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 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 different nature.
Precipitating factors and nature of pain
The pain syndrome in the area of the shoulder blades can be quite different, and the ability to accurately determine its nature is of great diagnostic value. Consider the possible characteristics of this symptom:
- During - acute or chronic.
- With intensity - pain, strong or weak.
- By nature - pressing, cramping, stabbing or cutting.
- Additional sensations may also appear: 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 examine them in more detail.
- Leading a sedentary lifestyle.
- Spinal taps and various injuries.
- Jumping from a height, sudden weight lifting, fast running, eg physical exercise performed by an untrained person.
- Very low level of general fitness.
- The presence of chronic diseases of the stomach and heart in the history.
- Sedentary work.
- Pathology of the chest organs.
All these factors do not always cause back pain between the left and right shoulder blades. Only when certain circumstances coincide, pathology appears 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? " is of interest to many people. Consider the pathologies in which this symptom may be a manifestation.
Diseases of the spine in the thoracic region:
- Kyphosis. This is a disease that causes the spine to curve backwards. In the initial stage, a person has just a stoop, and in the final stage, a vertebral bulge. This pathology, as a rule, appears in childhood due to the wrong position of the body when sitting at a desk and writing. The disease manifests itself with constant pain in the area of the shoulder blades and characteristic visible curvature of the spine.
- Scoliosis is another disease associated with spinal deformity. With this, the spine 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 overstrain of the muscles that bend the spine and compression of the nerves. The pain is intermittent in nature, there may be a feeling of numbness.
- Vertebral joint. This disease belongs to the group of degenerative-dystrophic pathologies affecting the spine. It is manifested by the destruction of the intervertebral joints, resulting in the formation of bone spurs. The pain syndrome is constant, sometimes with cramps and acute, located 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 backwards and to the left or to the right. The pain can be located 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 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 roots of the spinal cord 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 injury of the spine. When hitting, falling from a height, traffic accidents, damage to the spine of various degrees of severity 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. Radicitis is an 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. If the spinal root is damaged, inflammation and swelling develop and, as a result, pain occurs in the area between the shoulder blades and along the damaged nerve. The patient may also complain of a feeling of numbness or burning in the same area.
- 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 located both between the right and left shoulder blades, as well as along the intercostal nerve, with a zonal character.
Diseases of the mediastinum and chest:
- Cardiac ischemia. As a result of many reasons (atherosclerosis, spasm of the coronary vessels, thrombosis, etc. ), the normal flow of blood through the coronary vessels is disturbed, as a result of which the heart faces a lack of oxygen, which leads to burning pain behind the sternum byduring the exercise. Also, the pain can be located in the region of the thoracic spine, give to the left arm and 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, then the pain can be located in the back near the shoulder blades. Body temperature also rises and weakness occurs.
- Myocardial infarction. It is necrosis of part of the heart muscle as a result of an acute circulatory disorder. The pain is very intense and sharp. It is located in the heart area. It can also be located in the thoracic spine and below 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 has arisen on the right side of the diaphragm). He has a sharp character. This raises the body temperature.
Diseases of other organs:
- Pyelonephritis. This is a purulent inflammation of the kidneys. The pain syndrome is located in the lumbar region, below the shoulder blade and can radiate to the thoracic spine. Against this background, the body temperature rises, there are frequent painful urges to urinate, chills.
- Polio 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 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, then you do not need to postpone going to a medical facility, as the cause may be very serious and require urgent treatment.