Pain is one of the main symptoms by which our body signals that a pathological process has arisen. It is absolutely non-specific and can accompany a large number of diseases. Quite often, patients complain of pain in the back between the shoulder blades, and sometimes it is quite difficult to diagnose the pathology that caused it. Because there can be a huge number of reasons, and without special research methods it is almost impossible to make a correct diagnosis.
Back pain between the shoulder blades can be very diverse in nature.
Provoking factors and nature of pain
The pain syndrome in the region of the shoulder blades can be very diverse, and the ability to accurately determine its nature is of great diagnostic value. Consider the possible features of this symptom:
- By duration - acute or chronic.
- By intensity - painful, strong or weak.
- By nature - squeeze, cramp, stab or cut.
- Additional sensations may also occur: feeling of fullness, crawling, numbness, heaviness in the back, tingling.
It is known that there are certain predisposing factors that can cause pain in the shoulder blades. Let's consider them in more detail.
- lead a sedentary life.
- Blows to the spine and various injuries.
- Jumping from a height, suddenly lifting weights, running fast, that is, physical exercise performed by an untrained person.
- Very low level of general fitness.
- The presence of chronic diseases of the stomach and heart in history.
- Sedentary work.
- Pathology of the organs of the chest.
All these factors do not always cause pain in the back between the left and right shoulder blades. Only when certain circumstances coincide, pathology appears and, as one of the symptoms of its manifestation, pain syndrome.
What diseases can cause pain
The question "why does the back hurt in the shoulder blades? " many people are interested in. Consider the pathologies of which this symptom can be a manifestation.
Spinal diseases in the thoracic region:
- Kyphosis. It is a disease that causes the spine to curve backwards. At the initial stage, a person simply has a curvature, and at the final stage - a spinal hump. This pathology, as a rule, appears in childhood due to incorrect body position when sitting at a desk and writing. The disease is manifested by constant pain in the region of the shoulder blades and a characteristic visible curvature of the spine.
- Scoliosis is another disease associated with the deformation of the spine. With it, the spine bends to the right or to the left. The reason for this is the constant incorrect position of the body. The pain syndrome of this disease is due to overload of the muscles that bend the spine and compression of the nerves. The pain is periodic pain 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 the intervertebral joints, leading to the formation of bony growths. The pain syndrome is constant, sometimes cramping 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 curves back and to the left or right. The pain can be localized in the shoulder blades.
- Herniated disc. This is one of the most complex diseases of the musculoskeletal system. It is manifested by a protrusion of the contents of the disc beyond its limits. As a result, there is compression of the spinal cord and its roots in the thoracic region, which causes 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, lifting weights, the pain may intensify. This pathology is the most common cause of pain in the thoracic spine near the shoulder blades.
- Mechanical injury of the spine. In the event of a shock, a fall from a height, a car accident, varying degrees of severity of damage to the spine can occur. All this will be accompanied by a whole list of symptoms, among which, without a doubt, there will be pain in the spine in the area between the right and left shoulder blades.
A disease, a feature of which is the development of dystrophic processes in the intervertebral discs. As a result, they lose their elasticity and ability to regenerate.
Diseases of the spinal nerves:
- Cervical or thoracic sciatica. Radiculitis is inflammation of the spinal nerves resulting from injury, compression, irritation or damage. Most often, this disease is the result of certain disorders of the spine: curvature, progression of osteochondrosis, displacement of the vertebrae, etc. If the vertebral root is damaged, inflammation and swelling develop and, as a result, pain appears in the area. between the shoulder blades and along the damaged nerve. The patient may also complain of a numbness or burning sensation in the same place.
- Intercostal neuralgia. Inflammation of the intercostal nerves. Due to their proximity to the surface of the skin, they are often affected by pathological processes. The pain syndrome can be localized both between the right and left shoulder blades, and along the intercostal nerve, carrying a belt character.
Diseases of the mediastinum and chest:
- Cardiac ischemia. Due to a number of reasons (atherosclerosis, spasm of coronary vessels, thrombosis, etc. ), the normal blood flow through the coronary vessels is disturbed, as a result of which the heart experiences a lack of oxygen, whichwhich results in burning pain behind the sternum during exercise. Also, the pain can be localized in the region of the thoracic spine, give to the left arm and shoulder blade.
- Pleurisy. Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura (the membrane surrounding the lung). If the damaged area of the lung is closer to the spine on the right, the pain may be localized in the back near the shoulder blades. Body temperature also rises and weakness occurs.
- Myocardial infarction. It is the necrosis of a section of heart muscle following an acute circulatory disorder. The pain is very intense and sharp. Located in the heart region. It can also be located in the thoracic spine and under the left shoulder blade and radiate to the left collarbone and arm.
- Subdiaphragmatic abscess. The pain, as a rule, is 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 increases body temperature.
Diseases of other organs:
- Pyelonephritis. This is a purulent inflammation of the kidneys. The pain syndrome is localized in the lumbar region, under the scapula, and can radiate to the thoracic spine. Against this background, the body temperature rises, there are frequent painful urges to urinate, 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, the pain is localized under the shoulder blade or in its area and along the spine.
Conclusion
As you can see, the list of diseases is not small, which is why very often doctors cannot immediately diagnose the cause of pain between the shoulder blades. If you have this symptom, you do not need to postpone your visit to a medical institution, as the cause may be very serious and require urgent treatment.