Pain that occurs on the left under the shoulder blade is a fairly common symptom that can occur in men, women and even children.At first glance, such symptoms seem frivolous, but in fact pain under the left shoulder blade from behind can be a harbinger of a number of dangerous diseases.
There are many reasons for the appearance of such pain syndrome, and as a rule, they are not at all related to problems in the shoulder blades themselves.The most common 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 need to remember the anatomical structure of a person.After all, it is most often the nearby organs that hurt, although the pain also radiates along nerve fibers far from the source of the disease.
The left shoulder blade rests on the ribs that form the chest.The ribs are connected to each other by ligaments and intercostal muscles, and between each rib there are intercostal vessels and intercostal nerves.The intercostal nerves, in turn, arise from the spinal cord, which is located in the spinal cord in the middle of the scapula.Along with the ribs, the scapula protects the left heart, left lung, stomach, spleen, pancreas, and aorta.
Based on this localization, the causes of pain can be divided into two main groups:
- Pain associated with musculoskeletal disorders and 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 localization:
- Pain radiating to the left shoulder blade.The pathological source of such pain may lie far from the site of pain.Most often, this symptom is characteristic of diseases of the stomach or heart.
- Aching pain under left shoulder blade.Indicates the presence of a protracted chronic process.Such 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.Typically, the pain spreads from the back of the head, down the back, down the arm, and under the shoulder blade, and is accompanied by nausea, dizziness, and numbness (tingling) of the hands.
- Severe pain under the left shoulder blade.Severe pain is not typical for the scapula area and therefore serves as a signal of a pathological condition that can be life-threatening.At best, severe pain may indicate intercostal neuralgia, but more often such sensations indicate the presence of a stomach ulcer and the development of a pre-infarction condition.
- Stitching pain under the left shoulder blade.Intercostal neuralgia can cause stabbing pain - when you breathe in, the pain syndrome increases significantly and there is a feeling that you are “taking your breath away”.Left-sided pneumonia can cause stabbing pain in the acute phase, with the patient feeling cutting and stabbing symptoms throughout the entire left side of the chest, which radiate to the left shoulder blade.Less commonly, severe pain can occur when pancreatitis worsens - the pain is belt-like and cramp-like in nature.
- Stitching pain under the left shoulder blade.May indicate the initial stage of development of cervical osteochondrosis.The pain begins 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 persistent 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 a racing heart, hand tremors and a strong feeling of fear.
- Constant pain under the shoulder blade on the left.Such 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 lack of air and shortness of breath.
- Stitching pain under the left shoulder blade.Stabbing pain (so-called “lumbago”) is usually a sign of osteochondrosis, but can also indicate intercostal neuralgia.A tingling sensation in the back that occurs during physical exertion, deep breathing, or coughing may be a sign of the development of pleurisy or pneumonia.
- Pressing pain.Indicates the development of osteochondrosis, and may also indicate the initial stage of coronary artery disease and exacerbation of vegetative-vascular dystonia.
- Throbbing pain.The most common manifestation in this way is a left-sided bulging of the intervertebral disc in the thoracic or cervical spine.Throbbing pain can indicate a herniated disc or the beginning of aortic dissection.
- Stitching pain under the left shoulder blade.Indicates hazardous conditions and requires immediate medical intervention.The causes of the pain syndrome can be: attacks of angina pectoris, left-sided bulging of the intervertebral disc, stomach ulcer.
The nature of the pain and its location can be different, but most often 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 diseases of the musculoskeletal system, heart, stomach and bronchopulmonary system.
Let's consider possible diseases associated with pain under the left shoulder blade and associated symptoms.
| diseases | Nature of pain | Accompanying symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Musculoskeletal system | ||
| Humeroscapular periatritis | Pain occurs 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);When you move, you feel a crunch in your joints. |
| Intercostal neuralgia | The pain is localized in one of the intercostal spaces and is accompanied by a feeling of numbness.The pain increases when bending to the left. | Redness and characteristic rashes may appear along the inflamed area. |
| Back muscle diseases (myositis, inflammation, lesions) | Back pain occurs suddenly and can be painful in nature. | Pain on the left side occurs when the shoulder blade is injured or when the muscles are overloaded. |
| oncology | Aching pain under the left shoulder blade or constant stabbing pain. | With tumors of the scapula, the chest area is deformed at the back. |
| Injuries | Severe pain, especially in the first few hours immediately after the injury. | If the pain increases with movement or there is swelling or swelling, it may be a fracture of the shoulder blade or rib. |
| Osteochondrosis, spondylosis, thoracic scoliosis, intervertebral hernia | Severe pain manifests itself either permanently or as “lumbago”. | Unpleasant sensations appear in the spine - the feeling that “a stake has been driven in”. |
| Heart disease | ||
| Angina pectoris | Pain under the left shoulder blade from behind occurs with exertion and radiates to the left arm, left shoulder blade and sometimes to the left jaw. | Accompanied by shortness of breath 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 tablets.The left arm becomes numb, severe shortness of breath occurs and the breastbone begins to “burn”. |
| Pericarditis and myocarditis | Aching pain on the left side. | Accompanied by chills, which occur more often at night, and increased temperature. |
| Dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta | The pain syndrome moves from top to bottom.The pain initially occurs in the chest, then gradually moves under the left shoulder blade and further into the lower back. | A sharp drop in pressure. |
| Diseases of the bronchopulmonary system | ||
| Left-sided pneumonia | Moderately severe pain. | Cough with sputum, wheezing in the lungs, fever. |
| pleurisy | Pain occurs when breathing | Shortness of breath, wheezing feeling in the lungs. |
| Gastrointestinal pathologies | ||
| Stomach ulcer | Pain under the shoulder blade is accompanied by a burning sensation (usually at night). | Pain is associated with eating. |
| Perforated ulcer | Sharp and stabbing pain (like a stitch). | Fever, vomiting. |
| Acute pancreatitis | The pain is belt-shaped in nature and can sometimes radiate to the side. | Flatulence, repeated vomiting, fever. |
Other accompanying symptoms of pain syndrome can help identify the disease caused by pain on the left side under the scapula:
- The pain worsens after eating– Peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, gastritis.
- The pain increases when sneezing– Bone diseases, injuries, pleurisy, neuralgia, joint and muscle diseases.
- Pain occurs when turning the head– Osteochondrosis, clavicle injuries.
- Pain occurs when swallowing– Diseases of the esophagus, psychosomatic disorders.
- Pain accompanied by shortness of breath– Pleurisy, heart disease, intercostal neuralgia.
- Pain causes cough- Damage to the respiratory tract.
- Appearance of temperature– 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 diseases (pancreatitis, ulcers, gastritis).
- Pain causes numbness in the tongue– Angina pectoris, osteochondrosis, heart attack.
Pregnant women suffer from pain under the shoulder blade for the same reasons as other people, but the expectant mother is at a significantly higher risk of developing certain diseases.The most likely cause of pain in the left back 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 scapula usually occurs due to injuries, neuralgia (after hypothermia), myositis, and pleurisy.
Diagnosis and treatment.Which doctor should I contact?
Depending on the type of pain and its manifestations, you should choose a doctor with whom to make an appointment:
- Emergency doctor- with sharp, intense pain, burning in the chest, shortness of breath if the pain is accompanied by severe dizziness, severe weakness or loss of consciousness.
- neurologist– if pain is accompanied by strain or movement.
- Traumatologist– if the pain occurred after an injury.
- cardiologist- with a burning sensation behind the breastbone, spreading under the shoulder blade, into the left arm, into the jaw.
- Pulmonologist (or therapist)– if the pain increases when breathing and is accompanied by coughing, shortness of breath 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 stabbing pain and high fever.
If it is difficult to decide on the choice of a doctor on your own, you should contact a therapist who, based on the results of the examination, will make an appointment with a specialist.
Depending on the reasons that caused the pain under the left shoulder blade, diagnostic measures are prescribed:
- General examination – anamnesis and questioning of the patient, visual examination (measurement of pulse, blood pressure, temperature, palpation, auscultation), blood and urine tests.
- X-ray examination, CT and MRI – detects pathologies of the spine and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, as well as diseases of the pulmonary system.
- Ultrasound of 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 individually for each disease - there is no uniform treatment protocol.
Important!Treatment of pain under the left scapula is, first of all, the treatment of the disease that causes the pain syndrome.
If the pain is associated with cardiovascular diseases, cardiological medications and a diet sparing physical and psycho-emotional activity are prescribed.
Gastrointestinal diseases that cause pain are treated by taking antacids and prescribing a sparing diet.
Musculoskeletal system diseases are treated with long-term therapy, including taking anti-inflammatory drugs and performing special therapeutic exercises.
If conservative therapy is ineffective, surgical treatment is prescribed.Surgery is mandatory for perforated ulcers, severe gastrointestinal diseases, ruptured spleen and intervertebral hernias.
If you feel pain under the left shoulder blade, you should definitely undergo a medical examination to avoid the occurrence and development of life-threatening diseases.