Often people complain that their back hurts in the shoulder blade area.Attributing this to excessive work, work that involves prolonged sitting or moving heavy objects, they postpone visits to the doctor.
However, any pain can indicate the presence of a serious spinal disease that threatens the development of complications.
The main reason
Pain in the spine in the shoulder blade area is explained by the fact that this is where a large number of receptors are located that respond to any pathological changes.During the inflammatory process, leukocyte production increases, swelling forms, nerve endings are compressed, which causes pain.
When your back hurts in the lumbar region and shoulder blades, the possibility of a disease that requires a therapeutic course cannot be ruled out.Often the cause of severe pain is a disease that affects vital organs such as the heart and lungs.
Aggravation occurs under the influence of provoking factors - poor posture, excess weight, lack of physical activity.If your back hurts below the shoulder blade, this may be one of the symptoms of a stomach ulcer.
Often, the cause is a person's illness, injury, or psychological condition.
You should not try to get rid of unpleasant symptoms yourself using various poultices and ointments.It is necessary to identify the reasons why your back hurts in the shoulder blade area, for which you need to see a doctor and undergo an examination.
Scapular injury
This bone is located on the side of the spine, is protected by many muscles and is damaged in very rare cases.His injuries are often combined with rib fractures, so it is not always possible to make a timely diagnosis.
In this case, the victim feels severe pain in the shoulder blade area, sometimes bleeding and the development of hemarthrosis of the shoulder is possible.Damage can be caused by a fall, road accident or impact.
If your back hurts below the shoulder blade or above, redness and swelling appear, you should immediately see a doctor.This may also be inflammation of the synovial bursa, which is often accompanied by a throbbing sensation and a feeling of heaviness.
Dislocation, or more precisely displacement of the humerus and scapula relative to each other, is another reason why the back may hurt in the shoulder blade area.Injury occurs when there is a strong pull on the arm or when there is a blow.A dislocated scapula does not allow active movement of the upper limb.
When palpated, severe pain is felt.Visually, the asymmetry of the shoulder blade is clearly visible;one of them has a noticeable protrusion on the axillary edge.
Intervertebral hernia
This is the name of a degenerative disease that is accompanied by deformation and destruction of the fibrous ring.Any part of the spine is susceptible to pathology.
If your back hurts below the shoulder blade, this may be a sign of a lumbar intervertebral hernia.With a thoracic hernia, various symptoms are observed.
The most common of them:
- pain between the shoulder blades, which increases sharply with coughing or physical activity.Its nature can be different - it can be either a dull or acute pain in the back.
- Paresthesia.
- Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing.
- Muscle weakness, difficulty raising arms.
The severity of symptoms depends on the size of the hernia and the stage of the disease.
Osteomyelitis
Pain between the shoulder blades may be a sign of osteomyelitis.This is the name of a purulent infection that affects bone tissue.
This disease is usually very difficult.The tissue overlying the bone is relatively thin, so symptoms at the site of the lesion appear immediately.The main sign of pathology is the presence of purulent wounds, soft tissue swelling with hyperemia.A person complains that his back hurts in the area of the shoulder blades, sometimes shivering is added to this, the body temperature rises, and the pulse quickens.
There are several types of this pathology.Osteomyelitis that occurs when bacteria enter the bone tissue through the blood is called hematogenous.The acute form is most often found in children and adolescents.
Microorganisms that penetrate from the environment cause exogenous osteomyelitis.The cause is injury, trauma or an open fracture.When purulent lesions move from soft tissue to bone, they talk about the relational form of the disease.
Scoliosis
One of the most common reasons why back pain occurs in the shoulder blade region is scoliosis of the thoracic spine.Since this part is connected to the ribs, deformation of the chest is observed.
In addition to the main symptoms, when the back hurts below the shoulder blades and above the lower back, one should highlight the increased fatigue and different levels of the shoulders.
Diagnosis is made only by radiography.As the stage progresses, the back hurts in the spine area almost always.
Osteochondrosis
Back pain in the shoulder blade area is the main symptom of osteochondrosis, when the upper part of the spine is subject to a degenerative process.This disease is often confused with pneumonia and tuberculosis.
Experienced neurologists determine osteochondrosis based on several combined characteristics.The localization of the pain syndrome depends on where the nerve endings are pinched.Therefore, a distinction is made between left-sided and right-sided pathology.
If your back hurts in the shoulder blade area, you definitely need to be examined to start treatment at an early stage.This guarantees a faster recovery.
Spondyloarthrosis
This is the name of a polyetiological disease that often occurs together with osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, and spondylosis.Spondyloarthrosis is an arthrosis that affects the intervertebral joints and develops as a result of injuries, congenital defects, and overload.
Pathological suspicion is caused by pain in the back under the shoulder blade that appears for no apparent reason, especially when the weather changes or when moving.The advanced stage is determined by a characteristic crackling sound.
Subphrenic abscess
This is the name of a rare but serious complication after inflammation that affects the abdominal cavity.The main symptoms are a burning sensation in the back, especially in the shoulder blade area, shortness of breath, hyperthermia, and cough.
In addition to the fact that the pain in the spine is localized under the shoulder blade, it can also spread to the right hypochondrium.
Diseases of internal organs
If your back is very painful in the shoulder blade area, this may raise the suspicion of an existing disease of the heart, bronchopulmonary system or gastrointestinal tract.
Therefore, such symptoms should not be ignored.It is necessary to immediately pay attention to disturbing pain, especially chest pain, which hides coronary heart disease and other equally serious diseases of internal organs.It is important to make a timely diagnosis and start treatment.
Intercostal neuralgia
The cause of the phenomenon when there is a burning sensation in the shoulder blade area, a feeling as if the back is on fire, is often intercostal neuralgia.
Unpleasant symptoms occur due to the fact that pathological changes affecting the spine cause compression of the intercostal nerve.
Painful sensations from neuralgia occur at the level of the shoulder blade and have varying intensity.They may get worse when you cough or take a deep breath.
Psychological problems
Back pain below the shoulder blade often occurs for psychological reasons.Patients feel compression and tingling, and experience unexplained feelings of anxiety and fear.The pain may radiate to the right arm and neck.
Diagnostics
Often pain in the back under the shoulder blade is a consequence of professional activity.Machines, drivers, tailors, athletes, designers - people whose work is associated with daily tension in the back muscles.
When the first symptoms appear, you need to visit a doctor and undergo an examination.When the disease is detected early and treatment is started on time, many serious complications can be avoided.
If your back hurts in the shoulder blade area, the doctor will prescribe modern diagnostic methods, including radiography, computed tomography, and ultrasound.
It is almost impossible to independently determine the exact cause of pain.As it often happens during a heart attack, delaying a visit to the doctor is very risky.
Treatment
What to do if your back hurts in the shoulder blade area?Do not forget that the cause of such symptoms can be various pathologies.Therefore, treatment should be prescribed only by a doctor and carried out under his supervision.
The traumatic and articular origin of pain requires specific clinical therapy, which includes:
- Anti-inflammatory drugs.Painful sensations are effectively eliminated using corticosteroids and non-steroidal drugs.They can be used externally, using an ointment recommended by a doctor to the shoulder blade area, or by injection.Combining these methods allows you to achieve the best results.
- Chondroprotectors.It is used to treat the back scapular area when pain is caused by intervertebral hernia or protrusion.Preparations containing mucopolysaccharides, glucosamine, and chondroitin sulfate will help improve cartilage tissue nutrition and increase its elasticity.
- Physiotherapy.When articular tissue is damaged, physiotherapeutic procedures show good results.The most popular is the shock wave technique, where infrasound affects body tissues..It is able to destroy bone growth, increase blood flow, which leads to increased nutrition of cartilage, reduce muscle tone and relieve pain in the scapula.In addition, electrophoresis, massage, paraffin baths, and manual therapy are widely used.
If the cause of vertebrogenic pain is established, warm compresses using a solution of dimethyl sulfoxide, turpentine, and alcohol will be effective.By increasing blood circulation, muscle spasms are relieved and pain is reduced.
Folk remedies can also be used for scapular pain, but they only perform additional functions.
Prevention
Following certain rules will help you avoid unpleasant symptoms such as back pain in the shoulder blade area.
To do this you need:
- Eat properly.The lack of microelements necessary for cartilage tissue leads to degeneration of the intervertebral disc.
- Maintain proper posture.An uneven load on the spine is one of the first causes of pain.
- Move more.This helps prevent excessive muscle tone and normalize blood circulation.Walking in the fresh air, sports games and gymnastics are useful.
We must not forget about regular medical examinations, thanks to the development of any pathology can be detected at an early stage.