If a person has back pain in the scapula area, he automatically associates it with the condition of the spine. They're right in part: this long-suffering core of our bones is under a heavy load, which has to affect its condition.
But usually pain in this area of the back indicates a problem with an internal organ. The nature of pain corresponds to the disease, so it is important to describe its presentation in as much detail as possible when making an appointment with your doctor.
What is the cause of shoulder pain
Pathological changes:
- spine;
- internal organs;
- surrounding structures.
It is painful in the scapula area and is accompanied by some rare diseases:
- Spinal fractures and systemic diseases;
- Spinal metastases from gastric cancer and sometimes other organs.
Pain is localized according to the type of disease:
- above the scapula;
- under the scapula;
- between the shoulder blades;
- in the scapula.
Symptoms associated with lesions of internal organs
The stomach, lungs, liver, and heart can project their pain under the shoulder blade—right or left.
If there is pain on the left side, this may be a sign:
- Gastric Peptic Ulcer: Pain is cyclic in nature and is associated with seasonal exacerbations. They are accompanied by upper abdominal pain. During periods of increased pain, vomiting occurs;
- Myocardial infarction: This condition is accompanied by acute retrosternal pain extending below the left scapula. Cardiac ischemia has similar signs, but in this case, pain is also present in the left hand;
- Stomach ulcer breakthrough: The patient is in a cold sweat and may feel nauseous until vomiting. The patient attempts to relieve pain by changing positions, but these movements do not have the desired effect;
- Intercostal neuralgia: Pain attacks under the left shoulder blade, aggravated by mild physical exertion. It stings and burns in the heart area. Coughing and deep breathing can be painful.
The underside of the right shoulder blade can be injured when:
- Physical and mental disorders. At the same time, the patient feels warm in the chest, and he may complain of myocardial compression and tingling;
- Pathological changes of the gallbladder: additional symptoms - bitter taste in the mouth after fatty, salty and fried foods, pain in the right flank;
- Pleurisy and pneumonia: cough reflects pain under the right shoulder blade;
- Kidney disease: In this case, coughing can also cause increased pain, but unlike lung disease, the patient has difficulty urinating.
pain associated with spinal lesions
Spinal problems can occur after an injury, fracture, or bruise. But there are also diseases that have no apparent cause. All of these present as pain in the scapula area.
For any pathology of the spine, pain between the shoulder blades must be connected:
- rigidity;
- the feeling of goosebumps;
- numbness.
Pain between the shoulder blades when coughing is a typical symptom of heavy smokers.
osteochondrosis
If tissue nutrition is disturbed, they undergo changes in malnutrition. In the spine, this process affects the intervertebral discs. They can no longer resist the pressure the vertebrae put on them. The loss of elasticity of the intervertebral disc causes compression of the spine. There is pressure on the nerve endings of the spinal cord - this is where severe pain occurs.
The body tries to protect the spine from heavy loads by growing bony tissue along the edges of the vertebral processes. Bone growths are called osteophytes. They can be removed, but in the context of osteochondrosis, they will grow again.
The pain of osteochondrosis is located at the site of the spinal injury. If the neck is affected, the patient has pain in the right side of the neck in the morning. The pain radiates to the shoulders and arms and is felt on the shoulder blades. The head may feel dizzy, and the torment may be exacerbated by deep breathing and coughing.
Osteochondrosis in the thoracic area manifests as pain between the shoulder blades - the right and left sides of the spine. Sneezing, coughing, and sudden movements can make the pain worse. The chest and interscapular area begin to crackle as you try to straighten your shoulders.
A person who has difficulty breathing from the chest will unknowingly turn to breathing through the stomach because of the reduced mobility of the ribs.
Osteochondrosis is treated conservatively. Patients are prescribed:
- Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs;
- physical therapy procedures;
- therapeutic gymnastics;
- reflexology;
- massage;
- spinal traction;
- Manipulative therapy.
If none of the treatments don't work, surgeons go into business.
Spondyloarthropathy
The symptoms of this disease are similar to osteochondrosis. But in this case, the disc is displaced, not depleted. The hyaline cartilage is forced to take the load. Under such extreme conditions, its tissue becomes thinner and loses its ability to perform its function.
If spondyloarthropathy is not treated, the entire joint may become inflamed and then completely lose mobility. Osteophytes aggravate the patient's condition.
Scoliosis
Curves of the spine to the right or left relative to its axis are common - almost half of all people are affected by this disorder. But for most people, the disease is not noticeable, so pain occurs periodically - if a person overtaxes his back, or stands or sits in one position for long periods of time.
Early scoliosis cannot be determined visually, so it is in the patient's interest to consult a doctor if pain occurs in the scapula area. He will turn on X-rays - direct and lateral.
As the scoliosis progresses further, it can be detected independently: the "zigzag" of the spine becomes clearly pronounced. Running scoliosis also depends on the relative position of the shoulders - one will be lower than the other.
Even in high-intensity situations, the treatment of scoliosis is a long-term endeavor. Massage, special exercises, and wearing a corset will help eliminate curvature of the spine.
intervertebral hernia
The intervertebral disc consists of the following parts:
- gelatinous core;
- annulus fibrosus, which consists of fibers;
- Two thin layers of cartilage that cover the upper and lower intervertebral discs.
The nucleus is located within the annulus, while the cartilage tissue of the closed structure simultaneously acts as a nutrient conductor from the vessels of the vertebral body to the disc.
Pathological changes in the vertebrae lead to disruption of the metabolic processes of the intervertebral disc. Their thickness decreases and the fibrous annulus ruptures under the influence of the load, opening the way to the outside of the core's gel-like substance. This process is accompanied by severe pain. It concentrates at one point, but sometimes returns to the lung and heart area.
Thoracic hernias are extremely rare, so when scapula pain occurs, the first thing to check is for other medical conditions.
Intervertebral hernias are treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, and special exercises. In severe cases, only surgery can help.
Spinal tuberculosis
Tuberculosis can affect any part of the spine, but 60% of cases occur in the thoracic region. Mostly, men suffer from this disorder. Basically, the process involves several vertebrae, but in some cases TB spreads to three or more.
Symptoms of the disease can vary depending on the number of vertebrae affected. But there is one persistent symptom - and that is pain. If it is felt between the shoulder blades, this indicates a cervical spondylosis.
Tuberculosis in the chest area can also cause pain, but in this case, the pain radiates (passes) to the chest, groin, or abdomen. Patients complain of burning, twisting, "drilling" in the back.
Spinal tuberculosis is difficult to diagnose, and severe pain is already present at the stage of various complications. If you have the slightest suspicion of this disease, see a specialist immediately.
Overvoltage and low temperature
Pain in the scapula area may also occur if the back is overloaded. The phenomenon itself is not considered a disease, but persistent overload can lead to the formation of osteochondrosis, spinal curvature, and intervertebral herniation.
Tailors, drivers, surgeons, sedentary workers, etc. all complain of back pain. If hypothermia (draft, working air conditioning) is added to the overvoltage, then back pain can be taught - severe pain concentrated under the shoulder blades or in the spine.
This problem can be treated with warm ointments, anti-inflammatories, and massage.
myositis
Influenza, SARS, and severe hypothermia can cause myositis—inflammation of muscle tissue. Most of the time, the disease affects the muscles located in the area of the shoulder blade. The condition doesn't pose any terrible threat to the body, but the pain can cause discomfort.
shoulder blade pain
Pain has several causes:
- Fractures or injuries from a fall. Swelling of the shoulder joint, pain in moving the limb;
- Osteomyelitis (inflammation of bone tissue): accompanied by fever, fever with systemic poisoning;
- Pterygium scapula: This effect is caused by damage to the front teeth (located on the side of the chest), paralysis of the rhomboids, trapezius muscles, or their traumatic rupture (suffering circus acrobats and gymnasts, professional athletes).
If the synovial bag becomes inflamed, the scapula will begin to crackle. In addition to this inconvenience, patients are also concerned about the heaviness and clicking of the shoulder joint.
diagnosis
Since pain in the scapular region of the back is one of many diseases, it is checked according to different methods:
- chest X-ray;
- laboratory research;
- Ultrasound;
- magnetoresistive or computed tomography;
- Electrocardiogram.
All tests are prescribed by the surgeon - if you have back pain, go to him first. But in the future, based on the findings, he will need to recommend:
- Orthopedist;
- gastroenterologist;
- neurologist;
- Pulmonologist.
If for some reason your doctor doesn't notice accompanying symptoms, seek advice on your own.
treat
Self-medication of pain in the scapular region is absolutely contraindicated. The most a patient can afford is to take painkillers and pain relievers. Reception should be single and only if it is necessary to stop the pain syndrome before going to the doctor.
Treatment is prescribed by a doctor: usually, to relieve the condition, analgesics, chondroprotectants, anti-inflammatory drugs are sufficient. Additionally, doctors develop a treatment regimen aimed at eliminating the underlying cause of pain in the scapular region.