If a person has back pain in the shoulder blade, he automatically associates this with the condition of the spine.They are partly right: this long-suffering core of our skeleton bears heavy loads, which cannot but affect its condition.
But often pain in this area of the back signals a disorder in the internal organs.The nature of the pain corresponds to the disease, therefore when visiting the doctor it is important to describe its manifestations in as much detail as possible.
What causes pain in the scapular region
Pain is caused by pathological changes in:
- Spine;
- Internal organs;
- Surrounding structures.
Pain in the scapular and in certain rare diseases:
- Spinal fractures and its systemic injuries;
- Metastases to the spine from cancer of the stomach and sometimes other organs.
The pain is localized depending on the type of disease:
- Above the shoulder blades;
- Below the shoulder blades;
- Between the shoulder blades;
- In the shoulder blades.
Symptoms associated with pathologies of internal organs
The stomach, lungs, liver and heart can refer their pain below the shoulder blade – right or left.
If it hurts on the left, it could be a sign of:
- Gastric ulcer: the pain is periodic in nature, associated with exacerbations 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 chest pain radiating under the left scapula.Cardiac ischemia has similar signs, but in this case pain also occurs in the left arm;
- Breakthrough of a stomach ulcer: the patient's body is covered in cold sweat, he may feel nauseated and even vomit.The patient tries to relieve suffering by changing positions, but these actions do not give the expected effect;
- Intercostal neuralgia: pain under the left scapula presents in attacks, aggravated by the slightest physical effort.There is a tingling and burning sensation in the heart area.It hurts to cough and breathe deeply.
Pain under the right shoulder blade may 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 blade results in coughing;
- Kidney diseases: in this case, coughing also causes increased pain, but unlike lung diseases, the patient experiences difficulty urinating.
Pain associated with spinal pathologies
Spinal problems can occur after injuries, fractures or bruises.But there are also illnesses that have no obvious causes.And all of them manifest themselves as pain in the scapular region.
For any spinal pathology, pain between the shoulder blades is necessarily accompanied by:
- Rigidity;
- Sensation of tingling and needles;
- Numbness.
Osteochondrosis
If tissue nutrition is disrupted, dystrophic changes occur.In the spine, this process affects the intervertebral discs.They no longer resist the pressure exerted on them by the vertebrae.The loss of elasticity of the discs leads to compression of the spine.The nerve endings in the spinal cord are put under pressure, causing severe pain.
The body tries to protect the spine from heavy loads by developing bone tissue along the edges of the spinal processes.Bony growths are called osteophytes.They can be removed, but against the background of osteochondrosis they will grow back.
Pain in osteochondrosis is localized at the site of spinal injury.If the cervical spine is affected, the patient feels 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 increases with deep breaths and coughing.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is manifested by pain between the shoulder blades - on the right and 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 tighten.
It becomes difficult for a person to breathe through the chest, as the mobility of the ribs decreases and he unconsciously switches to breathing with the stomach.
Osteochondrosis is treated with a conservative method.The patient is prescribed:
- Analgesics and anti-inflammatories;
- Physiotherapeutic procedures;
- Therapeutic gymnastics;
- Reflexology;
- Massage;
- Spinal traction;
- Manual therapy.
If none of the treatment methods are effective, surgeons get to work.
Spondyloarthrosis
The symptoms of this disease are similar to osteochondrosis.But in this case, the intervertebral disc is displaced and not exhausted.The 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 left untreated, the entire joint can become inflamed and then lose mobility completely.The patient's condition is aggravated by osteophytes.
Scoliosis
Curvature of the spine relative to its axis to the right or left is common: almost half of humanity is affected by this disease.But for the most part, the disease is not clearly expressed, which is why the pain appears periodically - if a person overstrains his back, or stands or sits in the same position for a long time.
Early scoliosis cannot be determined visually, so if pain occurs in the scapular region, it is in the patient's best interest to seek medical attention.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 become 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 in high intensity cases.Massages, special exercises and wearing a corset will help eliminate the curvature of the spine.
Intervertebral hernia
The intervertebral disc is made up of:
- Gel-like core;
- The annulus fibrosus, made up of fibers;
- Two thin layers of cartilage that cover the discs above and below.
The core is located inside the ring, and the cartilaginous tissue, closing the structure, simultaneously serves as a conductor of nutrition from the vessels of the vertebral body to the disc.
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 for the gelatinous mass of the core.This process is accompanied by severe pain.It is concentrated in one point, but there is sometimes a return to the pulmonary and cardiac regions.
Intervertebral hernia in the thoracic region is extremely rare.Therefore, when pain appears in the scapular region, the patient is first checked for 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 microbacteria can affect any part of the spine, but 60% of cases occur in the thoracic region.Most often, men suffer from this disease.Most of the time, a few vertebrae are involved in the process, but there are cases where TB spreads to three or more vertebrae.
Symptoms of the disease can vary depending on the number of vertebrae affected.But there is one constant sign: pain.If this is felt between the shoulder blades, it indicates damage to the cervical vertebra.
It also hurts with tuberculosis of the thoracic region, but in this 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.
Overvoltage and hypothermia
If the back is overloaded, painful sensations may also appear in the scapular 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 with sedentary jobs, etc.complain of back pain.If hypothermia is added to overwork (drafts, air conditioning on), you may suffer from lumbago - severe pain concentrated under the shoulder blades or in the spine.
This disorder is treated with warming ointments, anti-inflammatories and massage.
Myositis
Influenza, ARVI and 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 relieve 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 an injury to the serratus anterior (located on the side of the chest), paralysis of the rhomboid and trapezius muscles or their traumatic rupture (which affects circus acrobats and gymnasts, professional athletes).
If the synovial bursa is inflamed, the scapula begins to crack.In addition to this problem, the patient is bothered by heaviness and clicking in the shoulder joint.
Diagnosis
Since pain in the scapular region of the back signals one of many diseases, the examination is carried out using different methods:
- Chest x-ray;
- Laboratory research;
- Ultrasound;
- Magnetic resistance or CT scan;
- ECG.
All examinations are prescribed by the surgeon - if you have back pain, go there first.But in the future, based on the research results, he will need consultation:
- Orthopedist;
- Gastroenterologist;
- Neurologist;
- Pulmonologist.
If for some reason the doctor did not pay attention to the accompanying symptoms, go for a consultation on your own initiative.
Treatment
Self-medication for pain in the scapular area is strictly contraindicated.The maximum that a patient can afford is to take painkillers and pain relievers.The appointment should be one-time and only if it is necessary to relieve pain before consulting a doctor.
Treatment is prescribed by a doctor: usually, to relieve the disease, it is enough to take pain relievers, chondroprotectors and anti-inflammatories.In addition, the doctor describes a treatment regimen designed to eliminate the root causes of pain in the scapular region.