Back pain in the shoulder blades is a very common complaint among patients of all ages. Such a problem interferes with breathing and creates serious obstacles to physical activity, work or just movement.
Patients rarely pay due attention to recurrent shoulder pain. However, this symptom is an "awakening" for serious changes not only in the musculoskeletal system, but also in the internal organ complex. Such conditions can endanger the patient with injury and death.
Then the most common causes of shoulder pain and modern therapeutic techniques will be discussed.
The most common reasons
The scapulae are located in the back of the back next to the humerus and clavicle. These paired bones, which have a triangular shape, are part of the frame on which are attached the muscles responsible for the mobility of the shoulders. It is for this reason that back pain in the shoulder blades interferes with normal life, interferes with performance and poses a serious health risk.
Why does the back hurt in the shoulder area? According to medical statistics, such problems are most often caused by injuries and damage to the elements of the cervical and thoracic spine. Severe pain syndrome can be observed due to pathological changes provoked by scoliosis or osteochondropathy, as well as the following reasons:
- diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- intercostal neuralgia;
- scapulohumeral periarthritis;
- thoracic herniated disc;
- deforming spondyloarthritis;
- scoliosis, kyphoscoliosis and other spinal deformities;
- failure of one or two kidneys.
If the back hurts in the shoulder area, the causes may be diseases, tumors and injuries of the mediastinal organs, shingles, intercostal neuralgia, impaired liver function, various pathologies of the pleura and lungs, ie, as well as prolongedperforming monotonous activity against the background of chronic diseases. At risk are drivers, office workers, seamstresses and representatives of other professions associated with a long stay in one position.
Pain in the left back and under the shoulder blades
Back pain under the shoulder blades often occurs due to osteochondrosis, various forms of stooping and scoliosis. If the teenager has impaired physiological posture, he needs a complete diagnosis, well-chosen prevention and therapy. Otherwise, it can develop pathologies and deformities that are difficult to treat and interfere with normal life.
Spinal pain associated with the above causes usually manifests itself in the form of severe discomfort that occurs after exercise. It is preferable to treat scoliosis and other spinal deformities by massage, as well as manual and osteopathic effects. Pain syndrome located in the left shoulder blade is a serious danger, as such symptoms may indicate an attack of angina pectoris and the development of coronary heart disease.
If the pain in the left back in the shoulder blades is accompanied by increased fatigue, shortness of breath, weakness and slight swelling of the face and ankles, you should immediately consult a doctor. Another cause of pain to the left of the shoulder blades may be a herniated disc. At risk are people who are forced to be in an awkward position for a long time, driving a car or working on a computer.
If the pain is only slightly annoying, you can limit yourself to using an ointment with a warming or analgesic effect, but in case of exacerbation it is recommended that the patient stay in bed.
Treatment of intervertebral hernia of the chest includes the method of traction, manual therapy, reflexology, exercise and a course of therapeutic massage. Drug methods for the treatment of such pathologies are currently unknown to conservative medicine. In surgery, the probability of a positive outcome is relatively low and is about 30-35%.
At the same time, many patients experience relapses after a period of 10 months to several years.
Pain in the muscles of the back under the shoulder blades and in one shoulder
Pain in the muscles located between the shoulder blades is usually observed in professional athletes who engage in weightlifting, and in people who due to the nature of their activities are faced with heavy physical exertion. The causes of muscle pain between the shoulder blades can be:
- various injuries and bruises;
- stretching of the tendons;
- overexertion while working out or exercising in the gym.
If a shoulder blade hurts a lot, the pathology can be caused by myopathy, neuroinfection, paralysis of the anterior dentary muscles, trapezius or rhomboid muscles, various deformities of the shoulder joints, tuberculosis of the shoulder blade or osteomyelitis, which led to the development of suppuration and poisoning. .
stomach ulcer
The pain syndrome localized in the scapular area often indicates the presence of such a dangerous disease as gastric ulcer. In this case, the discomfort and discomfort can spread to the thoracic spine, extending to the nipple and shoulder blade, located on the left side. The pain increases gradually and is characterized by seasonality and periodicity, disappearing after emptying the stomach contents by inducing vomiting. In addition, most patients experience symptoms such as belching, salivation, and heartburn.
It is interesting! With peptic ulcer perforation, even with little activity, the level of discomfort increases significantly, and to get rid of it, the patient must take a forced position on the back or right side, pressing his thighs to the abdomen. This phenomenon is accompanied by increased agitation, panic attacks, as well as a syndrome of unbearable pain that radiates to the area above the clavicle.
Abscesses and muscle spasms of the bile ducts
Cutting and piercing pain on the right side just below the shoulder blades is often caused by obstruction of gallstones. As a result, colic, severe pain and the following symptoms occur:
- the presence of "tearing" sensations in the right hypochondrium;
- sudden attack of pain;
- nervousness, irritability;
- pain radiating to the eyes, jaw, neck and right shoulder.
The pain syndrome, located above the waist in the area of the right shoulder blade, may be due to a subdiaphragmatic abscess, which is characterized by very severe discomfort when inhaling, fever and pain radiating to the right shoulder. In the inflammatory process in the kidneys (nephritis, pyelonephritis) there is pain in the right shoulder blade and lower back with frequent urination, which causes a number of painful sensations.
Mental issues
Spinal pain between the shoulder blades is often caused by various psychological problems. In this case, the discomfort is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:
- shortness of breath;
- feeling of a lump in the throat;
- paranoid thoughts, unmotivated fear;
- the appearance of cold tremors and heat in the chest;
- feeling of pressure, heaviness and contraction.
With mental health problems, there is often an unpleasant feeling that the heart is "bleeding" or jumping out of the chest, and the back in the shoulder blades is also burning. Many patients experience chills, internal agitation and anxiety, leading to panic attacks.
Intercostal neuralgia and osteochondrosis of the cervical region
The pain localized under the shoulder blade, in the case of intercostal neuralgia, has a paroxysmal lumbar nature and is exacerbated by palpation, physical activity, walking and coughing fits. In some cases, such symptoms are accompanied by excessive muscle tension, there is a burning sensation, tingling and loss of sensation.
In osteochondrosis and Bechterew's disease, the pain syndrome often worsens at night, depriving the patient of sleep and causing great muscle tension in the morning.
In osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the following symptoms are observed:
- dizziness;
- increased pain in case of sharp bending or lengthening of the neck;
- paresthesia in the shoulder girdle;
- pain radiating to the arm or head.
Osteochondrosis can be recognized by unilateral dull pain in the occipital region. The discomfort usually increases in the morning, provokes early awakening and creates many problems for the patient. To alleviate an attack of cervical osteochondrosis, a hot bath or various medications are used, which are chosen exclusively according to the doctor's instructions.
During pregnancy
In women, the load on the spine increases during pregnancy, which is why a significant percentage of expectant mothers complain of back pain, including in the shoulder blades. The pain of breaking and burning, as well as the feeling of tingling in the shoulders, are often associated with changes in the hormonal background, which also affects the exacerbation of chronic diseases such as osteochondrosis.
For preventive purposes, some doctors recommend that women use a supportive corset in the late trimester of pregnancy and a postpartum bandage, which reduces the strain on the spine and allows the baby to maintain the correct position.
Other reasons
Back pain in the shoulder blades can be caused by angina pectoris or myocardial infarction. The pain syndrome usually occurs against the background of intense physical activity and has the character of torsion. Unpleasant sensations are common in the upper left half of the body and you will not get rid of them with the help of drugs with vasodilatory action.
In this case, it is necessary to eliminate the negative symptoms in a clinical hospital, where the patient is prescribed specially selected narcotic analgesics and maintenance drugs.
Diagnosis and treatment
Before taking any steps to get rid of the pain syndrome localized in the scapular area, it is necessary to determine the cause of the pathology. In case of back pain between the shoulder blades, which is accompanied by pulling and twisting, burning and burning in the chest, you should consult a doctor immediately. The doctor will choose the best diagnostic method, such as:
- X-ray of the chest and spine;
- Ultrasound;
- electrocardiogram;
- CT scan.
Manual therapy in many cases shows positive results and allows you to strengthen both the lumbar and upper back, as well as make the muscle tissues that support the spine more elastic. Osteopathy and reflexology contribute to the activation of regenerative processes and local metabolism. It is worth regularly strengthening the muscles by performing an individually selected set of exercises for therapy.