Back pain is a common complaint among people of different age groups.Unpleasant sensations are often noted in the area between the shoulder blades.Pain syndrome may be associated with pathologies of the spine, disorders of internal organs.
The use of analgesic ointments and other pain relievers is not an option.Relieving discomfort will improve your well-being, but the pathological process will further destroy the spine or internal organs.In some cases, back pain between the shoulder blades is the result of metastatic lung and stomach cancer.Approach this issue responsibly and entrust therapy to professionals.
Possible causes of pain.
Why does my back hurt in the shoulder blade area?Remember: pain is a symptom of other diseases, and not a separate pathology.Only by identifying the root cause of the discomfort can you overcome the disease and get rid of the unpleasant sensations.Experts distinguish two categories of causes that provoke pain in the shoulder blades: pathologies of the spine, ailments of internal organs.Let's consider each group of possible causes in detail.
intervertebral hernia
This phenomenon is quite rare;The lumbar region is usually affected, not the thoracic region.Pathology is characterized by the fact that the annulus fibrosus, against the background of various negative factors, begins to protrude, the distance between the vertebrae significantly decreases, which leads to pinching of the nerve roots.The annulus fibrosus acts as a shock absorber.
Intervertebral hernia in the thoracic region is characterized by the local appearance of pain, sometimes the discomfort spreads to the chest, which resembles the symptoms of diseases of the respiratory tract and heart.
Spinal tuberculosis
Many have forgotten about this disease, but according to statistics, 99% of the world's population is a carrier of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.Against the background of mechanical damage to the spine, hypothermia or weakened immunity, a tuberculosis lesion can form at the site of the hematoma.Pathology cannot always be recognized in time, even by x-rays.
Often the disease is detected in an advanced form, when the patient already has a number of complications and complains of severe pain in the shoulder blades.A characteristic sign of tuberculosis is elevated body temperature, a burning sensation in the thoracic region, which can spread to nearby tissues.
Muscle strain, hypothermia.
Excessive physical activity, improper exercise in the gym and constantly sitting in an uncomfortable position lead to overload of the back muscles.Office workers, truck drivers, surgeons and seamstresses are susceptible to this pathology.
The state of health worsens due to hypothermia of the body (uncontrolled operation of air conditioning, drafts).The pain in the shoulder blade area intensifies, the patient needs to take NSAIDs and rub with special ointments.Avoid drafts and avoid excessive physical activity.
scoliosis
Every schoolchild has heard about this disease from teachers and parents while sitting incorrectly at a desk.Adults forget about preventive recommendations, which causes the appearance of scoliosis to varying degrees in 50% of the population.The disease is a curvature of the spine that often affects the thoracic, cervical and spinal regions.The ribs are closely connected to the thoracic region, which is why patients complain of pain in the shoulder blades.
Characteristic signs of scoliosis include:
- increased fatigue of the back muscles;
- one shoulder may be located higher than the other;
- Discomfort in the shoulder blades appears after physical work, sitting for a long time in front of the computer, or can accompany the victim continuously.
spondyloarthrosis
The disease is similar to osteochondrosis;Differences can only be noticed by specialists during a series of specific studies.Spondylarthrosis is characterized by the destruction of cartilage, the replacement of missing areas with bone tissue, which leads to the formation of bumps, nerve damage and severe pain in the shoulder blades.
osteochondrosis
A sedentary lifestyle and obesity cause dystrophic changes in the joints and spine.Osteochondrosis is diagnosed even in children;The cause of the pain is the inflammatory process in the soft tissues adjacent to the damaged vertebrae, which further pinches the nerves.
Ailments of internal organs.
All organs and systems in the body are interconnected;Pain in the shoulder blades can indicate many diseases not related to the spine:
- ailments of the cardiovascular system.Myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and angina can cause acute chest pain that radiates to the shoulder blades.During an acute attack, the discomfort lasts no more than five minutes, blood pressure drops sharply, and cold sweat occurs.In this case, call an ambulance;
- gastrointestinal diseases.Pancreatitis, cholecystitis and peptic ulcers are common causes of chest pain on different sides.Oncological diseases in this area can also cause discomfort;
- diseases of the respiratory system.Pain in the shoulder blades is accompanied by cough, chills, fever and muscle aches.
Back pain during pregnancy
Against the background of increased load, curvature of the spine and the body in an unusual state during pregnancy, patients experience varying degrees of pain.A change in the center of gravity contributes to excessive compression of the vertebrae, which causes discomfort.
Pain in the shoulder blades can accompany a woman after childbirth.This is due to epidural anesthesia, which is often used for cesarean sections.The procedure itself involves inserting a special catheter into the epidural space, where it remains for the required time without coming into contact with the spinal cord.Pain relievers are administered through a catheter, which causes the lower body to lose sensation for a period of time.
Improper handling, sharp turns during catheter insertion and other unforeseen circumstances lead to damage to the membranes and substance of the spinal cord.The procedure itself is complex and requires maximum professionalism from the doctor.
Symptoms
The nature of pain in the shoulder blades is of great importance and helps to find out the cause of the discomfort:
- chronic - the sufferer constantly feels unwell, there are attacks of dull pain and periods of "calm".This type is typical for osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernias and other chronic diseases of the spine;
- spicy.Suddenly, the patient feels a stab of pain and the discomfort also suddenly disappears.This picture is typical for traumatic injuries, pinching of nerve roots and diseases of internal organs.
Pay attention!Additionally, patients may complain of persistent discomfort throughout the spine, headaches and other clinical manifestations of the underlying disease.
Diagnosis
What to do if your back hurts in the shoulder blade area?Patients often do not know which specialist to see.It all depends on the nature of the pain, its duration and the negative events that preceded the onset of discomfort.
The diagnosis is made:
- neurologist.Most victims should consult this doctor, because intervertebral hernias and osteochondrosis are accompanied by impingement of the nerve roots and corresponding symptoms;
- orthopedist-traumatologist.In case of deformation of the spine (kyphosis, scoliosis), ankylosing spondylitis, various traumatic injuries of the spine, it is advisable to visit this specialist;
- General practitioner or family doctor.A doctor usually solves many problems of patients.The doctor, knowing the family history and the person's characteristics, will identify what caused the discomfort or refer to a more specialized specialist.
To make a diagnosis of pain in the shoulder blades, several studies are used: x-ray, CT scan, MRI, blood test, urinalysis.Specific manipulations depend on the nature of the pain and the presence of accompanying discomfort.
Effective treatment options
In case of acute pain, the main task is to relieve it.Then they find out the cause of the discomfort and prescribe the necessary therapeutic course.
For unpleasant sensations in the shoulder blades, it is recommended:
- temporary pain relief.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used.Depending on the severity of the discomfort, medications are used in the form of tablets, ointments, injections;
- Physiotherapy treatment (magnetic therapy, UHF, shock wave therapy, mud therapy).In case of problems with the spine, physiotherapeutic influence on the shoulder blade area is a mandatory aspect of therapy.The manipulations relieve pain and reduce inflammation.Such methods cannot be used for tumors or infectious diseases with pus formation;
- massages, manual therapy.It is used only for pain caused by pinched nerve roots or damage to the vertebrae.Impacts on the spine help to stretch it and relax the muscles;
- compresses, lotions.Dimexide (1:3) and alcohol (1:1) are used in proportion with water.Compresses cope with unpleasant sensations and relieve inflammation.Soak the gauze in the prepared infusion, wrap it in cellophane and leave for two hours.After the procedure, apply gel or ointment.
Ailments of internal organs are treated in other ways, taking into account the stage of development of the pathology.In each individual case, the doctor selects an individual therapeutic course.Self-medication is harmful to health, even life.
Preventive measures
It is important to prevent not the discomfort itself, but the fundamental causes that caused it.
Expert recommendations:
- Get a massage regularly;
- avoid excessive exercise, but light physical exercise has a beneficial effect on the muscle corset;
- avoid drafts, hypothermia;
- Eat well, try to quit bad habits.
An important role is played by timely contact with a specialist in case of pain between the shoulder blades.Pathological changes do not form in one day.The sooner treatment begins, the greater the likelihood of a complete recovery and the risks of irreparable consequences for the body will be minimized.