Back pain in the shoulder blade region is reported by older and younger people. Pain in the interscapular region does not indicate any particular disease, but is a manifestation of numerous abnormalities in the functioning of organs located outside the pain concentration zone.
If the back hurts in the shoulder blade region, then muscles, nerves, joints, ligaments, pathological changes in internal organs, consequences of blows and injuries, etc. , may be a likely excuse for pain.
the nature of pain
In medical practice, the patient's rational description of their pain above the lumbar region is of great importance. Pain between the shoulder blades is a symptom of a series of diseases or pathologies, and it is possible to know the cause of the occurrence with a precise description of its nature, type, frequency of appearance and disappearance. A correct diagnosis will eliminate the burning sensation in the back, pain in the shoulder blades, the reasons, with the help of a doctor, will be determined and future illnesses will be prevented.
By the nature of the back pain syndrome it is:
- chronic - mild pain is typical, bothers for a long time, practically does not stop;
- acute - specific pain, suddenly reaching and disappearing, much stronger than chronic.
When the back hurts in the shoulder blade region, the painful sensations are located in different places. This gives reason to classify shoulder blade pain into three types:
- pain under the shoulder blades (right or left);
- pain between the shoulder blades;
- pain in the scapula on the right or left.
Backaches under the shoulder blades
The causes of pain may have absolutely nothing to do with the spine. If a person has back pain below the shoulder blades, then from a series of accompanying signs, without examination and analysis, it can be inferred that he has the presence of typical common ailments.
Pathologies causing pain under the left shoulder blade:
- Stomach ulcer. It is characterized by regular pain, increasing, weakening or disappearing after vomiting. Pain sensations in the epigastrium are localized but penetrate into the left scapula.
- Psychological problems. Cause almost imperceptible or sharp sensations of heaviness, chest congestion, tingling in the heart region, chest compression. There are cases where these symptoms capture the neck area, spreading under the left shoulder blade.
What caused the pain under the right shoulder blade
How a symptom manifests determines its causes.
The list of reasons for pain under the right shoulder blade is extensive. Examples of the most common:
- Uncomfortable, persistently disturbing, and persistent pain in the right side of the back can be caused by the usual spasm in the muscles due to prolonged uncomfortable body posture or associated with internal organs: kidneys, pancreas, gallbladder. In most cases, pain comes unexpectedly, with a sudden turn of the head, sneezing, coughing.
- Sharp, stabbing, sharp, or growing pain located to the right in the heart region or in the interscapular space may be the result of a disease of Organs internal organs and is not associated with the spine. Many systems of the body, due to deviations from the norms of functioning, cause pain under the right shoulder blade - cardiovascular, excretory, digestive, etc.
- A sharp, pulling pain under the right scapula makes one think of the appearance of diseases of the musculoskeletal system: chondrosis, osteochondrosis, spondylosis, etc. This type of pain can be caused by neuralgia when the nerve roots are pinched. The reasons for these painful sensations can be cancer tumors, not often, but such phenomena are present in medical practice.
- The patient has pain in the back muscles under the shoulder blades, so you should think about respiratory diseases. Pain under the shoulder blades can be caused by muscle overload there or by the thoracic spine.
- Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Often, it causes dull and uncomfortable pains that are concentrated below the occipital part. Its peculiarity is to appear in the morning, taking the patient out of sleep. The pain syndrome is especially severe with flexion - marked extension of the neck. Exposure to heat on the painful surface (hot bath) extinguishes the pain. Patients react to this pathology with a complaint of pain under the shoulder blades, the flow of pain to the arm or head.
Causes of pain between the shoulder blades
Intercostal neuralgia is manifested by acute pain in the waist. With a deep breath, a sudden turn of the body, with palpation of the inflamed area between the ribs, the pain increases.
Lung diseases are accompanied by pain between the shoulder blades when inhaling, with a deep breath, the pain intensifies, has a high temperature, cough.
In case an increase in pain with shallow breathing is most often given under the right scapula, there may be a diaphragmatic abscess.
When the usual head tilt causes pain between the shoulder blades, it is associated with an inflammatory process in the muscles of the interscapular region, in addition to damage to the tendons and ligaments.
Pain between the shoulder blades sometimes occurs when swallowing, its origin is caused by diseases of the esophagus (inflammation or ulcer); inflammatory processes in organs located between the two lungs; damage to the diaphragm.
A burning sensation between the shoulder blades causes attacks of renal and biliary colic, osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic vertebrae, and reflux esophagitis.
Pain in the scapula on the right and left
The reason is to receive a blow to the shoulder blade or to fall on it. An awkward fall into the arm or elbow will result in a fractured scapula. Trauma causes intense pain syndrome, pain intensity increases with hand movement. Edema is formed.
Pterigoid scapula. It appears as a result of muscle paralysis - trapezoidal, rhomboid, anterior dentate, or is the result of numerous bruises in the region of the forearm, damage to the long thoracic nerve.
Scapular Crunch - Crunch at the shoulder joint.
treatment methods
At the beginning of treatment, you will need to determine the condition of your lungs and heart. The cardiologist and therapist will likely prescribe an ECG or ultrasound procedure. After consulting specialists, you cannot consider these organs to be the cause of pain between the shoulder blades.
When pain occurs when the spine moves close to the scapula, the cause is usually looked for in the back. The pain is sometimes so severe that it can be confused with the symptoms of panic attacks.
The usual radiography for spinal diagnosis is often not sufficient, the complete picture is provided by magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic region. At this stage of clarifying the diagnosis, consultation with a vertebrologist is necessary.
It is possible to get rid of pain in the region of the right scapula with treatment only when the causes of its occurrence are clarified. When this pain is associated with diseases of Organs internal organs, it is necessary to treat them. The doctor who will treat depends on the specific organ. Pain under the right shoulder blade will go away by itself when treatment of the affected internal organ is successful.
If there is a connection between pain in the right back and the interdulobular region with spinal disorders, then medical care will be focused on the focus of inflammation. To eliminate the inflammatory process, analgesics, chondroprotective agents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and corticosteroids are used.
Annoying pain that does not go away for a long time, resulting from muscle spasm or neuralgia, is effectively treated with heated ointments with an analgesic effect. In addition, plasters are used, which provide a warming and analgesic effect.
Prophylaxis
The back in the shoulder blade area will not hurt if the person moves a lot and follows a healthy lifestyle. The movements provide uniform loads on the musculature, correct lifting of weights, massage sessions and various types of physiotherapy. Sport is the best preventive measure.
It is recommended to be careful with drafts, hypothermia. And, most importantly, observe proper nutrition.