Sometimes we feel discomfort in the back on the left side. It can be pains of a different nature - pulling, stabbing, aching. They may be accompanied by additional symptoms. Pain under the left shoulder blade is usually not the only symptom. This is one of the signs of the manifestation of any disease. All complaints and symptoms together will help the doctor to choose the direction of diagnosis. After all, immediate help is often required.
The anatomical structure of the body
If we visualize our body from behind, it will be seen that the left shoulder blade is located on the ribs involved in the formation of the chest. Between the ribs are nerves and blood vessels. They are connected by muscle fibers.
The scapula performs a protective function of the internal organs - the heart, lungs, stomach and pancreas, spleen.
Based on the anatomical structure of the body, pain under the left shoulder blade can be conditionally divided into:
- related to the pathology of the musculoskeletal system,
- related to the pathology of any internal organ.
Because there are disturbances on the left side
Many of us with the appearance of left pain, first of all, consider problems in the work of the heart. Most of the time the cause is actually a spine problem. There may also be malfunctions in the work of internal organs.
Let's consider in more detail the causes of pain under the left shoulder blade. They may appear when:
- Problems with the spine and the locomotor system: osteochondrosis, intercostal neuralgia, scapula injuries, rib fractures, myofascial syndrome, Sprengel's disease.
- Diseases of the bronchi and lungs: pneumonia, localized on the left, dry pleurisy, bronchitis in the acute stage of the course, tracheitis, left lung abscess.
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system: angina pectoris, coronary heart disease, heart attack, valve prolapse.
- Diseases of the stomach and intestines: stomach and duodenal ulcer, gastro-oesophagitis, reflux, spasm of the oesophagus.
- Psychosomatic course of the disease with vegetative-vascular dystonia.
Relationship between pain and illness
Patients can characterize the nature of the pain from aching to cutting and burning. There are several typical signs of pain that distinguish them from other diseases:
| Name of the disease | Pain that characterizes him |
|---|---|
| Heart diseases | The pain in the area of the left scapula is of a burning nature, causes a feeling of compression of the retrosternal space. Appears in the same place, moves to the left side - back, shoulder blade, arm. By pressing, as if pressing the pain in the heart, the spread of myocardial infarction is possible. In this case, urgent hospitalization is necessary. |
| aortic aneurysm | The pain is sharp, shoots, grows, goes to the left in the back and under the shoulder blade. The condition develops rapidly and threatens the patient's life. |
| Pleurisy | The pain is sharp and piercing, depending on the size of the breath. In a calm state, a tingling sensation is possible, when inhaling with a full chest, there is a piercing pain in the shoulder blade. |
| Left pneumonia | The pain is not strong, it hurts, it can be characterized as a point. It may increase slightly with movement and deep inspiration. |
| Osteochondrosis of the vertebrae | Most often, the pain is located in the lower part of the neck. It is manifested by sensations of pain, which are aggravated by a sudden movement of the head. It can give to the hand, accompanied by rotation of the head, numbness of the limb. The pain under the shoulder blade is weak, aching and pulling, there may be an increase in pain after a long sitting or after physical exercise. As a rule, this happens at night. In the morning, stiffness of the spinal muscles is felt. Unlike heart pain, it does not go away after taking medication. There may be severe headaches that do not depend on pressure. |
| Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, ulcers in the stomach and intestines | Pain in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can be seasonal with attacks. The pain syndrome can appear due to prolonged hunger, immediately after eating, a few hours after eating, at night. The pain disappears after hunger is satisfied, after food leaves the stomach, after vomiting or taking medicine. When the ulcer is perforated, the pain radiates down the left shoulder blade, is sharp and unbearable. If you suspect this disease, you should go to the hospital immediately. At the beginning of the development of the disease, the pain may subside after vomiting. With reflux esophagitis, accompanying symptoms will be heartburn, belching and indigestion. |
| Intercostal neuralgia | A sharp shooting or pain in the belt is felt constantly or in attacks. It can appear on one side. It increases during sudden movements - sneezing, coughing, severe shortness of breath, walking, physical activity, palpation of the pain point. |
| Phytovascular dystonia and myofascial syndrome | With myofascial syndrome, the pain is dull, coming from the depths of the tissues. It can occur both at rest and during physical activity. It can range in intensity from mild to severe. Objectively, on examination, patients with VVD suffer from irritability, memory impairment, sweating, tachycardia and hand tremors. There are often changes in the heart muscle. The nature of pain is similar to that of the heart. But the examination of the heart does not confirm the diagnosis. |
Diagnosis of the disease that caused the pain syndrome
A thorough examination will be required to determine what is causing the pain. First of all, you need to consult a therapist or doctor. He, based on complaints and examination of the patient, will determine what kind of investigation should be conducted.
The initial stage of treatment, if the pain radiates to the left shoulder blade, should be a trip to the local healer. He will be able to do an initial examination and prescribe all the necessary tests. And already with the existing exams, you can go for a consultation with close specialists.
The doctor will not be able to diagnose the disease solely from complaints of pain syndrome. Complaints will be a push in the direction where a more thorough diagnosis is required. Therefore, when contacting a doctor, it is necessary to know exactly the answers to questions about the nature of pain, its localization and the accompanying causes - the relationship with food intake, physical and emotional stress.
If myositis is suspected in a patient, a detailed blood test should be done to confirm the inflammatory process.
For a more accurate diagnosis of the disease, it is necessary to conduct a set of tests.
The first task is to rule out conditions that require urgent medical attention. These include: gastric and duodenal ulcers, heart attack, aortic rupture.
To understand exactly what hurts under the left shoulder blade, you need to undergo the following tests:
- Visual inspection and palpation of pain location. Temperature, blood pressure and pulse will be taken.
- X-ray in multiple views to confirm or rule out problems with the spine and lungs.
- EKG to check heart function.
- To clarify the localization of the problem with the spine, a CT scan or MRI may be needed.
- If gastrointestinal problems are suspected, FGS - fibrogastroduodenoscopy - may be prescribed.
- General and biochemical blood tests.
For some types of pain, first aid can be provided with analgesics and anticonvulsants. But taking them does not eliminate the cause, but only suffocates the pain from the left under the shoulder blade, which, after the end of the medicine, will definitely return again. To prevent the recurrence of pain, it is necessary to find out its cause.
In any case, if the left shoulder blade hurts, after the first signs of pain stop, it is necessary to undergo a full course of examinations. Besides, often the source of pain radiating to the scapula can be located elsewhere. Therefore, when a pain syndrome occurs in the shoulder blade area, it is necessary to visit: a therapist, a neurologist, a cardiologist, a gastroenterologist, a traumatologist, with the exception of the pathology of all the mentioned specialists, a consultation with a psychotherapist is necessary.
Treatment of the disease that caused the pain syndrome
The purpose of treatment will depend on the diagnosis of the disease. For each specific disease, there are specific treatment regimens. They necessarily include recommendations for physical activity and nutrition. The treatment regimen is described in detail. They are combined depending on the symptoms and complaints to relieve acute symptoms that threaten the patient's life.
In any case, you must remember that pain in the left shoulder blade can be removed only with drugs recommended by a specialist. Do not resort to advice from relatives and friends. After all, without medical help it is difficult to determine the nature of the pain. Self-medication can lead to delay of cardiac or gastric pathologies.
- For example, with reflux after the examination, drugs may be prescribed to reduce the acidity of the stomach, to facilitate its movement in the intestines. In this case, it is worth limiting the amount of food consumed, you should not bend over immediately after eating.
- With osteochondrosis, physiotherapy exercises, swimming, dry heat and increased physical activity can be prescribed as medical procedures. All these measures are used as a precaution after the pain subsides.
- If there is a diagnosis of ischemia, cardiac medication should be taken initially. If the pain in the shoulder blade on the left does not subside after 10 minutes, you need to call an ambulance.
- If there are problems with the cardiovascular system, the best prevention is the continuous intake of the necessary drugs, nutrition, mental stability and not excessive physical activity.
- If pain in the shoulder blade occurs due to problems with the spine, it is necessary to perform a set of special exercises for a long time and follow the recommendations of specialists in taking medications.
- If the appearance of pain under the shoulder blade on the left is related to problems with the stomach and intestines, diet and medication will help to cope. In this case, psycho-emotional balance is important, because stress often causes an ulcer. Positive attitude and knowledge of relaxation and relaxation technique is essential.
If there is no result from conservative treatment, as well as when a perforated ulcer, large spinal hernia, rupture of the spleen, surgery is required.
In principle, to avoid serious health problems, an annual medical check-up is necessary. It is necessary to undergo the necessary tests to exclude the occurrence of diseases in the near future.