left shoulder blade?
To understand why it hurts under the shoulder blade, we must remember the anatomical structure of a person.After all, most often it is the organs located nearby that hurt, although it happens that the pain radiates along nerve fibers far from the source of the disease.
The left shoulder blade is located over the ribs that make up the chest.The ribs are connected to each other by intercostal ligaments and muscles, and between each rib there are intercostal vessels and intercostal nerves.In turn, the intercostal nerves arise from the spinal cord, which is located in the spinal trunk central to the scapula.Along with the ribs, the scapula protects the left heart, left lung, stomach, spleen, pancreas, and aorta.
Depending 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 functioning of internal organs (diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, spleen, respiratory organs).
The cause of pain in the scapula can be determined based on its nature, intensity and location:
- Pain radiating to the left shoulder blade..The pathological source of such pain may be located far from the site of pain.Most often, this symptom is characteristic of stomach or heart diseases.
- Aching pain under the left shoulder blade..Indicates the presence of a prolonged chronic process.These painful manifestations can be associated with chronic heart diseases (pericarditis, myocarditis), as well as with cervical osteochondrosis of the spine.
- Dull pain under the left shoulder blade..Most often it occurs against the background of the development of thoracic or cervical osteochondrosis.The pain usually spreads from the back of the head along the back, arm, and under the shoulder blade and is accompanied by nausea, dizziness, and numbness (tingling) in the hands.
- Severe pain under the left shoulder blade..Severe pain is not typical for the scapula area, which means that it serves as a signal of a pathological condition that can be life-threatening.At best, severe pain may indicate intercostal neuralgia, but more often these sensations indicate the presence of a peptic ulcer and the development of a pre-infarction condition.
- Sharp pain under the left shoulder blade..Intercostal neuralgia can cause acute pain: when inhaling, the pain syndrome clearly intensifies and there is a feeling that "you are out of breath."Acute pain may be caused by left-sided pneumonia in the acute phase, while the patient feels cutting and stabbing symptoms throughout the left side of the chest, radiating to the left shoulder blade.Less commonly, severe pain may occur during exacerbation of pancreatitis: the pain is tightening and cramping in nature.
- Persistent pain under the left shoulder blade..It 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 shoulder blade.This symptom may indicate prolonged intercostal neuralgia, angina attacks, or myocardial infarction.Sometimes 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, tremors in the hands and a strong feeling of fear.
- Constant pain under the left shoulder blade..This pain syndrome may indicate the development of left-sided pneumonia.In this case, the pain is accompanied by a dry cough, low temperature, a feeling of shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.
- Stabbing pain under the left shoulder blade..Stabbing pains (called "lumbago") are usually a sign of osteochondrosis, but can also indicate intercostal neuralgia.Tingling in the back that occurs during physical exertion, deep breathing, or coughing may be signs of the development of pleurisy or pneumonia.
- pressive pain.It indicates the development of osteochondrosis and may also indicate the initial stage of coronary heart disease and exacerbation of vegetative-vascular dystonia.
- stabbing pain.Most often, the protrusion of the intervertebral disc on the left side in the thoracic or cervical spine manifests itself in this way.Stabbing pain may indicate a herniated disc or incipient aortic dissection.
- Sharp pain under the left shoulder blade..Indicates dangerous conditions and requires immediate medical intervention.The causes of pain syndrome can be: angina attacks, protrusion of the intervertebral disc on the left side, gastric ulcer.
The nature of the pain and its location can vary, but most of the time pain under the left shoulder blade is a very dangerous symptom that requires immediate medical intervention.
What diseases can cause pain under the left shoulder blade?
Pain syndrome on the left under the scapula is most often caused by pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, heart, stomach and bronchopulmonary system.
Let's consider possible diseases accompanied by pain under the left shoulder blade and the accompanying symptoms.
| Diseases | nature of pain | Associated symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| musculoskeletal system | ||
| Humeroscapular periatritis | The pain appears in the shoulder area and radiates to the shoulder blade. | The patient cannot move freely (cannot put his hands behind his head due to pain);there is a crunch in the joints when moving. |
| intercostal neuralgia | The pain is located in one of the intercostal spaces and is accompanied by a feeling of numbness.The pain intensifies when leaning to the left. | Redness and characteristic skin rashes may appear along the inflamed area. |
| Diseases of the back muscles (myositis, inflammation, injuries). | Back pain occurs suddenly and can be painful in nature. | Pain appears on the left side when the shoulder blade is injured or when the muscles are tense. |
| oncology | Aching pain under the left shoulder blade or constant sharp pain. | In tumors of the scapula, the posterior thoracic part is deformed. |
| Injuries | Severe pain, especially the first few hours immediately after the injury. | If the pain intensifies with movement, swelling or swelling occurs, it may be a fracture of the scapula or rib. |
| Osteochondrosis, spondylosis, thoracic scoliosis, intervertebral hernia | Intense pain manifests itself constantly or in the form of “lumbago”. | Unpleasant sensations appear in the spine: a feeling that "a stake has been driven in." |
| heart diseases | ||
| angina pectoris | Pain under the left shoulder blade from the back occurs during exertion and radiates to the left arm, left shoulder blade, and sometimes to the left jaw. | Accompanied by difficulty breathing and fear of death. |
| myocardial infarction | Burning pain under the left shoulder blade from the side of the heart. | Heart pain cannot be relieved with pills.The left arm becomes numb, severe difficulty breathing appears, and the sternum begins to "burn". |
| Pericarditis and myocarditis. | Aching pain on the left side. | Accompanied by chills, which appear more often at night, and an increase in temperature. |
| Dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta | The pain syndrome migrates from top to bottom.Initially, the pain occurs in the chest, then gradually moves under the left shoulder blade and towards the lower back. | A sharp decrease in pressure. |
| Diseases of the bronchopulmonary system. | ||
| Left side pneumonia | Moderately intense pain. | Cough with sputum, wheezing in the lungs, fever. |
| pleurisy | The pain occurs when breathing. | Difficulty breathing, wheezing sensation in the lungs. |
| Gastrointestinal pathologies | ||
| stomach ulcer | Pain under the shoulder blade is accompanied by a burning sensation (usually at night). | The pain is associated with food. |
| perforated ulcer | Sharp, stabbing pain (like a stab). | Fever, vomiting. |
| acute pancreatitis | The pain is girdling in nature and may sometimes radiate to one side. | Flatulence, repeated vomiting, fever. |
Other symptoms accompanying pain syndrome can help identify the disease caused by pain in the left side under the scapula:
- The pain worsens after eating.– peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, gastritis.
- The pain worsens when sneezing.– bone diseases, injuries, pleurisy, neuralgia, joint and muscle pathologies.
- The pain occurs when turning the head.– osteochondrosis, clavicle injuries.
- The pain occurs when swallowing.– diseases of the esophagus, psychosomatic disorders.
- Pain accompanied by difficulty breathing.– pleurisy, cardiac pathologies, intercostal neuralgia.
- Pain causes cough.- damage to the respiratory system.
- Temperature appearance– infectious and inflammatory processes: pericarditis, purulent pleurisy, subphrenic abscess.
- Pain accompanied by numbness in the left arm.– angina pectoris, osteochondrosis, myocardial infarction.
- Nausea and belching accompany the pain.– gastrointestinal pathologies (pancreatitis, ulcers, gastritis).
- The pain causes numbness in the tongue.– angina pectoris, osteochondrosis, heart attack.
Pregnant women experience pain under the shoulder blade for the same reasons as other people, but the expectant mother has a much higher risk of developing certain diseases.The most likely cause of left back pain in a pregnant woman is osteochondrosis (due to increased load on the spine), pyelonephritis (due to displacement of the kidneys and activation of their activity) and overstrain of the back muscles.
In children, pain under the shoulder blade usually occurs due to injuries, neuralgia (after hypothermia), myositis and pleurisy.
Diagnosis and treatment.Which doctor should I contact?
You should choose a doctor with whom to make an appointment based on the nature of the pain and its manifestations:
- emergency doctor– with sharp and intense pain, burning in the chest, difficulty breathing, when the pain is accompanied by severe dizziness, severe weakness or loss of consciousness.
- Neurologist– if the pain is associated with loads or movements.
- traumatologist– if the pain appeared after an injury.
- Cardiologist– with a burning sensation behind the breastbone, which extends under the shoulder blade, to the left arm and to the jaw.
- Pulmonologist (or therapist)– if the pain intensifies when breathing and is accompanied by cough, difficulty breathing and fever.
- Gastroenterologist– if the pain is associated with meals and is accompanied by dyspeptic disorders.
- surgeon– pain under the shoulder blade is accompanied by deformation of the sternum, with acute pain accompanied by high fever.
If you find it difficult to decide on your own in choosing a doctor, you should contact a therapist who, based on the results of the examination, will make an appointment with a specialist.
Diagnostic measures are prescribed depending on the reasons that caused the pain under the left shoulder blade, behind:
- General examination: anamnesis and interview of the patient, visual examination (measurement of pulse, blood pressure, temperature, palpation, auscultation), blood and urine tests.
- X-ray examination, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging - determines pathologies of the spine and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, as well as diseases of the pulmonary system.
- Ultrasound of the abdominal organs, FGDS – gastrointestinal diseases.
- Ultrasound and ECG - prescribed for the examination of cardiovascular diseases.
The treatment regimen for pain under the left shoulder blade is selected specifically for each disease;There is no single treatment protocol.
Important!Treatment of pain under the left shoulder blade is mainly the treatment of the disease that causes the pain syndrome.
If the pain is associated with cardiovascular pathologies, cardiological medications and a diet respectful of physical and psychoemotional activity are prescribed.
Gastrointestinal pathologies that cause pain are treated by taking antacids and prescribing a soft diet.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system are treated with long-term therapy, which includes taking anti-inflammatory drugs and performing special therapeutic exercises.
Surgical treatment is prescribed when conservative therapy is ineffective.Surgery is mandatory for perforated ulcers, severe gastrointestinal pathologies, ruptured spleen and intervertebral hernia.
If you feel pain under the left shoulder blade, you should definitely undergo a medical examination to avoid the appearance and development of life-threatening pathologies.