If a person has back pain in the shoulder blade area, he automatically associates this with the condition of the spine.They are partially right: this long-suffering core of our skeleton receives heavy loads, which cannot but affect its condition.
But pain in this area of the back often signals a disorder in the internal organs.The nature of the pain corresponds to the disease, so when visiting a doctor it is important to describe its manifestations in as much detail as possible.
What causes pain in the scapula region
Pain is caused by pathological changes in:
- Back;
- Internal organs;
- Surrounding structures.
Pain in the scapula area and in some rare diseases:
- Fractures of the spine and its systemic lesions;
- Metastases to the spine due to cancer of the stomach and sometimes other organs.
The pain is localized according to the type of disease:
- Above the shoulder blades;
- Under the shoulder blades;
- Between the shoulder blades;
- On the shoulder blades.
Symptoms related to pathologies of internal organs
Stomach, lungs, liver and heart can show their pain under the shoulder blade - right or left.
If it hurts on the left, this could be a sign of:
- Gastric ulcer: the pain is of a periodic nature, accompanied by irritations of a seasonal nature.They are accompanied by painful sensations in the upper abdomen.When the pain intensifies, vomiting occurs;
- Myocardial infarction: the disease is accompanied by acute pain in the chest that radiates under the left shoulder.Cardiac ischemia has similar signs, but in this case the pain also appears in the left arm;
- Spread of stomach ulcer: the patient's body is covered with cold sweat, he may feel sick and even vomit.The patient tries to relieve suffering by changing the position, but these actions do not give the expected effect;
- Intercostal neuralgia: pain under the left shoulder comes in attacks, aggravated by the slightest physical stress.There is a tingling and burning sensation in the area of the heart.It hurts to cough and take a deep breath.
Pain under the right shoulder can occur when:
- Psychological problems in the body.At the same time, the patient feels heat in the chest, he may complain of compression and tingling in the heart muscle;
- Pathological changes in the gallbladder: additional symptoms - bitterness in the mouth after fatty, salty and fried foods, pain in the right hypochondrium;
- Pleurisy and pneumonia: pain under the right shoulder is reflected when coughing;
- Kidney diseases: in this case, the cough also brings increased pain, but unlike pulmonary diseases, the patient experiences difficulty urinating.
Pain associated with spinal pathologies
Problems with the spine can occur after injuries, fractures or bruises.But there are also diseases that have no obvious causes.And all of them manifest as pain in the scapular region.
For any pathology of the spine, pain between the shoulder blades is necessarily accompanied by:
- Rigidity;
- Pins and needles sensation;
- Numbness.
Osteochondrosis
If the nutrition of the tissues is destroyed, dystrophic changes occur in them.In the spine, this process affects the intervertebral discs.They can no longer withstand the pressure exerted by the vertebrae on them.Loss of elasticity in the discs leads to compression of the spine.The nerve endings of the spinal cord are under pressure, where severe pain occurs.
The body tries to protect the spine from heavy loads by growing bone tissue along the edges of the vertebral processes.Bone growths are called osteophytes.They can be removed, but against the background of osteochondrosis they will grow again.
Pain in osteochondrosis is localized at the site of damage to the spine.If the cervical spine is affected, the patient has pain on the right side of the neck in the morning.The pain radiates to the shoulder and arm, felt above the shoulder blade.You may feel dizzy and the pain intensifies with deep breaths and coughing.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region manifests itself as pain between the shoulder blades - to the right and to the left of the spine.Sneezing, coughing and sudden movements can increase the pain.When you try to straighten your shoulders, your chest and interscapular area start to crackle.
It becomes difficult for a person to breathe through the chest, as the mobility of the ribs decreases and he unconsciously switches to stomach breathing.
Osteochondrosis is treated with a conservative method.The patient is prescribed:
- Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Physiotherapy procedures;
- Therapeutic gymnastics;
- Reflexology;
- Massages;
- Traction of the spine;
- Manual therapy.
If none of the treatment methods are effective, surgeons get down to business.
Spondyloarthrosis
The symptoms of this disease are similar to osteochondrosis.But in this case, the intervertebral disc is displaced, not depleted.Hyaline cartilage is forced to bear the load.In such extreme conditions, its tissue becomes thinner and loses its ability to perform its functions.
If spondyloarthrosis is not treated, the entire joint can become inflamed and then completely lose mobility.The patient's condition is aggravated by osteophytes.
Scoliosis
The curvature of the spine in relation to its axis to the right or left is common - almost half of humanity is affected by this disease.But for most, the disease is not clearly expressed, which is why the pain appears periodically - if a person overextends the back, or stands or sits in one position for a long time.
Early scoliosis cannot be determined visually, so if pain occurs in the scapular region, it is in the best interest of the patient to consult a doctor.He will prescribe an x-ray - direct and lateral.
With the further development of scoliosis, it can be detected independently: the "zigzags" of the spine are clearly defined.Advanced scoliosis is also determined by the relative position of the shoulders - one of them will be lower than the other.
Treatment of scoliosis is a long-term process even with its high intensity.Massages, special exercises and wearing a corset will help remove the curvature of the spine.
Intervertebral hernia
The intervertebral disc consists of:
- Gel-like core;
- Fibrous ring, composed of fibers;
- Two thin layers of cartilage covering the discs above and below.
The nucleus is located inside the ring, and the cartilage tissue, closing the structure, simultaneously serves as a conductor of food from the vessels of the vertebral body to the disk.
Pathological changes in the vertebrae lead to disruption of metabolic processes in the intervertebral discs.Their thickness decreases, the fibrous ring cracks under the influence of loads, opening the way to the gelatinous mass of the nucleus.This process is accompanied by severe pain.It is concentrated in one point, but sometimes there is a return to the pulmonary and cardiac regions.
Intervertebral hernia in the thoracic region is extremely rare, therefore, when pain occurs in the scapular region, the patient is first checked for the presence of other diseases.
Intervertebral hernia is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy and special exercises.In severe conditions, only surgery can help.
Advanced pathology causes damage to the pelvic organs and paralysis of the legs.
Spinal tuberculosis
Tuberculosis bacteria can affect any part of the spine, but 60% of cases occur in the thoracic region.More often men suffer from this disease.Mostly several vertebrae are involved in the process, but there are cases when tuberculosis spreads to three or more.
Symptoms of the disease may vary depending on the number of affected vertebrae.But there is a constant sign - pain.If it is felt between the shoulder blades, it indicates damage to the cervical vertebra.
It also hurts with tuberculosis of the chest region, but in that case the pain will radiate (give) to the chest, groin or abdomen.Patients complain of burning, twisting and "piercing" in the back.
Spinal tuberculosis is difficult to diagnose;severe pain appears already at the stage of various complications.If you have the slightest suspicion of this disease, immediately go to a specialist for examination.
Hypertension and hypothermia
If the back is overloaded, painful sensations may also appear in the scapula area.This phenomenon in itself is not considered a disease, but constant overload can cause osteochondrosis, curvature of the spine and the formation of intervertebral hernias.
Seamstresses, drivers, surgeons, people who do sedentary work, etc. complain about back pain.If hypothermia (drafts, air conditioning) is added to excessive pressure, you may have a lumbago - severe pain centered below the shoulder blades or in the back.
This problem is treated with warming ointments, anti-inflammatory drugs and massages.
myositis
Flu, ARVI, severe hypothermia can lead to myositis - inflammation of muscle tissue.Most often, the muscles located in the scapular region are affected by this disease.This condition does not threaten the body with anything terrible, but the painful pain creates discomfort.
Painkillers and warming ointments ease the suffering.
Pain in the shoulder blades
Painful sensations appear for several reasons:
- Fracture or injury caused by a fall.The shoulder joint swells, it hurts to move the limb;
- Osteomyelitis (inflammation of bone tissue): accompanied by an increase in temperature, fever due to intoxication of the whole body;
- Pterygoid scapula: this effect is caused by damage to the serratus anterior (located on the side of the chest), paralysis of the rhomboid, trapezius muscles or their traumatic rupture (which affects acrobats and circus gymnasts, professional athletes).
If the synovial bursa is inflamed, the shoulder blade begins to bounce.In addition to this trouble, the patient is bothered by heaviness and clicking in the shoulder joint.
Diagnosing
Since pain in the scapular area of the back signals one of many diseases, the examination is carried out using different methods:
- X-ray of the chest;
- Laboratory research;
- Ultrasound;
- Magnetic resistance or computed tomography;
- EKG.
All examinations are prescribed by the surgeon - if you have back pain, go to him first.But in the future, based on the results of the research, he will need consultation:
- Orthopedic;
- gastroenterologist;
- Neurologist;
- Pulmonologist.
If for some reason the doctor did not pay attention to accompanying symptoms, go for a consultation on your own initiative.
Treatment
Self-medication for pain in the scapula area is strictly contraindicated.The maximum that a patient can afford is to take sedatives and analgesics.The meeting should be once and only if it is necessary to relieve the pain before visiting a doctor.
The treatment is prescribed by the doctor: usually, to alleviate the condition, it is enough to take analgesics, chondroprotectors and anti-inflammatory drugs.In addition, the doctor prescribes a treatment regimen designed to eliminate the root causes of pain in the scapula region.