Pain is one of the main symptoms through which our body signals that a pathological process has occurred. It is absolutely non-specific and can accompany a large number of diseases. Very often, patients complain that their back hurts between the shoulder blades, and sometimes it is quite difficult to diagnose the pathology that caused it. Since there can be a huge number of reasons, and without special research methods, it is almost impossible to make a correct diagnosis.
Back pain between the shoulder blades can be of the most diverse nature.
Provocative factors and nature of pain
The pain syndrome in the area of the shoulder blades can be quite diverse, and the ability to accurately determine its nature is of great diagnostic value. Consider the possible characteristics of this symptom:
- By duration - acute or chronic.
- By intensity - pain, strong or weak.
- By character - pressing, grasping, stabbing or cutting.
- Additional sensations may also appear: a feeling of fullness, crawling, tingling, heaviness in the back, numbness.
It is known that there are certain predisposing factors that can cause pain in the shoulder blades. Let's look at them in more detail.
- Leading a sedentary lifestyle.
- Spinal cord injuries and other injuries.
- Jumping from a height, sudden weight lifting, fast running, i. e. physical exercises performed by an untrained person.
- Very low level of general physical fitness.
- The presence of chronic diseases of the stomach and heart in the history.
- Sedentary work.
- Pathology of the chest organs.
All these factors do not always cause back pain between the left and right shoulder blades. Only when certain circumstances coincide, a pathology occurs and, as one of the symptoms of its manifestation, a pain syndrome.
What diseases can cause pain
The question "why does the back hurt in the area of the shoulder blades? " interests many people. Consider the pathologies that may be a manifestation of this symptom.
Diseases of the spine in the thoracic region:
- kyphosis. This is a disease that causes the spine to curve backwards. In the initial stage, a person simply has a hunchback, and in the final stage - a spinal hump. This pathology, as a rule, appears in childhood due to an incorrect position of the body when sitting at a desk and writing. The disease manifests itself with constant pain in the area of the shoulder blades and a characteristic visible curvature of the spine.
- Scoliosis is another disease associated with spinal deformity. With it, the spine curves to the right or left. The reason is the constant incorrect position of the body. The pain syndrome in this disease occurs due to overstrain of the muscles that bend the spine and compression of the nerves. Soreness is periodic pain in nature, there may be a feeling of numbness.
- Spondylarthrosis. This disease belongs to the group of degenerative-dystrophic pathologies affecting the spine. It manifests itself through the destruction of the intervertebral joints, which leads to the formation of bone growths. The pain syndrome is constant, sometimes spasmodic and sharp, localized on the back between the right and left shoulder blades.
- Kyphoscoliosis. This pathology is a combination of kyphosis and scoliosis in one patient. That is, the spine curves back and to the left or right. The pain can be localized in the area of the shoulder blades.
- Disc herniation. This is one of the most complex diseases of the musculoskeletal system. It manifests itself by protruding the contents of the disk beyond its borders. As a result, compression of the spinal cord and its roots in the thoracic region occurs, which causes back pain between the shoulder blades.
- Osteochondrosis. Pain sensations arise due to compression of the roots of the spinal cord and are painful in nature. With sudden movements, lifting weights, the pain may increase. This pathology is the most common cause of chest pain near the shoulder blades.
- Mechanical damage to the spine. In the event of blows, falls from a height, car accidents, damage to the spine of varying severity can occur. All this will be accompanied by a whole list of symptoms, among which there will undoubtedly be pain in the spine in the area between the right and left shoulder blades.
A disease characterized by the development of dystrophic processes in the intervertebral discs. As a result, they lose their elasticity and ability to regenerate.
Diseases of the spinal nerves:
- Cervical or thoracic sciatica. Radiculitis is inflammation of the spinal nerves as a result of damage, compression, irritation or disruption. Most often, this disease is the result of certain disorders in the spine: distortion, progression of osteochondrosis, displacement of the vertebrae, etc. When a spinal root is damaged, inflammation and swelling develop, and as a result, pain appears in the area between the shoulder blades and along the damaged nerve. The patient may also complain of a tingling or burning sensation in the same area.
- Intercostal neuralgia. Inflammation of the intercostal nerves. Due to their proximity to the surface of the skin, they are often affected by pathological processes. The pain syndrome can be localized both between the right and left scapula and along the intercostal nerve, having a girdle character.
Diseases of the mediastinum and chest:
- Cardiac ischemia. As a result of a number of reasons (atherosclerosis, spasm of coronary vessels, thrombosis, etc. ), the normal blood flow through the coronary vessels is disturbed, as a result of which the heart experiences a lack of oxygen, which leads to burning pain behind the sternum during exercise. Also, the pain can be localized in the chest area, be transmitted to the left arm and shoulder blade.
- Pleurisy. Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura (the membrane surrounding the lung). If the damaged area of the lung is closer to the spine on the right, then the pain can be localized in the back near the shoulder blades. Body temperature also rises and weakness appears.
- Myocardial infarction. This is necrosis of a part of the heart muscle as a result of an acute circulatory disorder. The pain is very intense and sharp. It is located in the region of the heart. It can also be located in the thoracic spine and under the left shoulder blade and radiate to the left collarbone and arm.
- Subdiaphragmatic abscess. The pain is usually localized between the shoulder blades, below them or more to the right (if the abscess has arisen on the right side of the diaphragm). He has a sharp character. This raises the body temperature.
Diseases of other organs:
- pyelonephritis. This is a purulent inflammation of the kidneys. The pain syndrome is localized in the lumbar region, under the scapula and can radiate to the chest. Against this background, the body temperature rises, there are frequent painful urges to urinate, chills.
- Polio or tuberculosis. These infectious diseases can affect the human skeletal system, including the spine. If the chest area is involved in the pathological process, then the pain is localized under the scapula or in its area and along the spine.
Conclusion
As you can see, the list of diseases is not small, which is why very often doctors cannot immediately diagnose the cause of pain between the shoulder blades. If you have this symptom, then you do not need to delay the visit to a medical facility, because the cause can be very serious and require urgent treatment.