Back pain under the shoulder blades - causes, symptoms and treatment

Chest pain at the level of the shoulder blades can indicate back problems, pain in the internal organs and a reflection of heart discomfort. To understand the cause, you need to clearly explain the doctor's complaints and undergo an examination. Depending on the diagnosis, therapy is prescribed. You should also look in detail at ways to treat back pain under the shoulder blades.

Chest anatomy

The scapular area belongs to the chest and is located at the level of the chest. It is necessary to study the anatomy of this area to understand which organs can disturb the patient directly or indirectly.

The main anatomical elements include:

1. Spine - consists of the spinal cord and vertebrae, intervertebral discs. It is an important part of the entire musculoskeletal system, protects the spinal cord from damage.
2. The right and left shoulder blades belong to the bony structures of the upper shoulder girdle. They look like a triangle and are flat bones. This bone structure has many pits and depressions. These are the places where ligaments, tendons and muscles attach. The blades have high strength, so they can easily withstand constant static loads.
3. The clavicle is the bone that connects the scapula to the chest.
4. Heart - responsible for the functionality of the cardiovascular system, pumps blood through veins and arteries.
5. The lungs are a paired respiratory organ responsible for gas exchange processes.
6. Esophagus, stomach - belong to the digestive organs.
7. Ribs - provide a protective function of the chest. These are flat bones attached to the spine behind and in front of the sternum.

The nature of pain

The shoulder blades are located in the back and are close to the humerus and clavicle. It is a paired bone with a triangular shape to which the diamond-shaped and partially trapezius muscles are attached. These muscle groups make the upper shoulder girdle mobile. The shoulder blades are connected together with the ribs to form a strong frame of the torso. Any discomfort in this area can lead to significant discomfort and limited mobility of the upper back. For this reason, the pain cannot be tolerated and you should consult a doctor immediately.

The variety of pain sensations is divided into several classifications:

1. The pain and its nature according to the location of the unpleasant sensations - in the middle of the shoulder blades, left or right, whether there is irradiation in the chest or between the ribs, the pain is felt higher or lower.
2. By the nature of the sensations - unpleasant, pulling sensations, sharp pain, whining, irradiation, pulsation.
3. The duration of pain is episodic attacks, it is felt constantly, sharply increases, unpleasant sensations appear after physical activity.

Most often, pulling pains indicate problems with the spine and rarely signal other related problems.

Main reasons

Symptoms of pain under the shoulder blades occur due to such disorders:

• stomach pain (stomach ulcer, gastritis);
• digestive disorders (heartburn, esophageal reflux);
• disorders of the cardiovascular system (myocardial infarction, pericarditis);
• lung problems (bronchitis, pneumonia);
• degenerative disorders of the ridge, spine;
• trauma, inflammation, sprains, myositis;
• neurological disorders.

In 90% of cases, according to statistics, the discomfort in the shoulder blades is caused by back pain. The human spine is responsible for upright walking, so it carries a significant load. Taking care of your own health helps to improve your well-being when physical inactivity and poor posture cause discomfort. The situation worsens with age.

Injuries

If the patient has a bruise or sprain, pain or strain may occur under the shoulder blade. In the acute period the pain is constant and is felt even at rest. Depending on the location of the injury, the pain appears on the left or right side of the shoulder blades. The most common types of injuries are bone or muscle corset.

Other types of traumatic injuries:

1. injury. It is characterized by superficial pain. Bruises most often affect the superficial soft tissues, the upper muscle layer and the subcutaneous fat. Under the shoulders and below there are unpleasant sensations, swelling and locally localized inflammatory process. No specific treatment is usually required. This pain goes away on its own within a few weeks.
2. Fracture or crack - the pain is sharp and has no effect and is focused on the site of injury. Even the slightest movement of the hand causes excruciating sensations. In such a situation, the patient is shown complete rest so as not to aggravate the fracture situation.
3. Sprains, vertebral displacement. In this case, the pain will be localized not only in the shoulder blade area, but also in the back at the level of the chest area. Often the pain occurs due to compression of the nerve endings in the spinal canal, which indicates damage to the intervertebral discs.

The trauma is easy to identify. During the movement there is a crunch, there is swelling of the tissue at the site of the bruise.

Osteochondrosis

The classic manifestation of osteochondrosis of the chest is interscapular pain at the level of the ridge. Unpleasant sensations occur due to compression of nerve endings. With a lesion of the chest in the upper part of the patient, he feels sharp pain in the shoulder blade, which radiates to the arm. The country depends on the defeat of specific nerve roots. When the blood vessels are compressed, there is an increase in pressure, headache and dizziness.

If the lower chest area is affected, then the patient has an unpleasant sensation in the lower back of the shoulder blade. It also gives the left hand or the right, depending on the location of the pinched nerve. Over time, the pain becomes more intense, the patient begins to experience discomfort not only during physical activity, but also during the rest period. Difficult situation - discomfort is felt around the clock, even at night. Protrusions or hernias often appear against the background of osteochondrosis.

scoliosis

Posture disorders are the most common disease of the spine, which manifests itself at an early age. The first problems are observed from the first grades of school - children do not control proper posture and do not understand why adults require them to sit evenly. Unusual movement habits develop over time. A person sits in a comfortable position, but this position causes static overload of muscles and the development of imbalance. If the spine remains in an analgesic position for a long time, then there is a distortion, which is fraught with consequences.

In adulthood, many people experience hypodynamia - a state of low physical activity when a person leads an extremely sedentary lifestyle. The result is constant back pain due to muscle weakness. If there is a curvature in the chest area, then the pain is localized in the shoulder blades. Sometimes there is radiating discomfort in the cervical region. A characteristic difference of scoliosis is that one shoulder is higher than the other in an upright, relaxed state.

At the initial examination, the therapist can see the disease. It is necessary to treat the disease for a long time and with the help of an integrated approach. To alleviate the painful condition, you need to establish a lifestyle, stop getting nervous and start moving. Under stress, muscle tone may increase, which will lead to a deterioration in well-being. Massage helps a lot, it is also useful to perform therapy for back exercises.

Hernias and protrusions

The appearance of an intervertebral hernia is a serious condition characterized by protrusion of the spinal canal through the fibrous ring of the disc. The previous condition of the hernia was a bulge. When protruding, the disc is partially damaged and the fibrous ring is stretched. Hernia occurs during strenuous exercise due to weight lifting. Hereditary factors play an important role in their appearance. If the family has close relatives with hernias or protrusions, then it is very likely that they will appear with age in children.

If the hernia or bulge is located at the level of the chest area, then the pain occurs in the shoulder area. There is also irradiation of pain in the arm or shoulder. Lateral depends on the specific pinched nerve roots. Painful shots are explained by the defeat of the nerve endings, which are compressed due to excessive compression in the back.

When the lower back is affected, back pain is transmitted to the legs, and when a cervical hernia occurs, the pain radiates to the head. In any situation, the hernia requires a comprehensive treatment aimed at relaxing the back, relieving acute pain and relieving muscle tension. In case of hernias and protrusions it is useful to conduct therapeutic exercises, to attend physiotherapy procedures. In rare and advanced cases, surgery is required.

kyphosis

This is a curvature similar to scoliosis, but in the opposite direction. If in scoliosis the spine is curved to the right or left, then in kyphosis there is a pronounced bending of the upper shoulder girdle. One of the characteristic signs of the disease is the sensation of pain in the interscapular area in the presence of external signs of pathology. It hurts under the left or right shoulder blade, depending on the nature of the curvature. Usually the pain appears on both sides and gives the hands, neck. There are two main mechanisms for the formation of pathology:

1. Neurogenic. When distortion occurs in the spine, degenerative processes occur, which causes pinching of the nerve roots of the spinal cord. There is pain in the right and left shoulder blades, which is transmitted to the neck, clavicle or arm, less often in the shoulder joint.
2. Muscular. Constantly found in a concave state provokes muscle imbalance and overexertion. The muscles in the upper back are trapped, which provokes their hypertension and severe pain. The other muscles of the back also suffer. Hypotension may occur in the lumbar region.

As a result, the vertebral artery is compressed, which causes a permanent violation of cerebral circulation. Gradually deteriorating well-being, there are malfunctions in the internal organs. Such a patient needs to perform complex work, including the services of a rehabilitator, remedial exercise.

Spondylarthrosis

Sometimes the development of spondyloarthritis shows pain on the right or left side of the shoulder blades. The disease is characterized by damage to the facet joints and intervertebral discs. With the development of the disease there is a loss of mobility, there is a feeling of stiffness, which is most pronounced in the morning.

The pathology manifests itself in several stages:

1. Deformation and destruction of cartilage. If the blood circulation is disturbed in this area, the integrity of the connective tissue is destroyed, which makes the joint disc thinner. The repair processes in the bones and connective tissue deteriorate significantly. Increased physical activity in this area leads to microtrauma.
2. Additional deforming changes occur. Seals appear in the disc, mobility deteriorates, leading to increased destruction of cartilage tissue. The patient may constantly feel pain, even at rest.
3. The terminal stage is ossification, formation of osteophytes. These growths injure adjacent joints, tendons, muscles and ligaments. In this case, surgery will be needed.

A characteristic manifestation of spondyloarthritis in the initial stage is the appearance of pain only during exercise. The discomfort at rest subsides as there is no traumatic factor.

Intercostal neuralgia

This condition refers to vagus nerve disorders. When pathology occurs, acute pain occurs, shooting in the shoulder blade, ribs and chest. This type of pain is often confused with a heart attack. A characteristic difference is the lack of clear localization in the heart. Unpleasant sensations are intensified by inspiration. The pain is accompanied by a feeling of tightness. If the patient thinks he has angina pectoris, then there is no relief after taking nitroglycerin.

Pain under the right or left shoulder blade indicates innervation in certain areas. Numbness and spasm are not characteristic of this pathological process. Given the specifics of the symptoms of the disease, the specialist will diagnose without problems. Treatment consists of the use of injectable B vitamins and myotropic drugs (muscle relaxants). Treatment of intercostal neuralgia should be performed by a neurologist.

Causes of pain under the left shoulder blade behind the back - heart disorders

Often, back pain indicates heart disease. Why back pain is a phenomenon of recommended pain that indicates coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction or pericarditis. If there is a sharp pain of a sudden nature, which increases with exercise, but there are no symptoms of spinal diseases, you should urgently visit a cardiologist for consultation. Self-medication or procrastination can lead to a critical condition.

The most common causes of discomfort in the heart, causing pain under the left shoulder blade from back to back:

1. Myocardial infarction. In addition to radiation, the patient experiences painful pain in the heart muscle. The causes of the pathology are related to obstruction of large arteries and veins by thrombus. If the thrombotic plaque ruptures and blocks the vascular flow around the heart, a heart attack will occur. In this condition one must act quickly, otherwise the patient will die. The main cause of the pathology is atherosclerosis, agglutination of erythrocytes, platelets with increased clotting.
2. Ischemic heart disease or angina pectoris. According to information from a medical article, an attack of coronary artery disease develops suddenly. There is dull pain that is paroxysmal in nature. The attack is easily stopped by taking nitroglycerin. The disease requires additional medical supervision, as it can occur at the most unexpected moment. If the attack lasts more than a few hours and the drug does not help, you need to call an ambulance. In addition to the discomfort in the heart, the patient's breathing comes true, shortness of breath occurs, which is aggravated by exercise.
3. Pain under the left shoulder blade behind the back may indicate the development of an attack of pericarditis. The pathology is characterized by accumulation of fluid with an inflammatory lesion of the serous membrane of the heart. Diagnosis includes testing for markers of inflammation, including rheumatic tests. Pericarditis is often a complication of a previous infectious disease, including upper and lower respiratory tract disease. Long-term, complex therapy is carried out.

Diseases of the respiratory system

In the presence of prolonged respiratory disease, the patient may experience excruciating pain in the shoulder blades. Most often complications are caused by such diseases:

1. Chronic or acute bronchitis. In the early stages, the disease is characterized by a dry cough. Gradually, the irritation of the larynx increases and a wet cough appears. If the disease has developed against the background of SARS, then there is an increase in body temperature. The disease does not require specific therapy, it is enough to observe bed rest, drink more warm fluids. Rarely, antipyretics and antibiotics may be needed.
2. Pleurisy. If the patient complains of severe chest pain with possible radiation, cough, shortness of breath and fever, then the specialist should rule out or confirm this disease. Pleurisy is characterized by inflammation of the pleural sheets, followed by accumulation of liquid sputum in the pleural cavity. The disease is difficult to tolerate. Comprehensive treatment with antibiotics and anti-TB drugs is needed.
3. Pneumonia. It often develops as a complication of SARS. Pneumonia is characterized by a severe course, accompanied by cough, shortness of breath, chest pain on inhalation and severe fever. The disease is confirmed by a chest X-ray and can be treated with antibiotics.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

All disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, which cause discomfort in the shoulder blades, have a reflected pain. What problems may occur:

1. Gastritis or stomach ulcer. If there is a reflection of the pain syndrome, then the patient experiences unpleasant discomfort in the lower part of the chest (lower part of the shoulder blades on both sides). It may look like muscle pain. With a bout of stomach pain, a burning sensation may be felt in the solar plexus. Diseases are treated in a complex way, using drugs to reduce acidity, remedies (proton pump inhibitors). If a bacterial pathogen is found, antibiotics are prescribed.
2. Oesophageal reflux, heartburn. Discomfort occurs in the chest area, often radiating to the shoulder blade. The cause of the pathology is the return of stomach contents to the esophagus. Unpleasant sensations are associated with the irritating effect of hydrochloric acid on the esophagus. There is a sour belching, a feeling of a lump in the throat. In rare cases, vomiting occurs. To prevent an attack, you should limit the consumption of fried, spicy and fatty foods. In symptomatic treatment, acid-reducing antacids based on magnesium and aluminum hydroxide are used.

Editorial opinion

Unpleasant sensations in the scapular area are most often associated with exacerbation of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Less commonly, heart disorders, neurological problems, diseases of the stomach and respiratory system lead to discomfort. To learn more about the causes of back pain, it is recommended that you study the relevant article on our website.