The most common conditions that cause pain under the left shoulder blade from behind are osteochondrosis, angina, pneumonia, peptic ulcer and panic attack. Along with the pain syndrome, patients can be disturbed by nausea, vomiting, heartburn, cough, sputum, as well as impaired sensory and motor functions. Diagnosis of the condition of patients is based on a survey, examination, laboratory and instrumental studies. Treatment tactics depend on the underlying cause of the disease.
causes
Pain under the left shoulder blade from behind 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:
- Spinal diseases (congenital malformations, ankylosing spondylitis, spondylosis, osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, etc. ), causing compression of the vertebral roots;
- Muscular pathologies (dermatomyositis, fibromyalgia, etc. ), which cause characteristic pain - myalgia;
- Neurological disorders (Guillain-Barré syndrome, polyneuropathy, intercostal neuralgia, etc. ), which are characterized by the appearance of specific neuropathic pain;
- Diseases of internal organs:
- Hearts - angina pectoris, arrhythmia, heart attack;
- Lungs - bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, pleurisy;
- Stomach - gastritis, ulcers, polyps;
- Spleens - ruptures and other pathologies.
- "Blood cancer" (leukemia), due to which pain is noted in the thickness of the bones containing the bone marrow (pelvis, sternum, 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 - that is, about a panic attack.
Symptoms
The most common cause of pain under the left shoulder blade is osteochondrosis, angina, pneumonia, peptic ulcer or panic attack.
Osteochondrosis
The disease is caused by the destruction of the intervertebral disc, which normally "softens" the movement of the spine. Usually, pathology occurs against the background of extreme physical exertion and natural aging of the body.
Thus, the destroyed intervertebral disc (often in the cervical region) protrudes and encroaches on the roots of the spine. For this reason, patients (from the side of the lesion) are worried about sharp pains in the back of the head and neck with spread to the scapula and shoulder area. Over time, superficial sensitivity is disturbed in these areas, making it difficult for patients to feel temperature and vibration on the skin.
With the progression of the disease, the brachial plexus becomes 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
Angina pectoris is a painful syndrome that occurs in the chest, also called "angina pectoris". The cause of pain is a violation of blood supply to the heart muscle due to vasoconstriction or the formation of cholesterol plaques in their lumen. Provoking a crisis of stress, emotional and physical overload.
Usually, patients are worried about a sudden stabbing 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 associated with a feeling of interrupted work of the heart and 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 increase in temperature (up to 39. 5-40 ° C), fever and "stinging" pain in the chest or scapula of the affected lung. In this case, the pain is aggravated by sneezing, coughing or heavy 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 (that is, ulcers). 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 associated with nausea and vomiting, which brings 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 may be an attack of vegetovascular dystonia, also known as a panic attack. Usually, patients are worried about "migrating" pain, which occurs either in the region of the heart, or under the shoulder blade, or in the abdomen, etc.
At the same time, patients complain of fever, sweating, tremors, lack of air, fear of going crazy or confusion of thoughts.
Such seizures can be a manifestation of both organic pathology (tumor of the adrenal glands, heart disease) and mental (phobias, depression, post-traumatic syndrome). In some cases, panic attacks are the result of taking medication.
Diagnostic
Diagnostic measures typically consist of:
- A survey which makes it possible to determine the conditions of occurrence and the nature of the pain;
- Clinical examination with clarification of pain localization and identification of painful points;
- Laboratory tests to detect infection (with pneumonia or ulcer), inflammatory changes in blood or muscle protein levels, indicating their destruction (troponin in myocardial infarction);
- Instrumental methods using X-rays, ultrasound, computed tomography or MRI.
Additionally, in case of a heart attack, electrocardiography is performed, and in case of a stomach ulcer, a fibrogastroduodenoscopy (examination of the stomach with an endoscope).
Processing
If pain occurs under the left shoulder blade from behind, patients should urgently seek medical attention, because. such a pain syndrome may indicate an emergency (myocardial infarction, rupture of the spleen, perforation of an ulcer, etc. ). In this case, it is not recommended to take painkillers, because. analgesics can mask the symptoms and complicate subsequent diagnosis!
- Osteochondrosis. Basic treatment includes nonsteroidal and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Muscle relaxants are used to relieve muscle spasms. In 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), as well as 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. The treatment of an ulcer consists in the destruction of the provocative bacterium (Helicobacter pylori). For this purpose, several antibacterial agents are prescribed, as well as drugs that reduce the level of acidity of gastric contents.
- vegetative crisis. In most cases, treatment for panic attacks can be limited to psychotherapy sessions. At the same time, the appointment of psychotropic substances (antidepressants, tranquilizers) is most often unjustified.
Preventive measures
Prevention of pain under the left shoulder blade from behind from behind is based on:
- timely diagnosis of congenital and acquired diseases of the spine (fusion of cervical vertebrae, spondylosis, osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, injuries);
- early detection of muscular pathology (dermatomyositis, fibromyalgia);
- restoration of neurological disorders (intercostal neuralgia, polyneuropathy);
- treatment of diseases of internal organs:
- heart - angina, arrhythmia, heart attack;
- lungs - bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculous pleurisy;
- stomach - gastritis, ulcers, polyps;
- spleen - ruptures and other pathologies.
- perform a screening blood test for the presymptomatic diagnosis of leukemia.
Remember that pain in the left shoulder blade can indicate acute pathologies requiring emergency treatment or surgery!