Back pain around the shoulder blades is a fairly common complaint in patients belonging to different age groups. Such a problem hinders breathing and creates serious obstacles in physical activity, work or simple movement.
Patients rarely pay proper attention to recurrent pain in the shoulder blades. However, this symptom is a "wake-up call" for serious changes not only in the musculoskeletal system, but also in the complex of internal organs, such conditions can threaten the patient with disability and death.
Next, the most common causes of shoulder pain and modern therapeutic techniques are discussed.
The most common causes
The shoulder blades are located close to the back of the spine and the shoulder bone. These paired bones, which have a triangular shape, are part of the frame on which the muscles responsible for the movement of the shoulders are attached. It is for this reason that back pain around the shoulder blades disrupts normal life, impairs work capacity and poses a serious threat to health.
Why does my back hurt around the shoulder blades? According to medical statistics, such problems are most often caused by injuries and damage to the elements of the cervix and thoracic spine. Severe pain syndrome can be observed with pathological changes provoked by scoliosis or osteochondropathy, as well as for the following reasons:
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- Intercostal neuralgia;
- scapulohumeral periarthritis;
- Disc herniation in the thoracic spine;
- Deformable spondylarthrosis;
- Scoliosis, kyphoscoliosis, and other curvatures of the spinal column;
- One or two kidney failure.
If the back hurts around the shoulder blades, the cause may be diseases, tumors and damage to the media organs, herpes zoster, intercostal neuralgia, liver dysfunction, various pathologies of the pleura and lungs. As well as in the prolonged performance of monotonous activity against the background of chronic diseases. At risk are drivers, office workers, tailors and other professions associated with long stays in one position.
Pain in the back of the left and below the shoulder blades
Spinal pain below the shoulder blades often occurs due to osteochondrosis, various forms of tilt, and scoliosis. If an adolescent has a disturbed physiological posture, he or she needs a full diagnosis, well-selected prevention, and therapy. Otherwise, he may develop pathologies and deformities that are difficult to treat and interfere with normal life.
Spinal pain associated with the causes listed above usually manifests itself in the form of severe discomfort that occurs after physical exertion. It is desirable to treat scoliosis and other curvatures of the spine with massage, as well as manual and osteopathic effects. Pain syndrome, localized to the left side of the shoulder blades, is a serious risk because such symptoms may indicate an angina attack and the development of coronary heart disease.
If pain in the left side of the spine around the shoulder blades is accompanied by increased fatigue, shortness of breath, weakness, and slight swelling of the face and ankles, you should seek medical attention immediately. Another cause of pain in the left side of the shoulder blades may be a disc herniation. At risk are people who are forced to be in an uncomfortable posture for a long time, drive a car or work with a computer.
If the pain is slightly annoying, you can limit yourself to using an ointment with a warming or analgesic effect, although in case of exacerbation the patient is advised to stay in bed.
Treatment of intervertebral disc herniation includes the method of traction traction, manual therapy, reflexology, exercise therapy, and a course of therapeutic massage. Conservative medicine is currently unaware of the medical methods of treating such pathologies. The probability of a positive result with surgery is relatively low and is around 30-35%.
At the same time, many patients experience relapses after a period of 10 months to several years.
Pain in the spinal muscles under the shoulder blades and in the mouth of one shoulder
Pain in the muscles between the shoulder blades is usually observed in professional athletes who are engaged in weightlifting and in people who by the nature of their activity suffer from high physical activity. Causes of muscle pain between the shoulder blades can be:
- Various types of injuries and bruises;
- Stretching of the tendons;
- Excessive workload while working out or exercising in the gym.
If one scapula hurts too much, the pathology may be caused by myopathy, neuroinfection, paralysis of the anterior seratus, trapezius or rhomboid muscles, various deformities of the shoulder joints, scapula tuberculosis, or osteomyelitis, leading to purulent development and. Poisoning of the body.
Stomach ulcer
Pain syndrome, localized around the shoulder blades, often indicates the presence of a dangerous disease such as gastric ulcer. In such a case, discomfort and discomfort may spread along the thoracic spine, extending to the left breast and shoulder mouth. The pain gradually increases and is characterized by seasonality and periodicity, disappearing after emptying the stomach contents due to vomiting. In addition, most patients experience symptoms such as bloating, salivation, and heartburn.
This is interesting! When a peptic ulcer is perforated, even during minor activity, the level of discomfort increases significantly and to get rid of it, the patient is forced to do a posture on the back or right side, pressing the thighs to the abdomen. This phenomenon is accompanied by an increase in excitement, fear attacks, as well as unbearable pain syndrome, which radiates above the throat bone.
Gallbladder abscesses and muscle spasms
The pain of cutting and cutting below the right side of the shoulder blades is often caused by blockage of the bile duct stones. The result is colic, severe pain syndrome, and the following symptoms:
- The presence of "broken" sensations in the right hypochondria;
- Sudden onset of pain;
- Nervousness, irritability;
- Pain that extends to the eyes, jaw, neck, and right shoulder.
Pain syndrome localized in the right shoulder area above the waist can be caused by a subdiaphragmatic abscess characterized by very strong discomfort on inspiration, an increase in body temperature, and pain radiating to the right shoulder. During the inflammatory process in the kidneys (nephritis, pyelonephritis) there is pain with frequent urination in the right shoulder and spine, which causes a number of painful sensations.
Mental problems
Spinal pain between shoulder blades is often caused by various psychological problems. In this case, the discomfort is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Feeling short of breath;
- Feeling of a lump in the throat;
- Paranoid thoughts, unmotivated fear;
- Cold shivering and the appearance of fever in the chest;
- Feeling of pressure, heaviness and compression.
Mental health problems often cause the heart to "bleed" or jump out of the chest, as well as burning in the back of the shoulder blades.
Intercostal neuralgia and osteochondrosis of the cervical region
Pain localized under the scapula in the case of intercostal neuralgia is of a paroxysmal nature and intensifies on palpation, physical activity, walking, and coughing attacks. In some cases, such symptoms are accompanied by excessive muscle tension, as well as burning sensation, tingling, and loss of sensation.
In osteochondrosis and Bechterews disease, the pain syndrome often intensifies at night, depriving the patient of sleep and causing great muscle tension in the morning.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine has the following symptoms:
- Dizziness;
- Increased pain when sharply tilting or extending the neck;
- Paresthesia around the shoulder girdle;
- Pain that extends to the arm or head.
Osteochondrosis can be diagnosed by unilateral deafness in the occipital region. The discomfort usually increases in the morning, which provokes early awakening and poses a lot of problems for the patient. To alleviate the attack of cervical osteochondrosis, use a warm bath or various medications, which are selected only with a doctor's prescription.
During pregnancy
The load on the spinal column in women increases during pregnancy, hence a significant percentage of expectant mothers complain of back pain, including around the shoulder blades. Crunching and burning pains, as well as a feeling of numbness around the shoulder blades, are often associated with changes in the hormonal background, which also affects the exacerbation of chronic diseases such as osteochondrosis.
For prophylactic purposes, some doctors advise women to use a corset in the late trimesters of pregnancy, and a postpartum bandage, which reduces the strain on the spine and allows the baby to maintain an upright position.
Other reasons
Back pain in shoulder blades can be caused by angina or myocardial infarction. Pain syndrome usually occurs against the background of intense physical activity and has the character of a twisted version. Unpleasant sensations are common in the upper left half of the body and getting rid of them with the help of vasodilator medications will not work.
In such a case it is necessary to eliminate the negative symptoms in a clinical hospital, where the patient is prescribed specially selected narcotic analgesics and adjuvants.
Diagnosis and treatment
Before taking any steps to eliminate the pain syndrome localized around the shoulder blades, it is necessary to determine the cause of the resulting pathology. In case of painful back pain between the shoulder blades, accompanied by sensations of stretching and twisting, burning and burning in the chest, you should immediately consult a doctor. The doctor will select the best diagnostic method, such as:
- Chest and spine x-ray;
- Ultrasound;
- Electrocardiogram;
- CT scan.
Manual therapy often shows positive results and allows you to strengthen both the waist and upper back, as well as make the muscle tissues that support the spinal column. Osteopathy and reflexology contribute to the activation of regeneration processes and local metabolism. It is worthwhile to strengthen the muscles regularly by performing an individually selected set of exercise therapy exercises.