Pain under the left scapula: causes and possible disease. How to overcome aching and stitching pain under the shoulder blades

Very often people experience such unpleasant sensations as pain under the left scapula, the causes of which, as a rule, often remain a mystery. Why there was pain, it is rather problematic to define, and unpleasant painful sensations give the person serious discomfort. Not realizing the seriousness of the situation as a whole, we try to get rid of this problem ourselves, taking painkillers. But only complicate the situation: drowning the pain, we are giving the chance to the underlying disease to progress.

Causes of pain

Without a medical person, it is very difficult to determine the source of pain. After all, pulling, and sometimes sharp pain under the left scapula can not serve as a definite symptom of any disease, but it should not be neglected. This is due to the fact that there are a number of serious diseases, a sign Which is the feeling of pain under the left shoulder blade.

If you experience pain under the left scapula, the reasons may well be:

1. Injury of scapula. It is quite possible to get it after an unsuccessful fall on the back, when lifting too heavy objects, etc.

2. An uncomfortable position during a night's sleep.

3. Dislocation of the shoulder.

4. Lack of synovial fluid in the cavity of the shoulder joint can also be the basis for the occurrence of pain.

5. Fracture.

6. Shoulder bursitis. Inflammation of the joint pocket is often the cause of such pain.

7. "Professional" pain.

8. Various diseases of internal organs and body systems.

Professional pain syndrome

Aching pain under the shoulder blades can be manifested as a specific disease of people of certain types of professions. In particular, drivers of cars, designers or seamstresses. In a word, people whose activities are related to the constant tension of the muscles of the shoulder segment. Painful sensations in this case are caused by the muscles of the subscapular part of the back that are in constant tension, as well as the ligaments and tendons located here.

Heart Disease

Most often, the cause of pain lies in the violation of the cardiovascular system and is Consequence of myocardial infarction. In this case, the pains are burning, intense and do not end after taking nitroglycerin.

Myocardial infarction is a very dangerous condition for a person who is characterized by attacks of acute pain behind the sternum. The pain can be localized in the left side of the body and be perceived as a rather severe pain under the left shoulder blade, given to the left side of the neck, or to the left arm.

To provoke an attack of angina pectoris, for which this symptom is also characteristic, can have a strong emotional tension. Pain in this situation can be pressing, cutting or compressing. It should be remembered that the pain is given under the left shoulder blade most often in heart diseases.

Aneurysm of the aorta is also quite a serious condition. Symptomatic in this case is similar to the state of myocardial infarction.

Osteochondrosis

This disease can also cause pain under the left scapula. The reasons are to squeeze the ends of the nerve roots that exit their spine. Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease of people who spend quite a lot of time with their head down. Pain can be felt both in the cervico-humeral region, and under the scapula.

Osteochondrosis manifests itself in the form of blunt aching pain, felt slightly below the occiput. Almost always this disease is accompanied by pain under the scapula. A characteristic feature is the increased pain during a load on the neck. Sometimes it becomes very difficult for a person to even move his hand. After a morning awakening quite often there is a feeling of great dizziness. Stitching pain under the left scapula is a typical symptom of osteochondrosis. Minor softening of unpleasant symptoms helps the adoption of a warm shower.

Intercostal neuralgia

The pain on the left under the scapula can be caused by the compression of the intercostal nerves. This disease is known as intercostal neuralgia. Most often, the pain is located on the left side of the chest and under the left scapula. It increases, as a rule, when the body rotates, coughs or sneezes, pressing on the affected area.

The main reasons for the formation of intercostal neuralgia are:

• Supercooling;
• Long standing in an uncomfortable position;
• flick.

Quite often complaints are characterized as pain in the heart under the scapula, unpleasant tingling or burning.

Stomach ulcer

The pain in this disease is localized in the epigastric region of the abdomen, but can also spread under the left scapula and the left side of the breast. Pain in this case is growing. Its occurrence is directly related to nutrition.

Therefore, the pain is conditionally divided into the following types:

• Early;
• Hungry;
• Night;
• Late.

1. The early pain is formed immediately after the ingestion of food and gradually calms down as the stomach is released.

2. Hungry pain begins after a fairly long period of time after the last meal.

3. The late type of pain is characterized by its appearance within the next few hours after eating. This is its main difference.

4. Night pain is somewhat similar to a hungry pain, but it hurts not only the stomach. Painful sensations extend to the lumbar region of the back.

Perforated Stomach Ulcer

The present disease is a serious complication of the classic stomach ulcer and is accompanied by a severe pain syndrome. Pain sensations may well extend both into the supraclavicular area and into the region of the left scapula.

Diseases of the lungs

Painful sensations can be a consequence of many pulmonary diseases, in particular, pleurisy, bronchitis, pneumonia and many others. The nature of the pain can range from a constant pulling pain to a sudden sharp spasm. It all depends on the type of disease. The aching pain under the left scapula, which is aggravated by coughing or deep inspiration, speaks of inflammation of the pleura. With classic pneumonia, the pain has a pronounced noisy character, the overall temperature is increased.

Problems of a psychological nature

The constant nervous tension, which almost always accompanies the life of a modern person, can also provoke pain under the left shoulder blade, the reasons in this case will be purely psychological.

The main symptoms that indicate exactly the pain of a psychosomatic nature are:

• A feeling of discomfort;
• compression;
• Incomprehensible weight;
• Burning or feeling hot in the chest.

Sensations, as a rule, do not have a pronounced character. They are kind of "greased" and do not bring much discomfort.

How can I ease the pain under the shoulder blade

If the pain is more of a professional nature, then an insignificant physical load will help. So, for example, push-ups from the wall help to strengthen the muscles of the shoulder. This greatly reduces unpleasant pain in the area of the left scapula.

Also, a wonderful action is provided by massage, in particular, ice massage of the shoulder. It can well help to cure the pain that occurs if it is triggered by inflammation caused by stretching muscles or by soft tissue damage.

Such massage is performed as follows: pieces of ice should be wrapped in any tissue and applied to a sore spot. If the pain is quite intense, then the procedure of ice massage should be carried out three times during the day. Its duration is on average no less than 10 minutes.

What doctors should visit

For pains under the left scapula, which are of a permanent nature, the following specialists should be visited:

• Cardiologist;
• Neurologist;
• Gastroenterologist;
• Traumatologist;
• Vertebrologist;
• Psychiatrist.

Do not postpone the visit to the doctor for later, if the pain under the left scapula is acute, accompanied by the appearance of shortness of breath, darkness in the eyes, lack of air and rapid breathing. It is best to immediately call "ambulance".

Diagnosis of pain under the left scapula

The establishment of the true cause of pain includes a full complex Activities focused on identifying the main cause of the onset of pain. But the main task is to exclude such conditions as peptic ulcer, angina pectoris, aortic rupture, heart attack or pre-infarction.

Before appointing any procedures, the doctor conducts a preliminary survey, during which he finds out some details. For example, are the occurrence of pain associated with the time of eating, with any kind of load, where pain is felt, what kind of character they are. Visual inspection, palpation is carried out.

Usually the following tests and procedures are prescribed:

1. Radiographic study. This is required to clarify the possible pathological conditions of the spine, lungs or bronchi.

2. Removal of the electrocardiogram. Its interpretation will help to exclude heart disease or pathological conditions.

3. If the symptoms indicate an exacerbation of gastritis, stomach ulcers, then additionally appointed FEGDS.

4. Sometimes a computed tomography scan is required , when the X-ray did not help to reveal obvious deviations.

5. General blood tests, as well as urine tests are mandatory diagnostic methods.

And at the end of the conversation it makes sense to recall that the pain under the left scapula requires a more serious attitude to itself, rather than just soaking an anesthetic pill. Since this symptom can warn about the development of a fairly serious disease. If pain occurs in the subscapular region, do not postpone the visit to the district physician-therapist. It is better to be safe, than to pay with your health later for your own disorder.