Back pain in the shoulder blade area is a very common complaint among patients belonging to various age groups. Such problems interfere with breathing and create serious barriers in physical activity, work or simple movement.
Patients rarely pay due attention to recurrent pain in the shoulder blades. However, this symptom is a "wake -up call" serious changes not only in the musculoskeletal system, but also in the complex of internal organs. Such conditions can threaten patients with disability and death.
Next, the most common causes of pain on the shoulder blades and modern therapeutic techniques will be considered.
The most common reason
The shoulder blades are located on the posterior part of the back close to the humerus and collarbone. This paired bone, which has a triangular shape, is part of the frame to which the muscles responsible for shoulder mobility are attached. For this reason back pain in the scapular area interferes with normal life, interferes with work capacity and is a serious health hazard.
Why does the back hurt in the shoulder blade area? According to medical statistics, such problems are most often caused by injuries and damage to the elements of the cervical and thoracic spine. Severe pain syndrome can be observed due to pathological changes caused by scoliosis or osteochondropathy, as well as the following reasons:
- diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- intercostal neuralgia;
- scapulohumeral periarthritis;
- herniated discs in the thoracic spine;
- deformity of spondylarthrosis;
- scoliosis, kyphoscoliosis and other curvature of the spinal column;
- failure of one or two kidneys.
If the back hurts in the shoulder blade area, the cause can be disease, tumors and injuries of mediastinal organs, herpes zoster, intercostal neuralgia, impaired liver function, various pathologies of the pleura and lungs, as well as in the long-term performance of dull activities on the background of the diseasechronic. At risk are drivers, office workers, tailors and representatives of other professions associated with long stays in one position.
Pain in the back on the left side and under the shoulder blades
Back pain below the shoulder blades often occurs due to osteochondrosis, various forms of bending and scoliosis. If an adolescent experiences a disturbed physiological posture, he or she needs full diagnosis, prevention and well -chosen therapy. Otherwise, he may suffer from pathologies and defects that are difficult to treat and interfere with normal life.
Pain in the spine related to the causes listed above usually manifests itself in the form of severe discomfort that occurs after doing physical exercise. It is better to treat scoliosis and other curvature of the spinal space through massage, as well as manual and osteopathic effects. The pain syndrome, which is localized in the shoulder blade area on the left side, is a serious danger, as such symptoms can indicate an attack of angina pectoris and the development of coronary heart disease.
If pain in the left side of the back in the shoulder area is accompanied by increased fatigue, shortness of breath, weakness and slight swelling of the face and ankles, you should immediately see a doctor. Another cause of pain on the left side of the scapula may be a herniated disc. At risk are people who are forced to be in an uncomfortable position for long periods of time, driving a vehicle or working at a computer.
If the pain is only slightly annoying, you can limit yourself to using ointments with a warming or analgesic effect, however, in case of exacerbation, the patient is advised to stay in bed.
Treatment of intervertebral hernia of the thoracic area involves traction methods, manual therapy, reflexology, exercise therapy and a course of therapeutic massage. Medical methods for treating such pathologies are currently unknown to conservative medicine. With surgical intervention, the probability of a positive outcome is relatively low and is about 30-35%.
At the same time, many patients experience relapses after a period of 10 months to several years.
Pain in the back muscles below the shoulder blades and in one shoulder blade
Pain in the muscles located between the shoulder blades is commonly observed in professional athletes engaged in weightlifting and in people who, based on the nature of their activity, are faced with high physical exertion. Causes of muscle pain between the shoulder blades can be:
- various injuries and bruises;
- sprained tendon;
- excessive fatigue while working out or exercising in the gym.
If one scapula is severely sore, the pathology can be triggered by myopathy, neuroinfection, anterior dentate paralysis, trapezius or rhomboid muscles, various shoulder joint deformities, scapular tuberculosis or osteomyelitis, leading to the development of pus and poisoning. body.
Stomach ulcer
Pain syndromes localized in the scapular area often indicate the presence of dangerous diseases such as stomach ulcers. In this case, the discomfort and discomfort can spread along the thoracic spine, giving it to the nipple and scapula, which are located on the left side. The pain increases gradually and is characterized by seasonal and periodic, subsiding after emptying the stomach contents through induction of vomiting. In addition, most patients experience symptoms such as belching, salivation, and heartburn.
It's interesting! With the penetration of a peptic ulcer during small activities, the level of discomfort increases significantly, and to get rid of it, the patient has to take a forced position on his back or right side, pressing his hips to the abdomen. This phenomenon is accompanied by increased excitement, fear attacks, as well as unbearable pain syndrome, which radiates to the area above the collarbone.
Abscesses and muscle spasms of the bile ducts
The cutting and stabbing pain on the right side just below the shoulder blade is often caused by a blockage of the bile duct stones. As a result, there is colic, severe pain syndrome and the following symptoms:
- the presence of a "torn" sensation in the right hypochondrium;
- sudden onset of pain;
- restlessness, irritability;
- the pain spreads to the eyes, jaw, neck and right shoulder.
The pain syndrome, located above the waist in the area of the right scapula, may be caused by a subdiaaphragm abscess, characterized by very strong discomfort on inspiration, increased body temperature and pain radiating to the right shoulder. With inflammatory processes in the kidneys (nephritis, pyelonephritis), there is pain in the area of the right shoulder blade and lower back with frequent urination, which causes some painful sensations.
Mental problem
Pain in the spine between the shoulder blades is often triggered by a variety of psychological problems. In such cases, the discomfort is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:
- feeling short of breath;
- sensation of lumps in the throat;
- paranoid thoughts, unmotivated fears;
- the appearance of cold and hot chills in the chest;
- feelings of pressure, heaviness and constriction.
In the case of mental problems, there is often an unpleasant feeling that the heart is "bleeding" or jumping out of the chest, and the back in the shoulder area is also burning. Many patients experience chills, internal agitation and restlessness, reaching panic attacks.
Intercostal neuralgia and osteochondrosis of the cervical region
Localized pain below the scapula, in the case of intercostal neuralgia, has the character of a paroxysmal girdle, and increases during palpation, physical activity, walking and cough attacks. In some cases, such symptoms are accompanied by excessive muscle tension, there is also a burning sensation, tingling and loss of sensitivity.
With osteochondrosis and Bechterew’s disease, the pain syndrome often worsens at night, causing the patient to be unable to sleep and causing great muscle tension in the morning.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the following symptoms are observed:
- dizziness;
- increased pain in case of sharp flexion or extension of the neck;
- paresthesia in the shoulder girdle area;
- the pain spreads to the arms or head.
Osteochondrosis can be recognized by unilateral dull pain in the occipital area. The discomfort usually increases in the morning, provokes early awakening and gives the patient a lot of trouble. To reduce the onset of cervical osteochondrosis, warm baths or various medications are used, selected exclusively as directed by the doctor.
During pregnancy
In women during pregnancy, the load on the spine increases, therefore, a large percentage of pregnant mothers complain of back pain, including in the shoulder area. Rupture and burning pain, as well as numbness in the scapular area, are often associated with changes in the hormonal background, which also affect the severity of chronic diseases such as osteochondrosis.
For preventative purposes, some doctors recommend that women use supportive corsets at the end of the pregnancy trimester, and postpartum bandages, which reduce the load on the spine and allow the child to maintain the correct position.
Another reason
Back pain in the shoulder blades can be caused by angina pectoris or myocardial infarction. Pain syndrome usually occurs against a background of intense physical exertion and has a twisted eversion character. Unpleasant sensations are common throughout the upper left part of the body, and get rid of them with the help of drugs with vasodilator effect will not work.
In such cases, it is necessary to eliminate the negative symptoms in the clinical hospital, where the patient is prescribed narcotic analgesics and specially selected supportive drugs.
Diagnosis and treatment
Before taking any measures to eliminate the pain syndrome localized in the shoulder blade area, it is necessary to determine the pathological cause that has arisen. If there is a sharp pain in the back between the shoulder blades, which is accompanied by a sensation of pulling and twisting, and it burns and burns in the chest, you should immediately see a doctor. The doctor will choose the best diagnostic method, such as:
- chest and spine x-rays;
- Ultrasound;
- electrocardiogram;
- CT scan.
Manual therapy in many cases shows positive results and allows you to strengthen both the lumbar and upper back, as well as make the muscle tissue that supports the spine more elastic. Osteopathy and reflexology contribute to the activation of local regeneration and metabolic processes. It’s worth it to strengthen the muscles regularly by doing an individually selected set of exercise therapy exercises.