Back pain is a common complaint among people of different age groups.Unpleasant sensations are often noted in the area between the shoulder blades.Pain syndrome may be related to spine pathologies, internal organ disorders.
The use of pain-relieving ointments and other analgesics is not a solution.Alleviating discomfort will improve your well-being, but the pathological process will further destroy the spinal column or internal organs.In some cases, back pain between the shoulder blades is the result of metastatic lung and stomach cancer.Approach this matter responsibly and entrust therapy to professionals.
Possible causes of pain
Why does my back hurt in the shoulder area?Remember: pain is a symptom of other diseases, not a separate pathology.Only by identifying the root cause of discomfort can you overcome the disease and get rid of unpleasant sensations.Experts distinguish two categories of causes that cause pain in the shoulder blades: pathologies of the spinal column, diseases of internal organs.Let's consider each group of possible reasons in detail.
Intervertebral hernia
This phenomenon is quite rare;Often the lumbar region is affected, not the chest.Pathology is characterized by the fact that the fibrous ring begins to bulge against the background of various negative factors, the distance between the vertebrae decreases significantly, which causes stretching of the nerve roots.The annulus fibrosus acts as a shock absorber.
An intervertebral hernia in the chest area is characterized by local manifestations of pain, sometimes the discomfort spreads to the chest, which is similar to the symptoms of respiratory tract and heart diseases.
Spinal tuberculosis
Many have forgotten this disease, but according to statistics, 99% of the world's population is a carrier of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.Against the background of mechanical damage to the spine, hypothermia or weakened immunity, a tuberculous lesion may form at the site of the hemorrhage.Pathology is not always recognized in time, even on an X-ray.
Often, the disease manifests itself in an advanced form, when the patient already has a number of complications and complains of severe pain in the shoulder blades.A characteristic sign of tuberculosis is an increase in body temperature, burning discomfort in the chest, which can spread to the surrounding tissues.
Muscle strain, hypothermia
Excessive physical activity, improper training in the gym and constant sitting in an uncomfortable position lead to excessive load on the back muscles.Office workers, truck drivers, surgeons and tailors are susceptible to this pathology.
The state of health worsens due to hypothermia of the body (uncontrolled operation of the air conditioner, draft).The pain in the area of the shoulder blades intensifies, the patient needs to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and massage with special ointments.Avoid scratching and avoid excessive physical activity.
scoliosis
All schoolchildren have heard about this disease from teachers and parents while sitting at the desk incorrectly.Adults forget preventive recommendations, which leads to the appearance of scoliosis of various degrees in 50% of the population.The disease is a curvature of the spine that often affects the thoracic, cervical and spinal regions.The ribs are closely connected to the chest, so patients complain of pain in the shoulder blades.
The characteristic signs of scoliosis are:
- increased fatigue of back muscles;
- One shoulder may be placed higher than the other;
- Discomfort in the shoulder blades appears after physical work, sitting at the computer for a long time or may accompany the victim all the time.
Spondyloarthrosis
The disease is similar to osteochondrosis;Differences can only be noticed by specialists during a series of specific studies.Spondyloarthrosis is characterized by the destruction of cartilage, replacement of lost areas with bone tissue, which leads to the formation of rashes, nerve damage and severe pain in the shoulder blades.
Osteochondrosis
A sedentary lifestyle and obesity cause dystrophic changes in the joints and spine.Osteochondrosis is diagnosed even in children;The cause of the pain is the inflammatory process in the soft tissues that are adjacent to the damaged vertebrae, which further compresses the nerves.
Diseases of internal organs
All organs and systems of the body are interconnected;Pain in the shoulder blades can indicate many diseases that are not related to the spinal column:
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system.Myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and angina pectoris can cause severe chest pain that radiates to the shoulder blades.During an acute attack, discomfort lasts no more than five minutes, blood pressure drops sharply, and cold sweat appears.In this case, call an ambulance;
- Gastrointestinal diseases.Pancreatitis, cholecystitis, peptic ulcers are common causes of chest pain from different sides.Oncological diseases in this area can also cause discomfort;
- Diseases of the respiratory system.Shoulder pain is accompanied by cough, chills, fever and muscle pain.
Back pain during pregnancy
Against the background of increased load, curvature of the spine and being in an unusual position of the body while carrying a child, patients experience various degrees of pain.The change in the center of gravity contributes to excessive compression of the spine, which causes discomfort.
Pain in the shoulder blades can accompany a woman after childbirth.This is due to epidural anesthesia, which is often used for caesarean sections.The procedure itself involves the introduction of a special catheter into the epidural space, where it remains for the required time without touching the spinal cord.Painkillers are injected through a catheter, causing pain in the lower part of the body for a period of time.
Improper manipulation, sharp turns when inserting the catheter and other unforeseen circumstances cause damage to the membranes and substance of the spinal cord.The procedure itself is complex and requires maximum professionalism from the doctor.
symptoms
The nature of pain in the shoulder blades is of great importance and helps to determine the cause of the discomfort:
- Chronic - the victim constantly feels bad, there are attacks of dull pain and periods of "calm".This type is characteristic of osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia and other chronic diseases of the spinal column;
- Spicy.Suddenly, the patient feels pain and discomfort suddenly disappears.This picture is typical for traumatic injuries, stretching of nerve roots and diseases of internal organs.
Pay attention!In addition, patients may complain of uncomfortable discomfort along the entire length of the spine, headaches and other clinical manifestations of the underlying disease.
diagnosis
What to do if your back hurts in the shoulder area?Often patients do not know which specialist to refer to.It all depends on the nature of the pain, its duration and negative events that preceded the onset of discomfort.
Diagnosis is carried out:
- Neurologist.Most sufferers should consult this doctor, because intervertebral hernia and osteochondrosis are accompanied by nerve root compression and corresponding symptoms;
- Orthopedic traumatologist.In case of spinal deformation (kyphosis, scoliosis), ankylosing spondylitis, various traumatic injuries of the spinal column, it is advisable to consult this specialist;
- General practitioner or family doctor.A doctor often solves many problems for patients.The doctor, knowing the person's family history and characteristics, will determine what caused the discomfort or refer you to a more specialized specialist.
Several tests are used to diagnose shoulder pain: X-ray, CT, MRI, blood tests, urine tests.Specific manipulations depend on the nature of the pain and the accompanying discomfort.
Effective treatment options
In acute pain, the main task is to relieve it.Then they find out the cause of the discomfort and prescribe the necessary therapeutic course.
For unpleasant sensations in the shoulder blades, it is recommended:
- Temporary pain relief.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used.Depending on the severity of the discomfort, medicines are used in the form of tablets, ointments, injections;
- Physiotherapy treatment (magnetic therapy, UHF, shock wave therapy, mud therapy).In the case of spinal problems, physiotherapeutic influence on the area of the shoulder blades is a mandatory aspect of therapy.Manipulations relieve pain and reduce inflammation.Such methods cannot be used in cancerous or infectious diseases with the formation of pus;
- Massage, manual therapy.It is used only for pain caused by stretching of nerve roots or spinal cord injury.Impact on the spinal column helps to stretch it and relax the muscles;
- compresses, lotions.Dimexide (1:3), alcohol (1:1) is used in the ratio of water.Compresses cope with unpleasant sensations and relieve inflammation.The soaked gauze is soaked in the prepared infusion, wrapped in cellophane and left for two hours.Apply gel or ointment after the procedure.
Diseases of internal organs are treated in other ways, taking into account the stage of development of the pathology.In each individual case, the doctor chooses an individual therapeutic course.Self-medication is harmful to health, even life.
Prevention measures
It is important to prevent not the discomfort itself, but the main causes that cause it.
Recommendations of experts:
- Massage regularly;
- Avoid excessive exercise, but light physical exercise has a beneficial effect on the muscle corset;
- avoid scratches, hypothermia;
- Eat right, try to give up bad habits.
Timely contact with a specialist plays an important role in the case of pain between the shoulder blades.Pathological changes are not formed in one day.The sooner you start treatment, the greater the probability of a full recovery and the risk of irreversible consequences for the body is minimized.