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. Patients often complain of back pain 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 of the most diverse natures.
Provoking factors and nature of pain
Pain syndrome in the shoulder blade region can be quite 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 - sore, strong or weak.
- By nature - pressing, squeezing, 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's consider them in more detail.
- Leading a sedentary lifestyle.
- Blows to the spine and various injuries.
- Jumping from a height, heavy lifting, fast running, that is, physical exercise performed by an untrained person.
- Very low level of general physical fitness.
- The presence of chronic diseases of the stomach and heart in history.
- Sedentary work.
- Pathology of Organs thoracic organs.
All these factors do not always cause back pain between the left and right shoulder blades. Only when certain circumstances coincide does pathology appear and, as one of the symptoms of its manifestation, the pain syndrome.
What diseases can cause pain
The question "why does the back hurt in the area of the shoulder blades? "interested in many people. Consider the pathologies of which this symptom may be a manifestation.
Spinal diseases in the thoracic region:
- kyphosis. This is a disease that causes the spine to curve backwards. In the initial stage, a person simply has a curve, and in the final stage, a spinal hump. This pathology, as a rule, appears in childhood due to incorrect body position when sitting at a table and writing. The disease manifests itself with constant pain in the area of the shoulder blades and a characteristic visible curvature of the spine.
- Scoliosis is another disease associated with deformation of the spine. With it, the column bends to the right or to the left. The reason is the constant incorrect position of the body. The pain syndrome in this disease occurs due to overload of the muscles that bend the spine and compression of the nerves. Pain is periodic pain in nature, there may be a feeling of numbness.
- Spondylarthrosis. This disease belongs to the group of degenerative-dystrophic pathologies that affect the spine. It is manifested by the destruction of the intervertebral joints, resulting in the formation of bony outgrowths. The pain syndrome is constant, sometimes colicky and sharp, located in the back between the right and left shoulder blades.
- Kyphoscoliosis. This pathology is a combination of kyphosis and scoliosis in a patient. That is, the spine curves backwards and to the left or right. The pain can be located in the area of the shoulder blades.
- Disc herniation. This is one of the most complex diseases of the musculoskeletal system. It is manifested by the protrusion of the disk's contents beyond its limits. As a result of this, compression of the spinal cord and its roots in the thoracic region occurs, which causes back pain between the shoulder blades.
- Osteochondrosis. Pain sensations arise due to compression of the spinal cord roots and are painful in nature. With sudden movements, lifting weights, the pain can intensify. This pathology is the most common cause of pain in the thoracic spine near the shoulder blades.
- Mechanical spinal injury. When hitting, falling from a height, car accidents, varying degrees of severity of spinal damage 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, the feature of which is the development of dystrophic processes in the intervertebral discs. As a result, they lose their elasticity and ability to regenerate.
Spinal nerve diseases:
- Cervical or thoracic sciatica. Radiculitis is inflammation of the spinal nerves as a result of damage, compression, irritation, or violation. Most often, this disease is the result of certain disorders in the spine: curvature, progression of osteochondrosis, displacement of the vertebrae, etc. between the shoulder blades and along the damaged nerve. The patient may also complain of a numbness or burning sensation in the same area.
- Intercostal neuralgia. Inflammation of the intercostal nerves. Due to their proximity to the skin surface, they are often affected by pathological processes. The painful syndrome can be located both between the right and left scapula, and along the intercostal nerve, with a waist-like character.
Diseases of the mediastinum and thorax:
- Cardiac ischemia. As a result of various reasons (atherosclerosis, coronary vessel spasm, thrombosis, etc. ), the normal blood flow through the coronary vessels is disrupted, resulting in a lack of oxygen in the heart, which leads to burning pain behind the sternum during exercise. . In addition, the pain can be located in the region of the thoracic spine, in the left arm and in the shoulder blade.
- Pleurisy. Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura (the membrane that surrounds the lung). If the damaged area of the lung is closer to the spine on the right, the pain may be located in the back, near the shoulder blades. Body temperature also rises and weakness occurs.
- Myocardial infarction. This is necrosis of a section of heart muscle as a result of 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 located between the shoulder blades, below them or more to the right (if the abscess arose on the right side of the diaphragm). It has a sharp character. This raises the body temperature.
Diseases of other organs:
- Pyelonephritis. This is a purulent inflammation of the kidneys. The painful syndrome is located in the lumbar region, under the shoulder blade, and may radiate to the thoracic spine. Against this background, the body temperature rises, there is frequent painful urge 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 located 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 doctors are often unable to immediately diagnose the cause of pain between the shoulder blades. If you have this symptom, you don't need to delay going to a medical center as the cause can be very serious and require urgent treatment.