Sometimes we experience discomfort in the back on the left side. It can be pains of a different nature: pulling, stabbing, aching. They may be accompanied by additional symptoms. Pain under the left shoulder blade is usually not the only symptom. This is one of the signs of the manifestation of any disease. All complaints and symptoms together will help the doctor to choose the direction of the diagnosis. After all, immediate assistance is often required.
The anatomical structure of the body.
If we visualize our body from behind, it will be seen that the left shoulder blade is located on the ribs involved in the formation of the thorax. Between the ribs are nerves and blood vessels. They are connected by muscle fibers.
The scapula performs a protective function of the internal organs: the heart, lungs, stomach and pancreas, spleen.
Depending on the anatomical structure of the body, the pain under the left shoulder blade can be conditionally divided into:
- associated with the pathology of the musculoskeletal system,
- associated with the pathology of any internal organs.
Why is there discomfort on the left side?
Many of us with the appearance of pain on the left side, first of all, consider problems in the work of the heart. In fact, most often the cause is a spinal problem. There may also be failures in the work of the internal organs.
Let us consider in more detail the causes of pain under the left shoulder blade. They can occur when:
- Problems with the spine and musculoskeletal system: osteochondrosis, intercostal neuralgia, scapular injuries, rib fractures, myofascial syndrome, Sprengel's disease.
- Diseases of the bronchi and lungs: pneumonia, localized on the left, dry pleurisy, bronchitis in the acute stage of the course, tracheitis, left-sided lung abscess.
- Diseases of the cardiological system: angina pectoris, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, valve prolapse.
- Diseases of the stomach and intestines: stomach and duodenal ulcers, gastroesophagitis, reflux, spasm of the esophagus.
- Psychosomatic course of the disease with vegetative-vascular dystonia.
Relationship between pain and disease
Patients can characterize the nature of the pain from aching to cutting and burning. There are several typical signs of pain that distinguish them from other diseases:
| disease name | Characteristic pain |
|---|---|
| Heart diseases | Pain in the region of the left shoulder blade is burning in nature, causes a feeling of compression of the retrosternal space. It occurs in the same place, moving to the left side: the back, the shoulder blade, the arm. When pressing, as if squeezing the pain from the heart, the spread of myocardial infarction is possible. In this case, urgent hospitalization is necessary. |
| aortic aneurysm | The pain is sharp, stabbing, growing, going to the left in the back and below the shoulder blade. The condition develops rapidly and threatens the patient's life. |
| Pleuritis | The pain is sharp and stabbing, depending on the size of the breath. In a calm state, a tingling sensation is possible, when inhaling with a full chest, there is a stabbing pain in the scapula. |
| left sided pneumonia | The pain is not strong, aching, it can be characterized as a point. It may increase slightly with movement and deep inspiration. |
| Osteochondrosis of the vertebrae | Most often, the pain is localized in the lower part of the neck. It is manifested by painful sensations, aggravated by a sudden movement of the head. It can give in the hand, be accompanied by turns in the head, numbness of the limb. The pain under the scapula is weak, aching and pulling, there may be increased pain in a prolonged sitting position or after physical exertion. As a rule, this happens at night. In the morning, stiffness of the spinal muscles is felt. Unlike heart pain, it does not go away after taking medication. There may be severe headaches that are not pressure dependent. |
| Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, ulcers in the stomach and intestines. | Pain in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can be seasonal with attacks. Pain syndrome can occur due to prolonged hunger, immediately after eating, a couple of hours after eating, at night. The pain disappears after satisfying hunger, after food leaves the stomach, after vomiting or taking medication. When the ulcer is perforated, the pain radiates under the left shoulder blade, it is sharp and excruciating. If you suspect this disease, you should immediately go to the hospital. At the beginning of the development of the disease, the pain may disappear after vomiting. With reflux esophagitis, the accompanying symptoms will be heartburn, belching, and digestion problems. |
| intercostal neuralgia | A sharp stabbing or girdle pain is felt constantly or in attacks. It can occur on one side. It increases during sudden movements: sneezing, coughing, severe shortness of breath, walking, physical activity, palpation of the pain site. |
| Vegetative-vascular dystonia and myofascial syndrome | With myofascial syndrome, the pain is dull and comes from deep within the tissues. It can occur both at rest and during physical activity. It can vary in intensity from mild to severe. Objectively, during the examination, EVD patients suffer from irritability, memory impairment, sweating, tachycardia, and hand tremor. There are often changes in the heart muscle. The nature of the pain is similar to that of the heart. But the examination of the heart does not confirm the diagnosis. |
Diagnosis of the disease that caused the pain syndrome.
To find out what is causing the pain, a detailed examination will be required. First of all, you need to consult a therapist or doctor. He, based on the complaints and examination of the patient, will determine what kind of investigation should be carried out.
The initial stage of treatment, if the pain radiates to the left shoulder blade, should be a visit to the local therapist. He will be able to do an initial examination and prescribe all the necessary tests. And already with the existing examinations, you can go to a consultation with limited specialists.
The doctor will not be able to diagnose the disease solely from the complaints of the pain syndrome. Complaints will be a push in the direction where a more comprehensive diagnosis is required. Therefore, when contacting a doctor, it is necessary to know exactly the answers to questions about the nature of pain, its localization and concomitant causes - the relationship with food intake, physical and emotional stress.
If myositis is suspected in a patient, a detailed blood test should be performed to confirm the inflammatory process.
To more accurately diagnose the disease, it is necessary to conduct a series of examinations.
The first task is to exclude conditions that require emergency medical attention. These include: gastric and duodenal ulcers, myocardial infarction, aortic rupture.
To understand exactly what hurts under the left shoulder blade, you need to undergo the following examinations:
- Visual inspection and palpation of the location of the pain. Temperature, blood pressure and pulse will be taken.
- X-ray in various projections to confirm or deny problems in the spine and lungs.
- ECG to check the work of the heart.
- To clarify the localization of the problem with the spine, a CT scan or MRI may be needed.
- If gastrointestinal problems are suspected, FGS may be prescribed - fibrogastroduodenoscopy.
- General and biochemical blood tests.
For some types of pain, first aid with analgesics and antispasmodics can be provided. But its reception does not eliminate the cause, but only drowns the pain from the left under the shoulder blade, which, after the end of the drug, will definitely return again. To prevent the pain from recurring, it is necessary to find out its cause.
In any case, if the left shoulder blade hurts, after stopping the first signs of pain, it is necessary to undergo a full course of examinations. After all, often the source of pain radiating to the shoulder blade can be located elsewhere. Therefore, when a pain syndrome appears in the area of the scapula, it is necessary to visit: a therapist, a neurologist, a cardiologist, a gastroenterologist, a traumatologist, to the exclusion of pathology by all the listed specialists. A consultation with a psychotherapist is necessary.
Treatment of the disease that caused the pain syndrome.
The purpose of treatment will depend on the diagnosis of the disease. For each specific disease, there are specific treatment regimens. They necessarily include recommendations on physical activity and diet. The medication regimen is described in detail. They are combined depending on the symptoms and complaints to relieve the acute symptoms that threaten the life of the patient.
In any case, you need to remember that pain in the left shoulder blade can only be eliminated with drugs recommended by a specialist. Do not resort to the advice of family and friends. After all, without medical help it is difficult to determine the nature of the pain. Self-medication can cause a delay in cardiac or gastric pathologies.
- For example, with reflux after the examination, drugs may be prescribed to reduce the acidity of the stomach and facilitate its movement in the intestines. In this case, it is worth limiting the amount of food consumed, you should not bend over immediately after eating.
- With osteochondrosis, physiotherapy exercises, swimming, dry heat and increased physical activity can be prescribed as medical procedures. All of these measures are used as prophylaxis once the pain subsides.
- If there is a diagnosis of ischemia, a heart medication should be taken initially. If the pain in the left shoulder blade does not go away after 10 minutes, you need to call an ambulance.
- If there are problems with the cardiovascular system, the best prevention is the constant intake of the necessary drugs, diet, mental stability and not excessive physical activity.
- If pain in the scapula manifests itself due to problems with the spine, it is necessary to perform a series of special exercises for a long period of time and follow the recommendations of specialists in taking medications.
- If the appearance of pain under the left shoulder blade is associated with stomach and intestinal problems, diet and medication will help to cope with it. In this case, the psycho-emotional balance is important, because stress often causes an ulcer. A positive attitude and mastering the technique of relaxation and relaxation is necessary.
If there is no result from conservative treatment, as well as when a perforated ulcer, a large hernia of the spine, a ruptured spleen is detected, surgical intervention is necessary.
In principle, to avoid serious health problems, an annual dispensary examination is necessary. It is necessary to undergo the necessary examinations to exclude the occurrence of diseases in the near future.