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Very often, pain under the left shoulder blade from behind from behind can be bothersome. It occurs after a strong and strong movement or in an unsuccessful position for a long time. But it can also be a symptom of a serious illness that requires mandatory treatment. The causes of pain can be divided into two main groups: pain caused by diseases of the musculoskeletal system and pain caused by disorders of internal organs.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
Various diseases of the spine can cause pain in the shoulder blades. Additionally, pain can be a secondary symptom of an injury. The reasons why it hurts under the left shoulder blade from the back can be different.
Osteoarthritis of the spine
Bone tumors appear due to changes in the spine, when bone tissue is destroyed under the influence of many different factors. And there are many factors that lead to this pathology:
- Curvature of the spine due to poor posture. Commonly seen in schoolchildren, students and office workers.
- Statistical and dynamic overload of the body at unconditioned mass.
- Overweight and malnutrition.
- Backache.
- Weak immunity and genetic factors.
- Flat feet.
- Frequent colds and hypothermia, chronic intoxication.
- Metabolic disease.
- Prolonged exposure to vibration.
- Stress and sedentary lifestyle.
With ankylosing spondylitis, severe pain occurs in the neck, back, shoulders, and upper extremities, which can extend below the shoulder blades. There is pain in the teeth, muscles, abdomen, heart area. Sensation begins to go away with stinging under the shoulder blades, numbness in the neck and chest, as well as the neck and abdomen. Sleep is disturbed, hand sensitivity, blood pressure indicators begin to fluctuate, reducing work performance. It can also be grilled behind the breastbone.
Intercostal neuralgia
This disease occurs when the intercostal nerves are irritated, inflamed, pinched, or pinched. This happens with inflammation, infection, chemical poisoning, allergies, and hypothermia. The main symptom of sciatica is pain, which is concentrated in the heart area. It can be dull or sharp, stabbing, painful, or burning. It can be intermittent or permanent.
There may also be increased sweating, skin discoloration, tingling, or loss of sensation in certain areas. With a forced fixation, the pain syndrome can recede.
Injury due to trauma of the shoulder blade
If the left shoulder blade is painful, the cause may be trauma. They can appear from a direct blow to the shoulder blade or from a fall to the back or shoulder. In the first hours after the injury, a very strong pain syndrome appears. This is a symptom of a broken collarbone or ribs. In the future, swelling and edema develop. When a rib is broken, the patient feels short of breath and bone damage can be felt on palpation.
Sprengel's disease
![Sprengel disease is the cause of pain below the left shoulder blade](/images/article/1376/Sprengel%20disease%20is%20the%20cause%20of%20pain%20below%20the%20left%20shoulder%20blade.jpg)
This disease is an abnormal congenital position of the shoulder blades. The cause of this pathology is still unknown to science. It is suggested that the disease develops under the influence of negative external and internal factors on the fetus, at 3-4 weeks of pregnancy. At this point, the shoulders and spine are formed. Often this disease is combined with other pathologies: fusion of the ribs, clubfoot, additional formation of cervical vertebrae, and an abnormal structure of the cervical region are noted.
Pathology is discovered soon after the child is born. With a mild degree of development of the disease, the following therapies are indicated: therapeutic exercise, massage, water procedures, physiotherapy. In moderate and severe cases, surgical treatment is prescribed.
Myofascial syndrome
Under the influence of various factors, the activity of the muscular apparatus and the membrane that encloses the muscle is disrupted. There are small painful markers in the muscle, called trigger points. They appear under the influence of trauma and muscle strain. There are several factors that lead to their formation: forced posture, diseases of the spine, bruises, monotonous movements, somatic diseases, emotional overstrain.
The main symptom is pain, aching, pulling, increasing with exertion and triggering triggers. Skin sensitivity also increases, the color of the skin changes, and movement in the affected area is limited. Complex treatment is prescribed. To prevent disease, you should monitor your weight, follow a healthy lifestyle, wear comfortable shoes and clothes, avoid stress and hypothermia.
Changes in the work of internal organs
If there is pain in the left shoulder blade from the back, the cause may be a violation of the internal organs. In many diseases, the symptom is left-sided pain. They are divided into cardiovascular, diseases of the bronchopulmonary system and gastrointestinal tract.
Heart disease
With cardiovascular diseases, not only pain in the left shoulder blade but also pain in the collarbone, left arm, abdomen. Myocardial infarction is one of the types of coronary heart disease, in which myocardial necrosis occurs due to a violation of coronary circulation. There is a burning, squeezing or pressing sensation behind the sternum, spreading to the left collarbone, shoulder blade, arm, and jaw. The patient appears cold sweat, has a feeling of fear. These symptoms are direct indications for emergency admission to a medical facility. Without prompt medical attention, it can lead to death.
Coronary heart disease is caused by insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle due to coronary artery disease. Heart arteries are blocked with cholesterol plaques or narrowed. The heart does not receive enough blood to function properly. The reason is:
- Coronary arteriosclerosis.
- arterial hypertension.
- Violation of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism.
- Smoke.
- High cholesterol and being overweight.
- Diabetes.
Symptoms are shortness of breath, weakness, arrhythmia, increased sweating. There are spontaneous chest pains that are not affected by nitroglycerin. Patients suffer from hypoxia, fear of death, lethargy, sadness or unreasonable anxiety. With angina, the pain is concentrated behind the sternum. It has manifestation properties such as cutting, pressing, compressing and burning. Attacks last 2 to 5 minutes and are relieved with medication.
With pericarditis, an inflammatory process appears in the outer shell of the heart. Causes of inflammation are infections, autoimmune diseases, trauma, tumors, and metabolic disorders. Chest pain, swelling of the face and neck, severe shortness of breath, dry cough and hoarseness.
Mitral valve prolapse is a disease in which the function of the valve located between the ventricles and the atria is impaired. It was discovered by accident and did not pose a threat to the patient's life. Can be congenital or acquired. Another disease that often has no symptoms is an aortic aneurysm. With this pathology, the protrusion of the vessel wall occurs due to its weakening or due to a sharp increase in blood pressure. Vascular walls are weakened by the deposition of foreign substances, inflammation, or tissue destruction.
Pathology of the bronchopulmonary system
In diseases of the bronchopulmonary system, pain occurs in the left clavicle.
Reasons for the appearance of painful symptoms: acute bronchitis and tracheitis, left-sided pneumonia, left-sided dry pleurisy, left lung abscess. Acute bronchitis is manifested by cough, weakness, increased sweating, shortness of breath and decreased activity, fever as high as 38 degrees. The cause of the development of pathology is of viral or bacterial origin. Physical, chemical and allergic factors also influence.
Left-sided pneumonia is rare but life-threatening. The main cause is the entry of pathogens into the left lung. This happens with a sharp decrease in immunity. Appears a cough due to weakness, burning and pain in the left chest, high body temperature. It is necessary to seek help as soon as possible, this will help avoid the development of complications. A disease such as dry pleurisy can be a complication of other lung conditions. Lung abscess is a complication. It is formed as a result of untreated pneumonia.
Digestive tract diseases
A very common group of diseases in which pain radiates to the left shoulder blade from behind. The reasons may vary. The development of the pathology is associated with errors in nutrition, the use of foods containing flavorings and preservatives. The symptoms of these diseases are:
- Stomachache.
- Heartburn.
- Belching.
- Bloating.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Constipation.
- Diarrhea.
- Smell from the mouth.
- Reduced body weight and cravings.
- Dizzy.
- Weak.
With a peptic ulcer, the integrity of the tissues of the stomach wall is compromised, as a result, they are eroded by gastric juices and ulcers appear. One feature is that hunger appears against the background of hunger. After eating, they gradually decrease. Another symptom is vomiting with sour substance. In addition, gastric motility is also disturbed, from which belching and heartburn appear. A complication of the disease can be bleeding, as the ulcer of the blood vessel is destroyed. This is a very dangerous disease that self-medication will be very dangerous because it can lead to perforation of the ulcer and death.
The main symptom of duodenal ulcer is pain in the epigastrium, which may spread to the left side of the chest and shoulder blade, lumbar or thoracic spine.
Pain appears after eating, and also after a while. It is prevented by antacids, antispasmodics, and antisecretory agents. In addition, the ulcers are also characterized by digestive disorders, loss of appetite, leading to weight loss and painful weight loss. Ulcers cause complications: bleeding, perforation and invasion of the pancreas, duodenal stricture, tumor formation at the site of ulcer formation, and inflammation of the intestinal mucosa.
Esophageal spasm is characterized by swallowing behavior.
Causes can be excitement, as well as rapid absorption and poor chewing of food, consumption of foods high in fiber. You can relieve discomfort by drinking large amounts of fluids, swallowing air, and doing exercises. Also, a symptom is the reflux of substances in the esophagus. Usually occurs in dreams or when the patient is horizontal. It manifests as vomiting without a mixture of gastric juices and bile.
When the contents of the stomach and duodenum are regurgitated, gastroesophageal reflux disease develops.
The main cause is a weakened lower esophageal sphincter. In this case, when the stomach contracts, its contents will back up into the esophagus. It is characterized by heartburn, which occurs when bending over, exercising, after a heavy meal. Has a texture with a bitter or sour taste. You may also experience nausea and vomiting.
The sign of acute pancreatitis is a sharp, constant, sharp pain under the ribs.
There are two causes: alcohol abuse and gallstones. Symptoms are not always obvious. The pain is poorly relieved by pain relievers, sometimes an anesthetic is prescribed. In addition, pain under the blade can cause inflammatory bowel disease. Occurs due to infection, drug use, chemical or food poisoning, circulatory disorder.