If a person has back pain in the shoulder blade area, he automatically associates it with the state of the spine.They are partly right: this long-suffering core of our skeleton supports heavy loads that cannot but affect its condition.
But often pain in this area of the back indicates a disorder in the internal organs.The nature of the pain corresponds to the disease, so when visiting a doctor it is important to describe its manifestations in as much detail as possible.
What causes pain in the scapular region?
The pain is caused by pathological changes in:
- backbone;
- internal organs;
- Surrounding structures.
Pain in the scapular area and in some rare diseases:
- Spinal fractures and their systemic injuries;
- Metastasis to the spine due to cancer of the stomach and sometimes other organs.
The pain is localized depending on the type of disease:
- Above the shoulder blades;
- Below the shoulder blades;
- Between the shoulder blades;
- On the shoulder blades.
Symptoms associated with pathologies of internal organs.
The stomach, lungs, liver and heart can project their pain under the shoulder blade, right or left.
If your left side hurts, this may be a sign of:
- Gastric ulcer: the pain is periodic in nature, associated with seasonal exacerbations.They are accompanied by painful sensations in the upper abdomen.When the pain intensifies, vomiting occurs;
- Myocardial infarction - the disease is accompanied by acute chest pain that radiates under the left shoulder blade.Cardiac ischemia presents similar signs, but in this case pain also occurs in the left arm;
- Appearance of a stomach ulcer: the patient's body is covered in cold sweat, he may feel sick and even vomit.The patient tries to alleviate the suffering by changing position, but these actions do not give the expected effect;
- Intercostal neuralgia: pain under the left shoulder blade occurs in attacks, aggravated by the slightest physical stress.There is a tingling and burning sensation in the heart area.It hurts to cough and breathe deeply.
Pain under the right shoulder blade can occur when:
- Psychological problems in the body.At the same time, the patient feels heat in the chest, may complain of compression and tingling in the heart muscle;
- Pathological changes in the gallbladder: additional symptoms: bitterness in the mouth after fatty, salty and fried foods, pain in the right hypochondrium;
- Pleurisy and pneumonia: pain under the right shoulder blade is reflected when coughing;
- Kidney diseases: In this case, cough also causes increased pain, but unlike lung diseases, the patient experiences difficulty urinating.
Pain associated with pathologies of the spine.
Problems with the spine can occur after injuries, fractures or bruises.But there are also diseases that have no obvious causes.And all of them manifest as pain in the scapular region.
With any spinal pathology, pain between the shoulder blades is necessarily accompanied by:
- Rigidity;
- Tingling sensation;
- Numbness.
osteochondrosis
If the nutrition of the tissues is disturbed, dystrophic changes occur in them.In the spine, this process affects the intervertebral discs.They can no longer resist the pressure that the vertebrae exert on them.The loss of elasticity of the discs causes compression of the spine.The nerve endings in the spinal cord are put under pressure, and this is where intense pain occurs.
The body tries to protect the spine from heavy loads by growing bone tissue along the edges of the vertebral processes.The bone growths are called osteophytes.They can be removed, but against the background of osteochondrosis they will grow back.
Pain in osteochondrosis is localized at the site of damage to the spine.If the cervical spine is affected, the patient feels pain on the right side of the neck in the morning.The pain radiates to the shoulder and arm and is felt above the shoulder blade.You may feel dizzy and the pain intensifies when you breathe deeply and cough.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region manifests itself as pain between the shoulder blades, on the right and left of the spine.Sneezing, coughing, and sudden movements can increase pain.When you try to straighten your shoulders, the chest and interscapular area begin to creak.
It becomes difficult for a person to breathe through the chest, as the mobility of the ribs decreases and he unconsciously switches to breathing with the stomach.
Osteochondrosis is treated with a conservative method.The patient is prescribed:
- Analgesics and anti-inflammatories;
- Physiotherapeutic procedures;
- Therapeutic gymnastics;
- Reflexology;
- Massages;
- spinal traction;
- Manual therapy.
If none of the treatment methods are effective, surgeons get to work.
spondyloarthrosis
The symptoms of this disease are similar to those of osteochondrosis.But in this case the intervertebral disc is displaced, not exhausted.Hyaline cartilage is forced to bear the load.Under such extreme conditions, its tissue becomes thinner and loses its ability to perform its functions.
If spondyloarthrosis is not treated, the entire joint can become inflamed and then completely lose mobility.The patient's condition is aggravated by osteophytes.
scoliosis
Curvature of the spine with respect to its axis to the right or left is common: almost half of humanity suffers from this disease.But for the majority, the disease is not clearly expressed, so pain appears periodically, if a person overloads his back, stands or sits in one position for a long time.
Early scoliosis cannot be determined visually, so if pain occurs in the scapular region, it is in the patient's best interest to consult a doctor.He will prescribe an x-ray, direct and lateral.
With further development of scoliosis, it can be detected independently: the "zigzags" of the spine become clearly defined.Advanced scoliosis is also determined by the relative position of the shoulders: one of them will be lower than the other.
Scoliosis treatment is a long-term process even with its high intensity.Massage, special exercises and wearing a corset will help eliminate curvature of the spine.
intervertebral hernia
The intervertebral disc is made up of:
- Gel-like core;
- The annulus fibrosus, formed by fibers;
- Two thin layers of cartilage that cover the discs above and below.
The nucleus is located inside the ring and the cartilaginous tissue, which closes the structure, simultaneously serves as a conductor of nutrition from the vessels of the vertebral body to the disc.
Pathological changes in the vertebrae cause disruption of metabolic processes in the intervertebral discs.Its thickness decreases, the annulus fibrosus cracks under the influence of loads, opening the exit to the gelatinous mass of the core.This process is accompanied by intense pain.It is concentrated in one point, but sometimes returns to the lung and heart regions.
Intervertebral hernia in the thoracic region is extremely rare, therefore, when pain appears in the region of the scapula, the patient is first monitored for the presence of other diseases.
Intervertebral hernia is treated with anti-inflammatories, physical therapy and special exercises.In serious conditions, only surgery can help.
Advanced pathology causes damage to the pelvic organs and paralysis of the legs.
Spinal tuberculosis
Tuberculosis microbacteria can affect any part of the spine, but 60% of cases occur in the thoracic region.Most often men suffer from this disease.Mainly one pair of vertebrae are involved in the process, but there are cases when tuberculosis spreads to three or more.
The symptoms of the disease can vary depending on the number of vertebrae affected.But there is a constant sign: pain.If it is felt between the shoulder blades, this indicates damage to the cervical vertebra.
It also hurts with tuberculosis of the thoracic region, but in that case the pain will radiate (give) to the chest, groin or abdomen.Patients complain of burning, twisting and “piercing” in the back.
Spinal tuberculosis is difficult to diagnose;Severe pain appears already at the stage of various complications.If you have the slightest suspicion of this disease, immediately go to a specialist for examination.
Overvoltage and hypothermia.
If the back is overloaded, painful sensations may also appear in the scapula area.This phenomenon in itself is not considered a disease, but constant overload can lead to osteochondrosis, curvature of the spine and the formation of intervertebral hernias.
Seamstresses, drivers, surgeons, people who do sedentary jobs, etc.They complain of back pain.If hypothermia (drafts, running air conditioning) is added to excessive exertion, you may suffer from lumbago, intense pain concentrated under the shoulder blades or in the spine.
This problem is treated with warm, anti-inflammatory ointments and massage.
myositis
The flu, ARVI and severe hypothermia can cause myositis, an inflammation of muscle tissue.Most often, this disease affects the muscles located in the region of the scapula.This condition does not threaten the body with anything terrible, but the pain creates discomfort.
Pain relievers and warm ointments relieve suffering.
Pain in the shoulder blades
Painful sensations appear for various reasons:
- Fracture or injury caused by a fall.The shoulder joint swells, it hurts when moving the limb;
- Osteomyelitis (inflammation of bone tissue) - accompanied by increased temperature, fever due to intoxication of the whole body;
- Pterygoid scapula - this effect is caused by damage to the serratus anterior (located on the side of the chest), paralysis of the rhomboid muscles, trapezius or their traumatic rupture (affecting circus acrobats and gymnasts, professional athletes).
If the bursa is inflamed, the shoulder blade begins to creak.In addition to this problem, the patient is bothered by heaviness and clicking in the shoulder joint.
Diagnosis
Since pain in the scapular area of the back indicates one of many diseases, the examination is carried out using different methods:
- Chest x-ray;
- laboratory research;
- Ultrasound;
- Magnetic resistance or computed tomography;
- ECG.
All examinations are prescribed by the surgeon;If you have back pain, go to him first.But in the future, based on the research results, you will need consultation:
- Orthopedist;
- Gastroenterologist;
- Neurologist;
- Pulmonologist.
If for some reason the doctor did not pay attention to the accompanying symptoms, go for a consultation on your own initiative.
Treatment
Self-medication for pain in the scapula area is strictly contraindicated.The maximum that a patient can afford is to take painkillers and pain relievers.The appointment should be a one-time appointment and only if pain relief is necessary before visiting the doctor.
Treatment is prescribed by a doctor: usually, to alleviate the condition, it is enough to take pain relievers, chondroprotectors and anti-inflammatories.Additionally, the doctor describes a treatment regimen designed to eliminate the root causes of pain in the scapula region.