The most common ailments that cause pain under the left shoulder blade from behind the back are osteochondrosis, angina pectoris, pneumonia, peptic ulcer and panic attack. Along with the pain syndrome, patients can be disturbed by nausea, vomiting, heartburn, cough, sputum production, as well as disturbances of sensory and motor functions. Diagnosis of the condition of patients is based on an investigation, examination, laboratory and instrumental studies. Treatment tactics depend on the underlying cause of the disease.
Causes
Pain under the left shoulder blade from behind from the back is a formidable symptom that can be observed in diseases of the spine or in severe violations of the functions of internal organs. At the same time, in 7% of cases, such a pain syndrome occurs due to a surgical pathology that requires urgent surgical intervention.
Among the main causes of pain in the region of the left shoulder blade are:
- Diseases of the spine (congenital malformations, ankylosing spondylitis, spondylosis, osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, etc. ), which cause compression of the spinal roots;
- Muscle pathologies (dermatomyositis, fibromyalgia, etc. ), which provoke a characteristic pain - myalgia;
- Neurological disorders (Guillain-Barré syndrome, polyneuropathy, intercostal neuralgia, etc. ), which are characterized by the appearance of specific neuropathic pain;
- Diseases of the internal organs:
- Hearts - angina pectoris, arrhythmia, heart attack;
- Lungs - bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, pleurisy;
- Stomach - gastritis, ulcers, polyps;
- Spleen - ruptures and other pathologies.
- "Blood cancer" (leukemia), causing pain in the thickness of the bones containing the bone marrow (pelvis, breastbone, shoulder blades, tubular bones).
Sometimes the pain syndrome is provoked by disorders of the autonomic nervous system, which regulates the work of all organs and systems. In such cases, we are talking about an exacerbation of vegetovascular dystonia, i. e. about a panic attack.
Symptoms
The most common cause of pain under the left shoulder blade is osteochondrosis, angina pectoris, pneumonia, peptic ulcer or panic attack.
Osteochondrosis
The disease is caused by the destruction of the intervertebral disc, which normally "softens" movement in the spine. Usually, the pathology occurs against the background of extreme physical exertion and the natural aging of the body.
Thus, the destroyed intervertebral disc (often in the cervical region) protrudes and violates the spinal roots. For this reason, patients (on the side of the lesion) are concerned about acute pain in the back of the head and neck with spread to the scapula and shoulder area. Over time, the surface sensitivity is disturbed in these areas, as a result of which patients do not feel the temperature and vibrations on the skin.
With the progression of the disease, the brachial plexus is involved in the pathological process, which greatly complicates the mobility of the shoulder. At the same time, the strength of the muscles of the affected arm is significantly weakened, which in advanced cases leads to immobilization.
angina pectoris
Angina pectoris is a painful syndrome that occurs in the chest, also known as "angina pectoris". The cause of pain is a violation of the blood supply to the heart muscle due to vasoconstriction or the formation of cholesterol plaques in their lumen. To provoke an attack of stress, emotional and physical overload.
Usually, patients are concerned about sudden shooting or burning pain in the chest area. In this case, the pain often spreads to the left shoulder blade, as well as along the ulnar surface of the left hand to the little finger. Often the pain syndrome is combined with a feeling of interruptions in the work of the heart and the fear of death.
Pneumonia
Inflammation of the lungs is a disease, often caused by a bacterial or viral infection. As a rule, patients complain of a significant rise in temperature (up to 39. 5-40 ° C), fever and "stabbing" pain in the chest or shoulder blade from the affected lung. In this case, the pain is aggravated by sneezing, coughing, or intense breathing.
With the development of the disease, a cough occurs and the separation of purulent sputum, which sometimes acquires a "rusty" character (due to blood impurities). Patients often experience shortness of breath and shortness of breath even with little physical activity.
stomach ulcer
The cause of the disease is the local destruction of the gastric mucosa with the formation of a peptic ulcer (i. e. ulcers). The provocateurs are bacterial infection (Helicobacter), hyperacidity and gastric motility disorders.
The main complaint of peptic ulcer is paroxysmal pain in the upper abdomen (epigastrium), which occurs or intensifies after eating. Often, exacerbations of the disease are combined with nausea and vomiting, which bring relief. In the interictal period, patients complain of heartburn, belching, bloating and a feeling of heaviness after eating.
Vegetative crisis
The cause of the pain can be a crisis of vegetovascular dystonia, also known as a panic attack. Usually, patients are concerned about "migrating" pain, which occurs in the region of the heart, under the shoulder blade or in the abdomen, etc.
At the same time, patients complain of fever, sweating, tremor, lack of air, fear of going crazy or confused thoughts.
Such crises can be a manifestation of both organic (tumor of the adrenal glands, heart disease) and mental (phobias, depression, post-traumatic syndrome) pathology. In some cases, panic attacks are the result of taking medication.
Diagnostics
Diagnostic measures usually consist of:
- An investigation that allows you to determine the conditions for the onset and nature of pain;
- Clinical examination with clarification of the localization of pain and identification of painful points;
- Laboratory tests to detect infections (with pneumonia or ulcer), inflammatory changes in the levels of proteins in the blood or muscles, which indicate their destruction (troponin in myocardial infarction);
- Instrumental methods using X-rays, ultrasound, CT or MRI.
Also, in the case of a heart attack, electrocardiography is performed, and in the case of a stomach ulcer, fibrogastroduodenoscopy (examination of the stomach with an endoscope).
Treatment
If the pain occurs under the left shoulder blade from behind from the back, patients should urgently seek medical attention, because. such a painful syndrome may indicate an emergency (myocardial infarction, rupture of the spleen, perforation of the ulcer, etc. ). In this case, it is not recommended to take painkillers, because. pain relievers can hide symptoms and complicate later diagnosis!
- Osteochondrosis. Basic therapy includes non-steroidal and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Muscle relaxants are used to relieve muscle spasm. As a long-term treatment aimed at slowing down the destruction of the intervertebral disc, chondroprotectors are prescribed.
- Angina. Relief of an acute attack is carried out with the help of nitrates. However, general therapy is based on lifestyle changes, the use of acetylsalicylic acid (to "thin" the blood) and statins to lower cholesterol levels.
- Pneumonia. The main drug in the treatment of pneumonia is an antibiotic, the choice of which depends on the causative agent of the infection.
- Stomach ulcer. Treatment of an ulcer consists of destroying the provoking bacteria (Helicobacter pylori). For this purpose, various antibacterial agents and drugs are prescribed that reduce the level of acidity of the gastric contents.
- vegetative crisis. In most cases, the treatment of panic attacks can be limited to psychotherapy sessions. At the same time, the appointment of psychotropic substances (antidepressants, tranquilizers) is often unjustified.
Preventive measures
Prevention of pain under the left shoulder blade from behind from the back is based on:
- timely diagnosis of congenital and acquired diseases of the spine (fusion of the cervical vertebrae, spondylosis, osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, injuries);
- early diagnosis of muscle pathology (dermatomyositis, fibromyalgia);
- restoration of neurological disorders (intercostal neuralgia, polyneuropathy);
- treatment of diseases of internal organs:
- heart - angina pectoris, arrhythmia, heart attack;
- lungs - bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculous pleurisy;
- stomach - gastritis, ulcers, polyps;
- spleen - ruptures and other pathologies.
- conduct a screening blood test for the purpose of presymptomatic diagnosis of leukemia.
Remember, left shoulder blade pain can indicate acute medical conditions that require emergency treatment or surgery!