Pain in the shoulder blades

Болит спина и трудно ходить. Кажется, что кто-то загнал кол между лопаток. Приходится некрасиво горбиться и передвигаться медленно и аккуратно.

Back pain, and especially in the area of ​​the shoulder blades, is quite common today. True, it is impossible to characterize the group of people most often susceptible to back pain – pain in the shoulder blades can be observed in both old people and young people.

Что же делать, если болит меж лопаток? What exactly hurts, how to treat it and how can it affect the functioning of the body? What leads to painful sensations and what suffers in this case? You will find answers to these and other questions in this article.

Причины боли в области лопаток

Back pain, and especially in the area of ​​the shoulder blades, is not only a very common concept, but also quite 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 it is the muscles or spine that are hurting, since pain in other organs can radiate to the upper back and thus manifest itself as pain in the area of ​​the shoulder blades.

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

Однако в домашних условиях точно заболевание и причину возникновения боли в области лопаток определить довольно трудно. Предположительное заболевание может быть установлено по набору характерных симптомов и месту расположения очага боли.

So what can cause pain in the shoulder blades? The most common cause of pain in the upper torso may be lack of physical activity, inactive or sedentary work, back injuries such as blows or falls, bruises or fractures of the scapula. Irregular physical activity (workouts in the gym or swimming pool) or its complete absence are also bad for your health. However, even if you do work out at the gym, you should not overdo it, since excessive exercise can also cause back pain.

Что такое лопатки и где они располагаются

The shoulder blades, as written in anatomy textbooks, are triangular bones connecting the humerus to the collarbones. There are two of them in the human body, they are located in the upper half of the torso from the back. There are 17 muscles attached to each shoulder blade.

Symptoms of pain in the shoulder blades

If pain in the shoulder blades does occur, it is interesting to determine what kind of disease this may indicate. Pain in the shoulder blades is one of the most common symptoms in the development of such diseases:

• kyphosis, scoliosis or kyphoscoliosis – types of spinal curvature;
• остеохондроз позвоночника в грудном отделе;
• spondyloarthrosis;
• herniation or protrusion of the intervertebral disc in the chest area;
• радикулит верхней части туловища;
• periarthrosis in the shoulder or shoulder blades;
• coronary heart disease or angina pectoris;
• невралгия в межреберном пространстве;
• pathology of the mediastinal organs;
• infectious diseases;
• патологии плевры либо легких;
• bruises and other types of spinal injuries in the neck and chest area;
• connective tissue diseases in combination with characteristics of professional activity.

Боль в области левой лопатки

Боль в области левой лопатки может быть вызвана различными факторами и болезнями. Наиболее частыми причинами возникновения неприятных ощущений в области лопатки слева медики называют:

• heartburn – pain in the left shoulder blade appears during or after eating;
• psychological problems resulting in pain, burning, squeezing of the heart, a feeling of burning in the chest. Pain may migrate to the arm or under the shoulder blade;
• myocardial infarction – in this case there is a dull, aching pain in the scapula area. She can fight both under the shoulder blade and in the left arm, neck, back, jaw. If the pain does not disappear after taking medications with a vasodilator effect, such as nitroglycerin or validol, then most likely you have a myocardial infarction;
• остеохондроз шейных позвонков – боль от затылка до средины спины, наблюдается в основном в утреннее время после пробуждения;
• intercostal neuralgia – paroxysmal pain, observed mainly in the intercostal spaces. Occurs during physical activity, as well as during 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 area of ​​the collarbones. The cause of pain in the left shoulder blade area may be improper functioning of the nerve endings of the diaphragm.

Pain in the right shoulder blade

Just like pain in the left shoulder blade, pain in the right shoulder blade can be a symptom of various diseases. There are at least 4 diseases that are indicated by pain in the area of ​​the right shoulder blade:

• spasm of the gallbladder or ducts – occurs due to blockage with a stone. Causes very strong pain, stabbing, cutting, tearing, which comes from the right hypochondrium. Soreness may radiate to the right eye, jaw, neck, shoulder, or shoulder blade. Nausea or vomiting often occurs. The patient tries to constantly change position to reduce pain, constantly screams;
• subphrenic abscess – the symptom is acute, very severe pain in the area of ​​the right shoulder blade or shoulder. A rapid increase in temperature or leukocytosis may also be observed;
• nephritis or pyelonephritis – pain is felt not only in the lumbar girdle, but also in the area of ​​the scapula on the right, hypochondrium, and iliac region. A characteristic symptom is also frequent, painful or difficult urination;
• cholelithiasis – severe pain in the area of ​​the scapula on the right as a symptom is less common here. However, the pain can be cutting, stabbing, sharp, spreading from the right side of the back to the jaw.

Pain in the shoulder blades – pain in the bones

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

Изменение формы лопатки в медицине называется крыловидной лопаткой. Возникает в результате паралича мышц – ромбовидной, трапецевидной либо передней зубчатой. Паралич мышц возникает из-за миопатии, нейроинфекций или других повреждений нервов. Крыловидная лопатка может также появиться вследствие постоянных ушибов предплечий, забоев и других повреждений длинного грудного нерва. Такие проблемы чаще всего наблюдаются у артистов цирка и спортсменов.

Sometimes pain in the area of ​​the shoulder blades can be felt in combination with crunching of the shoulder joints. This reaction of the body is observed in a disease called scapular crunch.

Также острая боль в области лопаток наблюдается при открытом повреждение кости. Например – при пулевом ранении. Сопровождается общей интоксикацией организма.

Что делать, если болит область лопаток

Diagnosing pain in the shoulder blade area is not an easy task, since, as previously described, many diseases can lead to pain in this area. To determine the disease, you should still consult a doctor, since establishing an accurate diagnosis requires many studies. It is possible, as in most cases, that pain in the area of ​​the shoulder blades was caused by deformations (sprains or bruises) of the muscles, however, in order to avoid more serious diseases, the doctor needs to conduct an examination of the internal organs, diseases of which can cause discomfort in the back.

Лечение боли в области лопаток

В соответствии с установленным заболеванием лечение, конечно же, разное. Однако, все же наиболее часто встречаются именно боли, связанные с работой мышц, потому стоит рассмотреть лечение именно этого направления.

При боли в области лопаток, вызванной травмами мышц, ощущается жжение либо тяжесть между лопатками. Чаще всего для снятия подобных болевых ощущений необходимо всего-навсего сделать несколько взмахов руками либо несколько круговых движений плечами. Если подобные манипуляции нужного результата не дали и под лопатками продолжает болеть, к тому же еще отдает в район сердца, то возможно у вас проблемы с позвоночником либо с самим сердцем и стоит обратиться к врачам за помощью.

Pain in the area of ​​the shoulder blades, associated with dysfunction or position of the muscles, occurs most often in people leading a sedentary lifestyle, as well as in those who, due to the specifics of their work, spend most of the day in the same position – these are office workers, banks , programmers, seamstresses and so on. As a result of daily work, the back muscles of these people weaken and lose elasticity, which leads to poor posture.

Curvatures of the spine are fraught with the development of other, more dangerous deformations of internal organs. Therefore, the best treatment in this situation is daily exercise, as well as performing simple exercises to warm up the shoulder girdle throughout the day. Also, if possible, go swimming or go to the gym to strengthen your muscles and keep them in good shape.

Ни одно из указанных выше заболеваний, к превеликому сожалению, нельзя вылечить в домашних условиях и вам все же придется обратиться за помощью к медицинским работникам, которые установят точный диагноз и назначат нужный и эффективный именно в вашем случае комплекс физиотерапевтических и медицинских процедур и лекарств.

You may be prescribed therapeutic procedures such as electrophoresis, magnetic therapy, various methods of electrotherapy, ultrasound therapy, manual or reflexology, and sanitary spa treatment. All these methods are aimed at relieving the main symptoms and pain, but do not remove the root cause of pain in the shoulder blades.

If you suddenly have pain in the shoulder blades, you should initially contact doctors such as a traumatologist, cardiologist, rheumatologist and neurologist. They will indicate the cause of back pain. When diagnosing a disease and prescribing treatment, you may need the help of a chiropractor or massage specialist.

How to prevent shoulder blade pain

Experts say the most effective way to prevent pain in the shoulder blades is to lead an active lifestyle and play sports. It is also important to monitor your own emotional state, hormonal levels, and nutrition. Maintain your posture, don’t hunch over.

Рекомендуется также раз в год проходить полный медицинский осмотр, дабы предупредить и выявить различные заболевания внутренних органов на начальном этапе.

Remember that it is very important to monitor your own body, exercise, habits, and so on, in order to avoid most diseases. To ensure that pain in the shoulder blade area never appears in your life, also watch your sleep – always go to bed in the right conditions, preferably on a hard surface that does not sag.

Love yourself, your body and periodically give it a shake-up in the form of moderate physical activity.