Pain, regardless of its location, intensity and cause, always signals a malfunction of the body. If it appears regularly, you should not immediately self-medicate, since the causes of the pathology may be different. First you need to understand why your back hurts in the shoulder blade area.
What is the nature of the pain?
If you pay attention to the causes of discomfort in the area of the shoulder blades, you should understand that they have a different character. Back pain should be classified as follows:
- Pulling or pain.It appears due to strong compression of the nerve roots, changes in muscle tone and damage to the spine.
- Long lasting, very intense.It is provoked by neuralgia, traumatic damage to the scapula.
- Strong and unexpected pain.It is characteristic of complications of gastric ulcer, spastic contraction of the gallbladder muscles and heart attack.
- Paroxysmal painwith a gradual increase in intensity. It is also provoked by an ulcer.
- If there is no pain in the back in the area of the shoulder blades, but the patient feels ittingling, pressure, then it may be the result of excessive emotional or inadequate physical stress.
As for the localization of the pain, it can be between the scapula, under the scapula and can be located inside the joint. Now you can understand why the discomfort occurs.
Diseases of internal organs as a provoking factor
If discomfort occurs in the back below the shoulder blade, this may be normal muscle tension. However, if it is repeated periodically and its intensity increases, then it is better not to hesitate and urgently consult a doctor. There are the following causes of pain:
- Infarction of the heart muscle.The pain under the shoulder blade in this case is strong and sharp. Additional signs are: spreading discomfort over a wide area, increased sweating, increased heart rate. A distinctive feature of a heart attack is that even the intake of nitrates does not help to calm the attack.
- Gastric ulcer.In this case, the pain syndrome has an increasing and paroxysmal character. Discomfort often occurs after eating in the epigastric region. The pain radiates to the sternum, lower back and heart. The patient also feels heartburn and belching. He gets nauseous and may vomit.
- Perforation of gastric ulcer.It represents the appearance of a hole in the wall of the organ that opens into the abdominal cavity. Here the person needs emergency surgery. The symptoms of the pathology are clearly expressed. The patient experiences an unexpected sharp pain under the shoulder blades, a state of shock, a sharp tension of the abdominal muscles. Cold sweat appears on the face, the skin becomes pale. The patient's breathing quickens, when palpating the abdomen, a strong discomfort is felt.
- Spasm of the gallbladder muscles.The pain in the scapula region is cutting or stabbing. The unpleasant sensations do not last long. There is pain in the back right under the ribs, which then radiates to the neck, collarbone and jaw.
- Subdiaphragmatic abscess.It is characterized by an accumulation of pus in the area of the diaphragm. The pain gradually increases, general weakness and loss of appetite appear, the temperature may rise. There is pallor of the skin, as well as increased sweating.
- Renal pathologies.Here, the pain is localized not only in the back area under the shoulder blades, but also in the lower back. The nature of the sensations is pulling, but during the development of renal colic it becomes sharp. The patient cannot go to the toilet normally.
- Pneumonia or pleurisy.This pathology is characterized by increased pain when coughing.
- Neuralgia.Here the pain is mainly felt under the scapula, more often on the left. The nature of the sensations is paroxysmal and they become stronger with any physical activity. The pain syndrome can also be a burn. Coughing causes herpes zoster.
- Pathologies of muscles and ligaments.Back pain is painful and occurs periodically. After rest, the comfort disappears.
Separately, psychological problems that also provoke pain under the shoulder blade should be emphasized. Severe stress or emotional tension, neurosis or increased anxiety are clear causes of discomfort. The fact is that the muscles of a person's back are strained, so spasms occur, which leads to pinching and inflammation of the nerve processes. The pain is pressing, radiating to other parts of the body. There is a feeling of pressure and stiffness in the area of the shoulder blades. A person worries in fear for his life, he is short of breath, his heart starts beating, and a lump appears in his throat.
Diseases of the skeleton as a cause of pain
There are many diseases of the spine that cause back pain in the area of the shoulder blades. The most common of them are:
- Osteochondrosis of the neck.It provokes periodic pain that radiates to the shoulder blades. The disease develops gradually and is incurable. Additional symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are: stiffness of movements, painful turns of the head. The nature of the sensations is painful, intensifying with every movement. A person's neck area begins to tingle.
- Disc protrusionin the cervical region.
- Radiculitis.
All these diseases cause quite severe pain and prevent a person from moving normally and leading a working life. Naturally, it is necessary to fight them, but this should be done in the initial stages of development. If your back hurts often and the syndrome itself does not disappear for a long time, try to see a doctor as soon as possible. Self-medication is dangerous.
Damage to the scapula as a cause of pain
Often, pain in the scapula is an independent phenomenon and is not accompanied by other pathologies. The main cause of discomfort is the processes taking place directly in the joint itself. Here are the reasons for the discomfort:
- Injury.It appears very rarely, since this part of the skeleton is maximally protected by muscles. A fracture or other type of injury most often occurs as a result of an accident or fall from a height or a very strong impact. Immediately after receiving the injury, the victim experiences severe back pain, hematoma and swelling. The functionality of the limb and shoulder joint deteriorates or is completely absent.
- Pterygoid blade.It develops due to weakness of the muscle corset. The shoulder girdle completely loses its functionality, the pain in the back of the shoulder blades is painful. Discomfort increases with movement.
- Scapular crisis.This is a congenital anomaly of the structure of the scapula. It rarely develops as a result of unusual physical activity. In this case, pain in the shoulder blades is considered an additional symptom.
- Osteomyelitis.This is an infectious bone lesion that is accompanied by inflammation and the appearance of pus. It provokes a slight displacement of the scapula, severe pain, inflammation and redness of the skin over the joint, a change in basal temperature and impaired mobility.
It is better not to delay the discovery of the causes of the pain, as this is a serious pathological process, the prognosis for treatment of which depends on the timeliness of the diagnosis.
Other causes of pain
In addition to the pathologies presented, other causes of pain under the shoulder blade can be identified:
- Malignant neoplasm.
- Tuberculosis of the bones.
- polio.
- myositis.
- Mechanical injury to the back, constant observance of incorrect sitting posture.
- Pregnancy
- Different types of posture disorders: kyphosis, scoliosis, lordosis.
- Spondyloarthrosis.
- Herniated intervertebral disc.
In order to start the treatment and it was effective, it is necessary to be examined. Based on laboratory tests and instrumental techniques, the specialist can make an accurate diagnosis.
Diagnosis of pathology
The first thing you simply need to do is to consult with various specialists. So, if your back hurts, regardless of whether the discomfort is dull or sharp, you should contact the following doctors: therapist, neurologist, cardiologist, orthopedist and traumatologist, as well as a pulmonologist. Consultation with a surgeon is important. The examination includes the following procedures:
- MRIorCT.
- If your back hurts below the shoulder blades, you should definitely do itRoentgen, which allows you to identify spinal disorders.
- Laboratory researches, which makes it possible to detect the inflammatory process.
- EKG.
Specialists will also perform neurological tests. If after a night's sleep your back hurts in the area of the shoulder blades, you should first change the mattress. If the problem persists, then the problem may be a disease.
Treatment of pathology
If your back starts to hurt after sleep or any movement, and coughing or shallow breathing only worsens the situation, you should definitely start treating the pathology that caused the discomfort. In addition, therapy should be comprehensive, for example:
- In case of injuries, the pain is relieved with painkillers. It is also necessary to limit the mobility that is provided by various bandages or orthopedic devices. Physiotherapy procedures are additionally used for treatment: electrophoresis with the use of drugs, ultrasound.
- A consultation with an appropriate specialist is necessary to resolve neurological problems. He will prescribe medication, massage and electrical stimulation.
- If the back hurts in the area of the shoulder blades due to osteomyelitis, the patient will need to take antibacterial agents. Surgery is often used to remove a purulent focus.
- Tuberculosis requires specific treatment, which is carried out in special institutions.
- If the patient is diagnosed with malignant bone disease, then it is unlikely to be done without surgical intervention.
- If the shoulder blades hurt a lot due to osteochondrosis, then the treatment should be comprehensive and comprehensive. To eliminate the source of inflammation, non-hormonal anti-inflammatory agents are used. Manual therapy is considered helpful. A good effect is achieved using acupuncture and a needle applicator.
- If a myocardial infarction is suspected, the patient is hospitalized urgently. Here he receives complete rest and appropriate treatment with anticoagulants and fibrinolytic drugs. Glucocorticosteroids are usually used to relieve pain.
Disease prevention
In order for pain under the shoulder blades not to appear, the main reasons for its occurrence were discussed earlier, it is necessary to observe preventive measures:
- Give up a passive lifestyle and bad habits.
- Regularly do gymnastics or a complex of physical therapy after sleep and throughout the day.
- Carry out periodic courses of therapeutic or preventive massage.
- Watch your posture.
- They strengthen the body's defenses.
- Avoid nervous stress and strong emotional experiences.
- Manage your working hours properly so that you have the opportunity to rest.
- Buy an orthopedic mattress.
- Sleep should last at least 8 and no more than 10 hours a day.
- If a person has health problems, they should be treated in the early stages.
- A pregnant woman should wear a supportive corset or bandage to reduce the strain on the spine.
Thanks to such preventive measures, you can prevent the appearance of pain in the shoulder blades. But if it already exists, then you can not postpone the visit to the doctor.