Back pain in the region of the shoulder blades is a very common complaint among patients belonging to a wide variety of age groups. Such a problem interferes with breathing and creates serious obstacles to physical activity, work or simple movement.
Patients rarely pay due attention to recurring pain in the shoulder blades. However, this symptom is a "waking up" to serious changes not only in the musculoskeletal system, but also in the complex of internal organs. Such conditions can threaten the patient with disability and death.
Next, the most common causes of pain in the shoulder blades and modern therapeutic techniques will be considered.
The most common reasons
The shoulder blades are located at the back of the back near the humerus and the collarbone. These paired bones, triangular in shape, are part of the framework on which the muscles responsible for the mobility of the shoulders are attached. It is for this reason that back pain in the area of the shoulder blades interferes with normal life, interferes with the ability to work and is a serious health hazard.
Why does the back hurt in the shoulder blades? According to medical statistics, these 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 caused by scoliosis or osteochondropathy, as well as for the following reasons:
- diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- intercostal neuralgia;
- scapulohumeral periarthritis;
- herniated discs in the thoracic spine;
- deforming spondylarthrosis;
- scoliosis, kyphoscoliosis and other curvatures of the spine;
- failure of one or both kidneys.
If the back hurts in the region of the shoulder blades, the causes may be diseases, tumors and damage to the mediastinal organs, herpes zoster, intercostal neuralgia, impaired liver function, various pathologies of thepleura and lungs, as well as in the long-term performance of monotonous activity against the background of chronic diseases. Drivers, office workers, seamstresses and representatives of other professions associated with a long stay in one position are at risk.
Pain in the left back and under the shoulder blades
Back pain under the shoulder blades is often due to osteochondrosis, various forms of arching and scoliosis. If a teenager has a disturbed physiological posture, he needs a comprehensive diagnosis, well-chosen prevention and therapy. Otherwise, he may develop pathologies and deformities that are difficult to treat and interfere with normal life.
Pain in the spine associated with the causes listed above usually manifests itself in the form of severe discomfort that occurs after physical exertion. Scoliosis and other curvatures of the spine are best treated with massage, as well as manual and osteopathic effects. Pain syndrome, localized in the region of the shoulder blades on the left, poses a serious danger, since such symptoms may indicate an attack of angina and the development of coronary heart disease.
If the pain in the left side of the back in the area of 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 left shoulder blade pain can be a herniated disc. People at risk are people who have to stay in an uncomfortable position for a long time, drive a vehicle or work in front of a computer.
If the pain is only slightly bothersome, you can limit yourself to using an ointment with a warming or analgesic effect, however, in case of exacerbation, the patient is advised to stay in bed.
Treatment of intervertebral hernia of the thoracic region involves the traction traction method, manual therapy, reflexology, exercise therapy and a course of therapeutic massage. Drug methods of treating such pathologies are currently unknown to conservative medicine. With surgery, the probability of a positive result 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 back muscles under the shoulder blades and in one shoulder blade
Pain in the muscles between the shoulder blades is usually observed in professional athletes engaged in weightlifting and in people who, by the nature of their activities, face heavy physical exertion. The causes of muscle pain between the shoulder blades can be:
- various injuries and bruises;
- sprained tendons;
- overwork while working or exercising in the gym.
If a scapula hurts, the pathology can be triggered by myopathy, neuroinfection, paralysis of the anterior dentate, trapezius or rhomboid muscles, various deformities of the shoulder joints, tuberculosis of the scapula or osteomyelitis, which haveleads to the development of suppuration and poisoning of the body.
stomach ulcer
Pain syndrome localized in the region of the shoulder blades often indicates the presence of such a dangerous disease as a stomach ulcer. In this case, discomfort and discomfort can spread along the thoracic spine, giving it to the nipple and shoulder blade, located on the left side. The pain increases gradually and is characterized by seasonality and periodicity, subsiding after emptying the contents of the stomach by induction of vomiting. Additionally, most patients experience symptoms such as belching, salivation, and heartburn.
It's interesting! With the perforation of the peptic ulcer even during minor activity, the level of discomfort increases significantly, and to get rid of it, the patient needs to take a forced position on his back or on his right side, pressing his hips againstthe abdomen. This phenomenon is accompanied by increased excitement, attacks of fear, as well as an intolerable pain syndrome, which radiates to the area above the collarbone.
Abscess and muscle spasms of the bile ducts
Cutting, throbbing pain on the right side just below the shoulder blades is often caused by blockage of bile duct stones. As a result, there is colic, a severe pain syndrome and the following symptoms:
- the presence of "tearing" sensations in the right hypochondrium;
- sudden pain attack;
- nervousness, irritability;
- pain radiating to eyes, jaw, neck and right shoulder.
Pain syndrome, localized above the waist in the region of the right scapula, may be due to a subdiaphragmatic abscess, which is characterized by very strong discomfort on inspiration, increased body temperature andpain radiating to the right shoulder. With an inflammatory process in the kidneys (nephritis, pyelonephritis), there is pain in the region of the right shoulder blade and lower back with frequent urination, which causes a number of painful sensations.
Mental problems
Pain in the spine between the shoulder blades is often triggered by various psychological problems. In such a case, the discomfort is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:
- feeling short of breath;
- feeling of a lump in the throat;
- paranoid thoughts, unmotivated fear;
- the appearance of cold chills and heat in the chest;
- feeling of pressure, heaviness and constriction.
In case of mental problems, there is often an unpleasant feeling that the heart "bleeds" or jumps out of the chest, and the back at the level of the shoulder blades also burns. Many patients experience chilling tremors, internal restlessness and restlessness, reaching into panic attacks.
Intercostal neuralgia and osteochondrosis of the cervical region
The pain localized under the scapula, in case of intercostal neuralgia, has a paroxysmal girdle character and intensifies during palpation, physical activity, walking and coughing attacks. In some cases, these symptoms are accompanied by excessive muscle tension, burning, tingling and loss of feeling.
With 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.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the following symptoms are observed:
- dizziness;
- increased pain with strong flexion or extension of the neck;
- paresthesia in the region of the shoulder girdle;
- pain radiating to the arm or head.
Osteochondrosis can be recognized by one-sided dull pain in the occipital region. Discomfort usually increases in the morning, causing early awakening and causing a lot of problems for the patient. To alleviate an attack of cervical osteochondrosis, a warm bath or various drugs are used, which are selected exclusively according to the guidelines of a doctor.
During pregnancy
In women during pregnancy, the load on the spine increases, therefore, a significant percentage of pregnant women complain of back pain, including in the area of the shoulder blades. Breaking and burning pains, as well as a feeling of numbness in the shoulder blades, are often associated with changes in the hormonal background, which also affects the aggravation of such chronic diseases as osteochondrosis.
For preventive purposes, some doctors recommend that women use a support corset in the last trimesters of pregnancy and a bandage after childbirth, which reduces the load on the spine and allows the child to maintaingood 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 heavy physical exertion and has a torsion-eversion character. Unpleasant sensations are common in the upper left half of the body, and getting rid of them with the help of drugs with a vasodilating effect will not work.
In such a case, it is necessary to eliminate negative symptoms in a clinical hospital, where the patient is prescribed narcotic painkillers and specially selected supportive drugs.
Diagnosis and treatment
Before taking measures to get rid of the pain syndrome localized in the region of the shoulder blades, it is necessary to establish the cause of the pathology that has arisen. In the event of aching pain in the back between the shoulder blades, which is accompanied by feelings of pulling and twisting, and which cooks and burns in the chest, you should immediately consult a doctor. The doctor will select the best diagnostic method, such as:
- x-ray of the chest and spine;
- Ultrasound;
- electrocardiogram;
- computed tomography.
Manual therapy in many cases gives 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 regeneration processes and local metabolism. It is worth regularly strengthening the muscles by performing a set of individually selected exercise therapy exercises.