Many times, back pain under the left shoulder blade can be disturbing. It occurs after strenuous and intense exercise or prolonged periods of unsuccessful placement. But it can also be a symptom of a serious illness that requires mandatory treatment. The causes of pain can be divided into two broad categories: pain caused by disorders of the musculoskeletal system and pain associated with disorders of the internal organs.
musculoskeletal disorders
Various disorders of the spine can cause shoulder blade pain. Additionally, pain may be a secondary symptom of the injury. The causes of pain under the shoulder blade from the left side of the back can vary.
spinal osteochondritis
Osteochondrosis occurs due to changes in the spine when bone tissue is destroyed under the influence of various factors. There are many factors that cause this morbidity:
- Poor posture leads to curvature of the spine. Common among students, schoolchildren and office workers.
- Statistical and dynamic overload of the body, excessive bulk.
- Overweight and malnutrition.
- Back injury.
- Weak immunity, genetic factors.
- flatfoot.
- Colds and frequent hypothermia, chronic poisoning.
- Metabolic disease.
- Prolonged exposure to vibration.
- Stress and a sedentary lifestyle.
Cervical sternal osteochondrosis, severe pain in the neck, back, shoulders, and upper extremities that can pull under the shoulder blades. Pain in teeth, muscles, abdomen, heart area. As it stings under the shoulder blades, the feeling begins to rest, and the neck and chest area, as well as the neck and abdomen, become numb. Sleep is disturbed, hand sensitivity, blood pressure indicators begin to fluctuate, and performance declines. It can also be baked behind the breastbone.
intercostal neuralgia
This disorder occurs when the intercostal nerves become irritated, inflamed, pinched, or compressed. This can happen with inflammation, infection, chemical poisoning, allergies, and hypothermia. The main symptom of neuralgia is pain, concentrated in the heart area. It can be dull or sharp, stinging, painful or burning. May be episodic or permanent.
There may also be increased sweating, skin discoloration, tingling, or loss of sensation in certain areas. By forcing a fixed position, the pain syndrome may subside.
Scapula Trauma
If the left shoulder blade is injured, the cause may be from the injury. They can appear after a direct blow to the shoulder blade or after a fall on the back or shoulder. In the first few hours after the injury, a very intense pain syndrome develops. This is a symptom of a fractured shoulder blade or rib. Swelling and edema will occur in the future. A person had difficulty breathing due to a fractured rib, and damage to the bones was evident on palpation.
Sprenger's disease
This disease is a congenital abnormal position of the scapula. The cause of this pathology is unknown to the science. There is an opinion that the disease develops under the influence of external and internal negative factors on the fetus at 3-4 weeks of pregnancy. At this point, the shoulder girdle and spine are formed. This disorder is often combined with other disorders: fusion of ribs, clubfoot, formation of extra hemivertebrae, and abnormal structures in the neck area.
Pathology was detected immediately after the child was born. With the mild development of the disease, the following are prescribed: exercise therapy, massage, hydrotherapy, physiotherapy. In moderate and severe cases, surgical treatment is prescribed.
myofascial syndrome
Under the influence of various factors, the work of the muscle organ and the membrane covering the muscle is disrupted. There are small painful seals in the muscles, so-called trigger points. They appear under the influence of trauma and muscle strain. Several factors contribute to their formation: compulsive postures, spinal disorders, bruising, monotonous movements, somatic disorders, emotional stress.
The main symptom is pain, which has a sore, pulling character that increases with exertion and trigger activation. Skin sensitivity also increases, skin color changes, and movement in the affected area is restricted. Complex treatment is prescribed. For prevention, you should monitor your weight, stick to a healthy lifestyle, wear comfortable shoes and clothing, and avoid stress and hypothermia.
Changes in visceral work
If there is pain in the left shoulder blade from behind, it may be an internal organ violation. In many diseases, the symptom is pain on the left side. They are divided into heart disease, bronchopulmonary disease, and gastrointestinal disease.
heart disease
With heart disease, it can be painful not only in the left shoulder blade area, but also in the collarbone area, left arm, and abdomen. Myocardial infarction is one of the types of coronary heart disease in which myocardial necrosis occurs due to disruption of the coronary circulation. Burning, squeezing, or tenderness behind the breastbone, radiating to the left clavicle, shoulder blade, arm, and jaw. The patient has a cold sweat and a feeling of fear. These symptoms are direct indications of emergency hospitalization in a medical facility. Failure to provide timely medical care can lead to fatal consequences.
The cause of coronary heart disease is insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle caused by coronary heart disease. The arteries of the heart are blocked or narrowed by cholesterol plaque. The heart is not getting enough blood to function properly. The reason is that:
- Coronary atherosclerosis.
- Arterial hypertension.
- Violation of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism.
- smokes.
- High cholesterol and overweight.
- diabetes.
Symptoms are shortness of breath, weakness, arrhythmia, and increased sweating. Has spontaneous chest pain not affected by nitroglycerin. Patients experience hypoxia, fear of death, apathy, dull emotions, or unreasonable anxiety. During an angina attack, the pain is concentrated behind the breastbone. It has the manifestations of cutting, pressing, compression and burning. Attacks last 2 to 5 minutes and can be effectively stopped by medication.
With pericarditis, the inflammatory process occurs in the outer shell of the heart. Causes of inflammation are infections, autoimmune diseases, injuries, tumors, metabolic disorders. Tenderness in the chest, swelling of the face and neck, severe shortness of breath, dry cough and hoarseness.
Mitral valve prolapse is a pathology in which the function of the valve located between the ventricle and the atrium is compromised. It was discovered incidentally and does not pose a danger to the patient's life. May be congenital or acquired. Another disease that is usually asymptomatic is aortic aneurysm. In this pathological condition, vessel wall protrusion occurs due to a weakening of the vessel wall or a strong increase in blood pressure. Weakened vessel walls due to foreign body deposits, inflammation, or tissue destruction.
Pathology of the bronchopulmonary system
In bronchopulmonary disease, pain occurs in the left scapula.
Causes of painful symptoms: acute bronchitis and tracheobronchitis, left pneumonia, left dry pleurisy, left lung abscess. Acute bronchitis presents with cough, weakness, increased sweating, shortness of breath and decreased activity, and a fever of up to 38 degrees. The cause of the development of the pathology is of viral or bacterial origin. Physical, chemical and allergic factors also play a role.
Left-sided pneumonia is rare but life-threatening for the patient. The main reason is the invasion of pathogens into the left lung. This happens with a strong decline in immunity. Strong weak cough, burning and pain on left side of chest, and elevated temperature. It is necessary to seek help as soon as possible, which will help to avoid the development of complications. Conditions such as dry pleurisy can be a complication of other lung conditions. Lung abscess is a complication. It develops due to insufficient treatment of pneumonia.
Gastrointestinal disease
A very common group of conditions where pain radiates from the back to the left shoulder blade. The reasons may vary. The increase in disease has been linked to nutritional errors and the use of foods containing flavorings and preservatives. The symptoms of these diseases are:
- stomach ache.
- Heartburn.
- hiccup.
- flatulence.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- constipate.
- diarrhea.
- Smell from the mouth.
- Loss of weight and appetite.
- Dizziness.
- weakness.
With gastric ulcers, the integrity of the tissues of the stomach wall is destroyed, so they are corroded by gastric juices and ulcers appear. One feature is the hunger pain that arises in the context of starvation. After eating, they subside. Another symptom is that the vomit has a sour taste. In addition, the movement of the stomach is disturbed, resulting in belching and heartburn. A complication of the disease may be bleeding due to the failure of vascular ulcers. This is a very serious condition in which self-medication is dangerous as it can lead to perforated ulcers and death.
The main symptom of a duodenal ulcer is upper abdominal pain that can radiate to the left chest and scapula, lumbar or thoracic spine.
Pain occurs after eating and also after a while. It is stopped by antacids, antispasmodics and antisecretory agents. Additionally, ulcers are characterized by indigestion and loss of appetite, which can lead to weight loss and painful weight loss. Ulcers can cause complications: bleeding, perforation and infiltration into the pancreas, strictures of the duodenum, tumor formation at the site of ulceration, and inflammation of the bowel wall.
Esophageal spasm is characterized by dysphagia.
The reasons may be euphoria, as well as rapid absorption of food and poor chewing, consumption of high-fiber foods. You can relieve discomfort by drinking plenty of fluids, swallowing air, and exercising. Another symptom is reflux of the contents of the esophagus. Often occurs in dreams or when the patient assumes a horizontal position. It manifests in the form of vomiting, without the mixing of gastric juices and bile.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease occurs when the contents of the stomach and duodenum reflux.
The main reason is lower esophageal sphincter weakness. In this case, when the stomach contracts, its contents are thrown back into the esophagus. It is characterized by heartburn, which occurs when bending over and exercising after a large meal. There is a bitter or sour belching. You may also experience nausea and vomiting.
The symptoms of acute pancreatitis are severe, constant, severe pain under the ribs.
There are two causes: alcoholism and cholelithiasis. Symptoms are not always obvious. Pain relievers are difficult to relieve pain, and anesthetics are sometimes prescribed. In addition, pain under the shoulder blade can also be associated with enterocolitis. Occurs due to infection, drug, chemical or food poisoning, circulatory disturbance.