Pain under the blade of the left shoulder in the back from the back is a serious concern, in which the ability to move will inevitably be impaired, the person experiences severe discomfort. With some pathologies, even at rest, the patient experiences discomfort.
But it is worth noting that pain under the blade of the left shoulder does not always indicate the presence of a complex pathology. It can sometimes appear due to a long stay in the same unnatural position.
Overview of the disorder
If you look at the human back, you will notice that the blade of the left shoulder is glued to the ribs that make up the rib cage. Nerves and blood vessels are located in the grooves between them. The ribs are connected using ligaments and muscles.
The spine, which contains the spinal cord, is located in the center of the back, with the edges of the shoulders on either side of it. The nerves extend from the spine. Well-developed back muscles surround the shoulder blade.
The purpose of the bone is to provide protection for the lungs, spleen, stomach and heart, the part of the aorta located in the chest.
Why there is discomfort in the subscapularis
Left shoulder pain is often caused by the following factors:
- Gastric ulcer. In this disorder, back pain often escalates. It often appears after the next meal, but decreases if the patient vomits. To find out if the pain is really due to an ulcer, it is necessary to trace the presence of periods of heartburn, shortness of breath. Unpleasant sensations, pain may start in the subscapularis region on the left side or radiate to the sternum. At the same time, the patient loses the ability not only to move freely, but also to breathe deeply. Breathing is complicated by the discomfort a person experiences when trying to relax. Due to such difficulties, other functional disorders, malfunctions of the nervous system may begin. If the pain under the left shoulder is sharp, appears suddenly, it is worth calling a medical team for help;
- Acute pancreatitis is a disorder of the body that can cause severe pain under the scapula on the left side. Unpleasant sensations always have a certain character, with this disease the pain appears as sudden, surrounding;
- Vegetative crises. The symptoms appear vividly and complicate the patient's life. In addition to the annoying pain in the left back shoulder, a feeling of tightness may begin in the chest, the patient notes fever in the same place, while it is not possible to accurately identify the problem area. Due to breathing problems, the patient often feels fear, anxiety, gradually appears suffocation, the feeling of the presence of a lump in the throat. Discomfort can also be felt in other parts of the body;
- Sometimes it hurts under the left shoulder from behind due to myocardial infarction. This condition in most cases is considered life threatening. The sooner it is recognized, the more effective the treatment will be. The patient feels a burning sensation in the problem area, he can not breathe deeply. The pain in the left shoulder is quite high in intensity, there is no reaction to the drug nitroglycerin, this condition can last about 10 minutes. The disease is characterized by numbness of the hand during any attack;
- Angina pectoris. A pathological condition in which it often hurts on the left side under the scapula. The sensations are extremely uncomfortable and sharp, which seem to compress the chest. The cause of the unpleasant condition is a change in the size of the lumen of the blood vessels. Attacks can be caused by a considerable physical strain, alcoholism, hypothermia of the body. To ease the attack, you can use nitroglycerin;
- Pathological conditions of the respiratory organs. If it often hurts under the blade of the left shoulder, the cause may be dry pleurisy or pneumonia. Discomfort will be noticed with any attempt to cough, sneeze, or even take deep breaths. The direction of the pain always rushes to the area of the affected lung. The character may vary depending on the person's condition - the sensations of pain are insignificant, and, so to speak, cutting and even piercing;
- Aortic aneurysm - characterized by an increased load on the heart valve. Then the heart ceases to fully perform its functions. Because of this, venous blood begins to clog the lungs and edema develops. Where the aneurysm attaches to the vessel, the wall becomes thinner - it can break at any time and provoke bleeding into the abdominal cavity;
- When it hurts under the left scapula in the spine, the cause may be a biphasic rupture of the spleen. Such a case belongs to the category of the rarest. The injury provokes the onset of abdominal bleeding, which cannot be stopped. The disease requires immediate surgery, especially if the pain under the left shoulder is of great intensity.
Pathologies of this type should be recognized as soon as possible. The sooner treatment is prescribed, the more effective the fight against the disease.
By not getting proper help from health workers in a timely manner, the patient will only achieve disease progression, the result can be fatal.
Diseases of the supporting apparatus, provoking discomfort
Pain under the left shoulder blade from the back to the back can be caused by problems with the spine and other skeletal regions. Treatment will be determined after diagnosis. Discomfort sometimes occurs for the following reasons:
- Osteochondrosis of the cervix. In the early stages of the disease, the sensations of discomfort are muffled, the patient is not always able to clearly explain where he is worried. In this case, the most vivid sensations are in the area of the damaged nerve roots. Painful attacks can start suddenly, they recede and lose intensity if the patient spends some time in a warm bath. In the cervical spine region, vessels and nerves can then be compressed, this is quite painful. The course of the disease is complemented by pain radiating to the arm. Osteochondrosis of the cervix develops mainly in people with a sedentary lifestyle. Pain in the left shoulder may be stabbing or aching;
- Nerves between the ribs can be affected. This condition is called the leading cause of left back pain under the scapula. They can be aggravated by coughing, deep breathing, and even by bending the left trunk. They are very strong, sharp, often - shooting. As the disease progresses, pain in the left scapular area may become burning;
- Scapular-costal syndrome is characterized by sensation of pain or traction. The localization of the discomfort is usually below the shoulders, above and below the shoulder blade. The main feature of pathology is that when you move your shoulders and arms, you hear a crack. The cause of the disease is severe physical stress or arm injury, and sometimes severe hypothermia;
- The skeleton can be affected by a malignant tumor, which causes discomfort. On the scapula, in such cases, a tumor or the resulting metastases are localized;
- Cracking stick. Such a disease belongs to the category of rare occurrences. The pain under the blade of the left shoulder in this case is not strong, but when you move to the upper back there is a distinct crack;
- Sometimes the left scapula aches due to osteomyelitis after a specific injury. For example, a gunshot wound may be the cause;
- Shoulder periarthritis of the shoulder blade. With a simple form of development, the sensations are not particularly bright - usually the manifestations of the disease occur as a result of movements. A pathology that takes on an acute stage of development may present as an increase in symptoms, which tend to worsen overnight. In the shoulder for this period, mobility is limited, basal temperature rises, muscle spasms are observed.
Pain under the blade of the left shoulder from the back can indicate severe pathological condition, special suspicion arises in cases where their character burns, stabs.
Even as a result of pregnancy, this condition can appear due to increased stress.
Attacks, when the scapula on the left side behind hurts, can be caused by injuries, such as fractures or cracks. Discomfort in this case is expressed as painful pain under the blade of the left shoulder, any difficult movement can intensify it.
Significant stress of an emotional, psychological nature, with which the body could not cope, are capable of provoking sensations. If the patient treats the symptoms with contempt, the severity of the condition may worsen.
Before proceeding with the treatment of pathology, the reason why the painful condition has appeared must be determined. It is important for the correct diagnosis to clarify the nature of the pain syndrome.
The options are as follows:
- Belt pain, in which the localization of discomfort in only one place. A person can feel it all the time, the pain can intensify when sucking. The patient's condition is aggravated by sudden movements and coughing. The reason is the passage of a nerve impulse between the ribs;
- Burning sensation under the left shoulder from back to back, tingling sensation, numbness of certain areas;
- Pain caused by an increased tone of the shoulder and back muscles can take on an increasing character;
- Acute pain - can lead to the fact that the patient is unable to suck, movement is difficult, it becomes impossible to lie on the left side;
- The incision pain can be localized to the left, then goes to the center;
- Painful, dull pain under the blade of the left shoulder in the back from the back occurs, as a rule, when the arms are raised;
- Sharp, sharp pains under the blade of the left shoulder;
- Attractive sensations extending from the scapula to the lumbar region;
- The pain can be constant, which does not allow you to lie down, move, breathe.
Since the types of sensations in different diseases can vary, it is unlikely that it is possible to accurately determine the cause itself.
In case of severe pain syndrome, it is necessary to consult a doctor for examination.
Diagnostic methods
When the back hurts on the left under the scapula, pain sensations appear, you should start treatment with a thorough examination of the body. For diagnosis, the following procedures are used:
- X-ray of the spine in different projections. The snapshot can simultaneously help identify lung problems;
- MRI, CT;
- ECG study - if there are suitable symptoms;
- Ultrasound examination of organs;
- Blood test - general, biochemical;
- Assessment of blood pressure, pulse.
When the patient is examined and the cause of the pathology is determined, the selection of therapeutic measures is made. Additional close specialist consultation may be required.
How the disease is treated
When it has already been proven exactly why it hurts under the blade of the left shoulder from behind and the patient can not breathe deeply, it is time to start treatment. Ways to eliminate anxiety are determined depending on the factors that caused the development of the pathology. Simply eliminating the symptoms is not enough - they will reappear soon.
Each disease is characterized by specific symptoms, depending on which treatment regimen is chosen. Each includes recommendations for choosing a diet and adhering to the daily regimen, if the pain is dull, treatment is carried out with the help of medication.
The use of conservative therapy may not bring positive dynamics - in this case, the patient needs an operation. With the help of surgery, it is possible to treat a fairly large hernia, correct the situation with a torn spleen, and cure the stomach ulcer.
You should go to the hospital immediately if the patient notices severe pain and burning under the left shoulder, constant discomfort, which increases with deep breathing. To begin, you should contact a therapist - he will decide which specialist to refer the patient to, depending on the existing symptoms.
You can not completely protect yourself from all existing diseases, but you can try to follow some preventive measures. Pay more attention to the choice of diet, do warm-up exercises every day.
If it becomes known why it hurts in the left back under the scapula, it is time to start treatment. Not all pathologies can be completely defeated, but in this case it is possible to act on them to slow down the course of the disease.