Back pain is a common complaint among people of different age groups.Unpleasant sensations are often noted in the area between the shoulder blades.Pain syndrome can be associated with diseases of the spine and disorders of internal organs.
The use of pain-relieving ointments and other painkillers is not an option.Relieving discomfort improves your well-being, but the pathological process leads to further destruction of the spine or internal organs.In some cases, back pain between the shoulder blades is the result of metastatic lung and stomach cancer.Handle this issue responsibly and entrust the therapy to professionals.
Possible causes of pain
Why does my back hurt in the shoulder blade area?Remember: pain is a symptom of other diseases, and not a separate pathology.Only by identifying the root cause of the discomfort can you overcome the disease and eliminate unpleasant sensations.Experts distinguish two categories of causes that cause pain in the shoulder blades: pathologies of the spine, diseases of internal organs.Let's consider each group of possible causes in detail.
Intervertebral hernia
This phenomenon is quite rare;The lumbar region is often affected, not the thoracic region.The pathology is characterized by the fact that the fibrous ring begins to bulge against the background of various negative factors, the distance between the vertebrae decreases significantly, which leads to pinching of the nerve roots.The annulus fibrosus acts as a shock absorber.
An intervertebral hernia in the thoracic region is characterized by the local appearance of pain, sometimes the discomfort spreads to the chest, which is similar to the symptoms of diseases of the respiratory tract and heart.
Spinal tuberculosis
Many have forgotten about this disease, but according to statistics, 99% of the world's population are carriers of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.Against the background of mechanical damage to the spine, hypothermia or weakened immunity, a tuberculosis lesion may form at the site of the bruise.Even on x-rays, the pathology cannot always be recognized in time.
The disease is often only discovered at an advanced stage, when the patient already has a number of complications and complains of severe pain in the shoulder blades.A characteristic sign of tuberculosis is an increased body temperature and burning discomfort in the chest area, which can spread to surrounding tissues.
Muscle strain, hypothermia
Excessive physical activity, improper exercise in the gym and constant sitting in an uncomfortable position lead to overstrain of the back muscles.Office workers, truck drivers, surgeons and seamstresses are susceptible to this pathology.
The state of health worsens due to hypothermia of the body (uncontrolled operation of the air conditioner, drafts).The pain in the shoulder blade area increases, the patient has to take NSAIDs and rub with special ointments.Avoid drafts and avoid excessive physical activity.
Scoliosis
Every schoolchild has heard about this disease from teachers and parents while sitting incorrectly at their desk.Adults forget preventive recommendations, resulting in scoliosis of varying degrees occurring in 50% of the population.The disease is a curvature of the spine that often affects the chest, neck and spine areas.Since the ribs are closely connected to the chest region, patients complain of pain in the shoulder blades.
The characteristic signs of scoliosis include:
- increased fatigue of the back muscles;
- one shoulder may be higher than the other;
- Discomfort in the shoulder blades occurs after physical work, sitting at the computer for a long time, or can accompany the victim permanently.
Spondyloarthrosis
The disease is similar to osteochondrosis;The differences can be determined by specialists only as part of a series of specific studies.Spondyloarthrosis is characterized by the destruction of cartilage and the replacement of missing areas with bone tissue, which leads to the formation of protrusions, nerve damage and severe pain in the shoulder blades.
Osteochondrosis
A sedentary lifestyle and obesity lead to dystrophic changes in the joints and spine.Osteochondrosis is also diagnosed in children;The cause of the pain is the inflammatory process in the soft tissues adjacent to the damaged vertebrae, which further pinches the nerves.
Complaints of internal organs
All organs and systems in the body are interconnected;Pain in the shoulder blades can indicate many diseases that are not related to the spine:
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system.Myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and angina can cause acute chest pain that radiates to the shoulder blades.In an acute attack, the symptoms last no longer than five minutes, blood pressure drops sharply and cold sweats occur.In this case, call an ambulance;
- Gastrointestinal diseases.Pancreatitis, cholecystitis and stomach ulcers are common causes of chest pain from various sources.Oncological diseases in this area can also cause symptoms;
- Respiratory diseases.Pain in the shoulder blades is accompanied by cough, chills, fever and muscle pain.
Back pain during pregnancy
Against the background of increased loads, curvature of the spine and an unusual state of the body when carrying a child, patients experience varying degrees of pain.A shift in the center of gravity contributes to excessive compression of the vertebrae, leading to discomfort.
Pain in the shoulder blades can accompany a woman after childbirth.The reason for this is epidural anesthesia, which is often used during cesarean sections.During the procedure itself, a special catheter is inserted into the epidural space, where it remains for the required time without coming into contact with the spinal cord.Painkillers are administered through a catheter, causing the lower part of the body to lose feeling for a period of time.
Improper manipulation, sharp turns when inserting the catheter and other unforeseen circumstances lead to damage to the membranes and substance of the spinal cord.The procedure itself is complex and requires the utmost professionalism from the doctor.
Symptoms
The nature of the pain in the shoulder blades is of great importance and helps to find out the cause of the discomfort:
- chronic - the victim feels constant discomfort, there are bouts of dull pain and periods of “rest”.This type is typical for osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernias and other chronic diseases of the spine;
- sharp.Suddenly the patient feels a stabbing pain and the symptoms suddenly disappear.This picture is typical of traumatic injuries, pinched nerve roots and diseases of internal organs.
Pay attention!In addition, patients may complain of excruciating discomfort along the entire spine, headaches and other clinical manifestations of the underlying disease.
diagnosis
What to do if your back hurts in the shoulder blade area?Often patients do not know which specialist to contact.It all depends on the type of pain, its duration and the negative events that preceded the onset of the discomfort.
Diagnosis is carried out:
- Neurologist.Most sufferers should see this doctor because intervertebral hernias and osteochondrosis are associated with pinched nerve roots and associated symptoms;
- Orthopedist-traumatologist.In case of spinal deformities (kyphosis, scoliosis), ankylosing spondylitis, various traumatic injuries to the spine, it is advisable to visit this specialist;
- Family doctor or family doctor.A doctor often solves many problems for patients.The doctor, knowing the family history and characteristics of the person, will determine the cause of the complaint or refer you to a more specialized specialist.
To diagnose pain in the shoulder blades, several studies are used: radiography, CT, MRI, blood tests, urine tests.Specific manipulations depend on the nature of the pain and the presence of accompanying complaints.
Effective treatment options
In the case of acute pain, the main task is to relieve it.They then determine the cause of the symptoms and prescribe the necessary course of therapy.
If you have unpleasant sensations in the shoulder blades, we recommend:
- temporary pain relief.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used.Depending on the severity of the symptoms, medications are used in the form of tablets, ointments, injections;
- Physiotherapeutic treatment (magnetic field therapy, UHF, shock wave therapy, mud therapy).If you have problems with the spine, physiotherapy on the shoulder blade area is an essential part of the therapy.Manipulations relieve pain and reduce inflammation.Such methods cannot be used in tumor or infectious diseases with pus formation;
- Massage, manual therapy.Used only for pain caused by pinched nerve roots or damage to the vertebrae.Impacts on the spine help to stretch it and relax the muscles;
- Compresses, lotions.Dimexide (1:3), alcohol (1:1) are used in proportions with water.Compresses relieve unpleasant sensations and relieve inflammation.Soak the gauze with the prepared infusion, wrap it in cellophane and leave for two hours.Apply gel or ointment after the procedure.
Diseases of internal organs are treated in a different way, taking into account the stage of development of the pathology.In each individual case, the doctor selects an individual course of therapy.Self-medication is harmful to health, even life-threatening.
Prevention measures
It is important not to prevent the symptoms themselves, but to prevent the causes that caused them.
Expert recommendations:
- Get regular massages;
- avoid excessive physical activity, but light exercise has a positive effect on the muscle corset;
- avoid drafts and hypothermia;
- Eat right and try to give up bad habits.
An important role is played by timely contact with a specialist if there is pain between the shoulder blades.Pathological changes do not form in one day.The sooner you start treatment, the greater the likelihood of complete recovery and the risk of irreparable consequences for the body is minimized.