Pain in the area of scapula

The back hurts and it is difficult to walk. It seems that someone has driven the stake between the shoulder blades. You have to hump and move slowly and carefully.

The pain in the back, and especially in the field of scapula, is today a fairly common phenomenon. The truth can not be described as the group of people most often prone to pain in the back - pain in the area of the shoulder blades can be observed both in old people and in young people.

What to do if it hurts between the shoulder blades? What exactly hurts, how to treat it and how it can affect the functioning of the body? What leads to painful sensations and what suffers in this case? These and other questions are answered in this article.

Causes of pain in the scapula

Back pain, especially in the scapula area, is not only a very common concept, but also multifaceted in determining the source of pain and the nature of the disease. If you have pain in the area of the shoulder blades, this does not mean that the muscles or the spine ache, because soreness in other organs can give to the upper back of the back and thus manifest as pain in the area of the scapula.

However, pain in the area of the shoulder blades is usually divided into such types as pain under one of the scapula or under both at once, pain in the scapula and pain in the scapula themselves, that is, in the bones.

However, at home, it is difficult to determine the exact disease and the cause of pain in the area of the scapula. Presumptive disease can be established by a set of characteristic symptoms and the location of the focus of pain.

So what can be provoked by pain in the scapula? The most common cause of pain in the upper body torso may be lack of physical activity, low activity or sedentary work, back injuries such as bumps or falls, bruises or fracture of the scapula. Also, irregular physical activity (exercise in the gym or swimming pool) or their complete absence is shown ill. However, even if you are still engaged in the gym, you can not overdo it, because excessive loads can also cause pain in the back.

Read also: Pain in the muscles of the scapula

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What are the scapula and where are they located?

Shoulders, as written in the textbooks on anatomy, are triangular bones connecting the humerus with the clavicles. In the human body there are two of them, they are located in the upper half of the torso from the back. To each blade are attached 17 muscles.

Symptoms of pain in the scapula

If the pain in the scapula is still there, it is interesting to determine what kind of disease it can talk about. Pain in the scapular region is one of the most common symptoms in the development of such diseases:

• kyphosis, scoliosis or kyphoscoliosis - varieties of curvature of the spine;
• osteochondrosis of the spine in the thoracic region;
• spondylarthrosis;
• a hernia or protrusion of the intervertebral disc in the region of the breast;
• sciatica of the upper part of the trunk;
• periarthrosis in the shoulder or shoulder area;
• ischemic heart disease or angina pectoris;
• neuralgia in the intercostal space;
• pathology of mediastinal organs;
• infectious diseases;
• pathology of the pleura or lungs;
• bruises and other types of trauma to the spine in the neck and chest;
• diseases of connective tissue in conjunction with the characteristics of professional activity.

Pain in the area of the left scapula

Pain in the area of the left scapula can be caused by various factors and diseases. The most common reasons for the appearance of unpleasant sensations in the area of the scapula on the left are called by physicians:

• heartburn - pain in the left shoulder region appears during or after a meal;
• psychological problems, which cause pain, burning, squeezing of the heart, burning sensation in the chest. Pain sensations can migrate into the arm or under the shoulder blade;
• myocardial infarction - with a dull, aching pain in the scapular region. It can fend off both under the shoulder blade, and in the left arm, neck, back, jaw. If the pain has not disappeared after taking medications with vasodilator action, such as nitroglycerin or Validol, then most likely you have myocardial infarction;
• osteochondrosis of cervical vertebrae - pain from occiput to middle of back, observed mainly in the morning after waking up;
• intercostal neuralgia - pain paroxysmal, observed mainly in intercostal spaces. Occurs during physical activity, as well as with the active work of the respiratory tract;
• stomach ulcer - when the ulcer opens, pain can be observed under both shoulder blades, as well as in the clavicle region. The cause of pain in the area of the scapula on the left is the abnormal operation of the nerve endings of the diaphragm.

Pain in the region of the right scapula

Also, as pain in the left shoulder region, pain in the right shoulder region may be a symptom of various diseases. There are at least 4 diseases that are displayed by pain in the region of the right scapula:

• spasmodic gallbladder or ducts - occurs due to blockage of their stone. Causes very strong painful sensations, stitching, cutting, tearing, which come from the right hypochondrium. Soreness can give to the right eye, jaw, neck, shoulder or shoulder blade. Often there is nausea or vomiting. The patient tries to constantly change the position to reduce pain, constantly screams;
• sub-diaphragmatic abscess - a symptom is acute, very severe pain in the area of the right shoulder blade or shoulder. There may also be a rapid increase in temperature or leukocytosis;
• nephritis or pyelonephritis - give pain not only in the lumbar region, but also in the area of the scapula on the right, the hypochondrium, the ileum. A characteristic symptom is also frequent, painful or difficult urination;
• cholelithiasis - severe pain in the scapula area on the right as a symptom is found here less often. However, the pain can be cutting, pricking, sharp, spreading from the right side of the back to the jaw.

Pain in the scapula - pain in the bones

Sometimes pain in the scapula can be caused by problems in the bones themselves. Pain in the shoulder blades most often occurs due to injuries to the back or neck. Such injuries can be obtained due to falls, accidents and other troubles. A spatula as a result of a fall on the elbow or a straight arm may be broken, and sometimes the parts of the broken shoulder can also touch the muscles. The pain in this case can be sharp, sharp, appearing at movement, active work of hands. If the fracture of the scapula occurred, the fracture site will be swollen, slightly swollen.

The change in the shape of the scapula in medicine is called the pterygoid scapula. It occurs as a result of paralysis of muscles - rhomboid, trapezoidal or anterior dentate. Muscle paralysis occurs due to myopathy, neuroinfections or other nerve damage. The pterygoid scapula may also appear due to permanent bruises of the forearms, face and other injuries of the long thoracic nerve. Such problems are most often observed among circus performers and athletes.

Sometimes the pain in the area of the scapula can be felt in conjunction with the pokruskivaniem shoulder joints. Such an organism reaction is observed in a disease called a scapular crunch.

Also, acute pain in the area of the scapula is observed with open bone damage. For example - with a bullet wound. It is accompanied by a general intoxication of the body.

What if the blade area hurts?

Diagnosis of pain in the field of scapula is not an easy task, as, as previously described, many pains can lead to painful sensations in this area. To determine the disease, it is still necessary to consult a doctor, since a lot of research is required to establish an accurate diagnosis. Perhaps, as in most cases, the pain in the area of the shoulder blades was caused by deformations (stretching or bruising) of the muscles, however, in order to avoid more serious diseases, the doctor needs to conduct an examination of internal organs, the diseases of which can cause unpleasant sensations in the back.

Treatment of pain in the scapula

In accordance with the established disease, treatment, of course, is different. However, still the most common are pain associated with the work of the muscles, so it is worth considering the treatment of this particular direction.

With pain in the area of scapula caused by muscle injuries, there is a burning sensation or heaviness between the shoulder blades. Most often for the removal of such painful sensations, it is only necessary to make a few strokes with your hands or with several circular movements of the shoulders. If such manipulations do not yield the desired result and continue to ache under the shoulder blades, moreover, it still gives to the heart area, then it's possible that you have problems with the spine or with the heart itself and it's worth asking the doctors for help.

Pain in the area of the scapula associated with disruption of the work or position of the muscles is found most often by people leading a sedentary lifestyle, as well as those who, in the specifics of their work, spend most of the day in the same position - employees of offices, banks , programmers, seamstresses and so on. As a result of daily work, the back muscles of these people weaken, lose elasticity, which leads to violations of posture.

Spinal curvatures are fraught with the development of other, more dangerous deformities of internal organs. Therefore, the best treatment in this situation is to call daily exercise, as well as performing simple exercises for warming up the shoulder girdle throughout the day. Also, if possible, go swimming or go to the gym to strengthen your muscles and keep them toned.

None of the above diseases, unfortunately, can not be cured at home and you still need to seek help from medical professionals who will establish an accurate diagnosis and designate the necessary and effective complex of physiotherapeutic and medical procedures and medicines in your case .

You can be prescribed such therapeutic procedures as electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, various methods of electrotherapy, ultrasound therapy, manual or reflexotherapy, sanitation and spa treatment. All these methods are aimed at removing the main symptoms, pain, but do not remove the root cause of pain in the area of the scapula.

If you suddenly had pain in the area of scapula - it is initially worth contacting such physicians as a traumatologist, cardiologist, rheumatologist and neurologist. They will indicate the cause of the pain in the back. When establishing the disease and prescribing treatment, you may need the help of a chiropractor or a massage specialist.

How to prevent pain in the scapula?

The most effective prevention of pain in the field of scapulae experts call active lifestyle, sports. It is also important to monitor your own emotional state, hormonal background, nutrition. Keep your posture, do not grieve.

It is also recommended to undergo a full medical examination once a year in order to prevent and detect various diseases of the internal organs at the initial stage.

Remember that it is very important to monitor your own organism, for loads, habits and so on, in order to avoid most diseases. In order for your life never to have pain in the area of the shoulder blades, also watch for your sleep - always go to bed in the right conditions, preferably on a hard surface that does not bend.

Love yourself, your body and periodically shake it in the form of moderate physical exertion.