Back pain in the shoulder area is a very common complaint among patients belonging to a wide variety of age groups. Such a problem impedes breathing and creates serious obstacles to physical activity, work or simple movement.
Patients rarely pay due attention to recurrent shoulder pain. However, this symptom is an "awakening" of serious changes not only in the musculoskeletal system, but also in the complex of internal organs. Such conditions can threaten the patient with disability and death.
Next, the most common causes of shoulder pain and modern treatment techniques will be examined.
The most common reasons
The shoulders are located at the back of the back at a short distance from the arm and the key. These paired bones, triangular in shape, form part of the frame on which the muscles responsible for shoulder mobility are attached. This is why back pain in the shoulder area interferes with normal life, interferes with the ability to work and poses a serious health risk.
Why does the back hurt in the shoulder area? According to medical statistics, such problems are most often caused by injuries and damage to the elements of the cervical and thoracic spine. Severe pain syndrome can be observed due to pathological changes caused by scoliosis or osteochondropathy, as well as the following reasons:
- diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- intercostal neuralgia;
- scapular periarthritis?
- disc herniation in the thoracic spine.
- deforming spondylitis.
- scoliosis, kyphoscoliosis and other curvature of the spine.
- one or two kidney failure.
If the back hurts in the shoulder area, the causes can be diseases, tumors and injuries of the mediastinum, shingles, intercostal neuralgia, liver dysfunction, various pathologies of the pleura and lungs, as well as the lungs and lungs. on a background of chronic diseases. At risk are drivers, clerks, seamstresses and representatives of other professions associated with long stays in a position.
Pain in the back left and below the shoulders
Back pain under the shoulders often occurs due to osteochondrosis, various forms of squatting and scoliosis. If a teenager has a disturbed normal posture, he needs a complete diagnosis, properly selected prevention and treatment. Otherwise, it can develop pathologies and deformities that are difficult to treat and affect normal life.
Spine pain associated with the causes listed above usually manifests itself in the form of severe discomfort that occurs after physical exercise. It is best to treat scoliosis and other curvatures of the spine through massage, as well as manual and osteopathic effects. Pain syndrome, located in the area of the left shoulder, is a serious risk, as such symptoms may indicate an attack of angina and the development of coronary heart disease.
If pain in the left side of the back in the shoulder area is accompanied by increased fatigue, shortness of breath, weakness and slight swelling of the face and ankles, you should consult a doctor immediately. Another cause of pain in the left shoulder blade can be a disc herniation. At risk are people who are forced to be in an awkward position for a long time, driving a vehicle or working on a computer.
If the pain is slightly annoying, you can limit yourself to using an ointment with a warming or analgesic effect, however, in case of an exacerbation, the patient is advised to stay in bed.
The treatment of intervertebral hernia of the thoracic region includes the method of traction, manual therapy, reflexology, exercise therapy and a course of therapeutic massage. Pharmaceutical methods of treating such pathologies are currently unknown in conservative medicine. With surgery, the chance of a positive outcome is relatively low and is about 30-35%.
At the same time, many patients experience relapses over a period of 10 months to several years.
Pain in the muscles of the back below the shoulders and in one shoulder
Pain in the muscles between the shoulders is usually seen in professional weightlifters and people who, due to the nature of their activities, experience high physical exertion. Causes of muscle pain between the shoulders can be:
- various injuries and bruises.
- stretching of the tendons;
- overexertion at work or exercise in the gym.
If a scapula hurts a lot, the pathology can be caused by myopathy, neuroinfection, paralysis of the anterior dentate gyrus, trapezius or rhomboid muscles, various deformities of the shoulder joints, tuberculosis of the scapula or osteomyelitis and osteomyelitis.
Stomach Ulcer
Pain syndrome, located in the shoulder area, often indicates the presence of such a dangerous disease as a stomach ulcer. In such a case, the discomfort and discomfort may spread along the thoracic spine, extending the nipple and scapula on the left side. The pain increases gradually and is characterized by seasonality and periodicity, receding after emptying the contents of the stomach causing vomiting. In addition, most patients experience symptoms such as belching, salivation and heartburn.
It's interesting! By piercing the peptic ulcer during even a small activity, the level of discomfort increases greatly and to get rid of it, the patient must take a forced position on his back or right side, pressing his hips to the abdomen. This phenomenon is accompanied by increased excitement, fear attacks, as well as unbearable pain syndrome, which radiates to the area above the key.
Abscesses and muscular spasms of the bile ducts
Cutting and stabbing pain on the right side just below the shoulders is often caused by obstruction of the gallbladder stones. As a result, there are colic, severe pain syndrome and the following symptoms:
- the presence of sensations of "tearing" in the right hypochondrium.
- sudden onset of pain;
- nervousness, irritability;
- radiating pain in the eyes, jaw, neck and right shoulder.
The pain syndrome, which is located above the waist in the area of the right shoulder, may be due to a subdiaphragmatic abscess, which is characterized by very intense discomfort on inhalation, increased body temperature and pain radiating to the right shoulder. With an inflammatory process in the kidneys (nephritis, pyelonephritis), there is pain in the area of the right shoulder and in the lower back with frequent urination, which causes a series of painful sensations.
Mental problems
Pain in the spine between the shoulders is often caused by various psychological problems. In such a case, the discomfort is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:
- feeling short of breath;
- feeling of a lump in the throat;
- paranoid thoughts, fear without motivation.
- the appearance of cold chills and heat in the chest.
- feeling of pressure, weight and contraction.
In case of mental problems, there is often an unpleasant feeling that the heart "bleeds" or jumps out of the chest and the back in the shoulder area also burns. Many patients experience chills, inner agitation and anxiety, leading to panic attacks.
Intercostal neuralgia and osteochondrosis of the cervical region
The pain located under the shoulder, in the case of intercostal neuralgia, has a paroxysmal zone character and is intensified by palpation, physical activity, walking and coughing fits. In some cases, such symptoms are accompanied by excessive muscle tension, there is also a burning sensation, tingling and loss of sensation.
With osteochondrosis and Bechterew's disease, the pain syndrome often worsens at night, depriving the patient of sleep and causing great muscle tension in the morning.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the following symptoms are observed:
- dizziness;
- increased pain in case of sudden bending or extension of the neck.
- hallucinations in the area of the shoulder girdle.
- radiating pain in the hand or head.
Osteochondrosis can be recognized by unilateral dull pain in the occipital region. The discomfort usually increases in the morning, causing early awakening and creating many problems for the patient. To relieve an attack of cervical osteochondrosis, a hot bath or various medications are used, which are selected exclusively according to the doctor's instructions.
During pregnancy
In women during pregnancy, the load on the spine increases, therefore, a significant percentage of expectant mothers complain of back pain, including the shoulder area. Pain in fractures and burns, as well as numbness in the shoulder area, are often associated with changes in the hormonal background, which also affects the exacerbation of chronic diseases such as osteochondrosis.
For preventive purposes, some doctors recommend women to use supportive corsets at the end of the trimester of pregnancy and a postpartum bandage, which reduces the load on the spine and allows the child to maintain the correct position.
Other reasons
Back pain in the shoulders can be caused by angina or myocardial infarction. Pain syndrome usually occurs against a background of intense physical exertion and has a twisting character. Unpleasant sensations are common throughout the upper left half of the body and getting rid of them with the help of vasodilator drugs will not work.
In such a case, it is necessary to eliminate the negative symptoms in a clinical hospital, where the patient is prescribed specially selected analgesic drugs and supportive drugs.
Diagnosis and treatment
Before taking steps to get rid of the pain syndrome located in the shoulder area, it is necessary to determine the cause of the resulting pathology. In case of back pain between the shoulders, which is accompanied by sensations of pulling and twisting, and burns and burns on the chest, you should immediately consult a doctor. The doctor will choose the best diagnostic method, such as:
- Chest and spine x-ray.
- Ultrasound;
- electrocardiogram;
- Computed tomography.
Manual therapy in many cases shows positive results and allows you to strengthen both the lumbar and upper back, as well as to make more elastic the muscle tissues that support the spine. Osteopathy and reflexology help to activate regenerative processes and local metabolism. It is worth strengthening the muscles regularly by performing an individually selected set of therapeutic exercise exercises.