Back pain in the area of ​​the shoulder blades: reasons for which doctor to contact

Pain in the area of ​​the shoulder blades is a common symptom of many diseases, so it should not be associated only with damage to the spine and adjacent bones.

When making a diagnosis, attention is paid to the nature of the pain, its intensity.

It is important to take into account concomitant diseases, previous injuries and drugs that relieve symptoms.

Only a comprehensive analysis of the state of the body will make it possible to accurately establish the causes of pain.

Pain associated with pathologies of the spinal column

Herniated disc

Among the pathologies of the spinal column, which provoke painful sensations, includes a herniated disc.

A herniated disc is diagnosed by a neurologist based on CT or MRI data. The cause of the disease is due to a violation of the fibrous structure of the intervertebral disc and the displacement of its nucleus.

Since the thoracic spine, from the point of view of physiology, does not experience such a significant load as the cervical or lumbar, hernias are rarely detected here. However, such a possibility exists.

Hernia pain is associated with stress and is localized at one point. With a pathological process in the thoracic spine, pain is often felt in the scapular region. Pain may spread to the chest and tingling sensations in the heart.

Ignoring pain can lead to serious complications:

• rachiocampsis;
• decreased sensitivity of the lower extremities;
• trophic disorders of the lower extremities;
• paraparesis of the lower extremities;
• dysfunction of the pelvic organs.

Scoliosis

Scoliosis - three-plane deformity of the spine in humans. In this case, the muscles are strained unevenly: some of them are constantly at work, some are relaxed. Characterized by the appearance of back pain in the area of ​​the shoulder blades, most often in the interscapular region.

With scoliosis, the shape of the chest changes, therefore, disturbances in the work of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems may occur. This condition is often the reason for seeking medical attention.

Sometimes the first alarming sign is right back pain scapula or similar sensation under the left shoulder blade. After the physician has performed a physical examination, an important step is to obtain an X-ray image of the spine. It is the x-ray that confirms the diagnosis of scoliosis.

Osteochondrosis

At osteochondrosis the joint is affected, namely: its cartilaginous part. Most often, the intervertebral discs are destroyed. Depending on the localization of the pathological process, thoracic, lumbar and cervical osteochondrosis.

Pain in the scapular region occurs with osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic regions. The pain is pulling, aggravated by coughing and sneezing, can be felt near the left and right shoulder blade.

The affected vertebrae are characterized by inactivity. Perhaps pinched nerves roots - in this case, neurological symptoms join.

Spinal tuberculosis

Spinal tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by mycobacteria. In most cases, with tuberculosis, the lungs are primarily affected, but the secondary pathological focus can be localized in other organs.

Pain is a constant symptom of spinal tuberculosis. The causes of pain are of a dual nature:

• Back pain in the area of ​​the shoulder blades is observed with damage to the cervical spine. This is due to compression of the nerve roots and irradiation of excitation. Characterized by pain on the right back or on the left back.
• The pain is localized directly above the lesion site - above the vertebra. It can be in the middle of the back, in the neck or lower back. The causes of pain are destructive processes in the bone and developing inflammation. Above the pathological focus, a zone of increased sensitivity is determined.

On early stages of tuberculosis spine X-ray diagnostics is not very informative. You should pay attention to changes in well-being and be alert when characteristic symptoms occur.

The symptomatology is of particular importance with the existing or cured pulmonary tuberculosis.

Spondyloarthrosis

Also, pain can be caused by spondyloarthrosis. This disease is based on dystrophic-degenerative processes that affect all the component parts of the joints of the spine.

Pain in the interscapular region with spondyloarthrosis occurs when the damaged joint is located in the thoracic region.

The back hurts constantly, aching pains are characteristic. Strengthening of unpleasant sensations occurs during movement, physical activity. As a rule, there are no complaints of numbness and impaired movement of the upper limbs. The movement of the spine in the affected area is limited.

Intercostal neuralgia

Causes of pain in the middle of the back with intercostal neuralgia - squeezing or irritation of the roots intercostal nerves. Burning pain, aching, usually felt in the chest. It can be felt under the scapula on the right back or in the area of ​​the left scapula.

An increase in pain occurs when inhaling and exhaling, coughing and sneezing, a sharp change in body position.

Pain can occur when pressing on certain points along the intercostal spaces, the spine, is felt from the scapula to the right behind or next to the left scapula. At the site of injury, there is no sensitivity, that is, numbness occurs.

A characteristic feature of the disease is changes in the autonomic nervous system. Attacks of neuralgia are often combined with increased sweating, redness or paleness of the skin over the places where the nerves pass, tingling sensations in the chest.

Diseases of the internal organs

The internal organs fit quite tightly to the bone frame, and therefore it is easy to make a mistake in determining the pathological focus. Nevertheless, a number of diseases of the internal organs are distinguished that can provoke pain in the area of ​​the shoulder blades:

Angina pectoris

A common disease based on a mismatch between the heart's need for oxygen and the ability to supply it. A typical manifestation is constricting pain behind the sternum, radiating to the left arm.

Other variants of pain syndrome are also possible. Pain in the scapular region, under the left shoulder blade, can be attributed to atypical manifestations of the disease. The pain is relieved by taking nitroglycerin.

Myocardial infarction

As well as angina, myocardial infarction is a form of coronary heart disease.

With a heart attack, the condition is more dangerous, since the supply of oxygen to the heart muscle is completely blocked. If assistance is not provided in a timely manner, it is possible to develop defibrillation and complete cessation of the work of the heart.

The patient experiences a feeling of fear, sweats a lot. When inhaling and exhaling, difficulty in chest movements is detected. The pain is acute, burning, growing in nature. Spreads into the upper left torso - possible pain in the area of ​​the scapula on the left.

The first thing to do before the ambulance arrives is to take nitroglycerin tablets. The condition requires immediate hospitalization.

Pericarditis

Pericarditis - inflammation of the heart bag. It can flow with the release of liquid into the cavity of the bag; with the formation of adhesions; mixed when fluid accumulates and adhesions form.

The first and most important symptom is heartache. The pain is dull and aching, but not as severe as with coronary heart disease. It can also be felt in the scapular region, namely: under the left shoulder blade behind.

Taking nitroglycerin for pericarditis does not relieve pain, it is necessary non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia or pneumonia. In classic cases, it proceeds with an increase in temperature, cough, severe shortness of breath. Painful sensations arise when inflammation spreads to the pleura, since there are no pain receptors in the lungs themselves.

The pain is mild, associated with respiratory movements. Can be localized in the interscapular region or behind the scapula behind. If the right lung is affected, then a sensation of pain in the right back is characteristic.

Pleurisy

Pleurisy is a complication of pneumonia or other inflammatory process in the lung tissue. Pain in pleurisy of a pronounced nature, the intensity is associated with the depth of respiratory movements. The deeper the breath, the stronger the pain.

Unpleasant sensations in the region of the left and right scapula behind are accompanied by an increase in the frequency of respiratory movements. X-ray diagnostics is not always informative, so only in some cases fluid is found in the pleural cavity.

Inflammation of the gallbladder

Cholecystitis - inflammation of the gallbladder. It is stone, with the formation of gallstones, or stoneless. The most striking symptom is pain and heaviness in the right hypochondrium. A painful impulse can also be felt in the area of ​​the shoulder blades, or rather, under the shoulder blade on the right back.

Cholecystitis is often accompanied by a rise in temperature, vomiting, and jaundice.

Hepatic colic

If you do not deal with the treatment and prevention of complications of stone cholecystitis, it will inevitably lead to hepatic colic. In this case, a stone from gallbladder goes into the bile ducts.

Characterized by a sharp pain in the right hypochondrium. There may be pain in the right back, in the area of ​​the right scapula in the back. The patient rushes about, tries to find a posture that relieves suffering.

Hepatic colic is often accompanied by a rise in temperature.

Pancreatitis

At pancreatitis the pancreas is inflamed - the most important organ of hormonal secretion. Symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract come to the fore: nausea and vomiting, which do not bring relief, diarrhea.

Weakness and palpitations accompany (tachycardia of the heart). Acute inflammation is accompanied by girdle pain, which is felt equally strongly in the area of ​​the shoulder blades on both sides.

If the head of the pancreas is predominantly affected, the pain is felt as a "lumbago" in the projection of the scapula to the right and right behind.

Other other causes of pain

Symptoms cannot always be explained in terms of the above disorders.

Other diseases that signal pain in the scapular region are:

• Bone injury after direct impact. The scapula is one of the strongest bones in the human body, and damage can only be caused by the application of considerable force.
• Malignant neoplasms of bone tissue: Ewing's sarcoma, osteosarcoma.
• Vertebral metastases. Introduced through the lymph or blood, found in tumors of the stomach.
• Osteoporosis - decrease in bone density. May lead to vertebral fracture. It is characteristic of postmenopausal women due to a sharp decrease in the amount of estrogen.
• Subphrenic abscess - the formation of purulent limited inflammation between the diaphragm and adjacent organs.

Low temperatures and physical activity can also provoke pain in the scapular region.

In the case of excessive stress, the mechanism of the onset of pain is due to the excessive accumulation of lactic acid. The causes of pain with hypothermia are in the following scheme: muscle spasm - lack of oxygen - release of mediators - inflammation - activation of pain receptors. The pain can be localized in the region of the left scapula, in the region of the right scapula, and also in the interscapular region. It depends on the working muscle or the place of action of the damaging factor - cold.

Complaints about back pain can occur among people of various professions that require a constant static posture. These include surgeons, dentists, locksmiths, painters, office workers and many others.

All of the above conditions are not diseases and are reversible with timely measures taken: rubbing, massage, preventive gymnastics, periodic change of working positions.

Which doctor should I go to?

In the presence of painful sensations in the area of ​​the scapula, you should initially contact a therapist, who, after hearing the complaints, will send the patient to a surgeon, traumatologist, cardiologist or gastroenterologist.

Pain in the area of ​​the shoulder blades is an important diagnostic symptom. It can be an expression of a large number of diseases, and therefore requires high-quality diagnostics. Treatment is selected by the doctor in accordance with the diagnosis and the individual characteristics of the body.