Pain appearing on the left side under the shoulder blade is a fairly common symptom that can occur in men, women and even children.At first glance, such symptoms may seem frivolous, but in fact, pain under the left shoulder blade from behind can be a harbinger of some dangerous disease.
There are many reasons for the appearance of such pain syndrome, and they often have nothing to do with problems in the shoulder blades.Most often, the 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 there is pain under the shoulder blades, we need to remember the anatomical structure of a person.After all, usually organs located nearby are damaged, although there are cases when pain spreads along nerve fibers far from the source of the disease.
The left shoulder blade lies on top of the ribs forming the chest.The ribs are connected to each other by ligaments and intercostal muscles, between each rib there are intercostal vessels and intercostal nerves.In contrast, the intercostal nerves arise from the spinal cord, located in the center of the spinal body to the shoulder blades.Along with the ribs, the shoulder blades protect the left heart, left lung, stomach, spleen, pancreas and aorta.
Based on this location, the causes of pain can be divided into two main groups:
- Pain is associated with disorders of the musculoskeletal system, as well as muscle pain.
- Pain is 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 shoulder blade can be determined based on its nature, intensity and location:
- Pain spreads to the left shoulder blade.The pathological source of such pain may be located far from the site of pain.Most often, this symptom is characteristic of diseases of the stomach or heart.
- Pain under left shoulder blade.Indicates the presence of a long-term chronic process.Such painful manifestations can be associated with chronic heart diseases (pericarditis, myocarditis), as well as cervical spondylosis in the spine.
- Dull pain under left shoulder blade.Most often it occurs based on the development of osteochondrosis in the chest or cervix.Typically, the pain radiates down from the back of the head along the back, arms, and under the shoulder blades and is accompanied by nausea, dizziness, and numbness (tingling) in the hands.
- Severe pain under left shoulder blade.Severe pain is not typical in the shoulder blade area, which means it serves as a signal of a potentially life-threatening pathological condition.At best, severe pain can indicate intercostal neuralgia, but more often such sensations indicate the presence of a duodenal ulcer and the development of a pre-infarct condition.
- Sharp pain under left shoulder blade.Intercostal neuralgia can cause sharp pain - when inhaling, the pain syndrome increases markedly and it feels like you are "breathing".Sharp pain can be caused by left-sided pneumonia in the acute stage. At the same time, the patient feels as if the entire left chest has been cut or stabbed, spreading to the left shoulder blade.Less commonly, severe pain can occur as pancreatitis worsens - the pain is spasmodic and cramping in nature.
- Persistent pain under left shoulder blade.Can indicate the initial stage of development of cervical spondylosis.The pain starts just below the occipital bone and spreads to the left (or right) side of the back.
- Burning under the shoulder blades.This symptom may indicate persistent intercostal neuralgia, angina pectoris or myocardial infarction.Sometimes, the appearance of a burning sensation under the shoulder blades can indicate the development of vegetative-vascular dystonia.In this case, the pain is accompanied by rapid heartbeat, shaking hands and a strong feeling of fear.
- Constant pain under the left shoulder blade.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 difficulty breathing.
- Stitch pain under left shoulder blade.Stitching pain (also called “low back pain”) is often a sign of osteochondrosis, but can also be a sign of intercostal neuralgia.Tingling in the back that occurs with exertion, deep breathing or coughing can be a sign of pleurisy or pneumonia.
- Pressing hurts.Shows the development of osteonecrosis, and can also indicate the early stages of coronary heart disease and exacerbation of vegetative-vascular dystonia.
- Sharp pain.Most often, the left protrusion of the intervertebral disc in the thoracic or cervical spine manifests itself in this way.Sharp pain can be a sign of a herniated disc or aortic dissection.
- Sharp pain under left shoulder blade.Indicates conditions that are hazardous and require immediate medical intervention.The causes of the pain syndrome can be: angina pectoris, bulging disc on the left side, stomach ulcer.
The nature of the pain and its location can vary, 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 side under the shoulder blade is often caused by diseases of the musculoskeletal system, heart, stomach and bronchopulmonary system.
Let's consider possible diseases accompanied by pain under the left shoulder blade and accompanying symptoms.
| Illness | The nature of pain | Related symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Musculoskeletal system | ||
| Inflammation around the shoulder blade | The pain appears in the shoulder area and spreads to the shoulder blade. | The patient cannot move freely (cannot put his hands behind his head due to pain);There is a crunching sound in the joints when moving. |
| 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. | Along the inflamed area, redness may appear and a characteristic rash may appear on the skin. |
| Back muscle diseases (myositis, inflammation, damage) | Back pain occurs suddenly and can be painful in nature. | Pain appears on the left side when the shoulder blade is injured or when the muscle is strained. |
| Cancer | Pain under the left shoulder blade or constant throbbing pain. | With a scapular tumor, the posterior chest is deformed. |
| Injury | Severe pain, especially in the first few hours immediately after the injury. | If the pain increases with movement, swelling or swelling occurs, this may be a fracture of the shoulder blade or rib. |
| Osteoarthritis, spondylosis, thoracic scoliosis, intervertebral hernia | Severe pain manifests continuously or in the form of “low back pain”. | Unpleasant sensations appear in the spine - it feels like "a stake has been driven in". |
| Heart disease | ||
| angina | Pain under the left shoulder blade from behind occurs with exertion and spreads to the left arm, left shoulder blade and sometimes to the left jaw. | Accompanied by the feeling of difficulty breathing and fear of death. |
| Myocardial infarction | Burning pain under the left shoulder blade from the heart. | A heart attack cannot be relieved by medication.The left arm became numb, severe shortness of breath appeared, and the sternum began to "burn". |
| Pericarditis and myocarditis | Pain in left side. | Accompanied by chills, often occurring at night, and increased temperature. |
| Ascending aortic aneurysm surgery | Pain syndrome moves from top to bottom.Initially, the pain occurred in the chest, then gradually moved down the left shoulder blade and spread to the lower back. | Pressure drops sharply. |
| Diseases of the bronchopulmonary system | ||
| Left side pneumonia | Moderate severe pain. | Cough with phlegm, wheezing in the lungs, fever. |
| pleurisy | Pain occurs when breathing | Difficulty breathing, wheezing feeling in the lungs. |
| Gastrointestinal disease | ||
| Stomach ulcers | Pain under the shoulder blades accompanied by a burning sensation (usually occurs at night). | Pain is related to eating. |
| Perforated ulcers | Sharp and stabbing pain (like being stabbed). | Fever, vomiting. |
| Acute pancreatitis | The pain is diffuse and can sometimes spread to one side. | Flatulence, repeated vomiting, fever. |
Other symptoms that accompany pain syndrome can help determine the disease due to pain on the left side under the shoulder blade:
- The pain gets worse 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 injury.
- Pain appears when swallowing- esophageal diseases, psychological disorders.
- Pain accompanied by difficulty breathing– Pleurisy, cardiovascular disease, intercostal neuralgia.
- Pain causes coughing- damage to the respiratory system.
- Presence of temperature- Infectious and inflammatory processes: pericarditis, purulent pleurisy, subdiaphragmatic abscess.
- Pain with numbness in the left arm– Angina, cartilage degeneration, myocardial infarction.
- Nausea and belching accompanied by pain– Gastrointestinal diseases (pancreatitis, ulcers, gastritis).
- Pain causes tongue numbness– angina, osteochondrosis, heart attack.
Pregnant women experience pain under the shoulder blades for the same reasons as everyone else, but expectant mothers are at a much higher risk of developing certain diseases.The most likely causes of left back pain in pregnant women are osteoarthritis (due to greater load on the spine), pyelonephritis (due to the kidneys shifting and activating their activity) and excessive muscle tension.
In children, pain under the shoulder blades often occurs due to trauma, neuralgia (after hypothermia), myositis, and pleurisy.
Diagnosis and treatment.Which doctor should I contact?
You should choose a doctor to make an appointment depending on the nature of the pain and its symptoms:
- Emergency doctor– with sharp, severe, burning pain in the chest, difficulty breathing, when the pain is accompanied by severe dizziness, severe weakness or loss of consciousness.
- Neurologist– if the pain is related to load or movement.
- Trauma doctor– if pain occurs after an injury.
- Cardiologist- There is a burning feeling behind the sternum, spreading below the shoulder blades, into the left arm, into the jaw.
- Pulmonologist (or therapist)– If the pain increases when breathing and is accompanied by cough, difficulty breathing and fever.
- Gastroenterologist– if the pain is related to meals and is accompanied by indigestion.
- surgeon– Pain under the shoulder blade accompanied by sternum deformity, sharp pain accompanied by high fever.
If it is difficult to decide on the choice of doctor yourself, you should contact a therapist, who, based on the results of the examination, will make an appointment with a specialist.
Diagnostic measures are indicated depending on the cause of pain under the left shoulder blade, behind:
- General examination - taking a history and interviewing the patient, visual examination (measurement of pulse, blood pressure, temperature, palpation, auscultation), blood and urine tests.
- X-ray, CT and MRI examination - identify 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 to check for cardiovascular diseases.
Treatment regimen for pain under the left shoulder blade is selected individually for each disease - there is no single treatment regimen.
Important!Treatment of pain under the left shoulder blade is mainly to treat the disease causing the pain syndrome.
If the pain is related to cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular medications and a diet that is gentle on physical and psycho-emotional activity will be prescribed.
Painful gastrointestinal conditions are treated with antacids and a gentle diet.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system are treated with long-term therapy, which includes taking anti-inflammatory drugs and performing special therapeutic exercises.
Surgical treatment is indicated when conservative therapy is ineffective.Surgery is required in cases of perforated ulcers, severe gastrointestinal diseases, ruptured spleen, and intervertebral hernia.
If you feel pain under your left shoulder blade, you must be examined by a doctor to avoid the occurrence and development of life-threatening diseases.