Pain is one of the main symptoms by which our body signals that a pathological process has arisen. It is not at all specific and can accompany a large number of diseases. Often, patients complain that their back hurts between the shoulder blades, and it is sometimes quite difficult to diagnose the pathology that causes it. Because there may be a large 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 of the most varied nature.
Provoking factors and the nature of pain
Pain syndromes in the shoulder blade area can be quite diverse, and the ability to accurately determine its nature is of great diagnostic value. Consider the possible characteristics of these symptoms:
- By period - acute or chronic.
- According to intensity - pain, strong or weak.
- Naturally - pressing, cramping, stabbing or cutting.
- 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 blade area. Let us consider them in more detail.
- Lead an inactive lifestyle.
- Blows to the spine and various injuries.
- Jumping from a height, lifting weights sharply, running fast, i. e. physical exercise performed by untrained people.
- Very low level of general physical fitness.
- Presence of chronic stomach and heart disease in history.
- Sedentary work.
- Pathology of the thoracic organs.
All of these factors do not always cause pain in the back between the left and right shoulder blades. Only when certain conditions coincide, pathology arises 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 blade area? " Interests many people. Consider the pathology for which these symptoms may be manifestations.
Diseases of the spine in the thoracic region:
- Kyphosis. This is a disease that causes the spine to curve backwards. In the early stages, a person has only a hump, and in the final stages, a vertebral hump. This pathology, as a rule, appears in childhood due to incorrect body position when sitting at a desk and writing. The disease manifests itself with persistent pain in the shoulder area area and visible curvature of the spine.
- Scoliosis is another disease associated with spinal column deformities. With that, the spine is bent to the right or left. The reason is the constant incorrect body position. The pain syndrome in this disease occurs due to overstrain of the muscles that bend the spine, and nerve compression. Pain is a periodic pain in nature, there may be numbness.
- Spondylarthrosis. The disease belongs to the group of degenerative-dystrophic pathologies affecting the spine. It is indicated by destruction of the intervertebral joints, resulting in the formation of bone growths. The pain syndrome is constant, sometimes spastic and acute, localized posteriorly between the right and left shoulder blades.
- Kyphoscoliosis. This pathology is a combination of kyphosis and scoliosis in one patient. That is, the spine is curved backwards and to the left or right. The pain can be localized in the shoulder blade area.
- Disc herniation. This is one of the most complex diseases of the musculoskeletal system. It is indicated by the protrusion of the contents of the disc beyond its limits. As a result, compression of the spinal cord and its roots in the thoracic region occurs, which causes pain in the back between the shoulder blades.
- Osteochondrosis. The sensation of pain arises due to compression of the roots of the spinal cord and is painful in nature. With sudden movements, lifting weights, the pain may increase. This pathology is the most common cause of pain in the thoracic spine near the shoulder blades.
- Mechanical injuries of the spine. When hitting, falling from a height, car accidents, various degrees of severity of damage to the spine can occur. All this will be accompanied by a whole list of symptoms, among which, of course, there will be pain in the spine in the area between the right and left shoulder blades.
Disease, characteristic of which is the development of dystrophic processes in the intervertebral disc. As a result, they lose elasticity and the ability to regenerate.
Spinal cord disease:
- Cervical or thoracic sciatica. Radiculitis is an inflammation of the spinal nerves due to damage, compression, irritation or violation. Often, the disease is the result of certain disorders of the spine: curvature, development of osteochondrosis, displacement of the vertebrae, etc. If the roots of the spine are damaged, inflammation and swelling develop and, as a result, pain occurs in the area. between the shoulder blades and along the damaged nerve. Patients may also complain of numbness or burning in the same area.
- Intercostal neuralgia. Inflammation of the intercostal nerve. Due to their proximity to the surface of the skin, they are often affected by pathological processes. The pain syndrome can be localized between the right and left scapula, and along the intercostal nerve, wearing a girdle character.
Diseases of the mediastinum and chest:
- Cardiac ischemia. As a result of several reasons (atherosclerosis, coronary artery spasm, thrombosis, etc. ), normal blood flow through the coronary arteries is disrupted, as a result of which the heart suffers from a lack of oxygen, which leads to burnout. pain in the back of the sternum during exercise. Also, the pain can be localized in the area of the thoracic spine, give to the left arm and shoulder blades.
- Pleurisy. Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura (the membrane that surrounds the lungs). If the damaged lung area is closer to the spine on the right, then the pain can be localized in the back near the shoulder blades. Body temperature also rises and weakness occurs.
- Myocardial infarction. This is a necrosis of part of the heart muscle due to acute circulatory disorders. The pain is very strong and acute. Located in the heart area. It can also be localized 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 it, or more on the right side (if the abscess has arisen on the right side of the diaphragm). Has a sharp character. This increases body temperature.
Other organ diseases:
- Pyelonephritis. This is a purulent inflammation of the kidneys. The pain syndrome is localized in the lumbar region, below the shoulder blades, and can radiate to the thoracic spine. Against this background, body temperature rises, there is a painful urge to urinate, chills.
- Poliomyelitis or tuberculosis. This infectious disease can affect the human skeletal system, including the spine. If the thoracic region is involved in a 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 small, which is why often doctors can not immediately diagnose the cause of pain between the shoulder blades. If you have these symptoms, then you should not delay going to a medical facility, as the cause can be very serious and require immediate treatment.