People have linked back pain in the scapula area to conditions of the spine. But upper back pain is sometimes caused by diseases of the heart, blood vessels and respiratory system, and upper abdomen. Pain is deceptive, it's confined to one place, such as in the chest, it can radiate to the back, so people think it's pain in the spine. Listen to the sensations, understand the nature of the pain, possible symptoms, and you can try to differentiate between spinal and mediastinal disorders. To do this, you need to know which diseases can cause back pain.
form
Back pain between the shoulder blades is essentially:
- Acute form - feeling rising, getting stronger over time, passing fast enough;
- Chronic pain, chronic worry that doesn't stop until corrective action is taken.
Pain may occur after exercise or when you are in a forced position for an extended period of time (eg, sleeping without a pillow). Pain of any nature: Severe pain, soreness, dull pain between the shoulder blades is not a disease but a symptom of certain diseases. Therefore, before starting any treatment, it is advisable to find out what is causing the back pain between the shoulder blades.
No need to run to get your medicine right away, first you have to see a doctor. The specialist will assess the nature of the pain, establish a diagnosis and help answer the question of why the back pain between the shoulder blades. Spinal injuries are not worth struggling with because if a person falls, the cause of the pain in the spine between the shoulder blades is clear. And when patients complain of pain of unknown etiology, doctors link these disorders to the disc.
have a hernia
Intervertebral hernias are rarely confined to the thoracic spine. This part of the spine does not carry large loads. But for this reason, sometimes there is still pain in the spine between the shoulder blades. To rule out this possibility, it is worth contacting a neurologist and doing research - CT, MRI.
With a hernia, a pathological process occurs between the vertebrae - part of the intervertebral disc sticks out, pinching the nerve.
Ruptured intervertebral disc, the core that acts as a shock absorber slammed into it because now the weight is not distributed correctly, nerves are injured, back pain in the scapula area. If this pathology is detected during examination, it will be treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Doctors will prescribe exercise therapy, physical therapy. If the hernia is large and incurable, surgery is required.
A distinguishing feature of hernia pain is sharp pain in the same area when the chest is irradiated, as if the heart is tingling. If left untreated for a long time, bending, numbness of the legs, and imbalance of the pelvic organs can occur. In addition, patients are often plagued by chronic pain between the shoulder blades in the back.
Hypothermia and overwork of the spinal muscles
You can often hear patients have "lower back pain. "It is a symptom or pathological condition, not a disease. But if there is "low back pain", it indicates the risk of osteochondrosis, scoliosis, hernia. People who work several hours a day without changing their body position can feel this back pain in the scapula area.
At-risk groups are occupational representatives: office workers, tailors, dentists, drivers, surgeons. Work related to forced posture, combined with low temperature - airflow or air conditioning, reacts to the muscles and spine, spinal pain. Treat with non-steroidal drugs, ointments, massage. Show precautions to those who encounter such situations:
- regular massage sessions;
- yoga or exercise therapy;
- Avoid hypothermia and drafts;
- Walk more.
The unpleasant symptoms associated with low back pain can be avoided by a preventive approach.
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a very common disease. Statistics show that 60% of 100 people suffer from this disease. The thoracic region is more commonly involved in scoliosis. Causes of Scoliosis:
- Congenital diseases related to the development of the skeletal system and ligamentous organs;
- sedentary work;
- Injury, when the load on the back becomes hysterical.
With scoliosis, the back hurts between the shoulder blades and the spine begins to curve. The initial stage is almost imperceptible, but if the disease progresses, the vertebral body distortion is clearly visible. Backs with this condition get tired very quickly, and the patient's shoulders are at different levels during the visual examination.
The pain is located in the back between the shoulder blades and occurs behind the breastbone. By the nature of the pain, it is constant, just like pain, but if physical overload occurs, the pain can be intense and intense.
Treatment time for the disease is longer. Scoliosis is corrected by stretching the vertebrae with a special corset on the back. The doctor prescribed massage and exercise therapy. Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory therapy will help reduce back pain between the shoulder blades.
have osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is now found even in children who have not reached puberty. Recently it has been suggested that this is a disease of the elderly.
In any case, the cause of osteochondrosis is - inactivity. There are joint changes in the spine, that is, malnutrition. During this process, inflammation begins and the nerves of the disc are pinched. This is why the back hurts in the scapula area.
Pain is natural—they can get very intense when you ache, sneeze, stand up suddenly, or cough.
The patient is immobile, has difficulty breathing, and has weakness, numbness, and inability to move in the upper extremities. For osteochondrosis, they will prescribe intramuscular injections, oral anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as distraction creams, pain relievers, and special exercises to heat the affected area. To prevent disease - activity and exercise.
Manifestations of intercostal neuralgia
The cause of intercostal neuralgia is compression of the nerve roots in the thoracic spine. The culprits in this condition are injuries, infectious diseases, osteochondrosis, and back strain. For neuralgia, the spine between the shoulder blades rarely hurts, and the side of the sternum between the ribs often hurts, but in some cases it hurts and whines at the shoulder blades. Pain is exacerbated if you press your hand on your breastbone.
The treatments will be: physiotherapy, acupuncture, B vitamins, which restore the nerve structure. If the disease worsens, then they are prescribed neocaine blockers, sedatives and distracting creams.
Manifestations of myositis
Myositis occurs with cold, overworked spinal muscles, injuries, and hypothermia. Inflammatory processes in muscles occur in both acute and chronic phases. The back can be injured in various areas and the spine between the shoulder blades, as can the lower back. Pain is pain in nature and is exacerbated by any movement. What should I do if I have myositis? Pain relievers and warm ointments can help.
Manifestations of spondyloarthropathy
Manifestationally, the disease resembles osteochondrosis, where spinal pain between the shoulder blades is chronic and the load on the back is exacerbated. Also, as the disease progresses, the scapula can take more damage. The hallmark of spondyloarthropathy is the destruction of the cartilage of the vertebrae, which is replaced by bone. During diagnosis, these changes are seen on X-rays or MRIs, and if we examine the affected vertebrae, there are bony protrusions on them.
Treatment is complex. First, the pain is relieved - it can be analgesics, NSAIDs, neocaine blockers.
Prescribes magnetic therapy and electrophoresis, laser, electric current. There are many physical therapy procedures for this condition, so we'll leave that choice to the doctor. Traction is traction therapy. The area where inflammation occurs is affected by the electrical current, so spasms are reduced, and endorphins are produced, which act as pain relievers. A back massage relaxes and eliminates pain.
Special massage is suitable for diseases related to the spine, but cannot be used during exacerbations, so any effect on the vertebrae is contraindicated. The same rules apply to acupuncture.
The main method of treatment and prevention of spinal diseases is physical therapy exercise - exercise therapy, horizontal bar exercise, that is, pull-ups. Swimming has proven itself good, so going to the pool would be good. All of these methods must be guided by experienced professionals before it is possible to reap the benefits.
internal organ pain
If there is pain between the shoulder blades in the back, it doesn't mean the cause is in the spine at all. All organ lesions located in the mediastinum were symptomatic, with pain in the scapular region. The wrong process of the heart organ, the onset of myocardial infarction, angina causes pain under the shoulder blade. Acute attacks are accompanied by a drop in blood pressure. Be sure to call an ambulance.
The pain characteristic of these conditions is acute but lasting about 5 minutes. Take nitroglycerin for pain relief.
With ulcers and pancreatitis, back pain can also be in the shoulder blade area, but with these diseases, the pain can still be localized to the stomach, upper abdomen and indigestion, so you need to listen carefully to the nature of your feelings and try to differentiate between all the symptoms.
If the back is painful in the area of the scapula and cough occurs, then these may be pathological changes of the respiratory system - pneumonia. With respiratory disease, the temperature rises, and the pain between the shoulder blades becomes more intense when you take a deep breath. Anyone with the flu or acute respiratory infection can get pleurisy, pneumonia. Cardiovascular manifestations, cough, and dyspepsia are not associated with pain if there is no temperature at the time of pain.
How to relieve pain
You can try to relieve the condition on your own until the doctor arrives. You can relieve pain with self-massage and special exercises:
- We put our fingers on our shoulders and start turning our elbows;
- Raise your hands and bring your palms together above your head. Head down. twist the body from side to side;
- Sit in a chair, lower your head, let your chin touch your chest, and place your fingers together behind your head. Slowly press your hands behind your head. If the pain is severe, stop exercising;
- Slow head rotation - sideways, backwards, sideways, forwards;
- Lean back, place your right hand behind your head, and slowly lean to your left side as you sit. Switch hands and lean in the opposite direction.
It is worth recalling that in the acute phase of any disease, massage is contraindicated. Hands clenched into fists, thumbs out. Begin on the lower back and ascend in a circular motion of the fist against the skin. You can exercise with your middle and ring fingers and stroke your spine in circles. It is important not to apply pressure to the painful area. If the pain only intensifies during the massage, the procedure should be stopped.
Home remedies for pain relief include using ointments and gels. It must be remembered that all these activities are for pain relief only, not for treatment. The real treatment should be prescribed by a doctor, so if there is a temporary improvement, it does not mean that the disease has subsided. See a doctor right away and stay healthy.