Too often, pain under the left shoulder blade from the back to the back can be distressing. Occurs after a sharp and strong movement or a long stay in an unsuccessful position. But it can also be a symptom of a serious illness that requires mandatory treatment. Causes of pain can be divided into two main groups: pain caused by diseases of the musculoskeletal system and pain associated with disorders in the internal organs.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
Various spinal diseases can cause pain in the shoulder blade. In addition, pain can be a secondary symptom of injury. The reasons why it hurts under the blade of the left shoulder from the back can be different.
Spinal osteochondritis
Osteochondrosis occurs due to changes in the spine, when bone tissue is destroyed under the influence of various factors. And there are many factors that lead to this pathology:
- Bending of the spine as a result of poor posture. It is often found in students, schoolchildren and office workers.
- Statistical and dynamic overload of the body in inappropriate volumes.
- Overweight and malnutrition.
- Back injury.
- Weak immunity and hereditary factor.
- Flat feet.
- Frequent colds and hypothermia, chronic intoxication.
- Metabolic diseases.
- Prolonged exposure to vibration.
- Stress and sedentary lifestyle.
With cervicothoracic osteochondrosis, severe pain appears in the neck, back, shoulders and upper limbs, may be pulled under the shoulder blade. There is a sensation of pain in the teeth, muscles, abdomen, heart area. The sensation begins to bother when pierced under the shoulder blade, numbness in the region of the cervix and chest, as well as in the neck and abdomen. Sleep is disturbed, hand sensitivity, blood pressure indicators start to fluctuate and performance decreases. It can also ripen after the sternum.
Intercostal neuralgia
This disease is manifested by irritation, inflammation, constriction or compression of nerves between the ribs. This occurs with inflammation, infections, chemical poisoning, allergies and hypothermia. The main symptom of neuralgia is pain, concentrated in the heart region. It can be dull or sharp, stinging, aching or burning. It can be episodic or permanent.
There may also be increased sweating, skin discoloration, tingling or loss of sensation in certain areas. With a forced fixed position, the pain syndrome can be withdrawn.
Traumatic scapular lesion
If the blade of the left shoulder hurts, the causes can be caused by injuries. They can appear from a direct blow to the shoulder blades or after a fall on the back or shoulder. In the first hours after the injury a very strong pain syndrome appears. It is a symptom of a scapular or rib fracture. In the future, swelling and edema develop. With a rib fracture, it is difficult for a person to breathe, and bone damage is evident on palpation.
Sprengel disease
This disease is an abnormal congenital location of the scapula. The cause of this pathology is not yet known to science. There is an opinion that the disease develops under the influence of negative external and internal factors in the fetus, in 3-4 weeks of pregnancy. At this time, the shoulder girdle and spine are formed. Often this disease is combined with other pathologies: rib fusion, crooked leg, formation of additional hemivertebrae and an abnormal structure of the cervical region are observed.
The pathology is detected immediately after the birth of the child. With a mild rate of disease development, the following are described: exercise therapy, massage, water procedures, physiotherapy. In moderate and severe cases, surgical treatment is prescribed.
Myofascial Syndrome
Under the influence of various factors the work of the muscular apparatus and the membranes that cover the muscles is disrupted. There are small painful seals in the muscles, the so-called trigger points. Appear under the influence of trauma and muscle strain. There are several factors that lead to their formation: forced stay, spinal diseases, bruises, monotonous movements, somatic diseases, emotional overload.
The main symptom is pain, which has a aching, attractive character, which increases with the effort and activation of the triggers. Skin sensitivity also increases, skin color changes and movement in the affected area is limited. A complex treatment is prescribed. For prevention, you should monitor your weight, adhere to a healthy lifestyle, wear comfortable shoes and clothes, avoid stress and hypothermia.
Changes in the work of internal organs
If there is pain in the blade of the left shoulder from behind, the reasons may be in violation of the internal organs. In many diseases, the symptom is pain on the left side. They are divided into diseases of the heart, bronchopulmonary system and gastrointestinal tract.
Heart dissases
With heart disease, it hurts not only in the blade region of the left shoulder, but also in the region of the clavicle, in the left arm, in the abdomen. Myocardial infarction is one of the varieties of coronary heart disease, in which the necrosis of the heart muscle occurs as a result of a violation of the coronary circulation. There is a burning, squeezing, or pressing pain behind the sternum, radiating to the left clavicle, shoulder blade, arm, and jaw. The patient appears cold sweat, has a feeling of fear. These symptoms are a direct indication of urgent hospitalization in a medical institution. If medical care is not provided in time, then a fatal outcome is possible.
The cause of coronary heart disease is insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle due to coronary vascular disease. The arteries of the heart become blocked by cholesterol plaques or narrow. The heart does not get enough blood to function normally. The reasons are:
- Atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels.
- hypertension.
- Violation of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism.
- Smoking.
- High cholesterol and overweight.
- Diabetes.
Symptoms are shortness of breath, weakness, arrhythmia, increased sweating. There is spontaneous chest pain that is not affected by nitroglycerin. The patient experiences lack of oxygen, is afraid of death, apathy, a gloomy mood or unreasonable anxiety. With an attack of angina pectoris, the pain is concentrated behind the sternum. It has the character of cutting, oppressive, suppressive and burning manifestation. The attack lasts from 2 to 5 minutes and is effectively stopped by the drug.
With pericarditis, an inflammatory process appears in the outer shell of the heart. Causes of inflammation are infections, autoimmune diseases, injuries, tumors, metabolic disorders. There is pressing pain in the chest, swelling of the face and neck, strong shortness of breath, dry cough and hoarse voice.
Mitral valve prolapse is a pathology in which the function of the valve located between the ventricle and the atrium is impaired. It is discovered accidentally and does not pose a risk to the patient's life. It can be congenital or acquired. Another disease that is usually asymptomatic is aortic aneurysm. With this pathology, an extension of the vessel wall occurs due to its weakening or a strong increase in blood pressure. The wall of blood vessels is weakened by the deposition of foreign substances, inflammation or destruction of tissues.
Pathologies of the bronchopulmonary system
In diseases of the bronchopulmonary system, pain appears in the scapula on the left.
Reasons for which a pain symptom appears: acute bronchitis and tracheobronchitis, pneumonia of the left side, dry pleurisy of the left side, abscess of the left lung. Acute bronchitis is manifested by cough, weakness, increased sweating, shortness of breath and decreased activity, temperature up to 38 degrees. The causes of the development of pathology are of viral or bacterial origin. Also affect physical, chemical and allergic factors.
Left-sided pneumonia is rare, but it poses a threat to the patient's life. The main reason is the penetration of pathogens into the left lung. This happens with a strong drop in immunity. There is a strong weakening cough, burning and pain in the left side of the chest, body temperature rises. It is necessary to seek help as soon as possible, this will help to avoid the development of complications. A disease such as dry pleurisy can be a complication of other lung pathologies. Lung abscess is a complication. Formed as a result of untreated pneumonia.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
A very common group of diseases in which pain radiates to the left shoulder from behind. The reasons may be different. Increased pathologies are associated with errors in nutrition, the use of foods containing flavorings and preservatives. The symptoms of these diseases are:
- Stomach ache.
- Urthi.
- Belching.
- bounce.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Constipation.
- Diarrhea.
- Bad breath.
- Decreased body weight and appetite.
- Dizziness.
- Weaknesses.
With a stomach ulcer, the integrity of the tissues of the stomach walls is compromised, as a result, they are eroded by gastric fluid and an ulcer appears. Characteristic are the hunger pains that appear on the background of hunger. After eating, they calm down. Another symptom is vomiting with sour content. Also, the motility of the stomach is disturbed, resulting in shortness of breath and heartburn. A complication of the disease may be bleeding, due to damage to the vascular ulcer. This is a very serious disease in which self-medication is dangerous, as it can lead to ulcer perforation and death.
The main symptom of a duodenal ulcer is pain in the epigastric region, which may radiate to the left side of the chest and scapula, lumbar spine, or chest.
The pain appears after eating, and also after a while. Prohibited by antacids, antispasmodics and antisecretory agents. Also, ulcers are characterized by dyspeptic disorders, lack of appetite, which leads to weight loss and painful weight loss. The ulcer causes complications: bleeding, perforation and penetration into the pancreas, duodenal stenosis, tumor formation at the site of ulcer formation and inflammation of the intestinal lining.
Esophageal spasm is characterized by a violation of swallowing.
The cause can be excitement, as well as rapid absorption and poor digestion of food, consumption of fiber-rich foods. You can alleviate the discomfort by drinking plenty of fluids, swallowing air, and exercising. The opposite reflux of esophageal contents is also a symptom. It often occurs in the dream or when the patient assumes a horizontal position. It appears in the form of vomiting without a mixture of gastric and bile fluid.
When the contents of the stomach and duodenum reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease develops.
The main cause is weakness of the lower esophageal sphincter. In this case, when the stomach shrinks, its contents are thrown back into the esophagus. It is characterized by heartburn, which appears when you bend over, exercising, after a heavy meal. It has a bitter or sour taste eruption. You may also experience nausea and vomiting.
Signs of acute pancreatitis are strong, persistent, and sharp pains that are felt under the ribs.
There are two causes: alcohol abuse and cholelithiasis. The symptoms are not always pronounced. The pain is poorly relieved by sedatives, sometimes it is necessary to prescribe narcotic drugs. Also, pain under the scapula can bother with intestinal colitis. Appears due to infections, medications, chemical or food poisoning, circulatory disorders.