The most common ailments that cause pain under the left shoulder blade behind the back are osteochondrosis, angina pectoris, pneumonia, peptic ulcer, and panic attack. Along with the pain syndrome, patients may suffer from nausea, vomiting, heartburn, cough, sputum production, as well as impaired sensory and motor functions. Diagnosis of the condition of patients is based on a survey, examination, laboratory and instrumental studies. Treatment tactics depend on the underlying cause of the disease.
Causes
Pain under the left shoulder blade behind the back is a formidable symptom that can be observed in diseases of the spine or serious violations of the functions of internal organs. At the same time, in 7% of cases, such a pain syndrome occurs due to surgical pathology that requires urgent surgical intervention.
Among the main causes of pain in the region of the left shoulder blade are:
- Diseases of the spine (congenital malformations, ankylosing spondylitis, spondylosis, osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, etc. ), causing compression of the spinal roots;
- Muscular pathologies (dermatomyositis, fibromyalgia, etc. ), which cause characteristic pain: myalgia;
- Neurological disorders (Guillain-Barré syndrome, polyneuropathy, intercostal neuralgia, etc. ), which are characterized by the appearance of specific neuropathic pain;
- Diseases of the internal organs:
- Hearts: angina pectoris, arrhythmia, heart attack;
- Lungs: bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, pleurisy;
- Stomach: gastritis, ulcers, polyps;
- Spleen - ruptures and other pathologies.
- "Blood cancer" (leukemia), so pain is noted in the thickness of the bones that contain the bone marrow (pelvis, sternum, shoulder blades, tubular bones).
Sometimes pain syndrome is provoked by disorders of the autonomic nervous system, which regulates the work of all organs and systems. In such cases, we are talking about an exacerbation of vegetovascular dystonia, that is, about a panic attack.
Symptoms
The most common cause of pain under the left shoulder blade is osteochondrosis, angina pectoris, pneumonia, peptic ulcer or panic attack.
osteochondrosis
The disease is caused by the destruction of the intervertebral disc, which normally "smooths" the movement of the spine. Usually the pathology occurs against the background of extreme physical exertion and natural aging of the body.
So the destroyed intervertebral disc (often in the cervical region) bulges out and infringes the spinal roots. For this reason, patients (on the side of the injury) are concerned about acute pain in the back of the head and neck that spreads to the scapula and shoulder area. Over time, surface sensation is impaired in these areas, so patients do not feel temperature or vibration on the skin.
With the progression of the disease, the brachial plexus becomes involved in the pathological process, which greatly complicates the mobility of the shoulder. At the same time, the strength of the muscles of the affected arm is significantly weakened, which in advanced cases leads to immobilization.
angina pectoris
Angina pectoris is a pain syndrome that occurs in the chest, also known as "angina pectoris. "The cause of the pain is a violation of the blood supply to the heart muscle due to vasoconstriction or the formation of cholesterol plaques in its lumen. Provoke an attack of stress, emotional and physical overload.
Typically, patients are concerned about a sudden stabbing or burning pain in the chest area. In this case, the pain often extends to the left shoulder blade, as well as along the ulnar surface of the left hand to the little finger. Often the pain syndrome is combined with a feeling of disruption in the work of the heart and fear of death.
Pneumonia
Inflammation of the lungs is a disease, often caused by a bacterial or viral infection. As a rule, patients complain of a significant increase in temperature (up to 39, 5-40 ° C), fever and "shooting" pain in the chest or shoulder blade of the affected lung. In this case, the pain is aggravated by sneezing, coughing, or heavy breathing.
With the development of the disease, coughing and the separation of purulent sputum occur, which sometimes acquires a "rusty" character (due to blood impurities). Patients often experience shortness of breath and shortness of breath even with little physical activity.
stomach ulcer
The cause of the disease is the local destruction of the gastric mucosa with the formation of a peptic ulcer (that is, ulcers). The provocateurs are a bacterial infection (Helicobacter), hyperacidity and gastric motility disorders.
The main complaint of peptic ulcer disease is paroxysmal pain in the upper abdomen (epigastrium), which occurs or intensifies after eating. Often, exacerbations of the disease are combined with nausea and vomiting, which brings relief. In the interictal period, patients complain of heartburn, belching, bloating, and a feeling of heaviness after eating.
vegetative crisis
The cause of the pain may be a vegetovascular dystonia crisis, also known as a panic attack. Usually, patients are worried about "migratory" pain, which occurs in the region of the heart, under the scapula, in the abdomen, etc.
At the same time, patients complain of fever, sweating, tremors, shortness of breath, fear of going crazy, or confusion of thoughts.
Such crises can be a manifestation of both organic (adrenal gland tumor, heart disease) and mental (phobias, depression, post-traumatic syndrome) pathology. In some cases, panic attacks are the result of taking medication.
Diagnosis
Diagnostic measures usually consist of:
- A survey that allows you to determine the conditions for the appearance and nature of pain;
- Clinical examination with clarification of the localization of pain and identification of pain points;
- Laboratory tests to detect infection (with pneumonia or an ulcer), inflammatory changes in the blood or levels of muscle protein, indicating its destruction (troponin in myocardial infarction);
- Instrumental methods using X-rays, ultrasound, CT or MRI.
In addition, in the case of a heart attack, an electrocardiography is performed, and in the case of a stomach ulcer, a fibrogastroduodenoscopy (examination of the stomach with an endoscope).
Treatment
If pain occurs under the left shoulder blade behind the back, patients should urgently seek medical help, because. such a pain syndrome may indicate an emergency (myocardial infarction, spleen rupture, ulcer perforation, etc. ). In this case, it is not recommended to take painkillers, because. painkillers can hide symptoms and complicate later diagnosis!
- osteochondrosis. Basic therapy includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids. Muscle relaxants are used to relieve muscle spasms. As a long-term treatment aimed at slowing down the destruction of the intervertebral disc, chondroprotectors are prescribed.
- Angina pectoris. Relief of an acute attack is carried out with the help of nitrates. However, general therapy is based on lifestyle changes, the use of aspirin (to "thin" the blood), as well as statins to lower cholesterol levels.
- Pneumonia. The main drug in the treatment of pneumonia is an antibiotic, the choice of which depends on the causative agent of the infection.
- Stomach ulcer. The treatment of an ulcer consists in the destruction of the provoking bacteria (Helicobacter pylori). To do this, various antibacterial agents are prescribed, as well as drugs that reduce the level of acidity of gastric contents.
- vegetative crisis. In most cases, the treatment of panic attacks can be limited to psychotherapy sessions. At the same time, the appointment of psychotropic substances (antidepressants, tranquilizers) is often unjustified.
Precautionary measures
Prevention of pain under the left shoulder blade behind the back is based on:
- timely diagnosis of congenital and acquired diseases of the spine (fusion of the cervical vertebrae, spondylosis, osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, injuries);
- early detection of muscular pathology (dermatomyositis, fibromyalgia);
- restoration of neurological disorders (intercostal neuralgia, polyneuropathy);
- treatment of diseases of internal organs:
- heart - angina pectoris, arrhythmia, heart attack;
- lungs - bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculous pleurisy;
- stomach - gastritis, ulcers, polyps;
- spleen - ruptures and other pathologies.
- perform a screening blood test for the purpose of a presymptomatic diagnosis of leukemia.
Remember, pain in the left shoulder blade may indicate acute pathologies that require emergency treatment or surgery!