Back pain in the area of the shoulder blades is a very common complaint among patients belonging to a wide variety of age groups. Such a problem interferes with breathing and creates serious obstacles in physical activity, work or simple movement.
Patients rarely pay due attention to recurring pain in the shoulder blades. However, this symptom is a "wake-up call" of serious changes not only in the musculoskeletal system, but also in the complex of internal organs. Such conditions can threaten the patient with disability and death.
Next, the most common causes of pain in the shoulder blades and modern therapeutic techniques will be considered.
The most common reasons
The shoulder blades are located in the posterior part of the back, very close to the humerus and the clavicle. These paired bones, which have a triangular shape, are part of the framework on which the muscles responsible for shoulder mobility are attached. That is why back pain in the shoulder blade area interferes with normal life, interferes with work capacity and is a serious health hazard.
Why does the back hurt in the area of the shoulder blades? According to medical statistics, these problems are most often caused by injuries and damage to the elements of the cervical and thoracic spine. Severe pain syndrome can be observed due to pathological changes provoked by scoliosis or osteochondropathy, as well as for the following reasons:
- diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- intercostal neuralgia;
- scapulohumeral periarthritis;
- herniated discs in the thoracic spine;
- deforming spondyloarthrosis;
- scoliosis, kyphoscoliosis and other curvatures of the spine;
- failure of one or two kidneys.
If the back hurts in the area of the shoulder blades, the causes may be diseases, tumors and injuries of the mediastinal organs, herpes zoster, intercostal neuralgia, impaired liver function, various pathologies of the pleura and lungs, as well as in the performance long-term from monotonous activity in the context of chronic ailments. At risk are drivers, office workers, seamstresses and representatives of other professions associated with a long stay in a position.
Pain in the back to the left and below the shoulder blades
Back pain under the shoulder blades often occurs due to osteochondrosis, various forms of slouching, and scoliosis. If a teenager has a disturbed physiological posture, he needs a comprehensive diagnosis, well-chosen prevention and therapy. Otherwise, you can develop difficult-to-treat pathologies and deformities that interfere with normal life.
Spinal pain associated with the causes listed above usually manifests itself in the form of severe discomfort that occurs after physical exertion. It is preferable to treat scoliosis and other curvatures of the spine through massage, as well as manual and osteopathic effects. Pain syndrome, localized in the region of the shoulder blades to the left, is a serious danger, since such symptoms may indicate an attack of angina pectoris and the development of coronary heart disease.
If the pain in the left side of the back in the area of the shoulder blades is accompanied by increased fatigue, shortness of breath, weakness and a slight swelling of the face and ankles, you should immediately consult a doctor. Another cause of pain to the left of the shoulder blades can be a herniated disc. People who are forced to be in an uncomfortable position for a long time, driving a car or working on a computer, are at risk.
If the pain is only slightly bothersome, you can limit yourself to using an ointment with a warming or analgesic effect; however, in case of exacerbation, the patient is advised to remain in bed.
Treatment of intervertebral hernia of the thoracic region involves the traction traction method, manual therapy, reflexology, exercise therapy and a course of therapeutic massage. Medication methods for treating such pathologies are currently unknown to conservative medicine. With surgical intervention, the probability of a positive result is relatively low and is around 30-35%.
At the same time, many patients experience relapse after a period of 10 months to several years.
Pain in the back muscles below the shoulder blades and in one shoulder blade
Pain in the muscles located between the shoulder blades is usually observed in professional athletes who are engaged in weightlifting, and in people who, by the nature of their activities, are faced with great physical exertion. The causes of muscle pain between the shoulder blades can be:
- various injuries and bruises;
- tendon stretching;
- overexertion while working or exercising in the gym.
If a scapula hurts badly, the pathology can be triggered by myopathy, neuroinfection, paralysis of the serratus anterior, trapezius or rhomboid muscles, various deformities of the shoulder joints, tuberculosis of the scapula or osteomyelitis, which led to the development of suppuration and poisoning of the Body.
stomach ulcer
Pain syndrome, localized in the region of the shoulder blades, often indicates the presence of such a dangerous disease as a stomach ulcer. In such a case, discomfort and discomfort can spread along the thoracic spine, extending to the nipple and shoulder blade located on the left side. The pain increases gradually and is characterized by seasonality and periodicity, subsiding after emptying the contents of the stomach by inducing vomiting. Additionally, most patients experience symptoms such as belching, salivation, and heartburn.
It's interesting! With perforation of peptic ulcer even during minor activity, the level of discomfort increases sharply, and to get rid of it, the patient must take a forced position on the back or right side, pressing the hips to the abdomen. This phenomenon is accompanied by increased excitement, attacks of fear, as well as intolerable pain syndrome, radiating to the area above the clavicle.
Abscesses and muscle spasms of the bile ducts
Sharp, stabbing pain on the right side, just below the shoulder blades, is often caused by stones blocking the bile ducts. As a result, there are colic, severe pain syndrome and the following symptoms:
- the presence of "tearing" sensations in the right hypochondrium;
- sudden attack of pain;
- nervousness, irritability;
- pain radiating to the eyes, jaw, neck, and right shoulder.
The pain syndrome, located above the waist in the region of the right shoulder blade, may be due to a subdiaphragmatic abscess, characterized by very strong discomfort on inspiration, increased body temperature, and pain radiating to the right shoulder. With an inflammatory process in the kidneys (nephritis, pyelonephritis), there is pain in the region of the right shoulder blade and lower back with frequent urination, which causes a number of painful sensations.
Mental problems
Pain in the spine between the shoulder blades is often triggered by various psychological problems. In such a case, the discomfort is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:
- feeling short of breath;
- sensation of a lump in the throat;
- paranoid thoughts, unmotivated fear;
- the appearance of chills and heat in the chest;
- feeling of pressure, heaviness and constriction.
In case of mental problems, there is often an unpleasant feeling that the heart is "bleeding" or jumping out of the chest, and the back burns in the area of the shoulder blades. Many patients experience chills, inner excitement and anxiety, leading to panic attacks.
Intercostal neuralgia and cervical osteochondrosis
The pains located under the scapula, in the case of intercostal neuralgia, have a paroxysmal enveloping character and are intensified during palpation, exercise, walking and coughing fits. In some cases, these symptoms are accompanied by excessive muscle tension, and there is also a burning sensation, tingling sensation, and loss of sensation.
With osteochondrosis and ankylosing spondylitis, the pain syndrome is often exacerbated at night, depriving the patient of sleep and causing great muscle tension in the morning.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the following symptoms are observed:
- dizziness;
- increased pain in case of acute flexion or extension of the neck;
- paresthesia in the region of the shoulder girdle;
- pain radiating to the arm or head
Osteochondrosis can be recognized by a unilateral dull pain in the occipital region. The discomfort usually increases in the morning, causing an early awakening and giving the patient many problems. To relieve an attack of cervical osteochondrosis, a warm bath or various drugs are used, which are selected exclusively on the advice of a doctor.
During pregnancy
In women during pregnancy, the load on the spine increases, therefore a significant percentage of pregnant women complain of back pain, including in the area of the shoulder blades. Bursting and burning pains, as well as a feeling of numbness in the area of the shoulder blades, are often associated with changes in the hormonal background, which also affects the aggravation of chronic diseases such as osteochondrosis.
For preventive purposes, some doctors recommend that women wear a support corset in the last trimesters of pregnancy and a bandage after childbirth, which reduces the load on the spine and allows the child to maintain the correct position.
Other reasons
Back pain in the shoulder blades can be caused by angina pectoris or myocardial infarction. Pain syndrome usually occurs against the background of intense physical exertion and has a twisted eversion character. Unpleasant sensations are common in the upper left half of the body, and getting rid of them with the help of drugs with a vasodilating effect will not work.
In such a case, it is necessary to eliminate negative symptoms in a clinical hospital, where the patient is prescribed narcotic analgesics and specially selected support drugs.
Diagnosis and treatment
Before taking any measures to get rid of localized pain syndrome in the region of the shoulder blades, it is necessary to establish the cause of the pathology that has arisen. In case of painful pain in the back between the shoulder blades, which is accompanied by pulling and twisting sensations, and baking and burning in the chest, you should immediately consult a doctor. The doctor will select the best diagnostic method, such as:
- chest and spine x-ray;
- Ultrasound;
- electrocardiogram;
- computed tomography
Manual therapy in many cases shows positive results and allows you to strengthen both the lower back and the upper back, as well as make the muscle tissues that support the spine more elastic. Osteopathy and reflexology contribute to the activation of the processes of regeneration and local metabolism. It is worthwhile to regularly strengthen muscles by performing a set of individually selected exercise therapy exercises.