The most common ailments that provoke pain under the left shoulder blade from behind from the back are osteochondrosis, angina pectoris, pneumonia, peptic ulcer and panic attack. Along with the pain syndrome, patients may be disturbed by nausea, vomiting, heartburn, cough, sputum production, as well as disorders of 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 from the back is a formidable symptom that can be observed in diseases of the spinal column or serious violations of the functions of internal organs. At the same time, in 7% of cases, such a pain syndrome occurs due to a surgical pathology requiring urgent surgical intervention.
Among the main causes of pain in the region of the left shoulder blade are:
- Diseases of the spinal column (congenital malformations, ankylosing spondylitis, spondylosis, osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, etc. ), provoking compression of the spinal roots;
- Muscle pathologies (dermatomyositis, fibromyalgia, etc. ), which causes a characteristic soreness - myalgia;
- Neurological disorders (Guillain-Barré syndrome, polyneuropathy, intercostal neuralgia, etc. ), which are characterized by the appearance of specific neuropathic pain;
- Diseases of the internal organs:
- Hearts - angina pectoris, arrhythmia, heart attack;
- Lungs - bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, pleurisy;
- Stomach - gastritis, ulcers, polyps;
- Spleens - ruptures and other pathologies.
- "Cancer of the blood" (leukemia), due to which pain is noted in the thickness of the bones containing the bone marrow (pelvis, sternum, shoulder blades, tubular bones).
Sometimes the pain syndrome is provoked by disorders of the autonomic nervous system, which regulates the work of all organs and systems. In such cases, we are talking about an exacerbation of vegetovascular dystonia - i. e. 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 attack.
Osteochondrosis
The disease is caused by the destruction of the intervertebral disc, which normally "softens" the movement in the spinal column. Usually, pathology occurs against the background of extreme physical exertion and natural aging of the body.
So, the destroyed intervertebral disc (often in the cervical region) protrudes and infringes on the spinal roots. For this reason, 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 the shoulder blade and shoulder. Over time, superficial sensitivity is disturbed in these areas, due to which patients do not feel 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 strength of the muscles 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 their lumen. Provoke an attack of stress, emotional and physical overload.
Usually, patients are concerned about a sudden stabbing or burning pain in the chest area. In this case, 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 combined with a feeling of interruptions in the work of the heart and the fear of death.
Pneumonia
Inflammation of the lungs is a disease, often provoked 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 from the affected lung. In this case, the pain is aggravated by sneezing, coughing, or intense breathing.
With the development of the disease, a cough occurs and the separation of purulent sputum, which sometimes acquires a "rusty" character (due to blood impurities). Patients often experience shortness of breath and shortness of breath even with little physical activity.
stomach ulcer
The cause of the disease is the local destruction of the gastric mucosa with the formation of a peptic ulcer (i. e. , ulcers). Provocateurs are a bacterial infection (Helicobacter), hyperacidity and gastric motility disorders.
The main complaint of peptic ulcer disease is paroxysmal pain in the upper abdomen (epigastrium), which occurs or increases after eating. Often, exacerbations of the disease are combined with nausea and vomiting, which brings relief. In the interictal period, patients complain of heartburn, belching, bloating and a feeling of heaviness after eating.
Vegetative crisis
The cause of pain may be a crisis of vegetovascular dystonia, also known as a panic attack. Usually, patients are worried about "migrating" pain, which occurs either in the region of the heart, or under the scapula, or in the abdomen, etc.
At the same time, patients complain of fever, sweating, trembling, lack of air, fear of going crazy or confusion of thoughts.
Such crises can be a manifestation of both organic pathology (tumor of the adrenal glands, heart disease) and mental (phobias, depression, post-traumatic syndrome). In some cases, panic attacks are the result of taking medications.
Diagnostics
Diagnostic measures usually consist of:
- A survey that allows you to determine the conditions for the occurrence and nature of pain;
- Clinical examination with clarification of the localization of pain and identification of pain points;
- Laboratory tests to detect infection (with pneumonia or an ulcer), inflammatory changes in the blood or muscle protein levels, indicating their destruction (troponin in myocardial infarction);
- Instrumental methods using X-ray, ultrasound, CT or MRI.
Also, in the case of a heart attack, electrocardiography is performed, and in case of a stomach ulcer, fibrogastroduodenoscopy (examination of the stomach with an endoscope).
Treatment
If pain occurs under the left shoulder blade from behind from the back, patients should urgently seek medical help, because. such a pain syndrome may indicate an emergency (myocardial infarction, rupture of the spleen, ulcer perforation, etc. ). In this case, it is not recommended to take painkillers, because. analgesics can hide symptoms and complicate subsequent diagnosis!
- Osteochondrosis. Basic therapy includes non-steroidal and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Muscle relaxants are used to relieve muscle spasm. As a long-term treatment aimed at slowing the destruction of the intervertebral disc, chondroprotectors are prescribed.
- Angina. Relief of an acute attack is carried out with the help of nitrates. However, general therapy is based on lifestyle changes, the use of acetylsalicylic acid (to "thinn" the blood), as well as statins to lower cholesterol levels.
- Pneumonia. The main drug in the treatment of pneumonia is an antibiotic, the choice of which depends on the causative agent of the infection.
- Stomach ulcer. The treatment of an ulcer consists in the destruction of the provocateur bacteria (Helicobacter). For this purpose, several antibacterial agents are prescribed, as well as drugs that reduce the level of acidity of gastric contents.
- vegetative crisis. In most cases, the treatment of panic attacks can be limited to psychotherapy sessions. At the same time, the appointment of psychotropic substances (antidepressants, tranquilizers) is most often unjustified.
Preventive measures
Prevention of pain under the left shoulder blade from behind from the back is based on:
- timely diagnosis of congenital and acquired diseases of the spinal column (fusion of the cervical vertebrae, spondylosis, osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, injuries);
- early detection of muscle pathology (dermatomyositis, fibromyalgia);
- restoration of neurological disorders (intercostal neuralgia, polyneuropathy);
- treatment of diseases of internal organs:
- heart - angina pectoris, arrhythmia, heart attack;
- lungs - bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis pleurisy;
- stomach - gastritis, ulcers, polyps;
- spleen - ruptures and other pathologies.
- conducting a screening blood test for the purpose of pre-symptomatic diagnosis of leukemia.
Remember, pain in the left shoulder blade may indicate acute pathologies requiring emergency treatment or surgery!