Back pain in the shoulder area is a very common complaint in patients belonging to a range of age groups. Such a problem impedes breathing and creates serious obstacles to physical activity, work or simple movement.
Patients rarely pay proper attention to recurrent shoulder pain. However, this symptom is a "wake-up call" of 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 will be examined.
The most common reasons
The shoulder blades are located in the back of the back near the humerus and clavicle. These paired bones, which have a triangular shape, are part of the frame to which the muscles responsible for shoulder mobility are attached. It is for this reason that back pain in the shoulder blade area interferes with normal life, interferes with the ability to work and is a serious health risk.
Why does the back hurt in the shoulder blade area? According to medical statistics, such problems are most often caused by injuries and damage to the elements of the cervical spine and chest. Severe pain syndrome can be observed due to 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;
- deforming spondylarthrosis;
- scoliosis, kyphoscoliosis and other curvature of the spine;
- failure of one or both kidneys.
If the back hurts in the shoulder area, the causes can be diseases, tumors and injuries of the mediastinal organs, shingles, intercostal neuralgia, impaired liver function, various pathologies of the pleura and lungs, as well. as well as in the long-term performance of monotonous activity against the background of chronic diseases. At risk are drivers, office workers, tailors and representatives of other professions associated with a long stay in a position.
Pain in the back on the left and below the shoulder blade
Back pain below the shoulder blade often occurs due to osteochondrosis, various forms of flexion and scoliosis. If a teenager has a disturbed physiological attitude, he or she needs a thorough diagnosis, prevention, and well-chosen 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 a physical strain. Treatment of scoliosis and other curvatures of the spine through massage is preferred, as well as manual and osteopathic effects. Pain syndrome, located in the left shoulder area, is a serious risk, as such symptoms may indicate an attack of angina pectoris and the development of coronary heart disease.
If pain in the left side of the back in the shoulder area is accompanied by increased fatigue, shortness of breath, weakness and slight swelling of the face and ankles, you should immediately consult a doctor. Another cause of pain in the left shoulder may be disc herniation. At risk are people who are forced to stay in an uncomfortable position for a long time, driving a vehicle or working on a computer.
If the pain is only slightly annoying, you can limit yourself to using an ointment with a warming or analgesic effect, however, in case of worsening, the patient is advised to stay in bed.
Treatment of intervertebral hernia of the chest region includes the withdrawal method, manual therapy, reflexology, exercise therapy and a therapeutic massage course. Medical methods of treating such pathologies are currently unknown to conservative medicine. With surgery, the probability of a positive result 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 muscles of the back below the shoulder blades and in a shoulder blade
Pain in the muscles located between the shoulder blades is usually observed in professional athletes who deal with weight lifting and in people who, by the nature of their activities, face high physical exertion. Causes of muscle pain between the shoulders can be:
- various injuries and bruises;
- stretching of tendons;
- overexertion during work or exercise in the gym.
If a scapula hurts too much, the pathology can be caused by myopathy, neuroinfection, paralysis of the anterior serratus, trapezius or rhomboid muscles, various deformities of the shoulder joints, tuberculosis of the shoulder, or osteomyelitis, which led to the development of suppuration poisoning andbody.
stomach ulcer
Pain syndrome, located in the area of the shoulder blades, often indicates the presence of a disease as dangerous as a stomach ulcer. In such a case, discomfort and discomfort may spread along the spine of the chest, extending to the nipple and shoulder blade located on the left side. The pain increases gradually and is characterized by seasonality and periodicity, subsiding after emptying the stomach contents causing vomiting. In addition, most patients experience symptoms such as belching, saliva and heartburn.
It's interesting! With the perforation of the peptic ulcer during even a small activity, the level of discomfort increases greatly, and to get rid of it, the patient must assume a forced position on the back or on the right side, pressing the hips to the abdomen. This phenomenon is accompanied by increased excitement, fear attacks, as well as intolerable pain syndrome, which radiates to the area above the clavicle bone.
Bile duct muscle abscesses and spasms
The cutting and stabbing pain on the right side just below the shoulder blade is often caused by blockage of the bile duct stones. As a result, abdominal pain, severe pain syndrome, and the following symptoms appear:
- the presence of "stimulating" sensations in the right hypochondrium;
- sudden onset of pain;
- irritability, irritability;
- radiating pain in eyes, jaw, neck and right shoulder.
The pain syndrome, localized above the waist in the blade area of the right shoulder, may be due to a subdiaphragmatic abscess, which is characterized by very strong disturbances in inspiration, increase in body temperature, and pain radiating to the shoulder. right. With an inflammatory process in the kidneys (nephritis, pyelonephritis), there is pain in the area of the right shoulder and in the lower back with frequent urination, which causes a series of painful sensations.
Mental problems
Pain in the spine between the shoulder blades is often caused by various psychological problems. In such a case, the concern is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:
- feeling of shortness of breath;
- sensation of a lump in the throat;
- paranoid thoughts, unmotivated fear;
- the appearance of cold vibrations and heat in the chest;
- feeling of pressure, heaviness and tightness.
In case of mental problems, there is often an uncomfortable feeling that the heart is "bleeding" or jumping out of the chest and the back is also burning in the shoulder blade area. Many patients experience chills, internal agitation, and restlessness, leading to panic attacks.
Intercostal neuralgia and osteochondrosis of the cervical region
The pain localized below the shoulder, in the case of intercostal neuralgia, has a paroxysmal genital character and is intensified during palpation, physical activity, walking and coughing attacks. In some cases, such symptoms are accompanied by excessive muscle tension, there is also a burning sensation, tingling sensation and loss of sensation.
With osteochondrosis and Bechterew's disease, the pain syndrome often worsens at night, depriving the patient of sleep and causing great muscle tension in the morning.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the following symptoms are observed:
- dizziness;
- increased pain in case of sharp bending or stretching of the neck;
- paresthesia in the shoulder girdle region;
- radiating pain in the arm or head.
Osteochondrosis can be recognized by unilateral dull pain in the occipital region. Discomfort usually increases in the morning, provoking early awakening and giving the patient a lot of trouble. To ease the onset of cervical osteochondrosis, a warm bath or various medications are used, which are selected exclusively according to the doctor's instructions.
During pregnancy
In women during pregnancy, the load on the spine increases, therefore, a significant percentage of expectant mothers complain of back pain, including the shoulder blade area. Fractures and burns, as well as numbness in the area of the shoulder blades, are often associated with changes in the hormonal background, which also affects the exacerbation of chronic diseases such as osteochondrosis.
For preventative purposes, some doctors recommend that women use a supportive corset in the last trimester of pregnancy and a postpartum bandage, which reduces the load on the spine and allows the baby to maintain the proper position.
Other reasons
Back pain in the shoulders can be caused by angina pectoris or myocardial infarction. Pain syndrome usually appears against the background of intense physical exertion and has a twisted character. Unpleasant sensations are common throughout the upper left half of the body, and removing them with the help of vasodilating drugs 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 supportive drugs.
Diagnosis and treatment
Before taking any steps to get rid of pain syndrome localized in the shoulder blade region, it is necessary to determine the cause of the pathology that has arisen. In case of back pain between the shoulder blades, which is accompanied by a sensation of pulling and twisting and burning and burning in the chest, you should immediately consult a doctor. The doctor will choose the best diagnostic method, as p. sh.
- x-ray of the chest and spine;
- Ultrasound;
- electrocardiograms;
- CT scan.
Manual therapy in many cases shows positive results and allows you to strengthen both the waist and upper back, as well as make the muscle tissue that supports the spine more elastic. Osteopathy and reflexology contribute to the activation of the processes of local regeneration and metabolism. It is worth strengthening the muscles regularly by performing a set of individually selected exercise therapy exercises.