Very often people complain that their back hurts in the shoulder blade area.They attribute this to overwork, working for long periods of time or moving heavy objects and put off going to the doctor.
However, any pain can indicate the presence of serious diseases of the spine that threaten the development of complications.
Main reasons
Pain in the spine in the shoulder blade area is explained by the fact that there are a large number of receptors there that react to any pathological changes.During the inflammatory process, the production of leukocytes increases, swelling forms, nerve endings are compressed, which causes pain.
If your back hurts in the lumbar region and shoulder blades, the possibility of a disease that requires therapy cannot be ruled out.The cause of severe pain is often diseases that affect important organs such as the heart and lungs.
Exacerbation occurs under the influence of provoking factors – poor posture, excess weight, lack of physical activity.If your back hurts below your shoulder blades, this may be one of the symptoms of a stomach ulcer.
Most often the cause is an illness, an injury or a person's psychological state.
You should not try to eliminate an unpleasant symptom yourself using various poultices and ointments.It is necessary to identify the reasons for back pain in the shoulder blade area, for which you need to see a doctor and undergo an examination.
Injuries to the scapula
This bone is located on the side of the spine, is protected by many muscles and is very rarely damaged.The injury is often accompanied by rib fractures, so timely diagnosis is not always possible.
In this case, the victim feels severe pain in the shoulder blade area, sometimes bleeding and the development of shoulder hemarthrosis are possible.Damage can be caused by a fall, a traffic accident or an impact.
If your back hurts below the shoulder blades or above, redness and swelling appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.This can also be an inflammation of the bursa, which is often accompanied by a grinding sensation and a feeling of heaviness.
A dislocation, more precisely the displacement of the humerus and shoulder blade relative to each other, is another reason why the back can hurt in the shoulder blade area.Injuries occur when the arm is pulled strongly or when a blow occurs.A dislocated scapula does not allow active movements of the upper extremity.
Severe pain is felt when palpated.Visually, the asymmetry of the shoulder blades is clearly visible;one of them has a conspicuous projection of the axillary edge.
Intervertebral hernia
This is the name of a degenerative disease associated with deformation and destruction of the fibrous ring.Any part of the spine is susceptible to pathology.
If your back hurts below your shoulder blades, this may be a sign of a lumbar intervertebral hernia.Various symptoms are observed with a thoracic hernia.
The most common of them:
- Pain between the shoulder blades that increases sharply when coughing or during physical activity.The nature can be different – it can be either a dull or acute back pain.
- Paresthesia.
- Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing.
- Muscle weakness, problems lifting your arms.
The intensity of symptoms depends on the size of the hernia and the stage of the disease.
Osteomyelitis
An aching pain between the shoulder blades can 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 quite thin, so symptoms at the lesion site appear immediately.The main sign of pathology is the presence of a festering wound, swelling of soft tissues with hyperemia.A person complains that his back hurts in the shoulder blade area, sometimes chills are added, the body temperature rises and the pulse quickens.
There are different variants of this pathology.Osteomyelitis, which occurs when bacteria enter the bone tissue through the blood, is called hematogenous.The acute form occurs most often in children and adolescents.
Microorganisms invading from the environment cause exogenous osteomyelitis.This is caused by an injury, trauma or an open fracture.When a purulent lesion moves from soft tissue to bone, it is called a contact form of the disease.
Scoliosis
One of the most common causes of back pain in the shoulder blade area is scoliosis of the thoracic spine.Since this section is connected to the ribs, deformation of the chest is observed.
In addition to the main symptom, when the back hurts below the shoulder blades and above the lower back, increased fatigue and different shoulder heights should be highlighted.
The diagnosis is made only by x-ray.In the advanced stages, the back hurts almost constantly in the spine area.
Osteochondrosis
Back pain in the shoulder blade area is the main symptom of osteochondrosis, when the upper part of the spine is subject to degenerative processes.The disease is often confused with pneumonia and tuberculosis.
An experienced neurologist determines osteochondrosis based on several combined characteristics.The localization of the pain syndrome depends on which part of the nerve endings is pinched.Therefore, a distinction is made between left-sided and right-sided pathology.
If your back hurts in the shoulder blade area, you should definitely get examined so that treatment can begin early.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 osteoarthritis that affects the intervertebral joints and occurs due to injuries, congenital defects and excessive overload.
Suspicion of pathology arises from pain in the back below the shoulder blades, which occurs for no apparent reason, especially during changes in the weather or when moving.The advanced stage is characterized by a characteristic crunching sound.
Subphrenic abscess
This is the name given to a rare but serious complication following inflammation in 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 being localized in the spine below the shoulder blades, pain can also spread to the right hypochondrium.
Diseases of the internal organs
If your back hurts badly in the shoulder blade area, this may raise suspicion of existing diseases of the heart, bronchopulmonary system or gastrointestinal tract.
Therefore, such symptoms cannot be ignored.Attention must be paid immediately to sharp pains, especially chest pains, which hide coronary heart disease and other equally serious diseases of the internal organs.It is important to make a diagnosis and start treatment in a timely manner.
Intercostal neuralgia
The cause of the phenomenon in which a burning sensation occurs in the shoulder blade area, a feeling as if the back is burning, is often intercostal neuralgia.
Unpleasant symptoms arise because pathological changes in the spine lead to compression of the intercostal nerves.
Pain sensations due to neuralgia occur at the level of the shoulder blades and vary in intensity.They can get worse when you cough or breathe deeply.
Psychological problems
Back pain under the shoulder blades often has psychological causes.The patient feels pressure and tingling and experiences a feeling of anxiety and unexplained fear.The pain can radiate to the right arm and neck.
diagnosis
Pain in the back under the shoulder blade is often a result of professional activity.Machinists, drivers, seamstresses, athletes, designers - people whose work is associated with daily tension in the back muscles.
At the first symptoms, you should see a doctor and have yourself examined.If 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 X-ray, computed tomography and ultrasound.
It is almost impossible to independently determine the exact cause of pain.Because it can often occur during a heart attack, putting off seeing a doctor is extremely risky.
Treatment
What to do if your back hurts in the shoulder blade area?Do not forget that the cause of such a symptom can be various pathologies.Therefore, treatment should only be prescribed 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 relieved by the use of corticosteroids and non-steroidal drugs.They can be used externally by applying ointments recommended by a doctor to the shoulder blade area, or by injection.By combining these methods you can achieve the best results.
- Chondroprotectors.They are used to treat the scapular region of the back when pain is caused by an intervertebral hernia or bulge.Preparations containing mucopolysaccharides, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate help improve the nutrition of cartilage tissue and increase its elasticity.
- Physiotherapy.When there is damage to the joint tissue, physiotherapeutic procedures show good results.The most popular is the shock wave technique, in which infrasound affects the body tissue..It is able to destroy bone growth, improve blood circulation, which leads to better nutrition of cartilage, reduces muscle tone and eliminates pain in the shoulder blades.In addition, electrophoresis, massage, paraffin baths and manual therapy are often used.
If a vertebrogenic cause of pain is identified, warming compresses with a solution of dimethyl sulfoxide, turpentine and alcohol are effective.By improving blood circulation, it relieves muscle spasms and reduces pain.
Folk remedies can also be used for shoulder blade pain, but they only perform an auxiliary function.
Prevention
Following certain rules will help you avoid such an unpleasant symptom as back pain in the shoulder blade area.
To do this you need:
- Eat right.A lack of microelements necessary for cartilage tissue leads to degeneration of the intervertebral discs.
- Maintain correct posture.Uneven strain on the spine is one of the first causes of pain.
- Move more.This helps prevent excessive muscle tone and normalize blood circulation.Walks in the fresh air, sports games and gymnastics are useful.
We must not forget about regular medical examinations, thanks to which the development of pathology can be detected at a very early stage.