What to do if the back hurts under the left shoulder blade?

Pain under the left shoulder blade in the back from behind is a serious disorder, in which the ability to move will inevitably be impaired, the person experiences severe discomfort. With certain pathologies, even at rest, the patient experiences discomfort.

But it should be noted that pain under the left shoulder blade does not always indicate the presence of a complex pathology. Sometimes it can arise due to being in the same unnatural position for a long time.

Distraction overview

If you look at the human back, you will see that the left shoulder blade is attached to the ribs that make up the rib cage. Nerves and blood vessels lie in the grooves between them. The ribs are connected using ligaments and muscles.

The spine, which contains the spinal cord, is located in the middle of the back, with the shoulder blades on either side. The nerves extend from the spine. Well-developed back muscles surround the shoulder blades.

pathology of the lungs as a cause of pain under the left shoulder blade

The function of the bones is to provide protection for the lungs, spleen, stomach and heart, the part of the aorta located in the chest.

Why is there discomfort in the subscapularis

Pain in the left shoulder blade is often caused by the following factors:

  • Stomach ulcer. In this disorder, back pain is often increased. It often appears after the next meal, but diminishes if the patient vomits. To find out whether the pain is really due to an ulcer, it is necessary to trace the presence of attacks of heartburn, belching. An unpleasant, painful sensation may begin in the subscapularis area on the left side or radiate to the sternum. At the same time, the sick person loses the ability not only to move freely, but also to breathe deeply. Breathing is complicated by the discomfort a person experiences when trying to relax. Due to such difficulties, other functional disorders, malfunctions of the nervous system can begin. If the pain under the left shoulder blade is sharp, appears unexpectedly, it is worth calling the medical team for help;
  • ulcer as a cause of pain under the left back scapula
  • Acute pancreatitis is a disorder of the body that can cause severe pain under the shoulder blade on the left side. Uncomfortable sensations always have a certain character, with this disease the pain appears suddenly, circling;
  • Vegetative crisis. Symptoms appear clearly and complicate the patient's life. In addition to nagging pain in the left scapula in the back, a feeling of tightness in the chest may begin, the patient notes a fever in the same place, while it is impossible to accurately identify the problem area. Due to respiratory distress, sick people often feel fear, anxiety, shortness of breath gradually appears, a feeling of a lump in the throat. Discomfort can also be felt in other parts of the body;
  • Sometimes it hurts under the left shoulder blade from behind due to a myocardial infarction. This condition is in most cases considered life-threatening. The sooner it is detected, the more effective the treatment. The sick person feels a burning sensation in the problem area, he cannot breathe deeply. The pain in the scapula on the left is quite high in intensity, there is no reaction to nitroglycerin drugs, this condition can last about 10 minutes. The disease is characterized by numbness of the hands with each attack;
  • angina pectoris and pain under the left shoulder blade behind from behind
  • Angina pectoris. A pathological condition in which it also often hurts on the left side under the scapula. Very unpleasant and sharp sensations, which seem to press against the chest. The cause of this unpleasant condition is a change in the size of the lumen of the blood vessels. Attacks can be provoked by significant physical exertion, alcoholism, hypothermia of the body. To relieve an attack, you can use nitroglycerin;
  • Pathological conditions of the respiratory organs. If there is frequent pain under the left shoulder blade, the cause may be pleurisy or pneumonia. Discomfort will be noted with every attempt to cough, sneeze, and even take a deep breath. The direction of pain always flows to the affected lung area. The character can change depending on the state of the person - the sensation of pain is insignificant, and, as it were, cutting and even piercing;
  • Aortic aneurysm - is characterized by an increased load on the heart valves. The heart then stops performing its full function. Due to this, venous blood begins to stagnate in the lungs, and edema develops. Where the aneurysm attaches to a blood vessel, the wall becomes thinner - it can rupture at any time and provoke bleeding into the abdominal cavity;
  • When it hurts under the left scapula in the back, the cause may be a biphasic rupture of the spleen. Such cases fall into the rarest category. The damage provokes the onset of abdominal bleeding, which cannot be stopped. This disease requires urgent surgery, especially if the pain under the scapula on the left side is very strong.

This kind of pathology should be recognized as soon as possible. The sooner treatment is prescribed, the more effective the fight against the disease will be.

a doctor who treats pain under the left shoulder blade

Not receiving proper help from health workers in time, the patient will only reach the progression of the disease, the result can be fatal.

Diseases of supporting equipment, provoking discomfort

Pain under the left shoulder blade from the back from the back can be caused by problems with the spine and other areas of the skeleton. Treatment will be determined after diagnosis. Discomfort sometimes occurs for the following reasons:

  • Cervical osteochondrosis. In the early stages of the disease, the sensation of discomfort is muffled, the patient can not always clearly explain where he is worried. In this case, the sensations are most pronounced in the area of \u200b\u200bthe damaged nerve root. Painful attacks can start suddenly, they pull and lose intensity if the patient spends some time in a warm bath. In the cervical spine area, blood vessels and nerves can then be pinched, this is quite painful. The course of the disease is complemented by pain that radiates to the arm. Cervical osteochondrosis mainly develops in people with a sedentary lifestyle. Pain in the scapula on the left may be stabbing or aching;
  • The intercostal nerves may be affected. This condition is said to be the main cause of left back pain under the shoulder blade. They can be exacerbated by coughing, deep breathing, and even bending of the torso to the left. They are very strong, sharp, often - shoot. With the development of the disease, the pain in the area of the left scapula may become burning;
  • The scapula-costal syndrome is characterized by a painful or pulling sensation. The localization of discomfort is usually under the shoulder, above and below the shoulder blades. The main feature of the pathology is that when you move your shoulder and arm, you hear a crackling sound. The cause of the disease is severe physical stress or injury to the arm, and sometimes severe hypothermia;
  • The skeleton can be affected by a malignant tumor, which causes discomfort. On the scapula, in such cases, the resulting tumor or metastases are localized;
  • The scapula crackled. Such diseases fall into the category of rare occurrences. The pain under the left shoulder blade in this case is not strong, but when moving in the upper back area there is a distinct crunch;
  • Sometimes the left scapula hurts due to osteomyelitis after certain injuries. For example, gun injuries may be the cause;
  • Periarthritis of the shoulder scapula. With a simple form of development, the sensations are not very bright - usually manifestations of the disease occur as a result of movement. Pathology that takes on an acute stage of development can manifest itself as an increase in symptoms, which tend to worsen at night. In the shoulder for this period, mobility is limited, the basal temperature rises, muscle spasms are noted.

Pain under the left shoulder blade from behind can indicate a severe pathological condition, special suspicions arise in cases where their character is burning, piercing.

pregnancy and pain under the left shoulder blade

Even as a result of pregnancy, this condition can arise due to increased stress.

An attack, when the scapula in the left back hurts, can be triggered by an injury, such as a fracture or fracture. Discomfort in this case is expressed as pain under the left shoulder blade, any awkward movement can intensify it.

Significant stresses of an emotional and psychological nature, which the body cannot cope with, are capable of triggering sensations. If a sick person treats the symptoms with disdain, the severity of the condition may worsen.

Before proceeding with pathological treatment, one must determine the reason why the painful condition arose. It is important for the correct diagnosis to clarify the nature of the pain syndrome.

The options are as follows:

  1. Corset pain, in which the localization of discomfort is only in one place. A person can feel it all the time, the pain may increase when inhaling. The patient's condition is aggravated by sudden movements and coughing. The reason is the passage of nerve impulses between the ribs;
  2. A burning sensation under the left scapula from behind from behind, tingling, numbness in certain areas;
  3. The pain caused by the increased tone of the muscles of the shoulders and back may get worse;
  4. Acute pain - can lead to the fact that the patient cannot take a breath, it is difficult to move, it becomes impossible to lie on the left side;
  5. Cut pain can be localized to the left, then go to the center;
  6. Aching, dull pain under the left shoulder blade in the back from the back occurs, as a rule, when raising the arm;
  7. Sharp and severe pain under the left shoulder blade;
  8. A pulling sensation extends from the scapula to the lumbar region;
  9. The pain can be constant, which does not allow you to lie down, move, breathe.

Since the types of sensations in different diseases may differ, it is unlikely to accurately determine the cause on your own.

back examination for pain under the left shoulder blade

In case of severe pain syndrome, it is necessary to consult a doctor for examination.

Diagnostic method

When the back hurts on the left under the scapula, painful sensations appear, you should start treatment with a complete examination of the body. For diagnostics, the following procedures are used:

  • X-ray of the spine in different projections. Snapshots simultaneously can help identify problems with the lungs;
  • MRI, CT;
  • ECG studies - if appropriate symptoms are present;
  • Ultrasound examination of organs;
  • Blood tests - general, biochemical;
  • Assessment of blood pressure, pulse.

When the patient is examined and the cause of the pathology is established, a selection of therapeutic measures is made. Additional consultation from a narrow specialist may be required.

How is the disease treated?

When it has been ascertained exactly why the pain is under the left shoulder blade from behind, and the patient is unable to take a deep breath, it is time to start treatment. How to get rid of discomfort is determined depending on the factors that led to the development of the pathology. Relieving the symptoms alone is not enough - they will reappear soon.

Each disease is characterized by separate symptoms, depending on the selected treatment regimen. Each of them includes recommendations for the selection of a diet and adherence to the daily regimen, if the pain is dull, treatment is carried out with the help of drugs.

The use of conservative therapy may not bring positive dynamics - in this case, the patient requires surgery. With the help of surgery, it is possible to treat a sufficiently large hernia, correct the situation with a ruptured spleen, and heal a gastric ulcer.

You should go to the hospital immediately if the patient notes severe pain and burning under the left shoulder blade, constant discomfort, which increases with deep breathing. To begin with, you should contact a therapist - he will decide which specialist to refer the patient to, depending on the symptoms present.

You can't completely protect yourself from all the illnesses, but you can try to follow some precautions. Pay more attention to diet selection, do warm-up exercises every day.

If it is known why the pain in the left back under the scapula, it's time to start treatment. Not all pathologies can be completely conquered, but in this case it is possible to follow up on them to slow down the course of the disease.