Sometimes we feel 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, urgent care is often required.
Anatomical structure of the body
If we imagine our body from behind, it will be seen that the left shoulder blade is located on the ribs involved in the formation of the chest. Between the ribs are nerves and blood vessels. They are connected by muscle fibers.
Scapula performs the protective function of internal organs - heart, lungs, stomach and pancreas, spleen.
Based on the anatomical structure of the body, pain under the left shoulder blade can be conditionally divided into:
- related to the pathology of the musculoskeletal system,
- related to the pathology of any internal organ.
Why is there discomfort on the left side?
With the appearance of left-sided pain, many of us, first of all, consider problems in the work of the heart. In fact, more often the cause is a spinal problem. Internal organs may also have malfunctions.
Let's consider the causes of pain under the left shoulder blade in more detail. They can occur in the following cases:
- Problems related to 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 cardiovascular system: angina pectoris, coronary heart disease, heart attack, valve prolapse.
- Stomach and intestinal diseases: gastric and duodenal ulcers, gastroesophagitis, reflux, spasm of the esophagus.
- Psychosomatic course of the disease with vegetative-vascular dystonia.
The relationship between pain and disease
Patients can describe the nature of pain from aching to burning. There are several typical pain symptoms that distinguish them from other diseases:
| The name of the disease | The pain that characterizes it |
|---|---|
| Heart diseases | Pain in the region of the left shoulder blade is burning in nature, causing a feeling of compression of the retrosternal space. It happens in the same place, on the left side - back, shoulder blade, arm. By pressing, as if squeezing the heart pain, it is possible to spread a myocardial infarction. In this case, urgent hospitalization is necessary. |
| aortic aneurysm | The pain is sharp, burning, growing, going to the left under the back and shoulder blade. The condition develops rapidly and threatens the patient's life. |
| Pleurisy | The pain is sharp and stabbing, depending on the size of the breath. In a calm state, a tingling sensation is possible, when breathing with a full chest, there is a piercing pain in the scapula. |
| Left-sided pneumonia | The pain is not strong, it can be characterized as aching, a point. It can increase a little with movement and deep inspiration. |
| Osteochondrosis of vertebrae | Often the pain is localized under the neck. It is manifested by painful sensations aggravated by sharp movement of the head. It can be accompanied by dizziness, numbness of the limbs. The pain under the scapula is weak, aching and pulling, there may be an increase in pain after a long sitting position or physical exertion. As a rule, this happens in the evening. The stiffness of the spinal muscles is felt in the morning. Unlike heart pain, it does not go away after taking medicine. There may be severe headaches that do not depend on pressure. |
| 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 immediately after eating, a few hours after eating, at night due to prolonged hunger. After satisfying hunger, after food leaves the stomach, after vomiting or taking medicine, the pain disappears. When the ulcer is perforated, the pain spreads under the left shoulder blade, is sharp and unbearable. If you suspect this disease, you should go to the hospital immediately. At the beginning of the development of the disease, the pain may decrease after vomiting. Symptoms associated with reflux esophagitis will include heartburn, belching and indigestion. |
| Intercostal neuralgia | A sharp burning or girdle pain is felt continuously or in attacks. It can happen on the one hand. 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, coming from the depths of the tissues. It can occur both at rest and during physical activity. The intensity can vary from mild to severe. Objectively, during examination, nervousness, memory impairment, sweating, tachycardia, tremors of hands are observed in patients with VVD. There are often changes in the heart muscle. The nature of pain is similar to heart pain. However, heart examination does not confirm the diagnosis. |
Diagnosis of the disease causing the pain syndrome
A detailed examination will be required to find out what is causing the pain. First, you should consult a therapist or doctor. He will determine what investigation should be done based on the complaints and examination of the patient.
The initial stage of treatment, if the pain spreads to the left shoulder blade, should be a visit to a local therapist. He will be able to conduct an initial examination and prescribe all necessary examinations. And with already available exams, you can go to consult with narrow specialists.
The doctor will not be able to determine the disease based only on complaints of pain syndrome. Complaints will be a push in the direction that a more accurate diagnosis is required. Therefore, when contacting the doctor, it is necessary to know the exact answers to the questions related to the nature, localization and accompanying causes of the pain - 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 determine the disease more accurately, it is necessary to conduct a number of examinations.
The first task is to rule out conditions that require emergency medical care. These include: gastric and duodenal ulcer, heart attack, aortic rupture.
To understand exactly what hurts under the left shoulder blade, you should undergo the following examinations:
- Visual examination and palpation of pain localization. Temperature, blood pressure and pulse will be measured.
- X-ray in several projections to confirm or deny problems with the spine and lungs.
- EKG to check heart function.
- A CT scan or MRI may be required to clarify the localization of the problem with the spine.
- If you suspect gastrointestinal problems, FGS can be prescribed - fibrogastroduodenoscopy.
- General and biochemical blood tests.
First aid for some types of pain can be provided with analgesics and antispasmodics. However, their reception does not eliminate the cause, but suppresses the pain from the left side under the shoulder blade, which will definitely return after the drug is finished. In order to prevent the recurrence of pain, it is necessary to find its cause.
In any case, if the left shoulder blade hurts, it is necessary to undergo a full course of examination after stopping the first signs of pain. After all, the source of pain that often spreads to the shoulder blade can be located elsewhere. Therefore, when a pain syndrome appears in the back region, it is necessary to consult a therapist, neurologist, cardiologist, gastroenterologist, traumatologist, excluding the pathology of all the listed specialists. , a consultation with a psychotherapist is necessary.
Treatment of the disease causing the pain syndrome
The purpose of treatment will depend on the diagnosis of the disease. There are specific treatment regimens for each specific disease. They definitely include recommendations for physical activity and diet. The drug regimen is described in detail. They are combined depending on symptoms and complaints to eliminate acute symptoms that threaten the patient's life.
In any case, it is important to remember that the pain in the left shoulder blade can be eliminated only with drugs recommended by a specialist. Do not seek the advice of relatives and friends. After all, it is difficult to determine the nature of pain without medical help. Self-treatment can lead to the delay of heart or stomach pathologies.
- For example, after the examination, drugs can be prescribed to reduce the acidity of the stomach with reflux and facilitate its movement in the intestines. In this case, it is worth limiting the amount of food consumed, you should not lean immediately after eating.
- With osteochondrosis, physiotherapy exercises, swimming, dry heat and increased physical activity can be prescribed as medical procedures. All these measures are used as prevention after the pain subsides.
- If a diagnosis of ischemia is made, cardiac medication should be taken first. If the pain in the shoulder blade on the left side does not go away after 10 minutes, you should call an ambulance.
- If there are problems with the cardiovascular system, the best prevention is not the constant intake of necessary drugs, diet, mental stability and excessive physical activity.
- If the pain in the scapula manifests itself due to problems with the spine, it is necessary to perform a set of special exercises for a long time and follow the recommendations of specialists when taking medication.
- If the occurrence of pain under the shoulder blade on the left side is associated with stomach and intestinal problems, diet and drug treatment will help to cope. In this case, psycho-emotional balance is important, because stress often causes an ulcer. It is necessary to adopt a positive attitude and relaxation and relaxation techniques.
If there is no result as a result of conservative treatment, as well as when a perforated ulcer, a large hernia of the spine, and a hernia of the spleen are detected, surgical intervention is necessary.
In principle, an annual dispensary examination is necessary to avoid serious health problems. In order to exclude the occurrence of diseases in the near future, it is necessary to undergo necessary examinations.