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 methods of investigation it is almost impossible to make a correct diagnosis.
Back pain between the shoulder blades can be of the most diverse nature.
Provoking factors and nature of pain
Pain syndrome in the region of the shoulder blades can be quite diverse, and the ability to accurately determine its nature has great diagnostic value. Consider the possible characteristics of this symptom:
- By duration - acute or chronic.
- By intensity: pain, strong or weak.
- By nature: pressing, cramping, stabbing or cutting.
- Additional sensations may also occur: a feeling of fullness, tingling, numbness, heaviness in the back, pins and needles.
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 a sedentary lifestyle.
- Blows to the spine and various injuries.
- Jumping from a height, lifting a weight sharply, running fast, that is, physical exercise performed by an untrained person.
- Very low general fitness level.
- The presence of chronic diseases of the stomach and heart in history.
- Sedentary work.
- Pathology of the thoracic organs.
All these factors do not always cause back pain between the left and right shoulder blades. Only when certain circumstances coincide does the pathology arise 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.
Diseases of the spine in the thoracic region:
- Kyphosis. This is a disease that causes the spine to curve backwards. At the initial stage, a person simply has a stoop, and at the final stage - a vertebral hump. This pathology, as a rule, appears in childhood due to the incorrect 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 a characteristic visible curvature of the spine.
- Scoliosis is another disease associated with deformation of the spine. With it, the spine bends to the right or left. The reason is the constant incorrect position of the body. Pain syndrome in this disease occurs due to overstrain of the muscles that bend the spine and compression of the nerves. The pain is periodic pain in nature, there may be a feeling of numbness.
- spondyloarthrosis. 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 bone outgrowths. The pain syndrome is constant, sometimes colicky and sharp, localized in the back between the right and left shoulder blades.
- Kyphoscoliosis. This pathology is a combination of kyphosis and scoliosis in the same patient. That is, the spine curves backwards and to the left or right. The pain can be localized in the area of the shoulder blades.
- disc herniationThis is one of the most complex diseases of the musculoskeletal system. It is manifested by the protrusion of the content 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 leads to pain in the back 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, 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, without a doubt, there will be pain in the spine in the area between the right and left shoulder blades.
A disease, the characteristic 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 an inflammation of the spinal nerves as a result of damage, compression, irritation, or infringement. In most cases, this disease is the result of certain disorders in the spine: curvature, progression of osteochondrosis, displacement of the vertebrae, etc. If the root of the spine 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 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. Pain syndrome can be localized both between the right and left scapula, and along the intercostal nerve, with a waist character.
Diseases of the mediastinum and chest:
- Cardiac ischemia. As a result of a number of reasons (atherosclerosis, spasm of the coronary vessels, thrombosis, etc. ), the normal blood flow through the coronary vessels is disrupted, as a result of which the heart experiences oxygen starvation, which provokes burning. pain behind the sternum during exercise. Also, the pain can be localized in the region of the thoracic spine, give to the left arm and shoulder blade.
- Pleuritis. Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura (the membrane that surrounds the lung). If the damaged area of the lung is closer to the right spine, 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 a section of the heart muscle as a result of an acute circulatory disorder. The pain is very intense and sharp. Located in the region of the heart. It may also be located in the thoracic spine and below the left shoulder blade and radiate to the left clavicle and arm.
- Subdiaphragmatic abscess. The pain, as a rule, is localized between the shoulder blades, below them or further 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 localized 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.
- 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, 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, so 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 visiting a medical center, as the cause can be very serious and require urgent treatment.