Low back pain in the shoulder blades is a sign not only of spinal diseases, but also of pathologies of internal organs. Why consult a doctor and make an appointment with a specialist? Effective ways to get rid of anxiety.
If you are worried about back pain in the shoulder blades, such a symptom may indicate back or shoulder girdle diseases, nerve pathology, somatic diseases. Careful collection of medical history and patient complaints allows to determine the cause of the problem and decide on further treatment.
Often, back pain in the shoulder blades is the first sign of pathological changes in the body. And the definition of the stimulus allows to prevent the exacerbation of the disease at an early stage. The symptom can occur in half of the body or spread to the arm, appearing during respiration - all this is important when making a diagnosis.
Causes and localization of pain
As a rule, discomfort appears in the shoulder blades when moving. For example, a long static position of the body, an awkward turn. In this case, the pain under the scapula signals damage.
It is important!Unilateral localization of pain (under the scapula or on the right) is rare. This is due to the symmetrical arrangement of the nerve roots in the spinal cord.
Traumatic injury
Painful sensations can signal muscle or bone damage. In this condition, the symptoms are diffuse and vary in intensity. The pain is acute and persists.
Injuries that can cause pain in the shoulder blades:
- Fractures, cracks. A serious injury in which the pain is concentrated directly in the scapula. The symptom is aggravated by minimal movement, so the patient can not move.
- Caries. The discomfort is superficial, occurs due to damage to the muscle frame, and is localized in the lower part of the shoulder blades. Examination may reveal signs of inflammation, tissue swelling. Symptoms last for 14-21 days.
- Vertebral subluxation or displacement. Joint pain occurs under or at the level of the shoulder blades. Anxiety can be exacerbated by compression of the nerve roots.
Soft tissue edema is observed with injuries in the area of damage, the pain appears suddenly. Often a crisis appears while moving.
Protrusion and hernia of the spine
With this pathology, the spinal cord and nerve roots are compressed, which is accompanied by impaired sensitivity and sharp pain under the right and left scapula.
Possible concern placement:
- Low back pain under the left or right scapula. Indicates a lesion of 6-12 discs with possible involvement of the lumbar spine in the pathological process. The latter is at increased risk of developing spinal hernias due to increased stress.
- On the shoulder blades. The protrusion is localized in the cervical spine or in 1-3 segments. Anxiety manifests itself more with head movements.
- Between the shoulder blades. Pain is observed when 3-6 segments of the spine are affected. It becomes clearer with a deep breath as you turn your body and move your upper limbs to the sides.
Note!The pain with the protrusion continues at rest. This is due to nerve root compression and muscle spasm.
Osteochondrosis
If there is pain in the back shoulder blades, the symptom may indicate osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine. The symptom is caused by obstruction of the spinal cord or nerve roots and deformation of the intervertebral disc. The disease develops gradually and causes more vivid symptoms.
The area of concern is determined by the location of the lesion:
- 2-6 segments. The discomfort is localized at the level of the shoulder blades, and radiation to the arms and neck is possible. An increase in intracranial pressure, dizziness due to constriction of blood vessels is possible.
- 6-12 segments. There is pain under the left or right scapula and extends to the lower back.
Note!With osteochondrosis, the pain is unilateral.
Spondyloarthritis
This pathology is also characterized by unilateral placement of the pain syndrome. With spondyloarthritis, mobility is impaired, and there is a feeling of stiffness due to damage to the intervertebral discs and facet joints.
Symptoms depend on the neglect of pathological changes:
- Destruction of cartilage tissue. It develops against the background of decreased blood circulation and impaired connective tissue integrity. The cartilage element becomes brittle - it is damaged quickly and is slowly renewed. The situation is aggravated by microtraumas due to strong physical force. In this case, the pain spreads to the shoulder blades and back.
- Deformation of the intervertebral disc. Thickening of the tissue is accompanied by impaired mobility, as well as pain in the shoulder blades and lower back. Against this background, destructive processes are intensifying.
- Formation of bone growths. It appears in the advanced form of spondyloarthritis. They cause damage to blood vessels, muscle tissue, nerves and joints.
Pain with spondyloarthritis occurs after physical exertion and can be localized in or between the shoulder blades. At rest, the symptom disappears.
Scoliosis
It is accompanied by a curvature of the spine in the transverse direction due to the tension of the muscles that support posture. In this case, the spinal cord and nerves are compressed, there is discomfort under the scapula.
Other symptoms of scoliosis:
- Chest deformity. There is displacement of the ribs and vertebrae, which causes damage to the spinal cord and limbs. For this reason, low back pain is observed under the scapula or on the right.
- Respiratory disorders. Lung dysfunction is observed due to chest deformity - one of them is compressed, the other tries to fill the lack of gas exchange.
- Cardiac dysfunction. Due to the bent spine, shortness of breath occurs, the skin becomes pale, the heart rate changes.
Note!Scoliosis is characterized by compression of the spinal cord, so the discomfort is localized between or under the shoulder blades. The pathological focus has clear contours and can spread to nearby areas only with muscle spasms.
Kyphosis
Kyphosis is the backward bending of the spine, which appears to be bent and bent. In this case, the pain is localized on the shoulder blades, is bilateral, spreads to the neck and arms.
Mechanisms of pain in kyphosis:
- Muscle. The curvature of the spine causes excessive tension of the muscles of the neck area and spasm accompanied by pain on the shoulder blades.
- Neurogenic. Against the background of the curvature of the spine, the distance between the vertebrae decreases. This causes damage to the spinal cord and pain that can spread to the neck, clavicle, and shoulder in the area of the shoulder blades.
With kyphosis, the vertebral artery is constricted, which leads to deterioration of cerebral circulation and dysfunction of internal organs.
Radiculitis
It is characterized by compression of the spinal roots, which form a pathological sciatic nerve. With the defeat of the upper part, the pain is under and under the scapula. Anxiety becomes clearer with two-way, sudden movements.
When left untreated, sciatica is accompanied by other symptoms:
- burning pain in the back (under the shoulder blades and in the lumbar region) - indicates compression of the spinal roots;
- lumbago with radiation in the leg;
- convulsions;
- impaired sensitivity in the hips, lower back;
- numbness along the nerve (can be observed in the lower leg, thigh, foot).
Neuralgia
Inflammation of the nerve fibers in this anatomical region can cause pain under the shoulder blades. A common cause of pathology is hypothermia.
Inflammation can affect structures as follows.
- Intercostal nerves. 1-4 pairs located on the lower edge of the ribs are affected. The pain is localized under the shoulder blades and below, on the sides of the chest, extending less to the front.
- Supraspinatus and suprascapular nerves. The clavicle area is characterized by the appearance of pain in the area of the back shoulder blades. Sometimes the symptom extends to the shoulders.
- Infraspinatus and subcapularis nerves. Anxiety is felt under the scapula on the left or right. As the inflammation spreads to the muscles, the pain increases as you move your hands.
Note!Pain with neuralgia is often one-sided in nature - the symptom is localized in the area exposed to hypothermia.
Shoulder-scapular periarthritis
It is characterized by inflammation of the shoulder joint and surrounding tissues. It is accompanied by impaired mobility, which can be eliminated only after warming up the muscles.
With humeroscapular periarthrosis, discomfort is observed at and below the level of the shoulder blades. In the early stages, it occurs after strenuous physical activity as the disease progresses. Other symptoms of pathology:
- concussion of the upper extremities;
- Headache;
- decreased mobility of the spine.
Heart pathology
Pain under the shoulder blades may indicate heart disease. This is because the branches of the parasympathetic trunk connected to the spinal cord and nerve roots go to the body. If there is pain in the back under the left scapula, the symptom may indicate a mild form of myocardial infarction. It can last for several days, increases with movement and decreases at rest.
Other signs of pathology:
- burning, pressing pain behind the sternum;
- cardiac arrhythmias;
- heartbeat;
- dyspnea;
- dizziness;
- nausea, vomiting;
- increased blood pressure.
Diseases of the digestive system
The mechanism of onset of pain is similar to the previous cause - it spreads along the nerve fibers. The localization of the symptom depends on the affected organ, less anxiety is bilateral.
If there is pain on the left under the back scapula, development is possible:
- inflammation of the gastric mucosa;
- pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas);
- gastric ulcer.
In addition, such pathologies are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, heartburn, abdominal pain, heaviness in the abdomen. If the ulcer is complicated by internal bleeding, there is pallor of the skin, decreased blood pressure, weakness, darkening of the stool.
Feelings of discomfort under the right shoulder blade may indicate the following diseases:
- duodenal ulcer;
- hepatitis;
- cirrhosis of the liver;
- cholelithiasis.
Other causes of the symptom
The following factors can cause pain in the shoulder blades:
- Anxious sleeping place. Especially a collapsed mattress and sleeping on the left side can cause pain on the opposite side as the spine bends and the roots are compressed.
- Vegetovascular dystonia. Low blood pressure, shortness of breath, impaired heart function and sometimes back pain in the shoulder blades.
- Polio. It is an infectious disease in which pain in the shoulder blades is neurogenic.
- Pleurisy. With inflammation of the pleura, the symptom is caused by the layers rubbing against each other. The peak of the pain occurs with a deep breath.
- Kidney pathology. It is characterized by a stabbing, stabbing pain under the right shoulder blade. In addition, there is a change in the color of urine, urine output.
- Intoxication. Anxiety occurs when the body accumulates excessive amounts of toxins or putrefactive products against the background of a cold or due to severe poisoning. Accompanied by cold, muscle pain, fever.
- Subphrenic abscess. Pain under the shoulder blades is observed when breathing, caused by the accumulation of pus in the upper abdomen.
- Mental disorders. Sometimes mental disorders are accompanied by back anxiety, but the mechanism of development has not yet been studied.
Types of pain
The nature of the pain in the shoulder blades may be different. Depending on this criterion, it is possible to accept a possible disease and determine the cause of anxiety:
- Shooting, sharp when turning or moving the body. Typical for pinched nerves. This feature allows it to be distinguished from the pain of gallstone disease - with this diagnosis, the discomfort is constant and does not depend on actions.
- Cutting, dull pain of varying intensity. Neuralgia may indicate joint inflammation.
- Compression, pain or burning. Such pain in the shoulder blades indicates diseases of the internal organs. The symptom develops as a result of compression of the nerve roots, which may become more pronounced with movement.
- Choking pain at or below the level of the shoulder blades. Typical for spinal hernia. Often numbness of the arms or legs, accompanied by lumbago.
Which doctor should I see?
If you have pain in the shoulder blades, you should make an appointment with a neurologist. The doctor will examine, diagnose and prescribe treatment tactics. In case of detection of pathologies of the internal organs, he will consult a specialist with a narrow profile - a gastroenterologist, cardiologist, orthopedist (depending on the alleged diagnosis).
Inquiry
The following diagnostic procedures are prescribed to patients to determine the cause of the onset of pain in the shoulder blades:
- Clinical studies of blood and urine. Shows inflammatory changes, helps in the diagnosis of somatic diseases.
- X-ray examination, CT. They allow you to detect the curvature of the spine, damage and consequences, osteochondrosis.
- Ultrasound. Used to identify pathologies of internal organs.
- ECG. Informant when heart disease is suspected.
- MRI. Represents the condition of the spine, shoulder girdle, internal organs. The area of study is determined by the physician depending on the proposed diagnosis.
Note!Pain under the shoulder blades is often an indication of neurological abnormalities. Therefore, CT and MRI are the "gold standard" in determining the cause of a symptom.
Treatment features
The goal of treatment is not only to relieve pain, but also to eliminate the factor that causes its appearance. When seeking medical help, the pain syndrome is eliminated in parallel, and the etiological treatment is prescribed to eliminate the underlying disease.
Therapeutic program may include the following methods:
- Treatment. A number of analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs are used to relieve pain. Depending on the cause of the symptom, antibacterial agents, diuretics, gastroprotectors, etc. may be used.
- Physiotherapy. Helps accelerate recovery from somatic pathologies, strengthen the spine. Electrophoresis, UHT and thermal procedures are used to relieve pain in the shoulder blades.
- Massage. Helps relieve muscle spasms, improve posture, relieve painful sensations. Prescribed for spinal problems. Sometimes the intervention of an osteopath or chiropractor is required.
- Gymnastics. Shown during the recovery period. Depending on the established diagnosis, separate exercises are selected for each patient.
How to prevent discomfort in the shoulder blades?
It is recommended that each patient undergo a series of preventive measures. Needed to prevent recurrence of the disease.
It is important to follow these rules:
- create favorable conditions for sleeping - choose an orthopedic pillow and a moderately firm mattress to support the physiological condition of the spine;
- look at your posture;
- to follow the principles of proper nutrition;
- try to prevent the exacerbation of chronic pathologies;
- to give up addictions (smoking, drinking alcohol);
- See your doctor regularly for preventive checkups.
Pain in the shoulder blades can be caused by somatic and neurological causes. In the latter case, the symptom is acute and pronounced. Pain of somatic origin gradually increases and lasts for a long time, regardless of body movements.
Analgesics can be used to relieve an unpleasant symptom. However, in order to completely eliminate the feeling of pain, it is important to go through a full course of treatment aimed at getting rid of the underlying pathology. Only a doctor can develop a proper course of therapy after a thorough examination.