Sometimes we feel discomfort in the back on the left side. It can be pains of a different nature - pulling, stabbing, aching. They may be accompanied by additional symptoms. Pain under the left shoulder blade is usually not the only symptom. This is one of the signs of the manifestation of any disease. All the complaints and symptoms together will help the doctor to choose the direction of diagnosis. After all, immediate assistance is often needed.
The anatomical structure of the body
If we view our body from behind, we will see that the left shoulder blade is located on the ribs involved in the formation of the chest. Between the ribs are nerves and blood vessels. They are connected by muscle fibers.
The scapula performs a protective function of internal organs - heart, lung, stomach and pancreas, spleen.
Based on the anatomical structure of the body, pain under the left shoulder blade can be conditionally divided into:
- associated with pathology of the musculoskeletal system,
- associated with the pathology of any internal organ.
Why is there discomfort on the left side
Many of us with the appearance of pain on the left side, first of all, consider problems in the work of the heart. In fact, most often the cause is a spinal problem. There may also be malfunctions in the work of internal organs.
Let's consider in more detail the causes of pain under the left shoulder blade. They can occur when:
- Problems with the spine and locomotor system: osteochondrosis, intercostal neuralgia, scapular injuries, rib fractures, myofascial syndrome, Sprengel's disease.
- Diseases of the bronchi and lungs: pneumonia, located on the left, dry pleurisy, bronchitis in the acute phase of the course, tracheitis, lung abscess on the left side.
- Cardiological system diseases: angina pectoris, coronary heart disease, heart attack, valve prolapse.
- Diseases of the stomach and intestines: stomach and duodenal ulcers, gastroesophagitis, reflux, esophageal spasm.
- Psychosomatic course of disease with vegetative-vascular dystonia.
Relationship between pain and illness
Patients can characterize the nature of the pain, from pain to cutting and burning. There are several typical signs of pain that distinguish them from other conditions:
| disease name | Pain that characterizes you |
|---|---|
| Heart diseases | The pain in the region of the left shoulder blade is burning in nature, causing a feeling of compression of the retrosternal space. It occurs in the same place, moving to the left side - back, shoulder blade, arm. With pressure, as if squeezing pain in the heart, the spread of myocardial infarction is possible. In this case, urgent hospitalization is necessary. |
| aortic aneurysm | The pain is sharp, sharp, growing, goes to the left in the back and under the shoulder blade. The condition develops quickly and threatens the patient's life. |
| Pleurisy | The pain is sharp and excruciating, depending on the size of the breath. In a calm state, a tingling sensation is possible, when inhaling with a full chest, there is a stabbing pain in the scapula. |
| Left side pneumonia | The pain is not strong, aching, it can be characterized as a point. May increase slightly with movement and deep inspiration. |
| Osteochondrosis of the vertebrae | Most of the time, the pain is located in the lower part of the neck. It is manifested by painful sensations, aggravated by a sudden movement of the head. It may sag in the hand, be accompanied by rotation of the head, numbness of the limb. Pain under the scapula is weak, aching and pulling, there may be an increase in pain in a long sitting position or after physical exertion. As a rule, this happens at night. In the morning, stiffness of the muscles of the spine is felt. Unlike heart pain, it does not go away after taking medication. There may be severe headaches that are not pressure dependent. |
| Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, ulcers in the stomach and intestines | Pain in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can be seasonal with attacks. Pain syndrome can occur due to prolonged hunger, immediately after eating, a few hours after eating, at night. The pain goes away after hunger is satisfied, after food leaves the stomach, after vomiting or taking medication. When the ulcer is punctured, the pain radiates under the left shoulder blade, it is sharp and unbearable. If you suspect this disease, you should immediately go to the hospital. Early in the development of the disease, the pain may subside after vomiting. With reflux esophagitis, the accompanying symptoms will be heartburn, belching and impaired digestion. |
| intercostal neuralgia | A sharp shooting or pain in the waist is felt constantly or in fits. It can happen on one side. Increases during sudden movements - sneezing, coughing, severe shortness of breath, walking, physical activity, palpation of the pain site. |
| Vegetative-vascular dystonia and myofascial syndrome | With myofascial syndrome, the pain is dull, coming from deep within the tissues. It can occur both at rest and during physical activity. It can vary in intensity from mild to severe. Objectively, during the examination, patients with VVD suffer from irritability, memory impairment, sweating, tachycardia and hand tremors. There are often changes in the heart muscle. The nature of pain is similar to that of the heart. But examination of the heart does not confirm the diagnosis. |
Diagnosis of the disease that caused the pain syndrome
To find out what is causing the pain, a detailed examination will be required. First of all, you need to consult a therapist or doctor. He, based on the patient's complaints and examination, will determine what type of research needs to be carried out.
The initial phase of treatment, if the pain radiates to the left shoulder blade, should be a visit to the local therapist. He will be able to do an initial examination and prescribe all the necessary tests. And already with the existing exams, you can make an appointment with narrow specialists.
The doctor will not be able to diagnose the disease only from complaints of pain syndrome. Complaints will be a push in the direction where a more in-depth diagnosis is needed. Therefore, when contacting a doctor, it is necessary to know exactly the answers to questions about the nature of pain, its location and concomitant causes - the relationship with food intake, physical and emotional stress.
If myositis is suspected in a patient, a detailed blood test should be performed to confirm the inflammatory process.
To more accurately diagnose the disease, it is necessary to carry out a set of tests.
The first task is to exclude conditions that require emergency medical care. These include: gastric and duodenal ulcers, heart attack, aortic rupture.
To understand exactly what hurts under the left shoulder blade, you need to undergo the following exams:
- Visual inspection and palpation of the pain location. Temperature, blood pressure and pulse will be measured.
- X-ray in various projections to confirm or deny spinal and lung problems.
- ECG to check the heart's work.
- To clarify the location of the problem with the spine, a CT scan or MRI may be needed.
- If gastrointestinal problems are suspected, FGS may be prescribed - fibrogastroduodenoscopy.
- General and biochemical blood tests.
For some types of pain, first aid may be provided with analgesics and antispasmodics. But its reception does not eliminate the cause, but only smothers the left pain under the shoulder blade, which, after the end of the drug, will definitely return again. To prevent pain from occurring again, it is necessary to find out its cause.
In any case, if the left shoulder blade hurts, then after stopping the first signs of pain, it is necessary to undergo a full course of examinations. After all, often the source of pain that radiates to the shoulder blade can be located elsewhere. Therefore, when a pain syndrome appears in the area of the scapula, it is necessary to visit: a therapist, a neurologist, a cardiologist, a gastroenterologist, a traumatologist, with the exclusion of pathology by all the listed specialists , a consultation with a psychotherapist is necessary.
Treating the disease that caused the pain syndrome
The purpose of treatment will depend on the diagnosis of the disease. For each specific disease, there are specific treatment regimens. They necessarily include recommendations on physical activity and diet. The medication regimen is described in detail. They are combined depending on the symptoms and complaints to alleviate the acute life-threatening symptoms of the patient.
In any case, you need to remember that left shoulder blade pain can only be removed with medications recommended by a specialist. Do not resort to the advice of relatives and friends. After all, without medical help it is difficult to determine the nature of the pain. Self-medication can lead to a delay in cardiac or gastric pathologies.
- For example, with reflux after the examination, medication may be prescribed to reduce stomach acidity, to facilitate its movement in the intestines. In this case, it is worth limiting the amount of food consumed, you should not bend over immediately after eating.
- With osteochondrosis, physical therapy exercises, swimming, dry heat and increased physical activity may be prescribed as medical procedures. All these measures are used as prophylaxis after the pain subsides.
- If there is a diagnosis of ischemia, cardiac medication should be taken initially. If the pain in the left shoulder blade does not go away after 10 minutes, you need to call an ambulance.
- If there are problems with the cardiovascular system, the best prevention is constant intake of necessary medications, diet, mental stability and not excessive physical activity.
- If pain in the scapula manifests itself due to problems with the spine, then it is necessary to carry out a series of special exercises for a long period of time and follow the recommendations of specialists in taking medication.
- If the occurrence of pain under the left shoulder blade is associated with stomach and bowel problems, diet and medication will help to cope. In this case, psycho-emotional balance is important, as stress often causes an ulcer. A positive attitude and mastering the relaxation and relaxation technique is necessary.
If there is no result of conservative treatment, as well as when a perforated ulcer, a large hernia of the spine, a rupture of the spleen are detected, then surgical intervention is necessary.
In principle, to avoid serious health problems, an annual examination at the dispensary is necessary. It is necessary to carry out the necessary tests to exclude the occurrence of diseases in the near future.