Pain is one of the main symptoms by which our body signals that a pathological process has occurred. It is absolutely non-specific and can be accompanied by a large number of diseases. Very often, patients complain that the back hurts between the shoulder blades, and sometimes it is quite difficult to diagnose the pathology causing it. Because there can be many reasons and without special research methods it is almost impossible to make a correct diagnosis.
Back pain can be the most diverse among the shoulder blades.
Provocative factors and nature of pain
Pain syndrome in the region of the shoulder blades can be quite diverse, and the ability to accurately determine its nature is of great diagnostic value. Consider the possible characteristics of this symptom:
- According to duration - acute or chronic.
- Intensity - hurts, strong or weak.
- By nature - to pinch, pinch, cut or cut.
- Additional sensations may also occur: feeling of fullness, crawling, numbness, feeling of heaviness on the back, tingling.
It is known that there are certain predisposing factors that can cause pain in the shoulder blade area. Let's consider them in more detail.
- leading a lifeless lifestyle.
- A blow to the spine and other types of injuries.
- Jumping from a height, sudden weight lifting, fast running, e. g. i. Physical exercise performed by an untrained person.
- Very low level of general physical fitness.
- Presence of chronic stomach and heart diseases in history.
- Sitting work.
- Pathology of chest organs.
All these factors do not always cause pain in the back between the left and right shoulder blades. Only when certain circumstances coincide, a pathology appears and, as one of the symptoms of its manifestation, a pain syndrome.
What diseases can cause pain?
Many people are interested in the question "Why does my back hurt in the area of the shoulder blades? ". Let's consider pathologies, the manifestation of which can be this symptom.
Diseases of the spine in the chest area:
- Kyphosis. This is a disease that causes the spine to twist backwards. In the initial stage, a person simply has a hump, and in the final stage, a hump of the spine. This pathology usually appears in childhood due to the incorrect position of the body while sitting at the table and writing. The disease is manifested by constant pain in the area of the shoulder blades and a characteristic visible curvature of the spine.
- Scoliosis is another disease associated with spinal column deformation. With it, the spine bends to the right or left. The reason is the constant incorrect position of the body. The pain syndrome in this disease occurs due to overloading of the muscles that wrap the spine and compression of the nerves. The pains are periodic in nature, there may be a feeling of numbness.
- spondylarthrosis. This disease belongs to the group of degenerative-dystrophic pathologies affecting the spine. It is manifested by the destruction of intervertebral joints, as a result of which bone protrusions are formed. The pain syndrome is constant, sometimes convulsive and acute, localized on the back between the right and left shoulder blades.
- Kyphoscoliosis. This pathology is a combination of kyphosis and scoliosis in one patient. That is, the spine bends back and to the left or right. The pain can be localized in the area of the shoulder blades.
- herniated disc. This is one of the most complex diseases of the musculoskeletal system. It is expressed by exhausting the contents of the disk beyond the boundaries. This results in compression of the spinal cord and its roots in the chest area, causing pain in the back between the shoulder blades.
- Osteochondrosis. Pain sensations arise due to compression of the roots of the spinal cord and are painful in nature. With sudden movements, weight lifting, the pain may increase. This pathology is the most common cause of pain in the chest near the shoulder blades.
- Mechanical damage to the spine. In the event of a blow, fall from a height, traffic accidents, various degrees of damage to the spine may occur. All this will be followed by a whole list of symptoms, among which, undoubtedly, there will be pain in the spine between the right and left shoulder blades.
A disease characterized by the development of dystrophic processes in the intervertebral discs. As a result, they lose elasticity and ability to regenerate.
Diseases of spinal nerves:
- Cervical or thoracic sciatica. Sciatica is inflammation of the spinal nerves as a result of injury, compression, irritation, or disruption. Most often, this disease is the result of certain disorders of the spine: curvature, progression of osteochondrosis, displacement of the spine, etc. Sh. between the shoulder blades and along the injured nerve. The patient may also complain of numbness or burning sensation in the same area.
- Intercostal neuralgia. Inflammation of the intercostal nerves. Due to their proximity to the surface of the skin, they often suffer from pathological processes. The pain syndrome can be localized both between the right and left scapula and along the intercostal nerve, wearing a belt.
Diseases of the mediastinum and chest:
- Cardiac ischemia. Due to a number of reasons (atherosclerosis, spasm of coronary vessels, thrombosis, etc. ), the normal blood circulation in the coronary vessels is disturbed, as a result of which the heart experiences a lack of oxygen, which causes burning. Pain behind the chest during exercise. Also, the pain can be localized in the thoracic region of the spine, given to the left arm and shoulder blade.
- Pleurisy. Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura (the lining surrounding the lungs). If the damaged area of the lung is closer to the spine on the right, then the pain can be localized in the back near the shoulder blades. Body temperature also increases and weakness appears.
- Myocardial infarction. It is a necrosis of a part of the heart muscle, which is caused by an acute violation of blood circulation. The pain is very strong and acute. It is located in the heart. It can also be localized in the chest area and under the left shoulder blade and spread to the left collarbone and arm.
- Subdiaphragmatic abscess. The pain is usually localized between the shoulder blades, below them or more to the right (if the abscess appeared on the right side of the diaphragm). has a sharp character. This raises the body temperature.
Diseases of other organs:
- Pyelonephritis. This is purulent inflammation of the kidneys. The pain syndrome is localized in the lumbar region, under the shoulder blade and can spread to the thoracic spine. Against this background, the body temperature increases, the painful urge to urinate is frequent, chills.
- poliomyelitis or tuberculosis. These infectious diseases can affect the human skeletal system, including the spine. If the chest region is involved in the pathological process, then the pain is localized under the scapula or in its area and along the spine.
conclusion
As you can see, the list of diseases is not very small, which is why very often doctors cannot immediately determine the cause of pain between the shoulder blades. If you have this symptom, then you do not need to delay coming to a medical facility, because the cause can be very serious and requires urgent treatment.