If a person experiences back pain in the shoulder blade area, he automatically associates this with the condition of the spine.Partly true: this long-suffering core of our skeleton receives a heavy load, which cannot but affect its condition.
But often this pain in the back indicates a disturbance in the internal organs.The nature of the pain corresponds to the disease, so when visiting the doctor it is important to describe its manifestations in as much detail as possible.
What causes pain in the scapula area
Pain is caused by pathological changes in:
- Spine;
- Internal organs;
- Surrounding structure.
Pain in the scapular region and in some rare diseases:
- Spinal fractures and their systemic lesions;
- Metastases to the spine from stomach cancer and sometimes other organs.
Pain is localized according to the type of disease:
- Above the shoulder blade;
- Below the shoulder blade;
- Between the shoulder blades;
- In the shoulder blade.
Symptoms related to the pathology of internal organs
Stomach, lungs, liver and heart can express their pain under the shoulder blade - right or left.
If the pain is on the left side, this may be a sign of:
- Gastric ulcer: periodic pain, associated with seasonal exacerbations.They are accompanied by painful sensations in the upper abdomen.When the pain increases, vomiting occurs;
- Myocardial infarction: this disease is accompanied by acute chest pain that radiates under the left shoulder blade.Cardiac ischemia has similar signs, but in this case the pain also occurs in the left arm;
- Breakthrough of stomach ulcer: the patient's body becomes cold sweat, he may feel pain and even vomit.The patient tried to relieve the suffering by changing the position, but this action did not give the expected effect;
- Intercostal neuralgia: pain under the left shoulder blade comes in attacks, aggravated by the slightest physical stress.There is a tingling and burning sensation in the heart area.It hurts to cough and take a deep breath.
Pain under the right shoulder blade can occur when:
- Psychological problems in the body.At the same time, the patient feels heat in the chest, he may complain of compression and tingling in the heart muscle;
- Pathological changes in the gallbladder: additional symptoms - bitterness in the mouth after fatty, salty and fried food, pain in the right hypochondrium;
- Pleurisy and pneumonia: pain under the right shoulder blade reflected when coughing;
- Kidney disease: in this case, coughing also leads to increased pain, but, unlike lung disease, the patient has difficulty urinating.
Pain related to spinal pathology
Problems with the spine can occur after injuries, fractures or bruises.But there are also diseases that have no clear cause.And all of them manifest as pain in the scapula area.
For any pathology of the spine, pain between the shoulder blades must be accompanied by:
- Stiffness;
- Pins and needles sensation;
- Numbness.
Osteochondrosis
If tissue nutrition is disturbed, dystrophic changes occur in it.In the spinal column, this process affects the intervertebral discs.They can no longer withstand the pressure exerted by the vertebrae on them.Loss of elasticity in the disc leads to spinal compression.The nerve endings of the spinal cord are under pressure, where severe pain occurs.
The body tries to protect the spine from heavy loads by growing bone tissue along the edges of the vertebral processes.Bone growths are called osteophytes.They can be removed, but against the background of osteochondrosis they will grow back.
Pain in osteochondrosis is localized at the site of damage to the spinal column.If the cervical spine is affected, the patient experiences pain on the right side of the neck in the morning.The pain radiates to the shoulder and arm, felt above the shoulder blade.You may feel dizzy, and the pain increases with deep breathing and coughing.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region manifests itself as pain between the shoulder blades - to the right and left of the spinal column.Sneezing, coughing, and sudden movement can increase the pain.When you try to straighten your shoulders, your chest and interscapular area begin to throb.
It becomes difficult for a person to breathe through the chest, because the mobility of the ribs decreases, and he unconsciously turns to breathing with the stomach.
Osteochondrosis is treated with conservative methods.Patients are prescribed:
- Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Physiotherapy procedures;
- Therapeutic gymnastics;
- Reflexology;
- Massage;
- Spinal traction;
- Manual therapy.
If there is no effective treatment method, the surgeon gets down to business.
Spondyloarthrosis
Symptoms of this disease are similar to osteochondrosis.But in this case, the intervertebral disc is displaced, not depleted.Hyaline cartilage has to bear the load.In such extreme conditions, the tissue becomes thinner and loses its ability to perform its functions.
If spondyloarthrosis is not treated, the entire joint may become inflamed, and then lose mobility completely.The patient's condition is aggravated by osteophytes.
Scoliosis
Curvature of the spinal column relative to its axis to the right or left is common - almost half of humans are affected by this disease.But for many, the disease is not clearly expressed, which is why the pain appears periodically - if a person burdens his back, or stands or sits in one position for a long time.
Early scoliosis cannot be determined visually, so if pain occurs in the scapula area, it is in the patient's best interest to consult a doctor.He will prescribe x-rays - direct and lateral.
With the further development of scoliosis, it can be detected independently: the "zigzag" of the spinal column becomes clear.Advanced scoliosis is also determined by the relative position of the shoulders - one of them will be lower than the other.
Scoliosis treatment is a long-term process even with high intensity.Massage, special exercises and wearing a corset will help eliminate the curvature of the spine.
Intervertebral hernia
The intervertebral disc consists of:
- Gel-like core;
- Fibrous rings, consisting of fibers;
- Two thin layers of cartilage that cover the disc above and below.
The core is located in the ring, and the cartilage tissue, covering the structure, simultaneously serves as a conductor of nutrition from the canal of the vertebral body to the disc.
Pathological changes in the vertebrae lead to disruption of metabolic processes in the intervertebral disc.Their thickness decreases, the fibrous ring cracks under the influence of the load, opening the way out to the gelatinous mass of the nucleus.This process is accompanied by severe pain.It is concentrated in one point, but sometimes there is a return to the pulmonary and heart area.
Intervertebral hernia in the thoracic region is very rare, therefore, when pain appears in the scapular region, the patient is first examined for the presence of other diseases.
Intervertebral hernia is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy, and special exercises.In severe cases, only surgery can help.
Advanced pathology causes damage to the pelvic organs and paralysis of the legs.
Tuberculosis of the spine
Mycobacterium tuberculosis can affect any part of the spine, but 60% of cases occur in the thoracic region.Mostly men suffer from this disease.Mostly several vertebrae are involved in the process, but there are cases when tuberculosis spreads to three or more.
Symptoms of the disease may vary depending on the number of vertebrae affected.But there is one constant sign - pain.If it is felt between the shoulder blades, this indicates damage to the cervical vertebrae.
It also hurts with dry cough in the thoracic region, but in that case the pain will radiate (give) to the chest, groin or stomach.The patient complains of burning, twisting, and "drilling" in the back.
Spinal tuberculosis is difficult to diagnose;severe pain appears already at the stage of various complications.If you have the slightest suspicion of this disease, immediately go to a specialist for examination.
Overvoltage and hypothermia
If the back is loaded, a painful sensation may also appear in the scapula region.This phenomenon itself is not considered a disease, but the constant load can cause osteochondrosis, curvature of the spine, and the formation of intervertebral hernia.
Tailors, drivers, surgeons, people engaged in sedentary work, etc.complaining of back pain.If hypothermia is added to excessive energy (drafts, running the air conditioner), you can get lumbago - severe pain concentrated under the shoulder blades or in the spine.
This problem is treated with warming ointments, anti-inflammatory drugs and massage.
Myositis
Flu, ARVI, severe hypothermia can cause myositis - inflammation of muscle tissue.Most often, the muscles located in the scapular area are affected by this disease.This condition does not threaten the body with anything terrible, but the painful pain creates discomfort.
Painkillers and warming ointments ease the suffering.
Pain in the shoulder blade
Painful sensations appear for several reasons:
- Fractures or injuries caused by falls.Swollen shoulder joints, pain to move limbs;
- Osteomyelitis (inflammation of bone tissue): accompanied by an increase in temperature, fever due to intoxication of the whole body;
- Pterygoid scapula: this effect is caused by damage to the anterior serratus (located on the side of the chest), rhomboid paralysis, trapezius muscles or their traumatic rupture (which affects circus acrobats and gymnasts, professional athletes).
If the synovial bursa becomes inflamed, the scapula begins to crack.In addition to this problem, the patient is disturbed by a feeling of heaviness and clicking in the shoulder joint.
Diagnostics
Since pain in the back scapular region indicates one of many diseases, the examination is carried out using different methods:
- chest X-ray;
- Laboratory research;
- Ultrasound;
- Computed magnetic or tomography resistance;
- ECG.
All examinations are prescribed by a surgeon - if you have back pain, go to him first.But in the future, based on the results of the research, he needs consultation:
- Orthopedic Specialist;
- Gastroenterologist;
- Neurologist;
- Pulmonologist.
If for any reason the doctor does not pay attention to the accompanying symptoms, go for a consultation on your own initiative.
Treatment
Self-medication for pain in the scapula area is strictly prohibited.The maximum amount that patients can afford is to take painkillers and analgesics.The appointment should be once and only if necessary to relieve pain before visiting the doctor.
Treatment is prescribed by the doctor: usually, to alleviate the condition, it is enough to take analgesics, chondroprotectors, and anti-inflammatory drugs.In addition, the doctor describes a treatment regimen designed to eliminate the cause of pain in the scapular area.