Often, pain under the left shoulder blade from behind from behind can be bothersome. It 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. The causes of pain can be divided into two main groups: pain caused by diseases of the musculoskeletal system and pain associated with disorders of internal organs.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
Various diseases of the spine can cause pain in the shoulder blades. In addition, pain may be a secondary symptom of the injury. The reason why it hurts under the left shoulder blade from the back can be different.
Osteochondritis of the spine
Osteochondrosis appears 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:
- Curvature of the spine due to poor posture. Often found in students, school students and office workers.
- Statistical loads and body dynamics in insignificant amounts.
- Overweight and malnutrition.
- Back injury.
- Weak immunity and hereditary factors.
- Flat feet.
- Frequent colds and hypothermia, chronic intoxication.
- Metabolic diseases.
- Prolonged exposure to vibration.
- Stress and a sedentary lifestyle.
With cervicothoracic osteochondrosis, severe pain appears in the neck, back, shoulders and upper limbs, it can pull under the shoulder blades. There is pain in the teeth, muscles, abdomen, heart area. The sensation begins to interfere when it pierces under the shoulder blades, numbness in the cervical and chest area, as well as in the neck and abdomen. Sleep is disturbed, hand sensitivity, blood pressure indicators begin to fluctuate, and performance decreases. It can also burn the back of the sternum.
Intercostal neuralgia
The disease occurs when irritation, inflammation, pinching or compression of the intercostal nerve. This occurs with inflammation, infection, chemical poisoning, allergies and hypothermia. The main symptom of neuralgia is pain, concentrated in the heart area. It can be dull or sharp, stabbing, sore or burning. May be episodic or permanent.
There may also be an increase in sweating, discoloration of the skin, tingling, or loss of sensation in certain areas. With a forced fixed position, the pain syndrome may subside.
Traumatic lesions of the scapula
If the left shoulder blade is sore, the cause may be due to an injury. It can appear from a blow directly to the shoulder blade or after a fall on the back or shoulder. In the first hour after injury, a very strong pain syndrome appears. It is a symptom of a broken shoulder blade or rib. In the future, swelling and edema develop. With a rib fracture, it is difficult for a person to breathe, and damage to the bone can be seen on palpation.
Sprengel's disease
The disease is an abnormal congenital location on the scapula. The cause of this pathology is not yet known by science. There is an opinion that the disease develops under the influence of external and internal negative factors in the fetus, at 3-4 weeks of pregnancy. During this time, the shoulder girdle and spine are formed. Often the disease is combined with other pathologies: a combination of ribs, club feet, formation of extra hemivertebrae, and abnormal structures in the cervical region are noted.
Pathology is detected immediately after the birth of the child. With a mild stage of disease development, the following are prescribed: 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 covering the muscles is disrupted. There is a small painful seal in the muscle, called a trigger point. They appear under the influence of trauma and muscle tension. There are several factors that lead to their formation: forced posture, diseases of the spine, bruising, dull movements, somatic diseases, excessive emotional stress.
The main symptom is pain, which has a painful, interesting character, which increases with effort and activation of the trigger. Skin sensitivity also increases, skin color changes, and movement in the affected area is limited. Complex treatment is prescribed. For prevention, you should monitor your weight, adhere to a healthy lifestyle, wear comfortable shoes and clothing, avoid stress and hypothermia.
Changes in the work of internal organs
If there is pain in the left shoulder blade from behind, the reason may be a violation of internal organs. In many diseases, the symptom is pain in the left side. They are divided into cardiology, diseases of the bronchopulmonary system and gastrointestinal tract.
Heart disease
With heart disease, it is painful not only in the area of the left shoulder blade, but also in the area of the collarbone, in the left arm, in the abdomen. Myocardial infarction is one type of coronary heart disease, in which necrosis of the heart muscle occurs as a result of a violation of coronary circulation. There is a burning, squeezing or pressing pain in the back of the sternum, radiating to the left collarbone, shoulder blades, arms and jaw. The patient appears to be sweating coldly, there is a feeling of fear. These symptoms are a direct indication for emergency hospitalization in a medical facility. If timely medical treatment is not provided, 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. Cardiac arteries are clogged with cholesterol plaques or narrow. The heart does not receive enough blood to function normally. The reasons are:
- Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries.
- arterial hypertension.
- Violation of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism.
- Smoking.
- High cholesterol and overweight.
- diabetes.
Symptoms are shortness of breath, weakness, arrhythmias, increased sweating. There was spontaneous chest pain that was not affected by nitroglycerin. Patients experience a lack of oxygen, there is fear of death, apathy, gloomy feelings or unreasonable anxiety. With an attack of angina pectoris, the pain is concentrated in the back of the sternum. It has the manifestation characteristics of cutting, pressing, compression and burning. The attack lasts from 2 to 5 minutes and is effectively stopped by the drug.
With pericarditis, an inflammatory process appears on the outer skin of the heart. Causes of inflammation are infections, autoimmune diseases, injuries, tumors, metabolic disorders. There is a pressing pain in the chest, swelling of the face and neck, severe shortness of breath, tuberculosis and a hoarse voice.
Mitral valve prolapse is a pathology in which the function of the valve located between the ventricles and the atrium is impaired. It is detected by chance and does not endanger the life of the patient. May be congenital or acquired. Another disease that is usually asymptomatic is aortic aneurysm. With this pathology, protrusion of the vessel wall occurs due to its weakness or a strong increase in blood pressure. Vessel walls are weakened by the deposition of foreign matter, inflammation or tissue destruction.
Pathology of the bronchopulmonary system
In diseases of the bronchopulmonary system, pain appears in the scapula on the left side.
Causes of pain symptoms appear: acute bronchitis and tracheobronchitis, left sided pneumonia, dry left pleurisy, left lung abscess. Acute bronchitis is indicated by cough, weakness, increased sweating, shortness of breath and decreased activity, fever up to 38 degrees. The cause of the development of pathology is of viral or bacterial origin. Physical, chemical and allergic factors also influence.
Left-sided pneumonia is rare, but it poses a threat to the patient’s life. The main reason is the penetration of the pathogen into the left lung. This occurs with a strong decline in immunity. There is a strong debilitating cough, burning and pain on the left side of the chest, body temperature rises. It is necessary to seek help as soon as possible, this will help to prevent the development of complications. Diseases such as dry pleurisy can be a complication of other lung pathologies. Lung abscess is a complication. It is 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 blade from behind. The reason may be different. Pathological growth is associated with errors in nutrition, consumption of foods containing flavorings and preservatives. The symptoms of this disease are:
- Stomachache.
- Heartburn.
- belch.
- Bloated stomach.
- Dizziness and vomiting.
- constipation.
- Diarrhea.
- Smell from the mouth.
- Decreased weight and appetite.
- Dizziness.
- Weakness.
With stomach ulcers, the integrity of the stomach wall tissue is violated, as a result, it is eroded by gastric juice and ulcers appear. One feature is the hunger pains that appear against a background of starvation. After eating, they subsided. Another symptom is vomiting with sour contents. Also, the motility of the stomach is disturbed, as a result of which belching and heartburn appear. Complications of the disease can be bleeding, caused by the defeat of blood vessel ulcers. This is a very serious disease in which the drugs themselves are dangerous, as they can cause ulcer perforation and death.
The main symptom of a duodenal ulcer is pain in the epigastric region, which can radiate to the left side of the chest and scapula, lumbar or thoracic spine.
Pain occurs after eating, and even after some time. It is stopped by antacids, antispasmodics and antisecretory agents. Also, ulcers are characterized by dyspeptic disorders, poor appetite, which leads to weight loss and painful weight loss. Ulcers cause 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 violation of swallowing.
The cause can be pleasure, as well as rapid absorption and chewing of poor foods, consumption of foods high in fiber. You can relieve discomfort by drinking large amounts of fluids, swallowing air and doing exercise. Also a symptom is reverse reflux of esophageal contents. Often occurs in dreams or when the patient assumes a horizontal position. It manifests itself in the form of vomiting without a mixture of gastric juice and bile.
When the contents of the stomach and duodenum are refluxed, 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 bending over, exercising, after a heavy meal. There is eructation with a bitter or sour taste. You may also experience nausea and vomiting.
Signs of acute pancreatitis are severe, persistent, sharp pain felt under the ribs.
There are two causes: alcohol abuse and cholelithiasis. Symptoms are not always expressed. Pain is less relieved by painkillers, sometimes it is necessary to prescribe narcotic drugs. Also, pain under the scapula can interfere with intestinal colitis. Appears due to infection, drugs, chemicals or food poisoning, circulatory disorders.