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 in the back can be a harbinger of a number of dangerous diseases.
There are many reasons for the appearance of such pain syndrome, and they are usually not at all related to problems in the shoulder blades themselves.Most often, pain is caused by inflammatory and pathological processes in other organs and systems.
Why do I have pain under my left shoulder blade?
To understand why it hurts under the shoulder blade, we need to remember the anatomical structure of a person.After all, most often it is the organs located nearby that hurt, although it happens that the pain radiates along the nerve fibers away from the source of the disease.
The left shoulder blade is located on the ribs that form the chest.The ribs are connected to each other by intercostal ligaments and muscles, and between each rib are intercostal vessels and intercostal nerves.In turn, the intercostal nerves originate from the spinal cord, 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.
Depending on this location, 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 shoulder blade pain can be determined based on its nature, intensity and location:
- Pain radiating to left shoulder blade.The pathological source of such pain may be located far from the site of pain.Most often, this symptom is characteristic of stomach or heart diseases.
- Aching pain under left shoulder blade.Indicates the presence of a prolonged 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 left shoulder blade.Most often this occurs against the background of the development of thoracic or cervical osteochondrosis.As a rule, the pain spreads from the back of the head to the back, arm, under the shoulder blade and is accompanied by nausea, dizziness and numbness (tingling) of the hands.
- Severe pain under left shoulder blade.Severe pain is not typical for the scapular region, which means that 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 left shoulder blade.Intercostal neuralgia can cause sharp pain - when inhaling, the pain syndrome clearly intensifies and you feel as if you are “taking the breath away”.Acute pain may be caused by left-sided pneumonia in the acute phase, while the patient experiences cutting and stabbing symptoms throughout the left side of the chest, radiating to the left shoulder blade.Less often, severe pain may occur during an exacerbation of pancreatitis - the pain is of a ringing and cramping nature.
- Shooting pain under left shoulder blade.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, attacks of angina pectoris 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 tremor and a strong feeling of fear.
- Constant pain under left shoulder blade.Such pain syndrome may indicate the development of left-sided pneumonia.In this case, the pain is accompanied by a dry cough, low temperature, a feeling of lack of air and shortness of breath.
- Stinging pain under left shoulder blade.Stinging pains (called “lumbago”) are most often a sign of osteochondrosis, but can also indicate intercostal neuralgia.Tingling sensations in the back that occur during physical exertion, deep breathing or coughing may be signs 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.
- Shooting pain.Most often, the left protrusion of the intervertebral disc into the thoracic or cervical spine manifests itself in this way.Shooting pain may indicate a herniated disc or the beginnings of aortic dissection.
- Sharp pain under left shoulder blade.Indicates dangerous conditions and requires immediate medical attention.The causes of the pain syndrome can be: angina attacks, left protrusion of the intervertebral disc, 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?
Left pain syndrome under the scapula is most 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 the accompanying symptoms.
| Diseases | Nature of pain | Associated symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Musculoskeletal system | ||
| Humeroscapular periatritis | The pain appears in the shoulder and radiates towards the shoulder blade. | The patient cannot move freely (cannot put his hands behind his head due to pain);there is a crunching sound in the joints when moving. |
| Intercostal neuralgia | The pain is localized in one of the intercostal spaces and is accompanied by a feeling of numbness.The pain intensifies when leaning to the left. | Along the inflamed area, redness may appear and characteristic rashes may appear on the skin. |
| Back muscle diseases (myositis, inflammation, lesions) | Back pain comes on suddenly and can be painful. | The pain appears on the left side when the shoulder blade is injured or when the muscles are tense. |
| Oncology | Aching pain under the left shoulder blade or constant sharp pain. | With tumors of the scapula, the thoracic part located at the back is deformed. |
| Injuries | Severe pain, especially the first few hours immediately after the injury. | If the pain intensifies with movement, swelling or swelling appears, it may be a fracture of the shoulder blade or rib. |
| Osteochondrosis, spondylosis, thoracic scoliosis, intervertebral hernia | Intense pain manifests itself either constantly or as “lumbago”. | Unpleasant sensations appear in the spine - a feeling that "a stake has been driven in." |
| Heart diseases | ||
| Angina pectoris | Pain under the left shoulder blade originating from the back occurs during exercise and radiates to the left arm, the 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 by 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, appearing more often at night and an increase in 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 below the left shoulder blade and further to the lower back. | A sharp reduction in 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, feeling of wheezing in the lungs. |
| Gastrointestinal pathologies | ||
| 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). | Fever, vomiting. |
| Acute pancreatitis | The pain is girdling in nature and can sometimes radiate to the side. | 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:
- Pain gets worse after eating– peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, gastritis.
- Pain worsens when sneezing– bone diseases, injuries, pleurisy, neuralgia, joint and muscle pathologies.
- Pain occurs when turning the head– osteochondrosis, injuries to the clavicle.
- Pain occurs when swallowing– esophageal diseases, psychosomatic disorders.
- Pain accompanied by shortness of breath– pleurisy, cardiac pathologies, intercostal neuralgia.
- Pain causes coughing- damage to the respiratory system.
- Appearance of temperature– infectious and inflammatory processes: pericarditis, purulent pleurisy, subphrenic abscess.
- Pain accompanied by numbness in the left arm– angina, osteochondrosis, myocardial infarction.
- Nausea and belching accompany the pain– gastrointestinal pathologies (pancreatitis, ulcers, gastritis).
- Pain causes numbness of the tongue– angina, osteochondrosis, heart attack.
Pregnant women experience pain under the shoulder blade for the same reasons as other people, but the future 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 greater load on the spine), pyelonephritis (due to displacement of the kidneys and activation of their activity) and overload of the back muscles.
In children, pain under the shoulder blade is usually due to injuries, neuralgia (after hypothermia), myositis and pleurisy.
Diagnosis and treatment.Which doctor should I contact?
You must choose a doctor with whom to make an appointment based on the nature of the pain and its manifestations:
- Emergency doctor– with sharp, intense pain, burning sensation 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 a burning sensation behind the sternum, extending under the shoulder blade, in 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 sharp pain accompanied by high fever.
If it is difficult to decide on the choice of a doctor on your own, you should contact a therapist who, based on the results of the examination, will make an appointment with a specialist.
Diagnostic measures are prescribed depending on the reasons that caused the pain under the left shoulder blade, behind:
- General examination - history taking and interview with the patient, visual examination (measurement of pulse, blood pressure, temperature, palpation, auscultation), blood and urine test.
- X-ray examination, CT and MRI - 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 the examination of cardiovascular diseases.
The treatment regimen for pain under the left scapula is selected specifically for each disease - there is no single treatment protocol.
Important!The treatment of pain under the left shoulder blade is, above all, the treatment of the disease causing the pain syndrome.
If the pain is associated with cardiovascular pathologies, cardiological drugs and a gentle diet on physical and psycho-emotional activity are prescribed.
Gastrointestinal pathologies that cause pain are treated by taking antacids and prescribing a gentle 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 treatment is ineffective.Surgery is mandatory in cases of perforated ulcers, severe gastrointestinal pathologies, splenic rupture and intervertebral hernia.
If you feel pain under the left shoulder blade, you must definitely undergo a medical examination to avoid the appearance and development of potentially fatal pathologies.