If your upper back and shoulder blades hurt. The main causes of back pain are in the area below the shoulder blades, but above the lower back. Pain in the right shoulder blade

Unpleasant sensations in the back between the shoulder blades are very common. However, this cannot be called a disease. Rather, it is a symptom of one of the disorders in the body.

If you don’t find the reason why your back hurts in the area of ​​the shoulder blades, you may waste time, but still not alleviate the condition. What to do in this case? How to understand what caused the malaise?

Causes of aching pain

There are several types of back pain:

  • sharp,
  • spicy,
  • chronic,
  • aching,
  • bursting.

In some situations, a feeling of heaviness, loss of sensation or numbness may develop. If these symptoms are particularly severe, they can cause serious discomfort and interfere with active image life.

So, why does your back ache where your shoulder blades are? There are several factors:

  • damage to one of the departments spinal column(chest or neck area);
  • scoliosis;
  • spondyloarthrosis;
  • intervertebral discs thoracic spine;
  • the back aches between the shoulder blades and with radiculitis;
  • neuralgia;
  • ischemia and angina pectoris;
  • disturbances in the functioning of the heart, lungs, blood vessels and other organs of the mediastinum;
  • pneumonia or pleurisy;
  • tuberculosis;
  • polio.

Each of listed diseases has its own characteristic symptoms. The only similarity is aching pain in the back on the left or right under the shoulder blade.

Injuries

The following injuries can cause pain below the shoulder blades:

  • vertebral displacement,
  • dislocations,
  • falling from a height,
  • injuries from car accidents.

They are very dangerous to human life. This is especially true for injuries spinal cord, which are especially serious cases can lead to loss of sensation or even paralysis.

They can be detected using several types of diagnostics:

After the examination, the doctor will prescribe treatment and a course of rehabilitation measures.

Osteochondrosis

Very often, pain is evidence of the development of osteochondrosis or breast disease. This disease is characterized by inflammatory process at the site of disk damage. They can also become deformed or delaminate.

The spinal column in the chest area is not as mobile as in other parts, so pain as a symptom of osteochondrosis appears infrequently.

The same cannot be said about diseases of the cervical region. The vertebrae there are more mobile, and the risk of damage increases. Besides pain, there are also other symptoms:

  • feeling of discomfort in the muscles,
  • stiffness of movements,
  • impaired blood circulation in the brain,
  • increased intracranial pressure.

Discomfort does not only affect the neck area. It spreads downwards, affecting the areas above, between and below the shoulder blades.

Scoliosis

Most often this disease is the result sedentary lifestyle life. One example is incorrect position when sitting at the table.

Often this disorder develops in children. Their spine and muscles are not yet developed enough to withstand heavy loads.

Because of this, they become deformed, thereby provoking the development of scoliosis. If it appears in the thoracic region, one of the symptoms will be severe pain in the area of ​​the right or left scapula.

Infections

An unpleasant sensation under the right or under the left shoulder blade on the back can be caused by such infectious diseases like polio or tuberculosis.

One of the symptoms is bone damage. Timely detection of infection and its complete elimination will help improve the condition.

Ischemia

Coronary heart disease develops when blood circulation in the heart muscle is disrupted.

Cholesterol accumulates on the walls of blood vessels, which prevents the movement of oxygen to the heart.

Usually the pain is felt in the heart area. But there are situations when it disguises itself and moves around the body. Discomfort may appear in the area of ​​the shoulder blades, in the left armpit and even in the arm.

Pregnancy

It is worth mentioning separately.

The main reason for its appearance is a strong load on the spine. Because of this, the center of gravity changes female body and, as a result, the back muscles are overloaded.

How is the pathology treated?

Get rid of the aching pain under the left or right shoulder blade from the back, between them or from above in several ways:

  1. The simplest method is to change an uncomfortable position or warm up by doing simple exercises.
  2. If necessary, several sessions can be performed. However, before doing this, you should consult a doctor, otherwise there is a risk of harming yourself (for example, with a herniated disc).
  3. In some situations, the doctor may prescribe an appointment medicines. These are usually anti-inflammatory or painkillers.
  4. Physiotherapy may be added to medication treatment. For example, procedures such as ultrasound, traction, acupuncture, etc. will be very useful.
  5. Physical therapy will also have a good effect on the body.

As you can see, aching pain in the upper back appears for several reasons. They can be physiological (uncomfortable position) or internal (scoliosis, osteochondrosis and other diseases).

Pain is often accompanied by other unpleasant signs, for example, heaviness in the muscles or stiffness of movement. In any case, you should immediately consult a doctor and under no circumstances self-medicate.

Denial of responsibility

The information in the articles is for general information purposes only and should not be used for self-diagnosis of health problems or medicinal purposes. This article is not a substitute for medical advice from a doctor (neurologist, therapist). Please consult your doctor first to know the exact cause of your health problem.

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- its unpredictability: sometimes it will grab your lower back, sometimes your neck - so much so that it’s even difficult to turn it. It feels like pain is trying to find us weakness and sneak in and settle in the body forever. The most common reason for such “reconnaissance” is the deforming changes in our musculoskeletal system, the main load-bearing axis of which is the spine. However, back problems can often be associated with problems that are completely distant from dorsopathy. The most striking example of this is pain in the shoulder blades.

When your shoulder blade hurts, you can be sure of only one thing - there are 101 reasons for it.

And perhaps you should not go to a vertebrologist (so don’t rush to buy tubes of gel), but to completely different doctors, for example:

  • Cardiologist
  • Gastroenterologist
  • Urologist
  • Neurologist, etc.

Therefore, if you have pain in your shoulder blades, think deeply about which tablets to use. home first aid kit you don't have to choose. You need to immediately go to the clinic and get examined

Of course, because the slightest pain It's not worth slapping a fever in your back. The following should be cause for concern:

  • The pain is constant and localized in one place. For example, there are the following options:
    • Pain between the shoulder blades
    • The shoulder blade itself hurts
    • Pain under the left shoulder blade
    • Pain under the right shoulder blade

    A clear determination of the location of pain is very important in diagnosis

  • The pain varies in intensity:
    • In a resting position it can be moderate
    • When trying to change the position, it sharply intensifies

    Different colors of the intensity of pain at rest and movement - from weak tones to super-saturated ones - may indicate a serious illness

  • Another important test is the presence of pain on palpation. Usually he correctly determines whether the source lies on the surface, which often happens with physical trauma, or whether the problem is deeper and most likely of a therapeutic nature

What can we approximately expect if we know the location of the pain, and what will this give us - after all, there can be many options?

Medical testing over the years medical practice systematized patient complaints identified during surveys (this is why it is so important to explain to the doctor exactly what and where it hurts). The habits of diseases have long been collected in a kind of card index, and it is possible to identify the “criminal” in his tracks. True, many will fall under suspicion, but experts will gradually narrow this circle to a minimum.

Let's look at all the categories of signs and find out what can happen when...

Pain between the shoulder blades

This may be due to:

  • or protrusion of the thoracic region
  • Kyphosis or kyphoscoliosis
  • Osteochondrosis
  • Humeroscapular periarthrosis
  • Angina pectoris
  • Ischemia
  • Ulcers of the stomach and duodenum
  • Pneumonia or pleurisy
  • Cholecystitis
  • Liver diseases

Due to the low mobility of the thoracic region, pain between the shoulder blades is more often associated with overstrain or sprain or ligaments than with degenerative processes in the spine.

This often happens:

  • In athletes
  • For workers with constant static tension in the back that occurs during work:
    • at computer
    • machine
    • driving a car, etc.

Pain in muscles and ligaments varies:

  • In the muscles - sharp or aching
  • In ligaments - in the form of aching or shooting through the entire spine

One shoulder blade hurts

This may be caused by:

  • Banal
    .
    With the syndrome brachial plexus lumbago occurs, radiating to the scapular region, shoulder or arm.
    This phenomenon is typical for those who are used to working with their heads constantly tilted.
  • Pterygoid blade
    . The causes of the pathology may be:
    • injuries
    • neuroinfections and myopathies
    • paralysis diamond-shaped, trapezoidal And anterior serratus muscles
  • Osteomyelitis caused by a gunshot wound, leading to suppuration and intoxication
  • Benign (osteoma, chondroma) or malignant (chondrosarcoma, reticulosarcoma)tumors
  • Tuberculosis shoulder blades (rare disease)
  • Injuries shoulder blades
    .
    The most common reason- fall on the back, less often - on the arm
    You can recognize an injury by the following signs:
    • increased pain when moving your arm
    • swelling in the scapular area
    • shoulder deformity

Pain under the left shoulder blade

This painful sensation can cause:

Myocardial infarction


Its signs:
Severe angina that does not go away even after taking validol or nitroglycerin.

Some people believe that during a heart attack there must be pain on the left side. This is not true - it usually hurts:

  • behind the sternum (in the middle part of the chest)
  • in the left shoulder blade, shoulder, arm, even in the left side of the neck and jaw (radiating pain)

Stomach ulcer

Ulcer symptoms:

  • Pain occurs periodically after eating
  • Accompanied by heartburn
  • Disappears after vomiting
  • Given:
    IN epigastric region, under the left shoulder blade, behind the sternum, in the thoracic back
  • At ulcer perforation:
    • pain increases due to irritation nerve endings aperture
    • radiates under both shoulder blades and above the collarbone
    • Vomiting may occur before perforation
    • the patient begins to sweat, turns pale, and assumes a forced position:
      curled up on your side or back
    • stomach is hard and tense

Osteochondrosis

  • The pain is aching, often on one side
  • Increases in the morning and after exercise
  • Is given to the left or right shoulder blade, arm
  • Paresthesia in the hands, headaches and dizziness may occur.

Intercostal neuralgia

  • Girdle pain or paroxysmal pain
  • Intensifies with movements, pressing on the shoulder blade, coughing, sneezing
  • Directed along the nerve branch and can be unilateral
  • May be accompanied by paresthesia and loss of sensation
  • Available in a very wide area:
    In the heart, back, lower back, both shoulder blades

Mental illnesses
The most interesting option: there is actually no pain, it is created by a sick psyche

  • A person experiences the following sensations:
    • Compression, burning, stabbing pain in the heart
    • Feels like your heart is about to stop
  • Gradually, pain and heaviness creep further through the body:
    In the back, limbs, collarbone area, under left shoulder blade, belly
  • Unreasonable excitement, trembling, feeling of cold occur

Pain under the right shoulder blade

Cholecystitis


Its main cause is stagnation of bile, caused by a narrowing of bile flows.
This is usually a disease of lovers of everything fatty, spicy, fried, as well as chocolate.

  • The pain is very strong, cutting, considered one of the most severe
  • Occurs at night and in the morning, several hours after eating
  • Localized in the right hypochondrium and given to:
    to the right scapular region, shoulder, neck, jaw
  • The patient suffers, may groan, continuously tosses and turns in order to find a saving position

Cholelithiasis

  • Begins with a sudden pain attack under the ribs on the right
  • Further, the pain develops like cholecystitis, but then concentrates in the area of ​​the gallbladder
  • Can radiate to the heart (cholecystocoronary syndrome) and even cause an attack of angina pectoris

Abscess of the diaphragm

  • Most often, acute pain begins in the right hypochondrium
  • Increases with inhalation
  • Refers to the right shoulder blade and shoulder
  • Temperature rises
  • In the blood test - sharp increase leukocytes and neutrophils

Kidney inflammation (nephritis)

  • When the outbreak is localized in right kidney pain occurs
    On the right in the lower back, shoulder blade, under the ribs, iliosacral region
  • The patient suffers from frequent painful urination
  • The color of the urine becomes cloudy, dark, and may contain blood.

Thus, pain in the shoulder blades can indicate many reasons. Questioning the patient at the first visit to the doctor can only help determine preliminary diagnosis, clarification of which is carried out using x-ray, ultrasound, laboratory and other types of research


Attention!

Pain under the shoulder blade on the left side is not a rare event, but there is no clear answer as to what is the cause of this pain. She's not the only one clinical sign any disease, but merely acts as one of possible symptoms indicating another disease.

Possible causes of shoulder blade pain

Scapular pain is basically similar to pain in the thoracic spine. They may be the result of unsuccessful sudden movement which led to muscle strain, or long-term stay in not the most comfortable position. All this refers to short-term and one-time unpleasant sensations under the left shoulder blade. However, if they recur periodically or are very long-lasting, this is not a good sign.

Patients often complain that when they inhale, they have pain under the left shoulder blade at the back. The spine is one of the possible causes of pain in the scapula area. In addition, pain may indicate pathologies or injuries that progress in organs and internal systems.


TO possible reasons pains include:

1. Problems of the musculoskeletal system, including:

  • Osteochondrosis (cervical, thoracic spine);
  • Rib fracture;
  • Traumatic damage to the scapula;
  • Myofascial syndrome;
  • Sprengel's disease

For your own peace of mind, it would be best to exclude such dangerous diagnosis, like a herniated cervical spine.

2. Cardiac diseases:

  • Pericarditis;
  • Myocardial infarction;
  • Mitral valve prolapse;
  • Cardiac ischemia;
  • Angina pectoris.

3. Also, pain in the shoulder blade on the left side can be caused by gastrointestinal diseases(gastrointestinal tract), such as:

  • Stomach ulcer;
  • Esophageal spasm
  • Ulcer duodenum;
  • Exacerbation of pancreatitis;
  • Gasesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

4. Psychogenic factor, provoking vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Injuries and sprains

Most often, pain in the muscles of the left scapula is not considered as separate disease. It is assumed that muscle pain left scapula occurs in vertebrogenic or neurological diseases. However, do not forget about tonic tension. As a result, pain appears in the scapula and shoulder joint. The cause of such pain is persistent tension in the same muscles.


This usually occurs among drivers, students or office workers. In this case, tension “accumulates” in the muscles and develops a constant position of the human body. The muscles of the shoulder blades, sternoclavicular and deltoid muscles are tense, leading to the fact that a person begins to slouch. And at this time, the medial back muscles relax, they seem to stretch and weaken, which causes pain.

Prevention and diagnosis

Since pain in the left shoulder blade can indicate completely different diseases, the diagnosis depends on the diagnosis previously made by the doctor. The first step is a complete diagnosis to rule out a heart attack, oncological diseases And neurological diseases, requiring urgent treatment.

  1. If you suspect cardiovascular diseases it is necessary to do an ECG and ultrasound examination hearts;
  2. If gastrointestinal diseases are suspected, an ultrasound of the organs is performed;
  3. If you suspect musculoskeletal system X-ray or MRI is done;
  4. If lung disease is suspected, an x-ray is taken.

To prevent pain from bothering you in the future, you should find out why it occurred. Only in this case will prevention be effective. In cardiology, you should constantly take prescribed medications, monitor physical activity and psycho-emotional state.

If the left shoulder blade hurts, and the cause of the pain is an injury or disease of the spine, then a long process is envisaged with instructions from the attending physician, taking anti-inflammatory drugs and a complex physical exercise. For pain in the left shoulder blade caused by gastrointestinal diseases, you should adhere to special diet and take prescribed medications.

Of course, you cannot diagnose yourself and self-medicate. This approach can only worsen the disease. It is necessary to undergo regular medical examinations and consult with your doctor, even if the pain no longer bothers you, in order to completely exclude the disease and its further development.

Treatment of shoulder blade pain

Usually the treatment is medicinal nature. The primary goal of therapists is to relieve the patient's pain. For this purpose, analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed. non-steroidal drugs to relieve acute pain. Since pain can be caused by the most various diseases, then in treatment it is worth starting from the diagnosis.

For cardiac diseases, heart medications are prescribed; you can take them at home yourself to relieve pain. However, if the pain after taking the drug does not go away within ten minutes, you should urgently call an ambulance. If the pain in the left shoulder blade is caused by gastrointestinal diseases or, for example, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, then you cannot self-medicate.

Let's summarize:

  • Pain in the left shoulder blade area may be secondary symptom many diseases, including: sprains, gastrointestinal diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diseases of the musculoskeletal system and vegetative-vascular dystonia;
  • If prolonged or intermittent pain occurs in the left shoulder blade, you should urgent appeal to the doctor;
  • To determine the cause of pain in the left shoulder blade, it is necessary to carry out full diagnostics to exclude heart attack, cancer and neurological diseases requiring urgent treatment; Treatment of pain is individual and will depend on the diagnosis of the therapist.
  • Prevention in treatment is necessary to exclude progression of the causes of the disease and the appearance of pain in the future.

Attention!

Back and joint problems are a direct path to disability! How to save yourself and forget about pain, says Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Valentin Ivanovich Dikul

The peculiarity of back pain is its unpredictability: sometimes it will grab your lower back, sometimes your neck - so much so that it’s even difficult to turn it. It seems that pain is trying to find our weak spot and sneak in and settle in the body forever. The most common cause of such “reconnaissance” is deforming changes in our musculoskeletal system, the main load-bearing axis of which is the spine. However, back problems can often be associated with problems that are completely distant from dorsopathy. The most striking example of this is pain in the shoulder blades.

When your shoulder blade hurts, you can be sure of only one thing - there are 101 reasons for it.

And perhaps you should not go to a vertebrologist (so don’t rush to buy tubes of gel), but to completely different doctors, for example:

  • Cardiologist
  • Gastroenterologist
  • Urologist
  • Neurologist, etc.

Therefore, if you have pain in your shoulder blades, you shouldn’t think deeply about which tablets to choose from your home medicine cabinet. You need to immediately go to the clinic and get examined

Pain in the shoulder blades can be caused not only by back diseases, but also by many other ailments

Of course, the slightest pain in the back is not worth flogging. The following should be cause for concern:

  1. The pain is constant and localized in one place. For example, there are the following options:
    • Pain between the shoulder blades
    • The shoulder blade itself hurts
    • Pain under the left shoulder blade
    • Pain under the right shoulder blade

    A clear determination of the location of pain is very important in diagnosis

  2. The pain varies in intensity:
    • In a resting position it can be moderate
    • When trying to change the position, it sharply intensifies

    Different colors of the intensity of pain at rest and in motion - from weak tones to super-saturated ones - may indicate a serious illness

  3. Another important test is the presence of pain upon palpation. Usually he correctly determines whether the source lies on the surface, which often happens with physical trauma, or whether the problem is deeper and most likely of a therapeutic nature

What can we roughly expect if we know the location of the pain, and what will this give us - after all, there can be many options?

Over the years of medical practice, medical testing has systematized the complaints of patients identified during surveys (this is why it is so important to explain to the doctor exactly what and where it hurts). The habits of diseases have long been collected in a kind of card index, and it is possible to identify the “criminal” in his tracks. True, many will fall under suspicion, but experts will gradually narrow this circle to a minimum.

Let's look at all the categories of signs and find out what can happen when...

Pain between the shoulder blades

This may be due to:

  • Intervertebral hernia or protrusion of the thoracic region
  • Kyphosis or kyphoscoliosis
  • Scoliosis
  • Osteochondrosis
  • Humeroscapular periarthrosis
  • Angina pectoris
  • Ischemia
  • Ulcers of the stomach and duodenum
  • Pneumonia or pleurisy
  • Cholecystitis
  • Liver diseases

Due to the low mobility of the thoracic region, pain between the shoulder blades is more often associated with overstrain or sprain of muscles or ligaments than with degenerative processes in the spine.

This often happens:

  • In athletes
  • For workers with constant static tension in the back that occurs during work:
    • at computer
    • machine
    • driving a car, etc.

Pain in muscles and ligaments varies:

  • In the muscles - sharp or aching
  • In ligaments - in the form of aching or shooting through the entire spine

One shoulder blade hurts

This may be caused by:

  1. Banal osteochondrosis

    With brachial plexus syndrome, lumbago occurs, radiating to the scapular region, shoulder or arm.

    This phenomenon is typical for those who are used to working with their heads constantly tilted.

  2. Pterygoid blade

    The causes of the pathology may be:

    • injuries
    • neuroinfections and myopathies
    • paralysis of the rhomboid, trapezius and serratus anterior muscles
  3. Osteomyelitis caused by a gunshot wound, leading to suppuration and intoxication
  4. Benign (osteoma, chondroma) or malignant (chondrosarcoma, reticulosarcoma) tumors
  5. Tuberculosis of the scapula (rare disease)
  6. Scapula injuries

    The most common cause is a fall on the back, less often - on the arm.

    You can recognize an injury by the following signs:

    • increased pain when moving your arm
    • swelling in the scapular area
    • shoulder deformity

Pain under the left shoulder blade

This painful sensation can cause:

Pain under the right shoulder blade


Thus, pain in the shoulder blades can indicate many reasons. Questioning the patient at the first visit to the doctor can only help make a preliminary diagnosis, the clarification of which is carried out using x-ray, ultrasound, laboratory and other types of research

Treatment of shoulder blade pain

Treatment of pain caused by osteochondrosis, hernia, dorsalgia, glenohumeral periarthrosis and other dorsopathies is carried out according to the already familiar scheme:

  1. Intensive pain therapy with NSAIDs
  2. Physiotherapy methods:
    • laser and magnetic therapy
    • electrophoresis, etc.
  3. Massage
  4. Manual therapy
  5. Applicators
  6. Kinesiotherapy
  7. Exercise therapy and other methods

Video: Treatment of pain between the shoulder blades using kinesio taping

Pain under the left shoulder blade can be observed with the following diseases:

  • One of the most common symptoms characterizing peptic ulcer stomach, is periodic pain, which is characterized by an increasing nature, seasonality, weakening or complete elimination of pain after vomiting, a clear connection with food intake, and so on. The most common location of pain is the epigastrium; pain can also radiate to the left nipple, left shoulder blade, behind the sternum and thoracic region spine. Pains also differ depending on how they relate to meals: hungry, early, late. For 70-75% of people, pain relief occurs when vomiting. Vomiting appears without previous nausea, at the peak of pain. Heartburn occurs in approximately 60-85 percent of patients. Regurgitation, salivation and belching are also common symptoms;
  • Psychological problems are expressed in complaints of sensations of compression, pressure, congestion, tingling, heaviness, heat in the chest, burning, mainly localized in the heart area. Sometimes sharp, sometimes muted, or unusual and vague, nevertheless, always unpleasant and heavy sensations arise in different places: spread to the arm, spread under the collarbone, creep under the shoulder blade, appear in the arm, neck, cover the lower abdomen. There is a feeling of blood pouring over the heart, squeezing the heart. The feeling that the heart is turning over, then freezing, then falling and it seems that it is about to jump out. Usually there is a feeling of cold trembling, inner excitement, and anxiety. The most terrible feeling for patients seems to be the feeling of freezing (suspension) of the heart. Such symptoms are a very powerful foundation for the emergence of a hypochondriacal symptom complex in the future. All these sensations are often accompanied by a feeling of lack of air, compression of the throat or a lump in it;
  • With myocardial infarction, a severe attack of angina occurs - pain behind the sternum, radiating to the left side jaws, necks, left hand, shoulder blade, in the back. These pains do not stop after the use of vasodilators (nitroglycerin, validol) and even narcotic drugs. Attacks appear after strong emotional or physical stress (this is why doctors call this form of the disease angina pectoris), and sometimes the disease occurs at rest (this is angina at rest);
  • Osteochondrosis in the cervical region is characterized by aching, dull, often one-sided pain, localized slightly below the back of the head. This pain often occurs in the morning and thereby wakes the patient up. The pain intensifies in cases of exposure to heavy loads on the cervical region spine, with sharp extension or flexion of the neck, as well as in the morning. Pain levels are reduced by exposure to heat, such as a warm bath. Pain sensations radiate to the head, right or left shoulder blade, or arm. There is dizziness and paresthesia in the hands;
  • With intercostal neuralgia, pain of a paroxysmal or encircling type occurs (can be felt only on one side chest) in the direction corresponding to the intercostal spaces. During coughing, sneezing, deep breathing, walking, physical activity, body movements, palpation of the sore spot, pain occurs. There is also tingling, burning, sensitivity disturbances in the branches of the nerve or its trunk, muscle tension (because of this, sometimes this disease is accompanied by pain in the back, heart, under the right or left shoulder blade, as well as in the lower back);
  • When a gastric ulcer perforates, pain often radiates under the left or right shoulder blade, as well as into the supraclavicular areas. Pain occurs as a result of irritation in the endings of the phrenic nerve. An intermittent symptom is gagging or vomiting. Vomiting can also be a precursor to ulcer perforation. Characteristic appearance a person with an ulcer, before its perforation: expressing fear, covered in cold sweat pale face. The patient's position is caused by pain: on the right side or back, with the hips pressed against a very tense abdomen. Any, even the slightest movement, leads to increased pain.

Pain under the right shoulder blade is observed in the following cases:

  • Pain associated with muscle spasm gallbladder or ducts, due to their blockage with a stone, acquire the nature of colic (hepatic or biliary colic). These pains are characterized by great intensity and intolerance. Eating in excess often leads to attacks: excessive consumption spicy seasonings, fats, spices. People suffering from this disease do not tolerate chocolate, eggs, or milk well. Pain appears approximately 3-5 hours after taking the listed products; most often, attacks of pain occur at night or in the morning. Painful sensations are tearing, sharp, cutting, stabbing, localized in the hypochondrium on the right, and can radiate to the right shoulder, scapula, subclavian region, jaw, neck and even to the right eye. The patient's behavior is usually agitated, he may moan, scream, and constantly changes position to find one in which the pain will calm down. This pain is one of the most intense of all, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Such pain is most common in women;
  • The occurrence of a subdiaphragmatic abscess. Occurs in the hypochondrium sharp pain(usually in the right) and intensifies with each breath, can radiate to the shoulder and right shoulder blade. This process is accompanied by an increase in temperature, leukocytosis with neutrophilia in the blood is observed, as well as a shift to the left in the leukocytosis formula;
  • Inflammatory kidney diseases (nephritis, pyelonephritis). With such diseases, patients may complain of pain arising in the lumbar region (often on the right, with localization in the right kidney of the carbuncle), which can radiate to the area of ​​the right scapula, in the hypochondrium, or in iliac region. Painful and frequent urination is typical;
  • Gallstone disease is characterized by the manifestation of “hepatic” or “biliary colic”. In the right hypochondrium occurs sudden pain, as well as in the epigastric region, and then, after about two hours, the place where pain is concentrated is the area of ​​the gallbladder. Nature of pain: stabbing, very sharp, cutting. The pain spreads up and to the right, into the neck, right shoulder, jaw, under the shoulder blade (right), sometimes in the region of the heart (called cholecystocoronary syndrome), thereby provoking an angina attack.

Pain between the shoulder blades

If you feel pain between your shoulder blades, crawling, numbness or freezing, you may have one of these diseases:

  • Coronary heart disease (CHD);
  • Kyphoscoliosis;
  • Humeroscapular periarthrosis;
  • Disc protrusion in the thoracic region;
  • Spondyloarthrosis;
  • Angina;
  • Peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum;
  • Diseases of the gallbladder and liver (cholecystitis, biliary dyskinesia, hepatitis);
  • Diseases of the lungs and pleura (pneumonia, pleurisy);
  • Persistent pain between the shoulder blades affects mainly those people whose work involves prolonged muscle tension. shoulder girdle. Labor that has this distinction includes the work of a seamstress, typist, designer, driver, etc.;
  • The thoracic spine is inactive, so significant degenerative processes rarely occur in it. This means that interscapular pain is usually not associated with manifestations of osteochondrosis. The cause of pain, most often, is the muscles located in the interscapular region, supraspinous ligaments, tendons, as well as the places where tendons and ligaments are attached to the vertebrae;
  • Otherwise, pain is felt caused by the ligaments located between the spinous processes and the tendons of the muscles that are attached to them and to the spinous processes;
  • Pain emanating from the ligaments and tendons is characterized by aching sensations that do not immediately disappear with a change in body position; sometimes the pain can spread to the entire spine or radiate to the cardiac region.

Pain in the shoulder blades

The scapula is a flat, triangular bone. It is located on the back surface of the chest, tightly adjacent to it at the level of the second to seventh rib.

Since this bone has the shape of a triangle, three edges are distinguished in it: upper (on this edge there is a notch of the scapula), lateral, medial (facing the spine). These edges converge with each other, forming three angles, the lower of which is directed downward, and the others (lateral and upper) are located on the edges of the upper part of the scapula.

What diseases can cause pain in the shoulder blade:

  • Scapula injuries. The shoulder blades can be injured due to blows to the shoulder blade area or falls on the back. The scapula can also break as a result of a fall on the elbow or straightened arm. The lower broken part of the bone, during fractures, can move downward due to the action of muscles. With such injuries, patients complain of pain localized in the area of ​​the scapula and intensifying during arm movements. In addition, edema and swelling may appear. Sometimes, on the side of the injured scapula, the outline of the shoulder joint may change.
  • Acquired pterygoid scapula. This disease can occur due to paralysis of the rhomboid, serratus anterior, and trapezius muscles, as a result of neuroinfections, nerve damage, and myopathies. Often a traumatic pterygoid scapula is provoked by bruises in the area of ​​the shoulder girdle, as well as damage to the long thoracic nerve. Such injuries are typical for circus performers or athletes who make sudden turns of the head or pull-ups with their arms.
  • A common disease called spatula crunch. A crunch is felt when moving the shoulder joint and is accompanied by a feeling of heaviness, as well as moderate pain. The cause of scapular crunch is often inflammation of the synovial subscapular bursa or exostosis of the scapula.
  • Osteomyelitis of the scapula may appear as a consequence of open injuries to the scapula (for example, gunshot wounds), accompanied by symptoms general intoxication, and local manifestations(functional dysfunction, pain in the shoulder blade, and so on). Deep intermuscular leaks are not uncommon, and even more so in cases where the purulent process spreads to the anterior surface of the scapula. With such injuries, the prognosis for maintaining scapular function may be unfavorable.
  • Tuberculosis of the scapula is a rare disease that occurs exclusively in adults. The body of the scapula, as well as the acromion process, can be affected.
  • Tumors of the scapula. There are malignant (reticulosarcoma, chondrosarcoma) and benign (chondroma, osteoma, osteoblastoclastoma) tumors. They are diagnosed using x-rays. If necessary, open or puncture biopsy is also used. Tumors of the shoulder blades are treated operative method, also sometimes, when malignant tumors, interscapular-thoracic resection is performed, in which upper limb is saved.
  • Cervical osteochondrosis. This disease most often affects people aged 30 to 60 years. This disease is most typical for those who spend a lot of time with their heads bowed, for example, people in the following professions: designers, draftsmen, drivers, seamstresses, and so on. The roots in the cervicobrachial plexus may become irritated, which will cause pain in the shoulder and also radiate to the arm. The patient cannot lift or turn his arm. The pain may continue even at night, preventing sleep. With this disease, pain may appear in the shoulder blade.

Typical complaints of patients with pain under the shoulder blades, between the shoulder blades and shoulder blades

  • This morning I felt sharp pain between the shoulder blades, any movement still causes pain;
  • Strong cutting pain between the shoulder blades;
  • I started having pain just below my shoulder blades, the pain was rather dull, and it was most noticeable at the moment when my arms were raised to clap;
  • Drawing pain under the shoulder blades, down the spine to the lower back, compressing the chest;
  • Aching pain under the left shoulder blade, sometimes it can radiate a little lower;
  • There was a constant cutting pain under the left shoulder blade, and with any body movement the pain intensified, when moving the left hand, the pain was clearly sharper, inhalation and exhalation was difficult with painful sensations;
  • For 4-5 days I have had a nagging pain between my shoulder blades (closer to right side). Not constantly, but mainly after walking or standing for a long time. First pain, then burning or cold;
  • The pain radiates through to the right shoulder blade. On the back, in the area of ​​the shoulder blade, there are balls that look like lymph nodes, which are very painful when touched. If you raise right hand and take it to the side and hold it like that, then the pain goes away.

Often in medical institutions They began to complain: “my back hurts in the area of ​​the shoulder blades.” According to statistics, more than half of citizens have encountered this problem. This often happens after a busy day at work or physical activity. Unfortunately, not all people pay attention to this problem. To relieve pain, they resort to taking painkillers, reducing physical exercise and do not want to determine the root cause of its appearance: what kind of disease could it be?

Main reasons

Why does my back hurt in the shoulder blade area? The following main reasons for this phenomenon should be noted:

Osteochondrosis

For of this disease Characterized by the appearance of continuous pain around the shoulder blades and neck of an aching or pulling nature. As a result of impaired blood circulation in the spine, systematic destruction occurs cartilage tissue, as a result of which a shift of the vertebrae occurs. All this causes constant chronic pain. It is quite simple to differentiate this disease - unilateral discomfort occur in the morning or as a result of staying in one position a long period. If you change your position, they intensify and can spread throughout the body.

With osteochondrosis, the following signs are observed:

  • vision problems;
  • migraine and headache;
  • noise in ears;
  • possible dizziness.

People who lead sedentary image life, with impaired metabolism, suffering overweight.

Intercostal neuralgia

Characteristics here severe attacks acute girdle pain that subsides in calm state and intensifies with any movement. These sensations are caused by inflammation of the intercostal nerves.

The main causes of this disease can be noted:

  • got windy after sitting in a draft;
  • freezing;
  • getting wet in the rain;
  • after the flu;
  • bad turn.

At the same time, there are aching pain of a periodic nature. These pathologies affect workers who work without changing their body position (at a sewing machine, behind the wheel or at a computer). As a result, the ligaments, muscles and tendons are greatly overstrained and pain occurs at the end of the day, which disappears after rest.

Psychological disorders

Often, unpleasant sensations around the shoulder blades appear as a result of previous stressful situations, nervous disorders and others psychological problems. They can spread to others neighboring organs, radiate to the limbs, disappear spontaneously or after using medications.

Psychological problems are usually accompanied by:

  • trembling throughout the body;
  • feeling of heaviness in the chest area;
  • feelings of anxiety and fear;
  • breathing problems;
  • burning or tingling;
  • feeling of a lump in the throat.

Various diseases of internal organs

Impaired functionality of the gallbladder and organs of cardio-vascular system, stomach can provoke the occurrence unpleasant discomfort in the spine.

If it hurts on the right side of the shoulder blades? Most often, the cause of such sensations is painful conditions gallbladder. Impaired outflow of bile leads to aching dull pain on the right of the shoulder blades. Such sensations can usually occur after overeating, abuse of fatty foods meat dishes. When a duct is blocked, it occurs hepatic colic and almost unbearable pain.

If the pain is localized in the area of ​​the shoulder blades on the left, the cause of their appearance may be pain in the stomach or duodenum. At the same time, the back in the area of ​​the shoulder blades hurts very much, and the person may lose consciousness. Chronic diseases digestive organs proceed with sensations that are aching, stupid character.

Typically, with pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, pain occurs:

  • a couple of hours after eating;
  • on an empty stomach after sleep;
  • at night.

Signs of intoxication are observed.

Myocardial infarction is characterized by severe stabbing pains in the area of ​​the shoulder blades and chest, a feeling of compression and heaviness in the chest. Typically, this disease occurs after an attack of angina: there is rapid heartbeat, pain in the heart, fear of death, shortness of breath appears, general weakness. Sensitive pain on the left it radiates to the arm, shoulder blade or spine.

Important! If such pain occurs, consult a doctor promptly to avoid negative consequences.

Organ diseases urinary system occur with severe pain of various nature in the spine area below the shoulder blades. There is impaired urination.

Pain in the spine between the shoulder blades is observed with bronchitis. Similar symptoms can be observed with a cold. The temperature rises noticeably, general weakness appears, increased sweating, pain when coughing.

Injuries

The likelihood of injury is excluded if only the shoulder blades hurt and not the back. Pain may occur after strong blow on the back or falling on the back. They are permanent and intensify with the slightest movement. Swelling or redness may be visible in the area of ​​injury.

Tuberculosis, tumors or osteomyelitis

These diseases rarely occur with pain in the area of ​​the shoulder blades.

With tuberculosis, mild pain of a constant nature is observed. The patient loses weight, feels weakness and general malaise.

Osteomyelitis occurs after the penetration of microbes into open wound for any damage. For of this disease characteristic heat bodies, severe pain, clouding of consciousness.

Malignant neoplasms of the scapula are quite rare. The disease occurs with the following symptoms:

  • constant malaise;
  • general weakness;
  • frequent headaches;
  • then severe pain appears in the spine.

Subphrenic abscess

The reasons for the development of this disease are strip surgery on the peritoneal organs. A cavity forms under the diaphragm and fills with pus. The disease occurs with such characteristic features: sharp deterioration conditions, high body temperature, severe pain in the shoulder blade area.

Pregnancy

About 50% of women experience back pain during pregnancy. The reasons for this phenomenon: hormonal changes and weight gain. IN for preventive purposes Pregnant women are recommended to wear a bandage to support the back muscles on all sides.

Many women experience back pain near the shoulder blades after childbirth. It is recommended to consult a doctor to determine the root cause of their occurrence.

If the spine hurts in the area of ​​the shoulder blades in children

In a child, the causes of pain are exactly the same as in an adult. For this reason, it is very important to consult a doctor if you experience the slightest back pain. preventive examination.

Who will help?

If you experience back pain in the shoulder blade area, which doctor should you go to? If you feel severe pain near your shoulder blades, you should contact a therapist for an initial examination. Depending on the results of the survey, he may refer the patient to the following specialists:

  1. Physiotherapist. This specialist will develop individual exercises for the treatment of osteochondrosis in the early stages.
  2. Chiropractor. This specialist will help when pain is caused by various injuries and there is a suspicion of displacement of intervertebral discs and vertebrae. With the help of a massage, the doctor will relieve the disease.
  3. Neuropathologist. This specialist will help when the pain is caused by neuralgia or osteochondrosis, and will prescribe painkillers to eliminate the causes of the disease.

Diagnostics

What to do if pain occurs in the spine in the area of ​​the shoulder blades? To avoid complications in case of pain in the shoulder blades and if you have difficulty breathing, it is recommended to consult a doctor immediately. Determine the root cause of pain, accurate diagnosis and appoint effective treatment Diagnostic methods will help the doctor:

  1. X-ray. This method allows you to record various changes in the area of ​​the shoulder blades and spine.
  2. Magnetic resonance or CT scan allow detection of abnormal changes in tissues.
  3. Laboratory research. This method allows you to determine the presence of inflammatory processes.
  4. Ultrasonography. This method is used to determine diseases of the biliary tract, liver and other internal organs.
  5. An electrocardiogram helps detect myocardial infarction.

To make a diagnosis, the doctor also asks the patient about his lifestyle and labor activity. After determining the root cause of pain, the doctor determines how to treat the disease.

Important! At home, it is almost impossible to determine the cause of pain. Self-medication is unacceptable! To exclude dangerous consequences you need to urgently call a doctor.

How to get rid of pain?

To relieve pain in the spine near the shoulder blades in the hospital it is prescribed complex treatment which includes.