Pain under the left scapula is a common phenomenon that can occur after a sudden movement or because of an uncomfortable position of the body.They usually pass quickly and do not bother anymore.
Constant unpleasant sensations under the scapula may be a symptom of a severe disease, which requires immediate treatment. Especially do not underestimate this symptom, if the pain is given to the left of the sternum, or the left arm is numb.
On whether a person turned to a specialist for help at the right time, from her nature and place of localization, an accurate diagnosis can be made, the direction of the examinations, as well as the necessary treatment to eliminate not only the disease itself, but also the causes of its appearance.
Causes of pain under the left scapula
What does it mean? The reasons for the pain under the left scapula in adults are sufficient, they can be related both to the problems of the scapula itself and to diseases of the internal organs. Let's consider the most probable reasons of the given condition hardly more low.
Certaindiseases of the musculoskeletal systemcan be accompanied by a painful symptom in the area of the left scapula. Most often it manifests itself:
- Osteochondrosis of the thoracic or cervical spine.
- Intercostal neuralgia.
- Traumatic injury of the scapula (compression injury of the suprapastal nerve).
- Fracture of rib.
- The disease of Sprengel (scapula alata) is a pterygoid scapula.
- Myofascial syndrome.
Cardiac diseases. It can not be said that this hurts only in the area of the left scapula. The pain then goes to the left arm, then goes to the area of the clavicle, then falls to the bottom of the abdomen. Depending on the ailment, patients experience a feeling of lack of air, a feeling of cardiac arrest or compression of the throat. The thorax at this time seems to him to be compressed or gripped by the feeling of heat. These are the diseases:
- IHD is ischemic heart disease.
- Myocardial infarction.
- Pericarditis.
- Angina pectoris (unstable, stable).
- Mitral valve prolapse.
- Less often - an aneurysm of the aorta.
Constant pain under the left scapula may indicatediseases of the broncho-pulmonary system. In this case, the pain sensations are always directed towards the affected lung, they have an average intensity and aching character, are localized under the left scapula to one painful point. It can be:
- Left-sided pneumonia.
- Pleurisy (dry, left-sided).
- Tracheobronchitis with autonomic dysfunction.
- Acute bronchitis.
- Abscess of the left lung.
Diseasesgastrointestinal tract:
- Ulcus gastrica is a stomach ulcer.
- Ulcus duodeni is an ulcer of the duodenum.
- Spasm of the esophagus.
- GERD is a gas-esophageal reflux disease.
- Rarely - exacerbation of pancreatitis.
Typical causes of pain under the left scapulaby prevalence are thus located:
- Cervical osteochondrosis, which manifests itself most often as a unilateral pain at the bottom of the os occipitale - the occipital bone. The pain is aching, intensified with active movements of the head and constantly irradiates under the shoulder blade, in the arm.
- Another disease, a typical symptom of which is pain under the left scapula, is intercostal neuralgia. It is a frequent consequence of osteochondrosis and is manifested by lumbago and intense shingles that give to the right or left, including under the shoulder blade.
- JAW (peptic ulcer of the stomach). The symptom is most often due to seasonality, depends on the food factor and is characterized by paroxysmal, irradiating pain.
Proceeding from such a brief anatomical review, all causes of pain under the left scapula can bedivided into two large groups:
- Pain associated with pathology of internal organs (cardiovascular pathology, respiratory diseases, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and spleen).
- Pain related to the pathology of the musculoskeletal system and muscle pain, including neurogenic.
To find out why it hurts under the left scapula, you should undergo a comprehensive examination, which, based on specific complaints and survey data, will be appointed by the attending physician. After all, pain in different diseases will differ in nature, intensity and provoking factors.
Angina pectoris
Another cardiological disease can manifest itself with acute pains under the left scapula - it is angina. With her pains primarily arise in the retrosternal region, then as if "pour" into the left side. By the nature of manifestation, they are sharp and constricting, disappearing at rest and after taking nitroglycerin. To a lesser extent, the patient is helped by Validol.
In most cases, the disease is caused by coronary artery atherosclerosis. Angina pectoris often occurs with physical and emotional stress, after severe hypothermia or overheating of the body, alcohol intake, and acute and heavy food.
Osteochondrosis
The most common cause of pain under the left shoulder blade behind the back is an osteochondrosis of the cervical region, characteristic of which is the squeezing of the spinal nerve roots.
This ailment is characterized by pulling, dull pain, often one-sided just below the occipital region. It can be both permanent and can be manifested as lumbago, always giving under the shoulder blade on the affected side. A sharp increase in the symptom occurs when the head moves, after a night's sleep.
Often is the result of a prolonged strain on the neck. Also, patients notice numbness of hands, migraine, dizziness.
Pneumonia and pleurisy
With left-sided pneumonia (pneumonia), moderate intensity pain accompanied by coughing with phlegm and wheezing in the lungs will also bother in the scapula area. In this case, often "candles" of temperature are noted.
Pleurisy (inflammation of the pleura) can be dry or purulent. Both types of this pathology are accompanied by severe pain during breathing, while the person protects the affected side: breathing becomes more superficial.
With purulent pleurisy, puncture is always performed, followed by analysis of the discharge and drainage of the pleural cavity.
Stomach ulcer
Gastric ulcer is a common disease that causes growing pain under the left scapula. Sensations gradually spread to the entire thorax, nausea and vomiting appear. Severe pain in the back area is observed after eating harmful food: too salty, spicy and oily. Also noted are:
- pallor of the skin.
- nervous frightened state.
- cold sweat.
- lumps of blood in vomiting (the main sign that urgently needs to call a doctor at home).
A person can not move normally when a painful experience occurs. Aching pain grows with any perfect movement. A sharp pain can be a signal to the fact that there was an exacerbation and you need to call an ambulance.
Intercostal neuralgia
This pathology is often found in patients with complaints of pain under the left scapula. The pain extends to one intercostal space, is accompanied by a sensation of numbness or tingling along the course of the affected area, increases when tilted to the sore side, that is to the left. In some cases, on the course of the inflamed intercostal nerve, rashes on the skin or its redness may occur.
Injuries
Most often, the pain caused by traumatic injuries of the blades occurs when a direct blow to the area of the shoulder blades or when falling on the back. The pain syndrome is intense, especially during the first hours after the injury.
Later it appears or intensifies with movements, swelling and swelling develops. Pain in trauma can be caused by fracture of the scapula or ribs. Therefore, it is necessary to perform radiography.
Myocardial infarction
Infarction is characterized by sharp sharp pain under the left scapula, which can also appear throughout the left side of the body (in the left hand, the left side of the neck).
The cause of acute angina pectoris with infarction can be the most common emotional overstrain, which is why people who have heart problems are advised to "not be nervous."
Pain with a heart attack can be of different nature - cutting, squeezing or pressing. But there are also non-standard cases when pain can manifest itself in the most unexpected place and in the most unusual way, for example, in the peritoneum.
Pericarditis
The disease is associated with inflammation of the serosa of the heart. With this disease, tachycardia often develops, hence the cause of pain in the left side of the back. The pains are sharp, but subside, when the person is in a calm state or with an inclination forward.
This ailment is dangerous because spikes and joints can contract together with a contraction of the heart. Also, calcium salts can be deposited in the pericardium of the heart, which leads to densification of the heart membrane.
Psychosomatic diseases
Often, pain under the left scapula is noted during psychological stress and diseases that are psychosomatic. The reasons lie in stress and emotional upheavals, which the body can not cope with and signals about problems with the help of psychosomatic pain.
In addition to painful sensations in the scapula area from the back, psychosomatic symptoms may include the following accompanying symptoms:
- heat;
- discomfort in the chest;
- spasms in the throat;
- lack of air.
Diagnostics
To understand how to treat pain under the left scapula behind from the back, you need to undergo a comprehensive examination to establish the exact cause of this symptom.
First of all it is:
- Anamnesis history. It is rather short, since the pain under the left scapula in the back is not considered a pathology that threatens life.
- Acquaintance of the doctorwith a detailed description of the nature of the pain.
- Back examinationpatient.
- Instrumental examinationPerform only in case of suspicion of acute infection, oncology, trauma and with severe neurologic symptoms.
First, the doctor conducts a full diagnostic to exclude myocardial infarction, spine oncology, neurological disorders that require urgent treatment. And only after that he decides how to treat this patient.
To what doctor to address?
Depending on how painful sensations arise, what their characteristics are and what they are related to, you should choose a specialist to whom you will go for a consultation:
- Gastroenterologist- with pain associated with meals, the presence of dyspepsia.
- Therapist or pulmonologist- with pains worse with fever, accompanied by shortness of breath, cough, and fever.
- Neurologist- with pain associated with movement, load.
- Traumatologist- when referring to a trauma that precedes the appearance of pain.
- Cardiologist- Burning behind the breastbone with irradiation under the shoulder blade, into the tongue, the left arm.
- Psychologist and psychiatrist- with pain, the causes of which have not been detected by the results of a detailed examination, especially if there are other signs of psychosomatic disorders and neuroses.
Diseases and pains are much easier and safer to prevent than cure. Even if there are no problems with health and discomfort, you need to regularly visit a doctor and undergo a medical examination. If the pain still appeared, you can not do self-medication, you need to immediately contact a specialist in this field. Eliminating pain with pain medication and not taking complex treatment, you contribute to the development of serious heart disease, GI or spine.
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