The most common ailments that provoke pain under the left shoulder blade from behind are osteochondrosis, angina pectoris, pneumonia, peptic ulcer, panic attacks. In addition to the pain syndrome, patients can be disturbed by nausea, vomiting, heartburn, coughing, sputum production, as well as disturbances in 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 from behind is a formidable symptom that can be observed with diseases of the spine or severe violations of the functions of internal organs. At the same time, such a pain syndrome occurs in 7% of cases due to surgical pathology that requires urgent surgical intervention.
The main causes of pain in the left shoulder blade area include:
- Diseases of the spine (congenital malformations, ankylosing spondylitis, spondylosis, osteochondrosis, herniated disc, etc. ) provoking compression of the roots of the spine;
- Muscular pathologies (dermatomyositis, fibromyalgia, etc. ), causing a characteristic pain - myalgia;
- Neurological diseases (Guillain-Barré syndrome, polyneuropathy, intercostal neuralgia, etc. ) characterized by the appearance of specific neuropathic pain;
- Diseases of the internal organs:
- hearts - angina pectoris, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction;
- lungs - bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, pleurisy;
- Stomach - gastritis, ulcers, polyps;
- Spleen - ruptures and other pathologies.
- "Blood cancer" (leukemia), due to which pain is detected in the thickness of the bones that contain the bone marrow (pelvis, sternum, shoulder blades, tubular bones).
Sometimes the pain syndrome is provoked by disruptions in the autonomic nervous system, which regulates the work of all organs and systems. In such cases we speak of an exacerbation of vegetative-vascular dystonia - i. H. 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 attacks.
osteochondrosis
The disease is caused by the destruction of the intervertebral disc, which usually "softens" movement in the spine. Usually, the pathology occurs against the background of extreme physical exertion and natural aging of the body.
The destroyed intervertebral disc protrudes (often in the neck area) and injures the roots of the spine. Because of this, patients (on the side of the lesion) are concerned about acute pain in the back of the head and neck with spread to the area of \u200b\u200bthe scapula and shoulder. Over time, the superficial sensitivity in these areas becomes disturbed, leaving patients unable to feel the temperature and vibration on the skin.
With the progression of the disease, the brachial plexus is involved in the pathological process, which greatly complicates the mobility of the shoulder. At the same time, the muscle strength 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 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.
Most often, patients worry about a sudden stabbing or burning pain in the chest area. In this case, the pain often spreads 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 associated with a feeling of interruptions in the work of the heart and fear of death.
lung infection
Pneumonia 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 "stabbing" pain in the chest or shoulder blade of the affected lung. In this case, the pain is aggravated by sneezing, coughing, or intense breathing.
With the development of the disease, there is a cough and separation of purulent sputum, sometimes acquiring a "rusty" character (due to blood impurities). Patients often experience shortness of breath and shortness of breath even with minimal physical activity.
gastric ulcer
The cause of the disease is the local destruction of the gastric mucosa with the formation of a gastric ulcer (i. e. ulcers). Provocateurs are a bacterial infection (Helicobacter), hyperacidity and gastric motility disorders.
The main symptom of stomach ulcers is paroxysmal pain in the upper abdomen (epigastrium) that occurs or worsens after eating. Often exacerbations of the disease are combined with nausea and vomiting, bringing relief. In the interictal period, patients complain of heartburn, belching, bloating, and a feeling of fullness after eating.
Vegetative Crisis
The cause of the pain may be a crisis of vegetative dystonia, also known as a panic attack. Usually, patients are concerned about "wandering" pains that appear either in the area of the heart, or under the shoulder blade, or in the abdomen, etc.
At the same time, patients complain of fever, sweating, tremors, shortness of breath, fear of insanity or mental confusion.
Such crises can be a manifestation of both organic pathology (tumor of the adrenal glands, heart disease) and psychological (phobias, depression, post-traumatic syndrome). 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 occurrence and type of pain;
- Clinical examination with clarification of pain localization and identification of pain points;
- laboratory tests to detect infection (in the case of pneumonia or ulcers), inflammatory changes in the blood or muscle protein levels that indicate their destruction (troponin in myocardial infarction);
- Instrumental methods using X-ray, ultrasound, CT or MRI.
Electrocardiography is also done for a heart attack and fibrogastroduodenoscopy (examination of the stomach with an endoscope) for a stomach ulcer.
treatment
If pain occurs under the left shoulder blade from behind, patients should seek urgent medical help, because. such a pain syndrome may indicate an emergency (myocardial infarction, rupture of the spleen, ulcer perforation, etc. ). In this case, taking painkillers is not recommended, since. Analgesics can mask symptoms and make subsequent diagnosis difficult!
- osteochondrosis. Basic therapy includes nonsteroidal and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Muscle relaxants are used to relieve muscle spasms. As a long-term treatment to slow down the destruction of the intervertebral disc, chondroprotectors are prescribed.
- Angina. Relief of an acute attack occurs with the help of nitrates. However, general therapy is based on lifestyle changes, use of acetylsalicylic acid (to "thin" the blood) and statins to lower cholesterol.
- Lung infection. The main drug in the treatment of pneumonia is an antibiotic, the choice of which depends on the causative agent of the infection.
- gastric ulcer. Treatment of an ulcer consists in destroying the provocateur bacteria (Helicobacter pylori). For this purpose, several antibacterial agents are prescribed, as well as drugs that reduce the acidity of the contents of the stomach.
- vegetative crisis. In most cases, treatment for panic attacks can be limited to psychotherapy sessions. At the same time, most often the appointment of psychotropic substances (antidepressants, tranquilizers) is unjustified.
Precautions
Prevention of pain under the left shoulder blade from behind from behind is based on:
- timely diagnosis of congenital and acquired diseases of the spine (cervical fusion, spondylosis, osteochondrosis, herniated disc, injuries);
- early detection of muscle pathologies (dermatomyositis, fibromyalgia);
- Recovery of neurological disorders (intercostal neuralgia, polyneuropathy);
- Treatment of diseases of internal organs:
- heart - angina pectoris, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction;
- lungs - bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis pleurisy;
- stomach - gastritis, ulcers, polyps;
- Spleen - ruptures and other pathologies.
- Performing a screening blood test for the purpose of pre-symptomatic diagnosis of leukemia.
Remember that pain in the left shoulder blade can indicate acute diseases that require emergency treatment or surgery!