Basically, pain under the shoulder blade from the back to the left is more common in the older age group, but often a similar disease occurs at a younger age.
Poor posture, hereditary factors or sports injuries can cause this condition. The main causes of pain from the back to the back under the left shoulder blade need to be examined in more detail. After all, this inconvenience can be considered a good reason to visit a professional.
Causes and types of pain under the left shoulder from behind to back
The causes of this pathology are different and have their own characteristics. The pain on the left side under the posterior hind shoulder is characterized by the following sensations:
- sharp;
- stupid;
- pulling;
- sewing;
- shot.
The back shoulder pain may be of the same type or alternate. There are cases where one type of discomfort is replaced by another, such as a stab becomes a shot. The pathology is caused by various injuries and their consequences, musculoskeletal disorders:
- rib damage - discomfort can be felt all over the shoulder;
- osteoporosis, arthritis - affects the neck and shoulders in addition to the shoulder blades;
- displacement of the plates - pain causes narrowing of the spinal canal;
- abrasion (aging) of the skeletal system - discomfort in the shoulder blade may occur if the structure of the bone changes in old age;
- bursitis - the formation of exudate during inflammation of the periarticular sac also causes pain;
- fracture of the rotating cuff - sharp, sharp pain in the region of the left scapula from behind to back, with inability to rotate the arm, means violation of the shoulder muscles or tendons for coordination of the shoulder joint;
- displacement - discomfort on the back left side may be the result of displacement of the collarbone or shoulder joint;
- nerve damage - stinging of the dorsal shoulder nerve is also characterized by painful feelings in the back (under the left shoulder blade).
Irradiation of the back pain in the area of the left shoulder blades can be considered as a sign of the following pathologies:
- abscess pneumonia;
- acute inflammation of the bronchial mucosa;
- focal pneumonia;
- pneumonia;
- peptic ulcer;
- esophageal spasm;
- pancreatitis;
- gastroreflux.
Heart disease may be another cause of the patient having back pain under the left shoulder blade:
- heart attack;
- pericarditis;
- angina pectoris;
- mitral prolapse.
It also causes discomfort and pain under the left shoulder blade from behind - increased muscle tone:
- poor posture;
- uncomfortable situation during sleep;
- stretching of the neck muscles.
Only a visit from a specialist will help to correctly determine the causes of the burning sensation under the left shoulder from back to back.
Diseases of the broncho-lung system
Pain in the lower respiratory tract (bronchi, lungs, pleura) can cause pain in the left shoulder blade from behind. The main causes of respiratory pathologies are diseases caused by pathogenic viruses and bacteria:
- bronchitis;
- pneumonia;
- pleurisy.
Tumors in the lungs or bronchi can also cause a burning sensation under the left shoulder blade from back to back.
Pleurisy of the lungs
Increased pain in dry pleurisy after coughing, breathing, or sneezing under the left scapula. The process is accompanied by an increase in temperature (up to 38 ° C), general weakness, sweating, headache, and a painful feeling in the muscles and joints.
Pneumonia
If your back hurts under the shoulder blade on the left side for a long time, it could be a sign of pneumonia. Its symptoms are similar to pleurisy and are often accompanied by the following symptoms:
- bloody blood clots in saliva;
- wet cough (rarely dry);
- lack of oxygen;
- increased body temperature (37, 5 ° C to 37, 9 ° C).
Digestive system
One of the most common causes of scapular back pain is diseases of the digestive system, especially gastric ulcer and inflammation of the pancreas.
Pancreatitis
Back pain based on inflammation of the pancreas is not so common. They usually occur in parallel with lower back pain and convulsive contractions. Unexpectedly, they occur in the heart, chest, or back area.
Peptic ulcer
With the development of a peptic ulcer, a person has belching or heartburn. A significant proportion of patients (approximately 75%) experience relief of vomiting caused by significant pain with prior nausea. Initially, discomfort is observed in the epistragal region, and then the pain may spread to the left side (nipple, sternum, back). Often the pain increases after a meal.
The cardiovascular system
Pain from behind and behind the left shoulder blade is not considered a sign of a particular disease, but cardiovascular disorders are considered one of the important factors. The main diseases that are characterized by these symptoms are angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, aortic aneurysm, hypertensive crisis, and pericarditis.
Angina pectoris
In angina pectoris, a person experiences acute left subscapular pain from behind, which is relieved by nitroglycerin. An attack of angina pectoris can be caused by physical exertion, psychophysical factors, hypothermia, overconsumption, and ingestion of significant amounts of alcohol.
Myocardial infarction
The characteristic pain from the left posterior posterior posterior due to vascular occlusion may be caused by a complete lack of blood flow in one of the coronary arteries. Cause of heart attack:
- arteriosclerosis;
- thrombosis.
When a thrombus (plaque) ruptures, it enters the heart with blood flow, and when it enters the small-diameter coronary arteries, it closes the blood vessel and interrupts the delivery of blood to the tissues. In the absence of oxygen, the process of death of myocardial cells begins.
Symptoms of myocardial infarction include acute and throbbing pain, which is concentrated on the left side of the sternum. Distributed in the area:
- left hand;
- shoulder blades;
- lower jaw.
During a heart attack, it is impossible to stop the pain with painkillers, and nitroglycerin can only slightly reduce the pain.
Aortic aneurysm
There are no signs of disease in the early halves of the thoracic aortic aneurysm. Symptoms depend on the location and size of the aneurysm and the presence (absence) of dissection. In addition to back shoulder pain, the following complaints are possible:
- discomfort in the left back, neck, lower jaw;
- chest pain;
- cough, hoarseness, shortness of breath.
It may be accompanied by signs of heart failure due to heart failure. Symptoms may occur suddenly and may be manifested by severe chest and left back pain.
Hypertensive crisis
Contrary to popular belief, the hypertensive crisis is not characterized by any standard blood pressure count, it is merely individual. In addition to the signs of hypertensive crisis, the patient has inflammation of the colon under the left scapula, from back to back:
- headache in the back of the head;
- throbbing in the temples;
- shortness of breath;
- nausea and vomiting;
- vision problems;
- redness of the skin;
- increase in diastolic blood pressure above 110-120 mmHg. Art.
When a hypertensive crisis occurs, many systems and organs, the central nervous system, and so on. The risk of complications increases.
Pericarditis
Patients may show inflammatory symptoms (acute pericarditis) or signs of fluid retention (pleural fluid retention). They vary depending on the extent of the inflammatory process and the volume of pericardial fluid. In acute pericarditis, there is pain in the left side under the hind shoulder, in the chest, and sometimes shortness of breath is felt. And the first manifestation of a tamponade may be hypotension, shock, or pulmonary edema.
Musculoskeletal system
Various destructive diseases of the spine and bones can cause back pain under the left shoulder blade. Also included are intercostal neuralgia, osteochondrosis, and intervertebral hernia.
Intercostal neuralgia
The back pain in the area of the left shoulder blades, with neuralgia, has its own characteristics, such as increased during physical exertion, and the pain can be determined by direct touch. The pain associated with neuralgia is long-lasting and cannot be minimized with nitroglycerin.
Osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is often a common cause of pain behind the left back and is characterized by the following symptoms:
- muscle cramps, numbness;
- development of dizziness;
- the appearance of "goose hills" (paraesthesia);
- common headache.
Intervertebral hernia
The hernia occurs when the annulus fibrosus surrounding the intervertebral disc ruptures, resulting in displacement of the disc core. The symptoms of a herniated disc depend on its location. The most important symptom of a disc herniation is pain on the left side of the back that multiplies with movement or weight lifting.
Psychosomatic diseases
One of the causes of back-to-back pain under the left shoulder blade is considered a psychosomatic illness. Not all professionals are able to recognize this disease and its real causes, as they often do not have special properties. Different organ systems may be directly related to the dynamics of the patient's mental state:
- Digestive system;
- cardiovascular system;
- nervous system;
- immunity.
Pain is treated under the left shoulder from back to back in psychosomatic illnesses without the use of conventional therapy. In such cases, it is important to identify psychological motives and treatment with psychotherapeutic bias.
Diagnostic measures
Our specialists will make a more accurate diagnosis after performing the necessary laboratory and instrumental diagnostics with the most modern tools. Date of testimony:
- blood sampling;
- urine test to assess kidney function;
- liver function tests;
- gastric endoscopy;
- Ultrasound for diagnosing somatic disorders, heart diseases, blood vessels;
- CT, liver, pancreas;
- ECG of the heart;
- Chest X-ray.
Based on the fact that back-to-back pain under the left shoulder blade should not be a symptom of a disease, a comprehensive examination by several professionals is not out of the question. Our clinic offers patients one of the most modern types of complex examinations - control, which includes a wide range of analyzes with the smallest diagnostic procedures. Timely contact with our specialists and a guaranteed correct diagnosis will help the patient to receive high quality and successful treatment.