The most common conditions that cause pain under the left shoulder blade from behind are osteochondrosis, angina, pneumonia, peptic ulcers, and panic attacks. In addition to pain syndrome, patients may also suffer from nausea, vomiting, heartburn, cough, expectoration, and sensory and motor dysfunction. Diagnosis of a patient's condition is based on investigations, examinations, laboratory and instrumental studies. Treatment strategies depend on the underlying cause of the disease.
reason
Back pain in the back of the left scapula is a dreaded symptom that can be seen in spinal disorders or serious violations of visceral function. Meanwhile, in 7% of cases, this pain syndrome occurred as a result of surgical pathology requiring urgent surgical intervention.
The main causes of pain in the left shoulder blade area include:
- Diseases of the spine (congenital deformities, ankylosing spondylitis, spondylosis, osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, etc. ), causing compression of the root of the spine;
- Muscle lesions (dermatomyositis, fibromyalgia, etc. ), leading to characteristic soreness - myalgia;
- Neurological disorders (Guillain-Barré syndrome, polyneuropathy, intercostal neuralgia, etc. ), characterized by the presence of specific neuropathic pain;
- Visceral diseases:
- heart - angina, arrhythmia, heart attack;
- Lung - bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, pleurisy;
- stomach - gastritis, ulcers, polyps;
- Spleen - rupture and other conditions.
- "Blood cancer" (leukemia), so pain in the thickness of the bones that contain bone marrow (pelvis, sternum, shoulder blades, tubular bones).
Sometimes pain syndromes are caused by disorders of the autonomic nervous system that regulates the work of all organs and systems. In this case, we're talking about exacerbation of vegetative vascular dystonia - that is, about panic attacks.
symptom
The most common causes of pain under the left shoulder blade are osteochondrosis, angina, pneumonia, peptic ulcer, or panic attacks.
osteochondrosis
The disease is caused by the destruction of the intervertebral discs, which normally "soften" the movement of the spine. Often, the pathology occurs against a background of extreme physical exertion and natural aging of the body.
As a result, the destroyed disc (usually in the cervical region) herniates and invades the base of the spine. For this reason, the patient (on the side of the lesion) was concerned that acute pain in the back of the head and neck would spread to the scapula and shoulder area. Over time, the surface sensitivity of these areas is disturbed so that the patient does not feel the temperature and vibration of the skin.
As the disease progresses, the brachial plexus is involved in the pathological process, greatly complicating the mobility of the shoulder. At the same time, muscle strength in the affected arm is significantly weakened, leading to immobility in advanced cases.
angina pectoris
Angina pectoris is a pain syndrome that occurs in the chest, also known as "angina pectoris. "The cause of pain is a violation of the blood supply to the myocardium due to vasoconstriction or the formation of cholesterol plaques in their lumen. Attacks that trigger stress, emotional and physical overload.
Often, patients are concerned about a sudden tingling or burning pain in the chest. In this case, the pain usually spreads to the left shoulder blade, as well as to the little finger along the ulnar surface of the left hand. Pain syndrome is often combined with a feeling of interruption of the heart's work and fear of death.
pneumonia
Inflammation of the lungs is a disease, usually caused by bacterial or viral infections. Often, patients complain of markedly elevated temperatures (up to 39. 5-40°C), fever, and "tingling" in the chest or shoulder blades in the affected lung. In this case, sneezing, coughing, or breathing heavily can make the pain worse.
As the disease progresses, there is a cough and separation of purulent phlegm, sometimes with "rusty" features (due to blood impurities). Patients often experience shortness of breath and shortness of breath, even with little physical activity.
gastric ulcer
The disease is caused by localized destruction of the gastric mucosa, forming a peptic ulcer (ie, ulcer). Provocateurs are a bacterial infection (Helicobacter pylori), hyperacidity and gastric motility disorders.
The main complaint of peptic ulcer disease is episodic pain in the upper abdomen (upper abdomen) that occurs or worsens after eating. Often, the worsening of the disease is combined with nausea and vomiting, which brings relief. Between episodes, patients complain of heartburn, belching, bloating, and heaviness after eating.
vegetative crisis
The cause of the pain may be a crisis of vegetative vascular dystonia, also known as a panic attack. Often, patients are concerned about "migratory" pain, which occurs in the heart area, or under the shoulder blades, or in the abdomen, etc.
At the same time, patients complain of fever, sweating, tremors, lack of air, fear of going crazy, or confusion.
This crisis may be a manifestation of both organic pathology (adrenal tumor, heart disease) and psychiatric (phobia, depression, post-traumatic syndrome). In some cases, panic attacks are the result of taking medication.
diagnosis
Diagnostic measures usually include:
- A survey that allows you to determine the conditions and nature of the pain;
- Clinical examination to clarify the location of pain and the identification of pain points;
- Laboratory tests to detect infections (pneumonia or ulcers), inflammatory changes in blood or muscle protein levels, indicating their destruction (troponin in myocardial infarction);
- Instrumental methods using X-rays, ultrasound, CT or MRI.
Also, in the case of a heart attack, an electrocardiogram is performed, and in the case of a gastric ulcer, a fiberoptic gastroduodenoscopy (examination of the stomach with an endoscope) is performed.
treat
If pain occurs from behind under the left shoulder blade, the patient should seek urgent medical help because. This pain syndrome may herald an emergency (myocardial infarction, ruptured spleen, perforated ulcer, etc. ). In this case, pain medication is not recommended because. Painkillers can hide symptoms and complicate subsequent diagnosis!
- Osteochondrosis. Basic treatment includes non-steroidal and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Muscle relaxants are used to relieve muscle spasms. As a long-term treatment aimed at slowing down the destruction of the intervertebral disc, chondroprotective agents are prescribed.
- Angina pectoris. Acute attacks are relieved with the help of nitrates. However, general treatment is based on lifestyle changes, the use of acetylsalicylic acid ("thinning" the blood), and statins to lower cholesterol levels.
- pneumonia. The mainstay of treatment for pneumonia is antibiotics, the choice of which depends on the causative agent of the infection.
- Stomach ulcer. The treatment of ulcers consists in destroying the causative bacteria (Helicobacter pylori). For this purpose, several antibacterial agents are prescribed, as well as drugs that reduce the acidity of the stomach contents.
- vegetative crisis. In most cases, treatment of panic attacks may be limited to psychotherapy. At the same time, the use of psychotropic drugs (antidepressants, sedatives) is often irrational.
Precaution
The basis for preventing pain under the left scapula from behind is:
- Prompt diagnosis of congenital and acquired spinal disorders (cervical fusion, spondylosis, osteochondrosis, hernia, injury);
- Early detection of muscle lesions (dermatomyositis, fibromyalgia);
- Repair of neurological disorders (intercostal neuralgia, polyneuropathy);
- Treatment of visceral diseases:
- heart - angina, arrhythmia, heart attack;
- Lungs - bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis pleurisy;
- stomach - gastritis, ulcers, polyps;
- Spleen - rupture and other conditions.
- Screening blood tests for presymptomatic diagnosis of leukemia.
Remember, pain in the left shoulder blade may indicate an acute lesion requiring urgent treatment or surgery!