If a person has back pain in the shoulder blades, he automatically associates this with the condition of the spine. They are partly right: this long-suffering nucleus of our skeleton takes on heavy loads, which cannot but affect its condition.
But often the pain in this area of the back signals a disorder in the internal organs. The nature of the pain corresponds to the disease, so when appointing a doctor it is important to describe its manifestations in as much detail as possible.
What causes shoulder pain
Pathological changes in:
- spine;
- internal organs;
- surrounding structures.
Pain in the shoulder blade and in some rare diseases:
- Fractures of the spine and its systemic lesions;
- Metastases in the spine in cancer of the stomach and sometimes other organs.
The pain, depending on the type of disease, is localized:
- Above the shoulder blades;
- Under the shoulder blades;
- Between the shoulder blades;
- In the shoulder blades.
Symptoms associated with pathologies of the internal organs
The stomach, lungs, liver and heart can project their pain under the shoulder blade - right or left.
If it hurts on the left, it could be a sign:
- Peptic ulcer of the stomach: the pain is recurrent, associated with exacerbations of a seasonal nature. They are accompanied by pain in the upper abdomen. Vomiting occurs during the intensification of pain;
- Myocardial infarction: the disease is accompanied by acute retrosternal pain spreading under the left shoulder blade. Cardiac ischemia has similar symptoms, but in this case there are also painful sensations in the left arm;
- Gastric ulcer breakthrough: the patient's body is covered with cold sweat, may feel nauseous to the opening of vomiting. The patient tries to alleviate the suffering by changing the position, but these actions do not give the expected effect;
- Intercostal neuralgia: pain under the left shoulder blade comes in attacks, aggravated by the slightest exercise. Numbness and burning in the heart area. Pain when coughing and deep breathing.
It may hurt under the right shoulder blade when:
- Psychological failures in the body. At the same time, the patient feels warmth in the chest, may complain of tightness 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 is reflected in coughing;
- Kidney disease: In this case, the cough also leads to increased pain, but unlike lung disease, the patient has difficulty urinating.
Pain associated with pathologies of the spine
Spinal problems can occur after injuries, fractures or bruises. But there are also diseases that have no obvious causes. And they all manifest with pain in the shoulder blade.
In any pathology of the spine, the pain between the shoulder blades must be joined:
- stiffness;
- Feeling tingling;
- Numbness.
Cough pain between the shoulder blades is typical of heavy smokers.
Osteochondrosis
If the nutrition of the tissues is disturbed, dystrophic changes occur in them. In the spine, this process affects the intervertebral discs. They can no longer withstand the pressure exerted on them by the vertebrae. Loss of elasticity of the disc leads to compression of the spine. The nerve endings of the spinal cord are under pressure - severe pain occurs here.
The body tries to protect the spine from heavy loads by growing bone tissue at the edges of spinal processes. Bone growths are called osteophytes. They can be removed, but against the background of osteochondrosis they will grow again.
The pain of osteochondrosis is localized at the site of spinal cord injury. If the cervical area is affected, the patient has pain in the morning on the right side of the neck. The pain radiates to the shoulder and arm, is felt above the shoulder blade. The head may be dizzy, the aggravation is aggravated by deep breathing and coughing.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region manifests itself as pain between the shoulder blades - right and left of the spine. The pain may be aggravated by sneezing, coughing and sudden movements. When you try to straighten your shoulders, your chest and shoulder blade begin to crack.
It becomes difficult for a person to breathe from the chest, as the mobility of the ribs decreases and he unconsciously switches to breathing with the stomach.
Treat osteochondrosis 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 work, the surgeons start working.
Spondylarthrosis
The symptoms of this disease are similar to osteochondrosis. But in this case, the intervertebral disc is displaced, not exhausted. The hyaline cartilage is forced to take the load. Under such extreme conditions, its tissue becomes thinner and loses its ability to perform its functions.
If spondyloarthritis is not treated, the entire joint can become inflamed and then lose its mobility completely. The patient's condition is aggravated by osteophytes.
scoliosis
Distortion 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 most, the disease is not clear and therefore the pain occurs periodically - if a person has strained his back or has stood or sat in one position for a long time.
Early scoliosis cannot be determined visually, therefore, if pain occurs in the scapular area, it is in the patient's best interest to consult a physician. 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 clear. Scoliosis when running is also determined by the relative position of the shoulders - one of them will be lower than the other.
The treatment of scoliosis is long-term, even at its high intensity. Massages, special exercises and wearing a corset will help you get rid of the curvature of the spine.
Intervertebral hernia
The intervertebral disc consists of:
- Gelatin core;
- Fibrous ring consisting of fibers;
- The two thin layers of cartilage that cover the discs above and below.
The nucleus is located inside the ring, and the cartilaginous tissue that encloses the structure simultaneously serves as a conduit for nourishment 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 to the outside of the gelatinous mass of the core. This process is accompanied by severe pain. It is concentrated in one point, but sometimes there is a return to the lung and heart area.
Intervertebral hernia in the thoracic region is extremely rare, therefore, when pain occurs in the scapular area, the patient is first checked for other diseases.
Intervertebral hernia is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy and special exercises. In severe cases, only surgery can help.
Tuberculosis of the spine
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. In principle, several vertebrae are involved in the process, but there are cases when tuberculosis spreads to three or more.
The symptoms of the disease can vary depending on the number of vertebrae affected. But there is one constant symptom - it's pain. If felt between the shoulder blades, it indicates a lesion of the cervical spine.
It also hurts with chest tuberculosis, but in this case the pain will radiate to the chest, groin or abdomen. Patients complain of burning, twisting, "punching" in the back.
Tuberculosis of the spine is difficult to diagnose, severe pain occurs at the stage of various complications. If you have the slightest suspicion of this disease, see a specialist immediately.
Overexertion and hypothermia
If the back is overloaded, painful sensations in the shoulder blade may occur. 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.
Tailors, drivers, surgeons, people working sedentary and others complain of back pain. If hypothermia (those with an air conditioner) is added to the overexertion, then back pain can be taught - severe pain concentrated under the shoulder blades or in the spine.
This trouble is treated with warming ointments, anti-inflammatory drugs and massages.
myositis
Influenza, SARS, severe hypothermia can lead to myositis - inflammation of muscle tissue. Most often, this disease affects the muscles located in the shoulder blade. This condition does not threaten the body with anything terrible, but the painful pain creates discomfort.
Shoulder pain
Pain occurs for several reasons:
- Fracture or injury as a result of a fall. The shoulder joint swells, hurts when the limb moves;
- Osteomyelitis (inflammation of the bone tissue): accompanied by fever, fever due to intoxication of the whole organism;
- Pterygoid scapula: This effect is caused by damage to the front tooth (located on the side of the chest), paralysis of the rhomboid, trapezius muscles or their traumatic rupture (which affects circus acrobats and gymnasts, professional athletes).
If the synovial sac is inflamed, the scapula begins to burst. In addition to this nuisance, the patient is concerned about the weight and clicks in the shoulder joint.
Diagnosis
Because pain in the scapular area of the back signals one of many diseases, the study is performed by different methods:
- chest x-ray;
- Laboratory researches;
- ultrasound;
- Magnetic resistance or computed tomography;
- ECG.
All examinations are prescribed by the surgeon - if you have back pain, go to him first. But in the future, based on research results, he will need advice:
- 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-treatment for shoulder pain is strongly contraindicated. The maximum the patient can afford is to take painkillers and analgesics. The intake should be single and only if it is necessary to stop the pain before visiting a doctor.
Treatment is prescribed by a doctor: usually to alleviate the condition, it is enough to take analgesics, chondroprotectors, anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, the doctor draws a treatment plan designed to eliminate the root causes of pain in the shoulder blade.