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 accompany a large number of diseases. Very often, patients complain that their back hurts between the shoulder blades, and sometimes it is quite difficult to diagnose the pathology that caused it. Because there can be many 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.
Precipitating factors and nature of pain
The pain syndrome in the area 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:
- By duration - acute or chronic.
- By intensity - painful, strong or weak.
- By nature - pressing, cramping, stabbing or cutting.
- Additional sensations may also occur: a 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 area of the shoulder blades. Let's consider them in more detail.
- Leading a sedentary lifestyle.
- Blows to the spine and various injuries.
- Jumping from a height, sharp weight lifting, fast running, ie. physical exercises performed by an untrained person.
- Very low level of general physical fitness.
- The presence of chronic diseases of the stomach and heart in the anamnesis.
- Sitting work.
- Pathology of chest organs.
All these factors do not always cause back pain between the left and right shoulder blades. Only when certain circumstances coincide, a pathology occurs and, as one of the symptoms of its manifestation, a pain syndrome.
What diseases can cause pain
The question "why does the back hurt in the area of the shoulder blades? " is of interest to many people. Consider the pathologies that this symptom can be a manifestation of.
Diseases of the spine in the thoracic part:
- Kyphosis. This is a disease that causes the spine to bend backwards. In the initial stage, the person simply has an inclination, and in the final stage, the vertebrae. This pathology, as a rule, appears in childhood due to the incorrect position of the body when 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 him, the spine bends to the right or left. The reason is the constantly incorrect position of the body. The pain syndrome in this disease is caused by overstrain of the muscles that bend the spine and compression of the nerves. The pain is of a periodic painful nature, there may be a feeling of stiffness.
- Spondylarthrosis. This disease belongs to the group of degenerative-dystrophic pathologies affecting the spine. It is manifested by the destruction of the intervertebral joints, which results in the formation of bony growths. The pain syndrome is constant, sometimes spasmodic 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 backwards 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 manifested by the protrusion of the contents of the disk beyond its borders. As a result, there is compression of the spinal cord and its roots in the thoracic region, which causes back pain between the shoulder blades.
- Osteochondrosis. Painful 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 increase. This pathology is the most common cause of pain in the thoracic spine near the shoulder blades.
- Mechanical spinal injury. In the event of an impact, fall from a height, traffic accidents, different degrees of severity of damage to the spinal column can occur. All this will be accompanied by a whole list of symptoms, among which, undoubtedly, there will be pain in the spine in the area 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 their elasticity and ability to regenerate.
Diseases of the spinal nerves:
- Cervical or thoracic sciatica. Radiculitis is inflammation of spinal nerves as a result of damage, compression, irritation or injury. Most often, this disease is a consequence of certain disorders in the spine: curvature, progression of osteochondrosis, displacement of vertebrae, etc. If the spinal root is damaged, inflammation and swelling occur, resulting in pain in the area. between the shoulder blades and along the damaged nerve. The patient may also complain of numbness or tingling in the same area.
- Intercostal neuralgia. Inflammation of the intercostal nerves. Because of their proximity to the skin surface, they are often affected by pathological processes. The pain syndrome can be localized between the right and left scapula, and along the intercostal nerve, bearing a belt character.
Diseases of the mediastinum and chest:
- Cardiac ischemia. As a result of a number of reasons (atherosclerosis, spasm of coronary vessels, thrombosis, etc. ), the normal flow of blood through the coronary vessels is disturbed, as a result of which the heart feels a lack of oxygen, which leads to burning. pain behind sternum during exercise. Also, the pain can be localized in the area of the thoracic part of the spine, given to the left arm and shoulder blade.
- Pleurisy. Pleuritis is an inflammation of the pleura (the membrane that surrounds the lungs). If the damaged area of the lung is closer to the spine on the right side, then the pain can be localized in the back near the shoulder blades. Body temperature also rises and weakness occurs.
- Myocardial infarction. This is the necrosis of part of the heart muscle as a result of an acute circulatory disorder. The pain is very intense and acute. It is located in the area of the heart. 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 them or more on the right side (if the abscess originated on the right side of the diaphragm). He 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 scapula, and can spread to the thoracic part of the spine. Accordingly, 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 thoracic 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 small, which is why very often doctors cannot immediately diagnose the cause of pain between the shoulder blades. If you have this symptom, then you do not need to delay going to a medical facility, because the cause can be very serious and requires urgent treatment.