Basically, pain under the scapula in the left back is more often characteristic of older age group, but often a similar illness manifests itself at a younger age.
Poor posture, hereditary factors or sports injuries can all be the causes of this condition. The main causes of pain under the left shoulder blade in the back of the back should be considered in more detail. After all, this discomfort can be considered a good reason to consult a specialist.
Causes and types of pain under the left shoulder blade behind the back
The reasons for the development of this pathology are different, they have their own characteristics. Pain in the left side under the scapula in the back behind is characterized by the following sensations:
- sharp;
- Stupid;
- pull;
- sewing;
- footage.
Pain under the left scapula in the back can be of the same type or alternate. There are times when one type of discomfort is replaced by another, for example, that of a stab wound becomes one of a gunshot. The pathology is caused by several injuries and their consequences, disorders of the musculoskeletal system:
- rib injury - discomfort is felt throughout the shoulder;
- osteoporosis, arthritis - affects, in addition to the scapula, the neck and shoulders;
- disc displacement - pain gives rise to spinal canal stenosis;
- wear (aging) of the skeletal system - unpleasant sensations may occur in the area of the scapula when the bone structure changes with age;
- bursitis - exudate formation during periarticular pocket inflammation also causes pain;
- rotator cuff tear - a sharp, sharp pain in the left scapula region in the back behind with the inability to rotate the arm reports a violation of the shoulder muscles or tendons responsible for coordinating the shoulder joint;
- dislocation - discomfort in the left side of the back may be the result of a dislocation of the collarbone or shoulder joint;
- Nerve injury - Pinch of the dorsal scapular nerve is also characterized by painful sensations in the back (under the left scapula).
The irradiation of back pain in the area of the left shoulder blades is considered a sign that indicates the following pathologies:
- pneumonia with abscess;
- acute inflammation of the bronchial mucosa;
- focal pneumonia;
- pulmonary pleurisy;
- gastric ulcer;
- esophageal spasm;
- pancreatitis;
- gastroreflux.
Heart disease may be another reason the patient has a back pain on the left side under the scapula:
- heart attack;
- pericarditis;
- angina pectoris;
- mitral valve prolapse.
In addition, it causes discomfort and pain under the left shoulder blade in the back - increased muscle tone:
- poor posture;
- uncomfortable position during sleep;
- stretching the cervical muscles.
Just a visit to a specialist will help to correctly determine the causes of the burning sensation under the left shoulder blade in the back behind.
Bronchopulmonary System Diseases
Left scapula back pain may occur in case of problems with the lower respiratory tract (bronchi, lungs, pleura). The main cause of respiratory pathologies are considered diseases caused by pathogenic viruses and bacteria:
- bronchitis;
- pneumonia;
- pleurisy.
Neoplasms in the lungs or bronchi are also capable of causing a burning sensation under the left shoulder blade behind the back.
Pleurisy of the lungs
Increased pain under the left scapula behind when coughing, breathing, or sneezing is a feature of dry pleurisy. The process continues with an increase in temperature (up to 38°C), a feeling of general weakness, sweating, headaches, as well as pain in muscles and joints.
Pneumonia
If the back on the left side under the scapula hurts for a long time, this could be a sign of pneumonia. Its symptoms are similar to pleurisy and are usually accompanied by the following symptoms:
- blood clots in saliva;
- wet cough (less often dry);
- lack of oxygen;
- increased body temperature (37, 5 °C - 37, 9 °C).
gastrointestinal tract
One of the most common causes of scapular back pain is diseases of the digestive system, especially peptic ulcer and pancreatitis.
pancreatitis
Back pain under the left shoulder blade, which is based on pancreatitis, is not as common. They usually occur in parallel with lower back pain and convulsive contractions. They pop up unexpectedly in the heart, chest or back area.
Peptic ulcer
With the development of a peptic ulcer, the person develops belching or heartburn. A significant proportion of patients (about 75%) experience relief from vomiting, which is caused by significant pain with prior nausea. Initially, there is discomfort in the epistragal region, then the pain may spread to the left side (nipple, sternum, back). Often there is an increase in pain after a meal.
the cardiovascular system
Pain under the left scapula in the back behind is not considered a sign that characterizes a specific disease, but malfunction of the cardiovascular system is considered to be one of the important factors. The main diseases for which these symptoms are characteristic are: angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, aortic aneurysm, hypertensive crisis and pericarditis.
Angina pectoris
In angina pectoris, the person experiences sharp left-sided subscapular pain in the back, for which nitroglycerin is used for removal. An angina pectoris attack can be caused by physical exertion, psychophysical factors, hypothermia, overeating and drinking a significant amount of alcohol.
myocardial infarction
The characteristic pain under the left scapula behind the back can be caused by a complete absence of coronary blood supply to one of the myocardial sites due to a blockage of the vessel. The cause of a heart attack is:
- atherosclerosis;
- thrombosis.
When a thrombus (plaque) is torn out, it enters the heart with the blood flow and, once in the small-diameter coronary arteries, blocks the vessel and interrupts the blood supply to the tissues. With the lack of oxygen, the process of myocardial cell death begins.
Symptoms of myocardial infarction include sharp, throbbing pain concentrated in the left side of the sternum. Distributed in the area:
- left hand;
- scapulae;
- lower jaw.
It is impossible to stop the pain during a heart attack with the help of pain relievers, and nitroglycerin can only slightly reduce the pain.
aortic aneurysm
In half of the cases of early-stage thoracic aortic aneurysm, there are no signs of the disease. Symptoms depend on the location of the aneurysm, its size, and the presence (absence) of dissection. In addition to back pain in the scapula, 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 appear suddenly and be expressed as severe pain in the chest and left back.
hypertension crisis
Contrary to popular belief, a hypertensive crisis is not characterized by any standard blood pressure numbers, they are purely individual. In addition to the sign that the patient has colitis under the left scapula behind, the symptoms of a hypertensive crisis should include:
- headache in the back of the head;
- pulse in the temples;
- shortness of breathe;
- nausea and vomiting;
- vision problems;
- redness of the skin;
- an increase in diastolic blood pressure values above 110-120 mm Hg. Art.
When a hypertensive crisis occurs, the risk of complications from various systems and organs, from the central nervous system, etc. , increases.
Pericarditis
Patients may have symptoms of inflammation (acute pericarditis) or signs of fluid collection (pleural effusion). They vary depending on the degree of the inflammatory process and the volume of pericardial fluid. In acute pericarditis, pain occurs on the left side under the scapula in the back, in the chest, and sometimes shortness of breath is observed. Also, the first manifestation can be tamponade with development of hypotension, shock or pulmonary edema.
musculoskeletal system
Various destructive pathologies in the spine, in the bones, can cause back pain under the left shoulder blade. In addition, they include: intercostal neuralgia, osteochondrosis and intervertebral hernia.
intercostal neuralgia
Back pain in the left shoulder blade region with neuralgia has its own characteristics, for example, its intensification during physical exertion, and the pain point can be determined by palpation. Pain with neuralgia is long-lasting and is not minimized with nitroglycerin.
osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is often a common cause of pain under the scapula in the left back and is characterized by the following symptoms:
- muscle cramps, numbness;
- the development of dizziness;
- the appearance of "shivering" (paraesthesia);
- frequent headaches.
intervertebral hernia
A hernia occurs when the fibrous ring that surrounds the intervertebral disc ruptures, resulting in a displacement of the disc's nucleus. The symptoms of a herniated disc depend on its location. The most important symptom of a herniated disc is pain in the left side of the back, which multiplies with movement or lifting.
psychosomatic illnesses
One of the causes of pain under the left shoulder blade, at the back of the spine, can be considered a psychosomatic illness. Not every specialist will be able to recognize this disease and its true causes, as they often do not have special characteristics. Different organ systems can have a direct relationship with the dynamics of the patient's mental state:
- Gastrointestinal tract;
- Cardiovascular system;
- nervous system;
- immunity.
The treatment of pain under the left scapula in the back in psychosomatic illnesses occurs without the use of traditional therapy. In these cases, it is important to establish psychological reasons and carry out treatment with a psychotherapeutic bias.
diagnostic measures
Our specialists will make a more accurate diagnosis after performing the necessary laboratory and instrumental diagnoses with the most modern equipment. When will the testimony take place:
- bloodtests;
- urinalysis to assess kidney function;
- Liver function tests;
- gastric endoscopy;
- Ultrasound for diagnosing somatic disorders, heart disease, blood vessels;
- Computed tomography of liver, pancreas;
- heart ECG;
- Chest X-ray.
Based on the fact that pain under the left scapula in the back of the back may not be a symptom of an illness, a comprehensive examination by various specialists is not excluded. Our clinic offers patients one of the most complex types of modern tests - the check-up, which includes many types of tests with the smallest set of diagnostic procedures. Timely contact with our specialists and the correct diagnosis guaranteed will help the patient to carry out a successful and quality treatment.