To understand what pathology has invaded your body, you need to accurately describe the symptoms. Back pain below the left collarbone from behind is a common symptom of serious health problems. The difficulty in identifying a specific disease is that this back pain can manifest in many different pathologies. From vascular lesions to diseases of the nervous system.
Types of pain sensations
When pain appears on the left side below the shoulder blade, it is necessary to understand its nature. Several types of pain are known:
- Pain below the left collarbone of the character with shingles lasts, discomfort covers an area of the back. During the pain there is a feeling of lack of air, coughing and shortness of breath appear. The situation is connected with the fact that in the intercostal space there is a nerve impulse.
- Burning sensation accompanied by partial numbness of the skin. The patient feels a tingling sensation throughout the body.
- Developing personality. The peculiarity of this pattern is that the entire left arm begins to ache, which provokes increased muscle tone. Make hand movements unbearable.
- Intense sharpness. The person loses the ability to lie on the left side. Dyspnea accompanied by dyspnea was noted. Movement increases the pain, then makes it difficult to move.
- Discomfort in the back of the shoulder blades, characterized by displacement. Cutting pain occurs in the left clavicle, then localized centrally along the spine. The patient let out a sigh.
- It can be said, dull and aching, is the most visible of the manifestations listed previously. A groan in the scaly area will only occur when the patient moves, raising the affected arm.
- Traction syndrome will appear in the upper back, along the spine down to the lumbar region.
- And another type - a sharp character.
An unlimited list of pain symptoms is listed. There is an impressive sensation of pain and tingling that cannot be confused with other manifestations.
Attention should be paid to the nature of the pain syndrome. It will be easier for a medical professional to determine your pathology.
What causes the appearance of the syndrome?
Why is there discomfort under the shoulder blades? The occurrence of pain below the collarbone can be explained by human anatomy. Often one part of the body is affected, and the discomfort from there spreads along the nerves to other organs. The left shoulder blade is "located" on the lateral arch, together they form the rib cage. With the help of ligaments and intercostal muscles, the limb arches are connected to each other.
Under each rib are vessels and nerves that extend from the spinal cord, from the spine. The left rib and fibula complex has a protective function. They limit the internal organs from any kind of damage: the heart, the left lung, the stomach, the spleen, the pancreas, and the aorta.
Because of the anatomical location of the shoulder blades, two large groups can cause pain:
- Caused by a violation of the musculoskeletal system. This also includes myalgia syndrome.
- Colds due to dysfunction of internal organs.
Diagnose
To determine the cause of the pain and make an accurate diagnosis, he is prescribed the following diagnostic categories:
- X-ray of the cervical spine.
- Gastroscopy.
- CT, MRI.
- ECG.
- Ultrasound of abdominal organs.
- UAC, LHC.
Depending on the damage factor, the specialist will prescribe treatment.
What is connected with
If pain is from the back, localized sensation below the left shoulder blade - usually associated with one of the following disorders:
- Pathology of the musculoskeletal system;
- Diseases of a cardiovascular nature;
- Bronchopulmonary diseases;
- Dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.
Musculoskeletal disorders
There are cases where painful sensations arise due to the destruction of the skeleton. Patients with osteochondrosis, scoliosis, spondylosis, hernia and other disorders feel pain on the left side below the collarbone. Symptoms are of two types.
- First, pain and soreness are associated with chest diseases. The character is in pain, restricts movement, does not allow deep breathing.
- Another type that makes you feel a lot of pain in your stomach.
Shoulder periarthritis is an inflammatory disease of the shoulder structure. The irradiation pain appeared in the left arm, left half of the back, causing the movement to be numb and painful.
Sprengel syndrome is the presence of a fish scale in the patient, either congenital or due to some disease. Tingling, prolonged pain is characteristic.
Diseases related to the heart and blood vessels
Acute myocardial ischemia - myocardial infarction. With a heart attack, compression in the thoracic region is characteristic. It spreads from the heart to the left blade, the arm, and the lower back. This condition can be fatal if left untreated. It is characterized by a pronounced burning sensation and severe pain below the left shoulder blade, which interferes with the normal process of inhalation and exhalation.
The difference between a heart attack is that you don't stop taking nitroglycerin, which lasts more than 15 minutes. Hand numbness is common. With the development of the state, one cannot hesitate.
Cardiovascular disease, manifested by acute cuts in the heart with irradiation under the left collarbone - an angina attack. The main manifestation - compression in the region of the heart spreads to the left side. Sharp and spasmodic myocarditis, which may be aggravated by movement.
The difference between angina and heart attack is that angina can be stopped by taking nitroglycerin or by physical and psychological rest. The cause of the attack is atherosclerosis of the heart (coronary) arteries. Triggers: hypothermia or overheating, alcohol abuse, overeating.
A vegetative crisis is a condition similar to the manifestations of angina or heart attacks. Heaviness and compression appear below the left collarbone and above the sternum. It extends over the left shoulder, forearm, to the distal phalanges of the fingers. Irradiation to the left side of the jaw and the area between the shoulder blades.
The disease is characterized by chills, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and lack of air. The syndrome occurs in a short time and spreads to the epigastrium and neck. With sedatives and tranquilizers, you can prevent a vegetative crisis.
Bronchopulmonary disease
Respiratory diseases are also the cause of the patient's discomfort in the left back. The main place is occupied by pneumonia or pleurisy, if at least one lung is affected. The pain syndrome is accompanied by coughing and sneezing, and the pain increases with deep breathing. Characterized by increased temperature, weight loss, wheezing in the lungs on auscultation of the fetal heart. Very difficult to breathe. A kind of cutting pain.
Disorders of the organs of the digestive system
Increasing pain is characteristic of peptic ulcer disease. It involves the use of food, after vomiting, the pain fades. In the area of the stomach, it begins to pull. A reliable sign that this is peptic ulcer disease is heartburn. Pain is not only in the lower membrane but also on the left side of the chest. This process is accompanied by muscle tension, shortness of breath.
If the pain syndrome comes on suddenly and is manifested by sharp pulses, it is urgent to contact an ambulance. Acute pancreatitis can cause severe discomfort. The sensations are of a shingles character, the attacks develop suddenly. A rare cause may be a ruptured spleen. With injury to the splenic tissues, bleeding appears, which is almost impossible to stop. Urgent surgery is required.
Injury to the scab
- Cervical fibroids.
- Violation of the wall of the intercostal nerve.
- Rib syndrome (occurs with overexertion, trauma, can also slip over and cause this syndrome).
- Malignant tumor of the skeleton.
- Osteomyelitis (may occur after gunshot wound)
- The defeat of the subcapularis.
- Shoulder-psoriatic arthritis.
Psychology
There are cases when the sensation of pain on the left side arises due to psychological pathologies or strong psychological stress. The reason for the appearance of pain syndrome is obvious to everyone, it is provoked by stress and emotional stress. Psychiatric diseases accompanied by pain in the scapula region, somatic disorders are noted. Including:
- The temperature rises to high numbers.
- Compression, burning in the sternum.
- Tumor in the throat.
- Feeling of lack of air.
Contact who
Given the intensity and nature of the pain below the shoulder blades, you can seek help from the following specialists:
- The emergency team should be called in case of sudden onset of symptoms with increasing pain and deterioration of health.
- In the event of an injury that results in discomfort (stretching, lifting weights), contact a trauma doctor.
- Shortness of breath, pale skin, and tingling in the chest area are factors that warrant referral to a cardiologist.
- A neurologist and orthopedist should be consulted in case pain increases with manual movement, physical activity, with known disorders of the spine.
- Abdominal pain after eating, digestive disorders (nausea, vomiting) are reasons to visit a gastroenterologist.
- Consult a pulmonologist if your back pain, especially the left side below the collarbone, is accompanied by coughing and difficulty breathing.
- When pain is permanent or temporary, appearing for no apparent reason, they seek medical attention. After a thorough examination and diagnosis, the specialist refers the patient to a rheumatologist.
- If the results of specific examination methods cannot determine the cause of the symptoms, if you are constantly stressed, psycho-emotional, then it is necessary to consult a psychologist. and psychiatrist.
Subscapularis pain therapy
There is no general treatment plan for the management of patients with pain in the upper back. Therapy is carried out taking into account the etiology of the disease. For symptoms associated with disorders of the musculoskeletal system, treatment is carried out according to the following protocol:
It is necessary to give the patient a special treatment.
- Provide peace. There are times when adequate rest helps eliminate muscle tension, restore function, and relieve pain.
- Medical treatments are used for inflammatory processes. NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are prescribed.
- For chronic, persistent pain, antidepressants are prescribed.
- With muscle spasms, muscle relaxants are used. To achieve the maximum effect, the drug is often prescribed in combination with NSAIDs, analgesics, massage and physiotherapeutic procedures, therapeutic exercise.
- The appointment of massage courses has a beneficial effect on the condition of the muscles. Helps relieve muscle spasms, relieve pain, improve blood circulation and spirit.
- To restore nerve conduction, eliminate painful symptoms, people use acupuncture.
Therapeutic methods are prescribed for each bronchopulmonary, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal pathology. Essential vitamins, antibacterials, pain relievers and selected NSAIDs.
Patients with symptoms of heart attack and angina must be hospitalized.
When diagnosing aneurysms and serious diseases, they must resort to surgical intervention.
Preventive
- Daily exercise, gymnastics. Hiking for half an hour.
- Complete a balanced diet.
- Prevent joint injuries.
What did the doctor say?
Medical experts recommend that patients who have had angina attacks, heart attacks should take prescribed medications regularly, follow a strict diet and avoid stress. Spondylolisthesis requires long-term treatment with NSAIDs and exercise therapy. Pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract are stopped by the use of special drugs and adherence to the diet.
Doctors advise to follow a healthy lifestyle, prevention is easier than cure.
Conclusion
If you know for sure what is causing the discomfort below the left shoulder blade, then you can start treatment faster. It is necessary to find out the exact cause of the discomfort. As soon as you have symptoms of any of the conditions considered, immediately consult a doctor. Be healthy!