Pain appearing on the left under the shoulder blade is a fairly common symptom that can occur in men, women and even children.At first glance, such symptoms seem frivolous, but in fact pain under the left shoulder blade from the back can be a harbinger of a number of dangerous diseases.
There are many reasons for the occurrence of such pain syndrome, and they are usually not at all related to problems with the shoulder blades themselves.Most often, the cause of pain is inflammatory and pathological processes in other organs and systems.
Why does it hurt under my left shoulder blade?
To understand why it hurts under the shoulder blade, we must remember the anatomical structure of a person.After all, very often it is those organs that are nearby that hurt, even if it happens that the pain radiates along the nerve fibers away from the source of the disease.
The left scapula sits on the ribs that form the chest.The ribs are connected to each other by ligaments and intercostal muscles, and intercostal vessels and intercostal nerves are located between each rib.In turn, the intercostal nerves originate from the spinal cord, which is located in the spinal trunk in the center of the scapula.Along with the ribs, the scapula protects the left heart, left lung, stomach, spleen, pancreas, and aorta.
Based on this localization, the causes of pain can be divided into two main groups:
- Pain associated with disorders of the musculoskeletal system, as well as muscle pain.
- Pain associated with pathological changes in the functioning of internal organs (diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, spleen, respiratory organs).
The cause of scapula pain can be determined based on its nature, intensity and location:
- Pain radiating to the left shoulder blade.The pathological source of such pain may be located far from the site of the pain.Most often, this symptom is characteristic of stomach or heart diseases.
- Aching pain under left shoulder blade.Indicates the presence of a protracted chronic process.Such painful manifestations can be associated with chronic heart diseases (pericarditis, myocarditis), as well as cervical osteochondrosis of the spine.
- Dull pain under the left shoulder blade.Most often it occurs against the background of the development of thoracic or cervical osteochondrosis.Usually, the pain spreads from the back of the head down the back, arm, under the shoulder blade and is accompanied by nausea, dizziness, numbness (tingling) of the hands.
- Severe pain under the left shoulder blade.Severe pain is not typical of the scapular area, which means it serves as a signal of a pathological condition that can be life-threatening.At best, severe pain may indicate intercostal neuralgia, but more often such sensations indicate the presence of a peptic ulcer and the development of a pre-infarction condition.
- Sharp pain under the left shoulder blade.Intercostal neuralgia can cause acute pain: during inhalation, the pain syndrome clearly intensifies and there is a feeling of "taking your breath away".Sharp pain may be caused by left-sided pneumonia in the acute phase, while the patient feels sharp, stabbing symptoms throughout the left side of the chest, radiating to the left scapula.Less often, severe pain may occur during exacerbation of pancreatitis: the pain is girdling and cramping in nature.
- Nagging pain under left shoulder blade.It may indicate the initial stage of development of cervical osteochondrosis.The pain starts just below the occipital bone and radiates to the left (or right) side of the back.
- Burning under the shoulder blade.This symptom may indicate prolonged intercostal neuralgia, angina attacks or myocardial infarction.Sometimes, the appearance of a burning sensation under the shoulder blade may indicate the development of vegetative-vascular dystonia.In this case the pain is accompanied by tachycardia, hand tremors and a strong sense of fear.
- Constant pain under the left shoulder blade.Such pain syndrome may indicate the development of left-sided pneumonia.In this case, the pain is accompanied by dry cough, low temperature, feeling of lack of air and shortness of breath.
- Stinging pain under the left shoulder blade.Stinging pain (so-called “low back pain”) is often a sign of osteochondrosis, but can also indicate intercostal neuralgia.Tingling in the back that occurs during physical exertion, deep breathing or coughing may be a sign of the development of pleurisy or pneumonia.
- Pressing pain.Indicates the development of osteochondrosis, and may also indicate the initial stage of coronary heart disease and exacerbation of vegetative-vascular dystonia.
- Excruciating pain.Most often, the left-sided protrusion of the intervertebral disc in the thoracic or cervical spine manifests itself in this way.Throbbing pain may indicate a herniated disc or incipient aortic dissection.
- Sharp pain under the left shoulder blade.Indicates dangerous conditions and requires immediate medical attention.The causes of pain syndrome can be: angina attacks, protrusion of the intervertebral disc on the left side, gastric ulcer.
The nature of the pain and its localization may vary, but most often pain under the left shoulder blade is a very dangerous symptom that requires immediate medical intervention.
What diseases can cause pain under the left shoulder blade?
Painful syndrome on the left under the shoulder blade is often caused by pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, heart, stomach and bronchopulmonary system.
Let's consider possible diseases accompanied by pain under the left shoulder blade and associated symptoms.
| Illnesses | Nature of pain | Associated symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Musculoskeletal system | ||
| Humeroscapular periatritis | The pain appears in the shoulder area and radiates to the scapula. | The patient cannot move freely (cannot put his hands behind his head due to pain);there is a creak in the joints when moving. |
| Intercostal neuralgia | The pain is localized in one of the intercostal spaces and is accompanied by a sensation of numbness.The pain intensifies when bending to the left. | Redness may appear along the inflamed area and characteristic rashes may appear on the skin. |
| Back muscle diseases (myositis, inflammation, injuries) | Back pain comes on suddenly and may be achy in nature. | Pain appears on the left side when the scapula is injured or when the muscles are tense. |
| Oncology | Aching pain under the left shoulder blade or constant sharp pain. | In tumors of the scapula the posterior thoracic part is deformed. |
| Injuries | Intense pain, especially in the first hours immediately after the injury. | If the pain intensifies with movement, swelling or swelling occurs, it may be a fracture of the scapula or rib. |
| Osteochondrosis, spondylosis, thoracic scoliosis, intervertebral hernia | Severe pain occurs on a constant basis or in “low back pain.” | Unpleasant sensations appear in the spine: the feeling that "a stake has been driven in." |
| Heart disease | ||
| Angina pectoris | Pain under the left shoulder blade from the back occurs during exertion and radiates to the left arm, left shoulder blade, and sometimes to the left jaw. | Accompanied by shortness of breath and fear of death. |
| Myocardial infarction | Burning pain under the left shoulder blade on the side of the heart. | Heart pain cannot be relieved with pills.The left arm becomes numb, severe shortness of breath appears, and the sternum begins to "burn". |
| Pericarditis and myocarditis | Aching pain on left side. | Accompanied by chills, which appear more often at night and increased temperature. |
| Dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta | The pain syndrome migrates from top to bottom.Initially, the pain occurs in the chest, then gradually moves under the left shoulder blade and further into the lower back. | A sharp drop in blood pressure. |
| Diseases of the bronchopulmonary system | ||
| Left-sided pneumonia | Moderately intense pain. | Cough with sputum, wheezing in the lungs, fever. |
| Pleurisy | Pain occurs when breathing | Shortness of breath, wheezing sensation in the lungs. |
| Gastrointestinal disorders | ||
| Stomach ulcer | Pain under the shoulder blade is accompanied by a burning sensation (usually at night). | Pain is associated with eating. |
| Perforated ulcer | Sharp, stabbing pain (like a stab wound). | Fever, vomiting. |
| Acute pancreatitis | The pain is enveloping in nature and can sometimes radiate laterally. | Flatulence, repeated vomiting, fever. |
Other symptoms accompanying pain syndrome can help identify the disease caused by pain on the left side under the shoulder blade:
- The pain gets worse after eating– peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, gastritis.
- The pain gets worse when you sneeze– bone diseases, injuries, pleurisy, neuralgia, joint and muscle pathologies.
- The pain occurs when you turn your head– osteochondrosis, clavicle lesions.
- Pain occurs when swallowing– diseases of the esophagus, psychosomatic disorders.
- Pain accompanied by shortness of breath– pleurisy, cardiac pathologies, intercostal neuralgia.
- The pain causes coughing- damage to the respiratory system.
- Temperature aspect– infectious and inflammatory processes: pericarditis, purulent pleurisy, subphrenic abscess.
- Pain accompanied by numbness in the left arm– angina pectoris, osteochondrosis, myocardial infarction.
- Nausea and belching accompany the pain– gastrointestinal pathologies (pancreatitis, ulcers, gastritis).
- The pain causes numbness of the tongue– angina pectoris, osteochondrosis, heart attack.
Pregnant women experience pain under the shoulder blade for the same reasons as other people, but the expectant mother has a much higher risk of developing certain diseases.The most likely cause of left back pain in a pregnant woman is osteochondrosis (due to increased load on the spine), pyelonephritis (due to displacement of the kidneys and activation of their activity) and overstrain of the back muscles.
In children, pain under the scapula usually occurs due to injury, neuralgia (after hypothermia), myositis, pleurisy.
Diagnosis and treatment.Which doctor should I contact?
You should choose a doctor to make an appointment with depending on the nature of the pain and its manifestations:
- Emergency doctor– with sharp and intense pain, burning in the chest, shortness of breath, when the pain is accompanied by severe dizziness, severe weakness or loss of consciousness.
- Neurologist– if the pain is associated with loads or movements.
- Traumatologist– if the pain appeared after an injury.
- Cardiologist– with burning sensation behind the sternum, extending under the shoulder blade, to the left arm, to the jaw.
- Pulmonologist (or therapist)– if the pain intensifies when breathing and is accompanied by cough, shortness of breath and fever.
- Gastroenterologist– if the pain is associated with meals and is accompanied by dyspeptic disorders.
- Surgeon– pain under the shoulder blade is accompanied by deformation of the sternum, with acute pain accompanied by high fever.
If it is difficult to decide on the choice of a doctor yourself, you need to contact a therapist who, based on the results of the examination, will make an appointment with a specialist.
Diagnostic measures are prescribed based on the reasons that caused the pain under the left scapula, behind:
- General examination: collection of medical history and interview of the patient, visual examination (measurement of pulse, blood pressure, temperature, palpation, auscultation), performance of blood and urine tests.
- X-ray, CT and MRI examination - determines pathologies of the spine and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, as well as diseases of the pulmonary system.
- Ultrasound of abdominal organs, FGDS – gastrointestinal diseases.
- Ultrasound and ECG - prescribed for examination of cardiovascular diseases.
The treatment regimen for pain under the left shoulder blade is selected specifically for each disease: there is no single treatment protocol.
Important!Treatment of pain under the left shoulder blade is primarily the treatment of the disease causing the pain syndrome.
If the pain is associated with cardiovascular pathologies, cardiological drugs and a delicate diet on physical and psycho-emotional activity are prescribed.
Gastrointestinal pathologies that cause pain are treated by taking antacids and prescribing a sweet diet.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system are treated with long-term therapy, including taking anti-inflammatory drugs and performing special therapeutic exercises.
Surgical treatment is prescribed when conservative therapy is ineffective.Surgery is mandatory for perforated ulcers, severe gastrointestinal pathologies, ruptured spleen and intervertebral hernia.
If you feel pain under the left shoulder blade, you should definitely undergo examination by a doctor to avoid the onset and development of life-threatening pathologies.