Pain that appears on the left under the scapula is a fairly common symptom that can appear in both men and women, and even in children. At first glance, such symptoms seem frivolous, but in fact, pain under the left shoulder blade of the back can be a harbinger of a number of dangerous diseases.
There are many reasons for the appearance of such a pain syndrome, and they are usually not associated with problems with the shoulder blades themselves at all. Most often, the cause of pain is inflammatory and pathological processes in other organs and systems.
Why does it hurt under the left shoulder blade?
To understand why it hurts under the scapula, it is necessary to remember the anatomical structure of a person. Indeed, most often it is precisely the organs located nearby that hurt, although it happens that the pains radiate along the nerve fibers far from the focus of the disease.
The left shoulder blade is located on the ribs that form the chest. The ribs are connected by ligaments and intercostal muscles, and between each rib are intercostal vessels and intercostal nerves. In turn, the intercostal nerves start from the spinal cord, located in the trunk of the spine, in the center of the scapula. Along with the ribs, the scapula protects the left heart, left lung, stomach, spleen, pancreas and aorta.
Based 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 work of internal organs (diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, spleen, respiratory organs).
The cause of pain in the scapula can be determined depending on its nature, intensity and location:
- Pain radiating to the left shoulder blade. . .The pathological source of such pain may be located far from the site of pain. Most often, this symptom is typical of diseases of the stomach or heart.
- Painful pain under the 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 the left shoulder blade. . . Most often this occurs against the background of the development of thoracic or cervical osteochondrosis. Usually the painful sensations spread from the back of the head along the back, arm, under the scapula and are accompanied by nausea, dizziness, numbness (tingling) of the hands.
- Severe pain under the left shoulder blade. . . Severe pain is not typical of the shoulder area, 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 state.
- Sharp pain under the left shoulder blade. . . Intercostal neuralgia can cause sharp pain - at the same time, when inhaling, the pain syndrome clearly increases, it feels like "breathtaking". Acute pain can be caused by pneumonia on the left side in the acute phase, while the patient experiences symptoms of cutting and stabbing throughout the left side of the chest, radiating to the left scapula. Less often, pain of an acute nature may occur with exacerbation of pancreatitis - the pains are shingles and cramps.
- Pulling pain under the left shoulder blade. . .May indicate the initial stage of development of cervical osteochondrosis. The pain begins just below the occipital bone and radiates to the left (or right) side of the back.
- Burn under the scapula. . . This symptom may indicate prolonged intercostal neuralgia, angina attacks, myocardial infarction. Sometimes the appearance of a burning sensation under the scapula may indicate the development of vegetative-vascular dystonia. In this case, the pains are accompanied by tachycardia, hand tremors and a strong feeling of fear.
- Constant pain under the left shoulder blade. . . This pain syndrome may indicate the development of pneumonia on the left side. In this case, the pain is accompanied by a dry cough, low fever, a feeling of lack of air, shortness of breath.
- Stinging pain under the left shoulder blade. . .Stinging pain (called "lumbago") is most often a sign of osteochondrosis, but can also indicate intercostal neuralgia. A tingling sensation in the back caused by straining, deep inhalation, or coughing may be a sign of pleurisy or pneumonia.
- Pressing pain. . . Indicates the development of osteochondrosis, may also indicate the initial stage of coronary heart disease and exacerbation of vegetative-vascular dystonia.
- Throbbing pain. . .Most often, the left protrusion of the intervertebral disc in the thoracic or cervical spine manifests itself in this way. Pulsating pain may indicate a herniated intervertebral disc or the onset of aortic dissection.
- Sharp pain under the left shoulder blade. . . Indicates hazardous conditions and requires immediate medical attention. The causes of the pain syndrome can be: attacks of angina pectoris, protrusion of the left side of the intervertebral disc, stomach ulcer.
The nature of the pain and its location can vary, but more often the painful sensations under the left scapula are a very dangerous symptom that requires immediate medical intervention.
What diseases can cause pain under the left shoulder blade?
Pain syndrome on the left under the scapula is most often caused by pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, heart, stomach and bronchopulmonary system.
Consider the possible diseases, accompanied by pain under the left scapula, and the accompanying symptoms.
| Diseases | The nature of the pain | Associated symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Musculoskeletal system | ||
| Shoulder-scapular periatritis | The pain appears in the shoulder area and radiates to the scapula. | The patient cannot move freely (cannot put his hands behind his head because of the pain), there is a cracking in the joints when moving. |
| Intercostal neuralgia | The painful sensation is localized in one of the intercostal spaces and is accompanied by a feeling of numbness. The pain syndrome intensifies when leaning to the left. | During the inflamed area, redness may appear, characteristic rashes may occur. |
| Diseases of the back muscles (myositis, inflammation, lesions) | Back pain occurs strongly, it can be painful in nature. | On the left side, the pain appears when the scapula is injured, when the muscles are stretched. |
| Oncology | Painful pain under the left scapula or sharp pains of a constant nature. | With tumors of the scapula, the back thoracic part is deformed. |
| Trauma | Intense pain syndrome, especially in the first hours immediately following the injury. | If the pain increases with movement, swelling or swelling occurs, it could be a fracture of the scapula or a rib. |
| Osteochondrosis, spondylosis, thoracic scoliosis, intervertebral hernia | Intense pain manifests itself either continuously or in "lumbago". | Unpleasant sensations appear in the spine - the feeling that they have "driven a stake". |
| Heart disease | ||
| Angina pectoris | The pain under the left scapula of the back of the back occurs during exertion and radiates to the left arm, the left scapula, sometimes to the left jaw. | It is accompanied by shortness of breath, fear of death. |
| Myocardial infarction | Burning pain under the left shoulder blade on the side of the heart. | Heart pain is not relieved with pills. The left hand becomes numb, there is severe shortness of breath, the breastbone begins to "burn". |
| Pericarditis and myocarditis | Painful character of pain on the left side. | It is accompanied by chills, appearing more often at night, and an increase in temperature. |
| Ascending aortic dissecting aneurysm | The pain syndrome migrates from top to bottom. Initially, the pain occurs in the chest, then gradually moves under the left shoulder blade and further down the lower back. | A sharp drop in pressure. |
| Diseases of the bronchopulmonary system | ||
| Left side pneumonia | The pain is moderately severe. | Cough with phlegm, wheezing in the lungs, fever. |
| Pleurisy | Pain manifests when breathing | Shortness of breath, feeling of wheezing in the lungs. |
| Gastrointestinal pathologies | ||
| Stomach ulcer | Pain under the scapula is accompanied by a burning sensation (more often at night). | Pain associated with eating. |
| Perforated ulcer | Sharp, stabbing pain (like a stabbing). | Fever, vomiting. |
| Acute pancreatitis | Shingles pain, sometimes it can radiate to the side. | Flatulence, repeated vomiting, fever. |
Other symptoms accompanying pain syndrome can help determine disease caused by pain on the left under the scapula:
- Pain worsens after eating- peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, gastritis.
- The pain gets worse when you sneeze- bone diseases, trauma, pleurisy, neuralgia, joint and muscle pathologies.
- Pain manifests when you turn your head- osteochondrosis, lesion of the collarbone.
- Pain occurs when swallowing- diseases of the esophagus, psychosomatic disorders.
- The pain is accompanied by shortness of breath- pleurisy, cardiac pathology, intercostal neuralgia.
- With the pain, a cough appears- damage to the respiratory system.
- The onset of temperature- infectious and inflammatory processes: pericarditis, purulent pleurisy, subphrenic abscess.
- The pain is accompanied by numbness in the left arm.- angina pectoris, osteochondrosis, myocardial infarction.
- Nausea and belching accompany the pain- pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (pancreatitis, ulcer, gastritis).
- With pain, numbness occurs in the tongue- angina pectoris, osteochondrosis, heart attack.
In pregnant women, pain under the scapula occurs for the same reasons as in other people, but in pregnant women the risk of developing certain diseases is much higher. The most likely cause of back pain on the left in a pregnant woman is osteochondrosis (due to the greater load on the spine), pyelonephritis (due to displacement of the kidneys and activation of their activity), over-tension of the back muscles.
In children, pain under the scapula usually occurs as a result of trauma, with neuralgia (after hypothermia), myositis, pleurisy.
Diagnosis and treatment. Which doctor should I contact?
You must choose a doctor with whom to make an appointment, depending on the nature of the pain and its manifestations:
- Emergency doctor- with sharp and intense pain, a burning sensation in the chest, shortness of breath, accompanied by pain with severe dizziness, severe weakness or loss of consciousness.
- Neurologist- if the pain is associated with effort or movement.
- Traumatologist- if the pain appeared after an injury.
- Cardiologist- with a burning sensation behind the breastbone, extending under the scapula, in the left hand, in the jaw.
- Pulmonologist (or therapist)- if the painful sensations increase with breathing and are accompanied by cough, shortness of breath, fever.
- Gastroenterologist- if the pain is associated with meals and is accompanied by dyspeptic disorders.
- Surgeon- pain under the scapula is accompanied by deformation of the sternum, with sharp pain accompanied by high fever.
If it is difficult to independently decide on the choice of a doctor, it is worth contacting a therapist who, based on the results of the examination, will make an appointment with a narrow specialist.
Diagnostic measures are prescribed depending on the reasons that caused the pain under the left scapula, behind:
- General examination - taking anamnesis and questioning the patient, visual examination (measurement of pulse, blood pressure, temperature, palpation, listening), blood and urine test.
- X-ray examination, computed tomography and MRI - determines the pathology of the spine and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, as well as diseases of the pulmonary system.
- Ultrasound of abdominal organs, EGD - gastrointestinal diseases.
- Ultrasound and ECG - prescribed for the examination of cardiovascular disease.
The treatment regimen for pain under the left scapula is selected for each disease specifically - there is no single treatment protocol.
Important!The treatment of pain under the left scapula is primarily the treatment of a disease causing pain syndrome.
If the pain is associated with cardiovascular pathologies, cardiac drugs are prescribed, a diet saving physical and psycho-emotional activity is prescribed.
Gastrointestinal pathologies that cause pain are treated with antacids and a gentle diet.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system are treated with the help of long-term therapy, including the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, carrying out special therapeutic exercises.
Surgical treatment is prescribed when conservative treatment is ineffective. Surgical intervention is mandatory for a perforated ulcer, severe pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, rupture of the spleen, intervertebral hernia.
If pain appears under the left scapula, it is imperative to be examined by a doctor to avoid the appearance and development of life-threatening pathologies.