Very often, pain below the left shoulder from behind the back can be annoying. Appears after a sharp and strong movement or a long stay in an unsuccessful position. But it can also be a symptom of a serious illness that requires mandatory treatment. The causes of pain can be divided into two main groups: pain caused by diseases of the musculoskeletal system and pain associated with disorders of the internal organs.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
Various diseases of the spine can cause pain in the shoulder. In addition, pain can be a secondary symptom of injury. The reasons why it hurts below the left shoulder from the back can be different.
Osteochondritis of the spine
Osteochondrosis occurs due to changes in the spine, when the bone tissue is destroyed under the influence of various factors. And there are many factors that lead to this pathology:
- Curvature of the spine as a result of poor posture. It is often found in students, pupils and office workers.
- Statistical and dynamic overload of the body in non-moderate volumes.
- Overweight and malnutrition.
- Back injury.
- Weak immune and hereditary factor.
- Flatfeet.
- Colds and frequent hypothermia, chronic intoxication.
- Metabolic disease.
- Prolonged exposure to vibration.
- Stress and sedentary life.
With cervical osteochondrosis, severe pain occurs in the neck, back, shoulders and upper extremities, it can pull down the scapula. There are sensations of pain in the teeth, in the muscles, in the abdomen, in the area of the heart. The sensation begins to be disturbed when it pierces under the shoulder, numbness in the neck and chest area, as well as in the neck and abdomen. Sleep is disturbed, the sensitivity of the hands, blood pressure readings begin to fluctuate and performance declines. It can also be cooked behind the sternum.
Intercostal neuralgia
This disease occurs when there is irritation, inflammation, stinging or compression of the intercostal nerves. This happens with inflammations, infections, chemical poisonings, allergies and hypothermia. The main symptom of neuralgia is pain, which accumulates in the area of the heart. It can be dull or sharp, stabbing, hurting or burning. It can be episodic or permanent.
There may also be increased sweating, skin discoloration, tingling or loss of sensation in some areas. With a forced fixed position, the pain syndrome can subside.
Traumatic shoulder injury
If the left shoulder hurts, the causes can be caused by injuries. They can occur from a direct blow to the shoulders or after a fall on the back or shoulder. In the first hours after the injury a very strong pain syndrome appears. It is a symptom of a fracture of the shoulder or ribs. In the future, swelling and edema develop. With a rib fracture, it is difficult for a person to breathe and bone damage is felt on palpation.
Sprengel disease
This disease is an abnormal congenital localization of the scapula. The cause of this pathology is not yet known in science. There is a view that the disease develops under the influence of external and internal negative factors in the fetus, in the 3-4 weeks of pregnancy. The shoulder girdle and spine are currently forming. This disease is often combined with other pathologies: there is fusion of the ribs, hippopotamus, formation of additional hemispheres and abnormal structure of the cervical region.
The pathology is located immediately after the birth of the child. With a mild stage of the disease, the following are prescribed: exercise therapy, massage, water procedures, physiotherapy. In moderate and severe cases, surgical treatment is prescribed.
Myoperitoneal syndrome
Under the influence of various factors, the work of the muscular apparatus and the membranes that cover the muscles is disrupted. There are small painful seals in the muscles, the so-called trigger points. They appear under the influence of trauma and muscle strain. There are several factors that lead to their formation: forced posture, diseases of the spine, bruises, monotonous movements, physical illnesses, emotional stress.
The main symptom is pain, which has a pain, of an attractive nature, which increases with the effort and activation of the triggers. Sensitivity of the skin also increases, skin color changes and movement in the affected area is limited. A complex treatment is prescribed. For prevention, you should monitor your weight, follow a healthy lifestyle, wear comfortable shoes and clothes, avoid stress and hypothermia.
Changes in the work of internal organs
If there is pain in the left shoulder from behind, the reasons may be a violation of the internal organs. In many diseases, the symptom is pain in the left side. They are divided into cardiological, diseases of the bronchopulmonary system and the gastrointestinal tract.
Heart deseases
With heart disease, it hurts not only in the area of the left shoulder, but also in the area of the key, in the left hand, in the abdomen. Myocardial infarction is one of the varieties of coronary heart disease, in which necrosis of the heart muscle occurs as a result of violation of the coronary circulation. There is pain with burning, compression or pressure behind the sternum, which radiates to the left key, shoulder, arm and jaw. The patient appears cold sweat, there is a feeling of fear. These symptoms are an immediate indication for urgent hospitalization. If prompt medical attention is not provided, then a fatal outcome is possible.
The cause of coronary heart disease is insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle due to coronary artery disease. The coronary arteries become clogged with cholesterol plaques or narrow. The heart does not receive enough blood to function normally. The reasons are:
- Atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels.
- Arterial hypertension.
- Violation of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism.
- Smoking.
- High cholesterol and overweight.
- Diabetes.
Symptoms are shortness of breath, weakness, arrhythmia, increased sweating. There are spontaneous chest pains that are not affected by nitroglycerin. The patient experiences a lack of oxygen, there is a fear of death, apathy, sad mood or unreasonable anxiety. With an angina attack, the pain accumulates behind the sternum. It has a cutting, pressing, compressive and caustic character. The attack lasts from 2 to 5 minutes and is effectively stopped with medication.
With pericarditis, an inflammatory process occurs in the outer shell of the heart. The causes of inflammation are infections, autoimmune diseases, injuries, tumors, metabolic disorders. There is pressing chest pain, swelling of the face and neck, severe shortness of breath, dry cough and hoarse voice.
Mitral valve prolapse is a pathology in which the function of the valve located between the abdomen and the vagina is reduced. It is located randomly and does not endanger the patient's life. It can be congenital or acquired. Another disease that is usually asymptomatic is the aortic aneurysm. With this pathology, a protrusion of the vessel wall occurs due to its weakening or a strong increase in blood pressure. The vessel wall is weakened by the deposition of foreign substances, inflammation or tissue destruction.
Pathologies of the bronchopulmonary system
In diseases of the bronchopulmonary system, pain appears in the left shoulder.
Reasons why a pain symptom occurs: acute bronchitis and tracheobronchitis, left pneumonia, dry left pleurisy, left lung abscess. Acute bronchitis is manifested by cough, weakness, increased sweating, shortness of breath and decreased activity, fever up to 38 degrees. The causes of the development of the pathology are of viral or bacterial origin. Physical, chemical and allergic agents also affect.
Left pneumonia is rare but is life threatening. The main reason is the penetration of pathogens in the left lung. This happens with a sharp decrease in immunity. There is a strong debilitating cough, burning and pain in the left side of the chest, body temperature rises. It is important to seek help as soon as possible, this will help prevent complications. A disease such as dry pleurisy can be a complication of other lung pathologies. Lung abscess is a complication. It is formed as a result of underdeveloped pneumonia.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
A very common group of diseases in which the pain radiates to the left shoulder from behind. The reasons may be different. The development of pathologies is associated with dietary errors, the use of foods containing fragrances and preservatives. The symptoms of these diseases are:
- Abdominal pain.
- Heartburn.
- Belching.
- Inflation.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Constipation.
- Diarrhea.
- Odor.
- Reduced body weight and appetite.
- Dizziness.
- Weakness.
With a stomach ulcer, the integrity of the tissues of the stomach walls is violated, as a result of which they are eroded by the gastric fluid and an ulcer appears. Typical are the hungry pains that appear against the background of hunger. After eating, they recede. Another symptom is vomiting with sour content. Also, the mobility of the stomach is disturbed, resulting in belching and heartburn. A complication of the disease may be bleeding due to the defeat of the vascular ulcer. It is a very serious disease in which self-medication is dangerous, as it can lead to ulcer perforation and death.
The main symptom of duodenal ulcer is pain in the epigastric region, which may radiate to the left side of the chest and scapula, to the lumbar or thoracic spine.
The pain appears after eating, but also after a while. It is interrupted by antacids, antispasmodics and antisecretory agents. Ulcers are also characterized by indigestion, lack of appetite, leading to weight loss and painful weight loss. The ulcer causes complications: bleeding, perforation and penetration into the pancreas, duodenal stenosis, tumor formation at the site of ulcer formation and inflammation of the intestinal lining.
Esophageal spasm is characterized by a violation of swallowing.
The cause can be excitement, as well as the rapid absorption and poor chewing of food, the consumption of foods high in fiber. You can relieve the discomfort by drinking plenty of fluids, swallowing air and exercising. Another symptom is the reverse regression of the contents of the esophagus. It often occurs in a dream or when the patient takes a horizontal position. It manifests itself in the form of vomiting without admixture of gastric fluid and bile.
When the contents of the stomach and duodenum regress, gastroesophageal reflux develops.
The main cause is the weakness of the lower esophageal sphincter. In this case, when the stomach contracts, its contents are thrown back into the esophagus. It is characterized by heartburn, which occurs when you bend over, exercise, after a heavy meal. There is an erythema with a bitter or sour taste. You may also experience nausea and vomiting.
The signs of acute pancreatitis are intense, persistent, acute pain that is felt under the ribs.
There are two causes: alcohol abuse and gallstones. The symptoms are not always severe. Pain is little relieved by painkillers, sometimes it is necessary to prescribe drugs. Also, pain below the scapula can bother with intestinal colitis. It occurs due to infections, drugs, chemical or food poisoning, circulatory disorders.