When you cough, your back hurts in the area of ​​your shoulder blades: why it happens and how to treat it

In modern conditions, many people experience back pain. Among them there are those who feel them when coughing. Such complaints can be presented by patients at appointments with various specialists. What causes pain and how can it be eliminated are the main questions doctors hear.

Causes and mechanisms

Every symptom that worries a person has a specific cause. Pain is actually a signal about some problems in the body, and it is necessary to respond to it in a timely manner. It occurs when nerve fibers are irritated by a local pathological process or as a result of impulse transmission at a distance from the primary focus. Mechanisms of pain can be:

• Inflammatory process.
• Mechanical damage (compression, stretching).
• Tissue ischemia and necrosis.
• Muscle spasm.
• Metabolic disorders.

At the biochemical level, the symptom is largely due to the effect on nerve receptors of so-called algogens - biologically active substances that are released from damaged cells or synthesized in the body (bradykinin, histamine, serotonin, substance P, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, lytic enzymes, etc.). They increase the sensitivity and excitability of nerve fibers, stimulating various types of somatic and neurogenic pain.

Cough and back pain have a clear relationship in many diseases. Pathology can affect various body systems:

• Respiratory (pneumonia, pleurisy, pneumothorax).
• Cardiovascular (pericarditis).
• Nervous (intercostal neuralgia).
• Skeleton (chest injuries, osteochondrosis).

It should also be noted that one patient often has a combination of several diseases that are not directly related to each other. Therefore, it is extremely important to conduct a thorough differential diagnosis of probable pathology.

The causes of back pain that occurs when coughing can be many pathological conditions, not necessarily related to the organs of the respiratory system.

Symptoms

Providing primary health care begins with clarifying the clinical picture of the disease. Symptoms identified during questioning, examination and other physical methods (palpation, percussion, auscultation) will suggest a probable diagnosis and establish why the back hurts during coughing.

First of all, you need to understand what characteristics the pain sensation itself has. Of course, the information received from the patient has a tinge of subjectivity, but, unfortunately, there are no other ways to assess this symptom in routine medical practice. Features of pain that are worth paying attention to:

• Type: sharp (stabbing, shooting, burning, cutting) or dull (aching, pressing, pulling).
• Localization: between the shoulder blades, right, left, upper or lower chest and lower back.
• Intensity: pronounced, moderate or weak.
• Duration: short-term or long-term.
• Frequency: occurs occasionally or worries constantly.
• Connection with other factors: coughing, breathing, body turns, etc.

But to form a complete clinical picture, it is necessary to identify all the symptoms that are present in the patient. Associated symptoms can play an extremely important role in the initial diagnosis of disease states.

Pathology of the respiratory system

If your back hurts in the area of ​​your shoulder blades when you cough, then first of all you should assume a disease of the respiratory system. As a rule, this symptom occurs due to irritation of the nerves located in the pleura.

This can be with lobar pneumonia, pleurisy or pneumothorax. Inflammation of the lungs causes reflex pain, because there are no sensitive receptors in their tissue.

Pneumonia will be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Cough (dry and wet).
• Difficulty breathing (shortness of breath).
• Pain in the chest.
• Fever.

In the lungs, a focus of dullness of percussion sound (inflammatory infiltration) is determined; auscultation reveals wheezing, crepitus and weakened breathing. With pleurisy, many manifestations are similar.

However, the pain that increases during chest excursions subsides when lying on the affected side. Cough occurs only dry. Percussion determines the boundary of the liquid (exudate), below which the sound is dulled.

In these places, breathing may not be audible.

With pneumothorax, air accumulates in the pleural cavity. It stretches the serous membrane, which causes pain. Patients complain of progressive shortness of breath, and a reflex cough without sputum may occur.

Additionally, subcutaneous emphysema in the neck area and dilation of the jugular veins may be observed.

Respiratory pathology is the first thing you should think about when you have a cough with back pain.

Cardiac diseases

Heart pathology is a fairly serious cause of back pain. But not every condition can lead to an increase in symptoms when coughing. This is more common with pericarditis - inflammation of the pericardial sac. The disease is characterized by the following clinical symptoms:

• Chest pain radiating to the back, neck, left shoulder.
• Dyspnea.
• Increased heart rate.
• Expanding the boundaries of the heart.
• Pericardial friction rub on auscultation.

If a significant amount of exudate has accumulated in the pericardium, then symptoms from neighboring organs are likely: trachea (dry cough), esophagus (difficulty swallowing).

A typical feature of the pain syndrome is its onset during inspiration and insensitivity to nitro drugs, which distinguishes it from angina pectoris.

With pericarditis, heart failure often develops, which, in addition to shortness of breath, is characterized by liver enlargement and edema. Some patients may experience signs of intoxication in the form of fever and general weakness.

Nervous system diseases

When back pain appears between the shoulder blades during coughing, intercostal neuralgia should also be excluded.

This is a condition that occurs during simple hypothermia, but can even be a consequence of metabolic disorders or diseases of the spine.

Neuralgia is characterized by stabbing pain that occurs when taking a deep breath, during coughing, sneezing, laughing, or sudden turns or bends. As a rule, it does not give other symptoms.

Skeletal diseases

Do not forget about the pain that is caused by pathology in the chest skeleton and spine. Most often we are talking about injuries or osteochondrosis. With bruises, swelling, abrasions, bruises and bruises are noticeable at the site of injury. This place is painful on palpation. A rib fracture has a similar clinical picture, only the pain when inhaling and coughing will be much stronger. And its danger lies in the risk of pneumothorax and internal bleeding due to damage to the pleura or vessel by the sharp edge of the bone.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is a widespread disease that affects even young people. It is characterized by a decrease in the height of the intervertebral space, the development of bone growths (osteophytes), and disorders in the discs and joints.

All this first leads to irritation of the nerve roots extending from the spinal cord, and then causes them to be compressed. This is how acute pain occurs, radiating along the fibers and intensifying with any movements in the thoracic region (breathing, coughing, bending).

Additionally, the clinical picture identifies:

• Sensory disturbances (numbness, tingling, burning, “crawling”).
• Weakened or increased tendon reflexes.
• Weakness in certain muscle groups.
• Pale or marbling of the skin.

The patient tries not to make unnecessary movements in the spine so as not to provoke pain. This limits his physical activity and work potential. When examined in the back area, tension in the longitudinal muscles and soreness at the exit points of the nerves are noted.

Diseases of the skeletal system are quite often accompanied by pain, which intensifies with movement, including coughing.

Additional diagnostics

Based on the clinical picture, one can make an assumption about a particular pathology, but only additional methods can confirm it and establish a final diagnosis. Considering the variety of causes of back pain, which tend to worsen with coughing, the doctor refers the patient to the following procedures:

• General blood and urine analysis.
• Blood biochemistry (acute phase parameters, lipid spectrum, coagulogram, electrolytes, gas composition).
• Sputum analysis (clinical, microscopy, culture).
• X-ray of the chest and spine.
• Electrocardiogram.
• Ultrasound of the heart.
• Tomography.
• Neuromyography.

Of course, each patient has his own diagnostic program, the scope of which is determined by the preliminary conclusion of the doctor. During the examination, consultations with related specialists may be necessary: ​​pulmonologist, cardiologist, neurologist and vertebrologist.

Treatment

The treatment program is formed based on the final diagnosis. If your back hurts in the area of ​​your shoulder blades when you cough, then you cannot do without medical help. No one wants to get acquainted with complications and prolong the dubious pleasure. The doctor will tell you which methods can quickly alleviate the patient’s condition, relieving him of annoying pain.

Medicines

Drug correction remains the basis of modern treatment for many diseases, including those accompanied by back pain. The range of drugs allows us to cover various causes and mechanisms of pathology development. Taking into account the main diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe the following medications to the patient:

• Antibiotics (penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides).
• Mucolytics (ACC, Mucolvan).
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ortofen, Movalis, Artrosan).
• Muscle relaxants (Mydocalm).
• B vitamins (Neuromax, Milgamma).

For intercostal neuralgia, chest injuries and osteochondrosis, local forms of medication in the form of an ointment or gel are often used. Most often they contain anti-inflammatory and analgesic components.

For pleurisy, corticosteroids can be used, and complications such as heart failure require the use of diuretics (Torsid, Lasix), antiplatelet agents (Cardiomagnyl), and beta blockers (Cariol).

With the help of medications, it is possible to influence various parts of the pathology involved in the formation of pain.

Physiotherapy

In some cases, physical treatment methods can help relieve pain. They are indicated for respiratory pathology, intercostal neuralgia, osteochondrosis and during the recovery period after injuries. The most common methods of non-drug correction will be:

• Breathing exercises.
• Physiotherapy.
• UHF therapy.
• Magnetotherapy.
• Electro- and phonophoresis.
• Hydrotherapy.
• Massage.

Many products help reduce inflammation, relieve muscle spasms, and improve blood flow and healing in the affected area.

But it should be remembered that each method has its own characteristics, which should be taken into account when prescribing treatment for a particular patient. For example, procedures with a thermal effect cannot be prescribed during a period of active purulent inflammation.

There are contraindications in the form of skin diseases, oncological processes, infectious diseases with fever, and heart failure.

Surgical correction

In some cases, surgery cannot be avoided. For exudative pleurisy and pneumothorax, a puncture is performed with suction of liquid contents and air. If there was pus in the pleural cavity, then it is necessary to drain it with further rinsing with antiseptics and administration of antibiotics. Severe exudative pericarditis also requires puncture of the pericardial sac.

Severe osteochondrosis requires surgical decompression of the nerves. The doctor removes bone growths (osteophytes) and performs resection of the arches (laminectomy). Intervertebral hernias can also be eliminated (microdiscectomy, laser vaporization). This eliminates long-term pain associated with pressure on the nerve roots.

Back pain that gets worse when coughing is a problem that worries many patients. But in order to solve it, it is necessary to establish the cause of the pathological changes. By consulting a doctor, you can be sure of making the correct diagnosis and prescribing adequate therapy.

Source: http://elaxsir.ru/simptomy/drugie/bolit-spina-v-oblasti-lopatok-pri-kashle.html

Back pain in the shoulder blade area: causes, treatment, prevention

Back pain in the area of ​​the shoulder blades can manifest itself for various reasons, and the localization of the pathological process can be in a completely different part of the body. In any case, you need to contact a specialist to identify the cause of the problem and receive proper treatment. You can avoid troubles with the help of prevention.

Possible causes of back pain in the shoulder blade area

If your back hurts in the shoulder blade area, the pain can be acute or chronic. It also differs in location - right, left, center. The causes of pain can be very different.  

Do you think that joint diseases can be cured without visiting a doctor?

Incorrect posture

This phenomenon is a common cause of pain in the back and a provoking factor for a number of pathologies. When a person slouches (usually while standing or sitting), the neck muscles experience increased stress because the head is not in the correct position.

Increased stress leads to muscle fatigue and can provoke an inflammatory process. Against this background, headaches often occur.

Injury

This cause of back pain in the shoulder blade area is also quite common. Typically, injury occurs when you fall on your back or receive a blow to this area.

With injuries, the pain is diffuse. It may be accompanied by swelling and hemorrhage. Movement may be slightly limited.

Intercostal neuralgia

This pathology affects peripheral nerves. Pain usually occurs in the chest due to irritation or compression of the nerve roots.

With intercostal neuralgia, the pain often radiates under the left shoulder blade. It is distinguished by its paroxysmal nature, aggravated by physical activity, accompanied by tingling or burning in the heart area or on the left side of the back. If the pathology is accompanied by a cough, then the pain is girdling in nature and is more pronounced when taking a deep breath.

Osteochondrosis

With this pathology, cartilage tissue undergoes degenerative-dystrophic changes. This disrupts the structure and functionality of the intervertebral discs.

The first stage of the pathology is often asymptomatic; sometimes minor discomfort occurs if you actively move for a long time or remain in a static position.

Subsequently, the height of the spinal discs decreases, the muscles and ligaments sag, so the vertebrae become too mobile and can slip or shift.

At the second stage, painful sensations appear in the back; they can intensify during movement, exercise, and in some poses.

The third stage of the pathology is characterized by distinct pain in the affected area. Some movements are accompanied by stiffness, lack of mobility, sometimes the limbs go numb, and a tingling sensation is felt.

Osteochondrosis may also be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• headache;
• dizziness;
• muscle spasms;
• muscle hypotension;
• increased fatigue;
• discomfort in muscles and joints.

In the area of ​​the shoulder blades, pain can be felt not only with spinal pathology, but also with cervical osteochondrosis. In this case, it also radiates to the arm and shoulder. The pain is usually dull and appears after sleep.

Intervertebral hernia

This pathology often occurs against the background of osteochondrosis. In this case, the spinal roots are pinched, which causes severe back pain. It can radiate not only under the shoulder blades, but also into the neck or shoulder. Pain usually occurs with sudden movement, coughing or sneezing.

Pathology may also be accompanied by other symptoms:

• headache;
• dizziness;
• numbness of fingers;
• changes in blood pressure.

Spinal stenosis

This disease means that the spinal canal is pathologically narrowed. Such a disorder can be observed in any part of the spinal column, but is more often localized in the cervical or lumbar region. In the first case, the pain may radiate under the shoulder blade and below the neck or between the shoulder blades.

At first, painful sensations appear only in a certain position of the body, but then they become permanent.

The pain is also accompanied by the following symptoms:

• dizziness when bending or turning sharply, possible fainting;
• headache localized in the temples or back of the head;
• impaired sensitivity of the skin on the head, neck, hands;
• increased tone of the lower extremities;
• weakness in the legs;
• difficulty breathing, it may become more frequent and shallow.

Scoliosis

This name refers to curvature of the spine. It usually appears in adolescence, and intensifies during periods of pubertal growth spurts. In the vast majority of cases (approximately 80%), the pathology is idiopathic, that is, the reasons for its development are unknown.

Pain in scoliosis usually appears only at the third stage, and its cause is often complications arising from the pathology. When pain is localized between the shoulder blades, the cause may be a damaged musculoskeletal system or ruptured discs.

With scoliosis, a nerve can be pinched. The pain in this case will be sharp, accompanied by swelling and inflammation.

Osteomyelitis

This pathology is a purulent-necrotic process and affects the bones and bone marrow. The cause is pyogenic bacteria and mycobacteria.

When bone tissue is damaged, leukocytes begin to secrete lytic enzymes that decompose bone structures. The infection gradually becomes chronic. Consequences may include deformities and bone sclerosis.

Osteomyelitis is characterized by bursting pain in the affected area. They are also accompanied by other symptoms:

• general malaise;
• hypohidrosis;
• fever;
• local increase in temperature;
• swelling and hyperemia of the affected area;
• with an abscess, pain on palpation.

Shots

The cause of this condition may be hypothermia or overexertion. Lumbago is not a disease, but a pathological condition. It may be caused by staying in one position for a long time. This is often observed in people of certain professions - drivers, dentists, surgeons, office workers, dressmakers.

The cause of the lumbago can also be a disease - osteochondrosis, osteoarthritis, neoplasm. The symptoms of this pathological condition are as follows:

• variable nature of pain - alternation of acute and aching pain;
• neck mobility is partially limited;
• there are painful lumps in the muscles that can be felt;
• the pain can last from 2 days to 3 weeks.

Pathologies of the gallbladder and biliary tract

Such diseases are not associated with the spine, but often cause pain in the back. Pain may occur during an attack of gallstone disease or exacerbation of inflammation of the organ. In this case, painful sensations are localized in the right hypochondrium and radiate under the right shoulder blade.

Attacks usually occur after eating a large meal, too salty, fatty or fried foods. A person feels bitterness in the mouth, and salivation often increases.

Myocardial infarction

The pain in this case is localized behind the sternum, but can radiate to the shoulder blade, neck, and lower jaw. Typically, unpleasant sensations occur in the left half of the body. Their intensity and character can vary dramatically, but more often the pain is pressing, bursting or burning.

Pain during myocardial infarction lasts more than 20 minutes and is not relieved by nitro-containing drugs.

In addition to pain, myocardial infarction may be accompanied by other symptoms:

• dyspnea;
• dizziness;
• weakness;
• hyperhidrosis;
• nausea;
• vomit.

Other reasons

There are also a number of less common reasons for back pain in the shoulder blade area:

• Pterygoid blade. This pathology is typical of athletes and circus performers. Its predecessor is usually muscle paralysis or injury.
• Myositis. This pathology is inflammatory in nature and affects skeletal muscles. The cause may be an intervertebral hernia or osteochondrosis.
• Stomach ulcer. The pain occurs in the upper abdomen and radiates under the left shoulder blade. Unpleasant sensations occur periodically with characteristic seasonal exacerbations.
• Perforation of a gastric ulcer. The pain is localized on the left side, accompanied by fear, cold sweat, and sometimes nausea and vomiting.
• Kidney inflammation. In this case, pain occurs in the right shoulder blade, intensifying when coughing. This symptom is accompanied by problems with urination.
• Pleurisy, pneumonia. With such pathologies, pain radiates under the right shoulder blade when coughing.
• Psychological problems. In this case, there may be a tightening sensation in the chest. They are accompanied by pressure, heaviness, heat, tingling, and congestion.
• Inflammation under the diaphragm. The pain between the shoulder blades in this case is referred.
• Upset stomach, duodenum.
• Cardiac ischemia.
• Angina pectoris.
• Shingles.
• Pathologies of the liver or hepatobiliary system.
• Neoplasms.
• Pathologies of the cardiovascular system.

Which doctor should I contact?

In a regular clinic, they usually turn to a therapist first. He conducts a visual examination, can prescribe basic tests and studies (X-rays, ultrasound) and refer you to a more specialized specialist.

Usually this problem is dealt with by a neurologist or surgeon. Depending on the cause of the pain, a chiropractor may also be required.

Diagnostics

The standard diagnostic method is laboratory tests. These may include standard blood and urine tests, as well as more specific tests. Laboratory tests can identify the inflammatory process and detect associated disorders.

To make a diagnosis, in most cases it is necessary to resort to instrumental diagnostic methods. The most common among them are the following studies:

• X-ray;
• Ultrasound scanning;
• electrocardiogram;
• tomography – computer and magnetic resonance imaging.

If necessary, the specialist may prescribe other studies. They are usually required when the pain only radiates to the area of ​​the shoulder blades, and the pathology is localized elsewhere.

The diagnosis must be made by a specialist. It is not always possible to independently determine the correct cause of pain. Many pathologies are very similar to each other, so a diagnosis can only be made after a whole range of diagnostic methods.

Treatment of back pain in the shoulder blade area

Features of therapy depend on the cause that caused such a symptom. In some cases, even surgery may be required.

As symptomatic treatment, various medications are usually used:

• In case of inflammation and pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used. More often they resort to Diclofenac, Indomethacin, Ibuprofen.
• With the inflammatory process and infectious nature of the disease, antibacterial therapy is necessary. It is prescribed individually, based on the clinical picture and test results.
• Pain can also be managed with analgesics. In serious cases, you have to resort to narcotic drugs - Morphine, Codeine, Fentanyl. Analgin or paracetamol are usually preferred as non-narcotic analgesics.
• Some B vitamins can help relieve pain. This includes thiamine, vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid. These are neurotropics that have a moderate analgesic effect and relieve inflammation.
• Glucocorticosteroids can be used as injections for back pain.
• In case of severe pain, blockade injections are made, injecting the medicine directly into the site of the pathology. This method is used only in a medical facility.

Only a doctor should prescribe drug therapy. Before using medications, it is important to know the exact diagnosis so that the treatment is effective and does not lead to any complications.

Some physiotherapeutic methods can also help cope with pain. You can resort to electrophoresis with lidase or novocaine, ultrasound therapy. Laser therapy copes well with pain, and in addition it eliminates inflammation and swelling.

Among the alternative methods to get rid of pain, they resort to acupuncture, vacuum therapy, and osteopathic effects.

If the pain is associated with neuralgia, then you can cope with it with the help of massage and electrical myostimulation. In some cases, special gymnastics and physical therapy are indicated.

In case of injury or after surgery, a special bandage may be required to reduce pain. This device is orthopedic.

The pain may subside when hot or cold is applied to the area where it is localized, but you need to clearly know what to do in a particular case. Wrong actions can aggravate the situation, causing complications.

During treatment, it is necessary to reduce physical activity as much as possible. Otherwise, the condition may only get worse.

Prevention

To avoid back problems that cause painful symptoms, you need to take the following preventive measures:

• maintain your weight at normal levels;
• watch your posture;
• correctly alternate activity with rest;
• do gymnastics regularly;
• organize the sleeping area correctly;
• avoid staying in a static position for long periods of time;
• avoid excessive physical activity;
• correct problems with the spine in a timely manner - it is optimal to do this in childhood or adolescence;
• use a special bandage and other orthopedic devices if necessary.

If painful sensations appear in the area of ​​the shoulder blades, they should not be ignored. You need to contact a specialist who, using various diagnostic methods, will find out the cause of the problem. Only an established diagnosis allows for competent and complete treatment.

Source: https://sustavy.expert/boli/drogoe/bolit-spina-v-oblasti-lopatok/

Back pain in the shoulder blade area - causes of pain

Both older and younger people complain of back pain in the area of ​​the shoulder blades. Pain in the interscapular region does not indicate any particular disease, but is a manifestation of numerous anomalies in the functioning of organs located outside the area of ​​pain concentration.

If your back hurts in the area of ​​the shoulder blades, then the probable cause of the pain may be muscles, nerves, facet joints, ligaments, pathological changes in internal organs, consequences of blows and injuries, etc.

Causes

A list of the most significant diseases that cause back pain:

• damage resulting from trauma to the components of the thoracic and cervical spine;
• changes in the thoracic or cervical spine caused by osteochondropathy;
• curvature of the spine in different directions due to developmental anomalies - scoliosis;
• development of kyphosis and kyphoscoliosis due to incorrect posture - stooping, hunching;
• deforming spondyloarthrosis;
• herniated disc in the thoracic vertebrae;
• humeroscapular periarthritis - muscle pain in the shoulder girdle and joint;
• intercostal neuralgia;
• herpes zoster;
• heart disease: ischemia, myocardial infarction;
• damage, diseases and tumors of the mediastinal organs;
• indigestion, duodenal disease;
• dysfunction of the liver and hepatobiliary system;
• pathology of the lungs and pleura;
• kidney failure;
• long-term performance of any activity against the background of systemic diseases.

Nature of pain

In medical practice, a rational description by the patient of his pain above the lower back is of great importance.

Pain between the shoulder blades is a symptom of a number of diseases or pathologies; it is possible to find out the cause of its occurrence by accurately describing its nature, its type, and the frequency of its appearance and disappearance.

A correct diagnosis will eliminate the burning sensation in the back, pain in the shoulder blades, the causes will be determined with the help of a doctor and diseases will be prevented in the future.

The nature of back pain is:

1. chronic - mild pain is typical, disturbing for a long time, practically never stopping;
2. acute - specific pain, suddenly striking and fading, much stronger than chronic.

When your back hurts in the area of ​​the shoulder blades, the pain is localized in different places. This gives grounds to classify pain in the shoulder blades into three types:

• pain under the shoulder blades (right or left);
• pain between the shoulder blades;
• pain in the shoulder blade on the right or left.

Back pain under shoulder blades

The causes of pain may have absolutely nothing to do with the spine. If a person has back pain below the shoulder blades, then a number of accompanying signs, without examinations and tests, can imply the presence of typical, frequently occurring ailments.

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Pathologies that cause pain under the left shoulder blade:

• Stomach ulcer. Characterized by regular, increasing pain, weakening or disappearing after vomiting. Pain sensations are localized in the epigastrium, but penetrate into the left scapula.
• Psychological problems. Cause barely perceptible or acute sensations of heaviness, congestion in the chest, tingling in the heart area, compression in the chest. There are cases when similar symptoms affect the neck area and spread under the left shoulder blade.

What causes pain under the right shoulder blade

The way a symptom manifests determines its cause.

The list of reasons explaining the pain under the right shoulder blade is extensive. Examples of the most common:

• Dull, constantly disturbing, incessant pain on the right side of the back can be caused by ordinary muscle spasms due to prolonged uncomfortable body posture, or associated with internal organs: kidneys, pancreas, gall bladder. In most cases, pain appears unexpectedly, with a sharp turn of the head, sneezing, coughing.
• Acute, piercing pain, sharp or increasing, localized on the right side of the heart or in the interscapular space may be a consequence of a disease of the internal organs and is not associated with the spine. Many body systems, deviations from normal functioning, cause pain under the right shoulder blade - cardiovascular, excretory, digestive, etc.
• Stringing and cutting pain under the right shoulder blade makes you think about the onset of diseases of the musculoskeletal system: chondrosis, osteochondrosis, spondylosis, etc. Pain of this type can be caused by neuralgia when pinched nerve roots occur. The causes of such pain can be oncological tumors, not often, but such phenomena are present in medical practice.
• If the patient has pain in the back muscles under the shoulder blades, then you should think about diseases of the respiratory system. Pain under the shoulder blades can be caused either by overload of the muscles in this place or the thoracic spine.
• Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. It most often provokes unilateral aching, dull pain, which is concentrated below the occipital part. Their peculiarity is to appear in the morning, tearing the patient out of sleep. The pain syndrome is especially severe during sharp flexion and extension of the neck. Applying heat to the painful surface (warm bath) relieves pain. Patients react to this pathology by complaining of pain under the shoulder blades, pain spreading to the arm or head.

Causes of pain between the shoulder blades

Intercostal neuralgia is manifested by shooting pain. When you take a deep breath, sharply turn your body, or palpate the inflamed area between the ribs, the pain increases.

• Lung diseases are accompanied by pain between the shoulder blades when inhaling, with a deep breath the pain intensifies, a high temperature and cough are noted.
• If the pain increases with shallow inspiration, it often radiates under the right shoulder blade, and there may be a diaphragmatic abscess.
• When a normal tilt of the head causes pain between the shoulder blades, this is associated with an inflammatory process in the muscles of the interscapular region, as well as damage to their tendons and ligaments.

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Pain between the shoulder blades sometimes occurs when swallowing; its origin is caused by diseases of the esophagus (inflammation or ulcer); inflammatory processes in organs located between the two lungs; diaphragm damage.

Burning between the shoulder blades is caused by attacks of renal and biliary colic, osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic vertebrae and reflux esophagitis.

Pain in the shoulder blade on the right and left

The reason is receiving a blow to the shoulder blade or falling on it. An awkward fall on your hand or elbow leads to a fracture of the scapula. The injury causes severe pain, the intensity of the pain increases with the movement of the arms. Swelling forms.

Pterygoid blade. Appears due to paralysis of the muscles - trapezius, rhomboid, serratus anterior, or is the result of numerous bruises in the forearm area, damage to the long thoracic nerve.

Scapular crunch is a crunching sound in the shoulder joint.

Treatment methods

At the beginning of treatment, it is necessary to determine the condition of the lungs and heart. A cardiologist and therapist will most likely prescribe an ECG or ultrasound procedure. After consultation with specialists, we can safely not consider these organs to be the causes of pain between the shoulder blades.

When pain occurs when moving the spine near the shoulder blade, the cause is usually sought in the back. The pain is sometimes so severe that it can be confused with symptoms of panic attacks.

When diagnosing the spine, a regular X-ray is often not enough; a complete picture is provided by an MRI of the thoracic region. At this stage of clarifying the diagnosis, a consultation with a vertebrologist is required.

If there is a connection between back pain on the right and in the interscapular region with diseases of the spine, then medical care will be focused on the source of inflammation. To eliminate the inflammatory process, analgesics, chondroprotectors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and corticosteroids are used.

Dull pain that does not go away for a long time, resulting from muscle spasm or neuralgia, is effectively treated with warming ointments with an analgesic effect: Voltaren, Fastum-gel, Diclofenac, Capsicam. Patches are also used that provide a warming and analgesic effect.

Prevention

There will be no back pain in the area of ​​the shoulder blades if a person moves a lot and follows a healthy lifestyle. The movements involve uniform loads on the muscles, proper lifting of weights, massage sessions and various types of physical therapy. Exercising is the best preventive measure.

It is recommended to beware of drafts and hypothermia. And, most importantly, maintain proper nutrition.

Source: https://SoSpiny.ru/bolezni/bolit-spina-v-oblasti-lopatok.html

What to do if your back hurts in the shoulder blade area when you cough

The cough reflex itself is one of the types of immune defense, due to which the human respiratory tract is cleansed. During the discharge of sputum, the human body tries to rid itself as completely as possible of existing foreign particles and various microbes. In this regard, it is not recommended to uncontrolledly use antitussives to suppress cough.

Symptoms

However, quite often a cough is accompanied by other types of symptoms that clearly indicate that a person has health problems.

If your back hurts in the area of ​​your shoulder blades when you cough, this is the first sign that you need to undergo a comprehensive examination of your body to identify ailments..

Having contacted doctors, during the initial examination they will determine which specialist should be referred to in the future. Experts will be able to accurately answer why your back hurts under your shoulder blades when you cough.

• pain forms between the shoulder blades, less often - under the shoulder blades;
• pain spreads throughout the lower back;
• aching pain that radiates sharpness to the left shoulder blade. It is constant or can occur one-time with some interval between attacks;
• the presence of the disease gives pain when coughing severely, and then with any body movements.

If you have any of the above symptoms, it is imperative that you notify your medical professionals. This will help them make the correct diagnosis and subsequently prescribe the right type of treatment. After all, patients often simply say that “pain under the right shoulder blade in the back.”

Causes of pain when coughing

If a person experiences pain in the shoulder blades while coughing, this is a sure sign that he has pleurisy. Nevertheless, a number of other reasons for such behavior of the body are also possible. Only a doctor can give the most accurate answer. But why does a person’s back hurt when they cough? To do this, you need to evaluate the most common reasons:

1. The person experienced physical overexertion. As a result of this, it is not uncommon for muscles to tear. This mainly happens after a person visits the gym for the first time. For many beginners, any excessive loads are given with great difficulty and leave such a “memory” of themselves.
2. An advanced form of the disease. This mainly concerns bronchitis or inflammatory processes in the lungs. In this case, the cough radiates to the back in the area of ​​the shoulder blades.
3. Inflammatory process in the membrane area. In the future, this will be transferred to all lungs. Moreover, pain appears in the back between the shoulder blades.
4. Severe osteochondrosis, neuralgia. With this disease, a person will have a feeling that something is pricking under the shoulder blades, a feeling of the presence of a foreign body in this area of ​​the body. Painful sensations will linger for a long period of time in the lower back.
5. Radiculitis also carries with it a pain syndrome that is entirely concentrated under the shoulder blades.
6. Smoking abuse leads to deterioration in lung function. Under these conditions, the work of this internal organ will malfunction.
7. Lungs' cancer. Perhaps the most serious disease from the list presented. If you have cancer, a person will experience sharp pain between the shoulder blades. If the pain syndrome spreads throughout the back and chest, this will mean a late stage of this disease.

A characteristic cough will indicate the presence of serious problems with a person’s immunity and its ability to respond to viral attacks.

When you see a doctor, try to convey as accurately as possible information about the nature of the pain you have. If you have additional symptoms, you need to tell them about them. This will generally help the doctor determine the causes of pain between the shoulder blades during coughing.

Treatment

So, what should you do if you experience back pain when coughing?

• If the cause of pain in the area of ​​the shoulder blades is bronchitis, then antibiotics should be used. There are often cases when inpatient treatment is used for bronchitis or another type of disease with an inflammatory process. This is recommended when the patient must be continuously cared for from a medical point of view;
• The presence of cancer requires a certain type of treatment, which depends on the form of development of the disease in which such a terrible disease was discovered. The method mainly used is based on surgical intervention.

Do not self-medicate under any circumstances. Self-treatment can lead to a deterioration in the patient's health .

As existing practice shows, severe pain in the area of ​​the shoulder blades when coughing is a sure sign of a serious illness in a person.

Thus, getting rid of a cough will not be a way out of the situation, since the person’s disease will not be stopped, but, on the contrary, will only develop.

During the examination and interview in the doctor’s office, it is necessary to tell in detail about the existing pain syndrome. It is necessary to provide accurate information regarding the duration of the period between the onset of pain and the visit to the doctor, and the frequency of pain.

It is also necessary to dwell separately on the nature of the pain. It can be piercing, cutting, blunt and sharp. It is necessary to correctly indicate the location of pain.

It is necessary to pay close attention to the type of cough. The subsequent course of treatment depends on whether the cough is wet or dry. In laboratory conditions, it is necessary to conduct a urine and blood test, which will give an answer to the presence of inflammatory processes in the human body and the functioning of the kidneys.

Cough and back pain are a sure sign of a serious illness

• It is necessary to visit a cardiologist who will evaluate the functioning of the cardiovascular system. The doctor will prescribe special medications that will help block the pain and restart the normal functioning of the cardiac system.
• However, if it is determined that the cause of the cough was excessive physical activity, which resulted in the accumulation of uric acid in the fibers, then simple remedies can be used.
• For mild inflammatory processes, compresses with a warming effect can be used to relieve pain. You can also use ointments that have irritating effects (the most popular of them is Menovazin).
• To neutralize pain when coughing in the area of ​​the shoulder blades, if the cause is physical strain, you can use massage . There are often cases when simple therapeutic physical training gave excellent results.

For preventive measures, you can use folk remedies. Regular use of tinctures based on medicinal herbs can minimize the risk of severe coughing and pain in the shoulder blades.

Source: https://pulmono.ru/drugie/kashel/pri-kashle-poyavilas-bol-v-spine-iv-oblasti-lopatok

Back pain in the shoulder blade area: causes, symptoms, treatment and diagnosis

Pain is our body’s first signal about the presence of health problems. Most pathological processes are most often accompanied by this symptom. The only difference is in the nature and area of ​​localization of pain.

What kind of pain can there be in the area of ​​the shoulder blades?

Depending on the nature of the pain, it can be:

• Pulling, aching - with pinched nerve roots and increased tone in the muscles, various pathologies of the spine or other diseases.
• Prolonged pain of high intensity is characteristic of intercostal neuralgia and scapula injuries after injuries.
• Sudden, severe pain (gall bladder spasm, myocardial infarction, cholelithiasis, perforation of a gastric ulcer).
• Increasing, paroxysmal pain is observed with gastric ulcers.
• Feelings of numbness, goosebumps, and pressure are more common after emotional stress or excessive physical exertion.

Separation by location can be:

• pain under the shoulder blade;
• shoulder blade pain;
• pain between the shoulder blades.

Pain in the shoulder blades is the cause of the disease

Pain in the area of ​​the shoulder blades often indicates simple tension in the back muscles due to prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position, but sometimes acts as a sign of serious illness.

When you first encounter this problem, pay attention to possible accompanying symptoms. You may be alerted by vomiting, nausea, heart rhythm disturbances, sweating, exceptional strength and severity of pain, and increased body temperature.

Important! If the cause of pain in the shoulder blades is illness, you should immediately consult a doctor. Only he can make the correct diagnosis.

Here you will find in more detail the answer to the question of what can hurt in the right hypochondrium?

Stomach ulcer

Ulcerative lesions of the stomach cause increasing, paroxysmal pain that occurs after eating. Localization of pain is in the epigastric region, radiating to the lower back, chest, heart, shoulder blades. Read about chest pain here.

Accompanying symptoms are belching, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting. Manifestations of pain can be different: throbbing, dull, aching, cramping, cutting or drilling sensations. Periodicity and seasonality of exacerbations are also characteristic.

According to the time of onset of symptoms, they are distinguished:

• hunger pains that begin 5-7 hours after the previous meal;
• early pain - manifests itself 30 minutes to 1 hour after eating, lasting from 1 hour to 2 hours;
• late pain – occurs after 1.5-2 hours;
• nocturnal - occurs at night.

Psychological problems

As a result of stress, emotional stress, severe anxiety, and neurotic conditions, pain in the shoulder blades often occurs.

Involuntary tension of the back muscles causes spasms or clamps, which are accompanied by pinching of the nerve processes and their subsequent inflammation. Read about what to do if a nerve is pinched in your back here.

Painful symptoms in psychological disorders are expressed by:

• pressing pain, radiating to the arm, back, neck and shoulder blades;
• feeling of pressure, heaviness in the area of ​​the shoulder blades;
• numbness, tingling;
• heat in the chest;
• feeling of stiffness;
• heart rhythm disturbance;
• anxiety, fear;
• lack of air, lump in throat.

Read about back pain when breathing here.

Myocardial infarction

The cause of pain in the shoulder blades may be myocardial infarction. This disease is characterized by a sharp attack of severe pain that radiates from the chest to the cervical region, dorsal, interscapular region, arms and jaw.

It is important to note that myocardial infarction begins after a severe attack of angina.

Signs of myocardial infarction:

• angina pectoris;
• sharp, unbearable pain in the chest, lasting at least 15-30 minutes;
• widespread pain in the chest, back, arms, shoulders;
• sweating;
• arrhythmia;
• decreased blood pressure;
• feeling of fear;
• taking nitroglycerin and validol does not cause improvement.

Regular examinations will help prevent damage to the heart muscle. At the first signs of angina and pain in the chest and shoulder blades, you should visit a doctor.

Read about the lump on the back near the spine here.

Cervical osteochondrosis of the spine

The most common disease of the spine is osteochondrosis. The most vulnerable part of the spinal column is the cervical region. Periodic pain in the scapular region during an exacerbation indicates the development of cervical osteochondrosis.

The disease develops gradually, so it is important to seek medical help in time. This will help prevent further complications. Here you can familiarize yourself with a set of exercises for cervical osteochondrosis.

The symptoms are as follows:

• stiffness of movements of the shoulder girdle and neck after sleep;
• turning the head is accompanied by pain;
• constant aching or acute pain in the neck, chest and shoulder blades (may radiate to the arms);
• painful sensations intensify after movement or physical activity;
• headaches, dizziness;
• numbness, paresthesia.

Here we wrote about cervical osteochondrosis, dizziness, fear and depression.

Intercostal neuralgia

Divided into primary and secondary (accompanies other diseases). Primary intercostal neuralgia is temporary and is completely cured after appropriate measures are taken.

Possible causes of the disease:

• injuries;
• emotional and physical stress;
• disruptions in the functioning of the nervous and endocrine systems;
• diseases of the spine;
• infections, allergies and viruses;
• vitamin B deficiency.

Intercostal neuralgia is characterized by sharp, girdling pain. It depends on the type of lesion and the duration of the disease. There are also weak, aching painful sensations.

Read about how to treat intercostal neuralgia here.

Associated symptoms:

• muscle tension;
• edema;
• numbness;
• pallor or redness of the skin at the site of inflammation;
• sweating, fever.

Perforation of gastric ulcer

Perforation of a gastric ulcer is the formation of a through hole in the wall of the stomach with access to the abdominal cavity. Requires immediate surgical intervention.

A dangerous pathological process occurs with pronounced symptoms:

• sudden acute pain;
• shock;
• localization of pain in the abdomen, extends to the shoulders, shoulder blades (if the phrenic nerve is damaged);
• sharp tension in the muscles of the abdominal wall;
• cold sweat on the face, pallor;
• forced position of the patient on his back or side;
• rapid, shallow breathing;
• painful palpation of the abdomen.

Muscle spasm of the gallbladder

Severe piercing pain syndrome can cause muscle spasm of the gallbladder. The pain is short-lived and goes away within a few minutes. It appears in the right hypochondrium, radiating to the scapula, neck, collarbone, and jaw.

Causes of gallbladder muscle spasm:

• emotional stress;
• eating rough food;
• alcohol and smoking abuse.

Subphrenic abscess

Subphrenic abscess is a serious disease with the formation of pus in the diaphragm area.

Symptoms:

• severe, increasing pain in the hypochondrium, epigastrium, transmitted to the right scapula and shoulder;
• weakness;
• decreased appetite;
• temperature increase;
• sweating, chills;
• pale skin;
• leukocytosis.

Kidney diseases

Kidney diseases (nephritis, pyelonephritis, renal colic) are expressed by pain in the lumbar region, right and left shoulder blade. The initial stage of the disease is almost asymptomatic, so pain in the lumbar region is a clear sign of worsening condition.

Signs of kidney disease:

• dull, nagging pain that occurs during an exacerbation (chronic nephritis, pyelonephritis);
• sharp, acute pain in the lower part of the scapula (renal colic);
• low-grade body temperature;
• painful urination;
• feeling of nausea.

Pain in the shoulder blades - the cause is in the shoulder blade

Often, pain in the shoulder blades occurs independently, without concomitant diseases. This means that the root cause of the symptom is pathological processes occurring directly in the scapula.

We wrote about what is located in the left side under the ribs in front of a person here.

Scapula injury

This is facilitated by the anatomical location of the bone, which is protected by various muscles.

Often occurs in conjunction with other injuries. Mostly occurs after a fall or as a result of road accidents.

Symptoms of a scapula fracture:

• pain in the scapular region immediately after the fracture;
• bruise;
• edema;
• dysfunction of the shoulder joint;
• "triangular pillow" symptom.

Pterygoid scapula

A pathology, the distinctive feature of which is the lag of the lower angle of the scapula from the chest, is called pterygoid scapula. Develops as a result of loss of functionality of the fixing muscles of the back.

Causes:

• anatomical disorders of the development and innervation of the muscles that fix the scapula;
• tears of the serratus anterior, deltoid and trapezius muscles;
• past polio;
• progressive muscular dystrophy;
• damage to the long thoracic nerve of Bel.

Symptoms of the disease:

• dysfunction of the shoulder girdle;
• protrusion of the lower angle of the scapula from the chest, visually resembling a “wing”;
• painful sensations of aching nature, intensifying with movement.
• spread of pain to the scapular region, collarbone, shoulder joint.

Scapular crunch

Snapping scapula syndrome is a rare congenital anomaly of the shoulder girdle or acquired as a result of intense physical activity. The main sign of pathology is a characteristic clicking or crunching sound of the scapula when moving.

Pain sensations of varying intensity in the affected area, dysfunction of the shoulder joint act as additional symptoms.

Causes of the disease:

• bursitis – inflammation of the joint capsule (synovial bursa);
• atrophy of the muscles adjacent to the scapula;
• improper healing of fractures of ribs and shoulder blades;
• developmental anomalies of the scapula (tubercles of Luschka).

Osteomyelitis of the scapula

Osteomyelitis is a severe infectious disease that manifests itself in purulent inflammation of the scapula. It is divided into hematogenous and post-traumatic osteomyelitis.

Causes of osteomyelitis:

• entry of pathogenic pathogens into bone tissue (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, hemolytic streptococcus, pneumococcus);
• injuries, burns, frostbite;
• hidden infectious processes (caries, boils, tonsils).

Signs:

• severe bone pain, worsening during periods of exacerbation;
• slight displacement of the scapula;
• skin inflamed, red;
• increased body temperature;
• impaired motor function of the scapula;
• pain on movement and palpation;
• chills;
• gradual disruption of the functionality of all body systems.

Causes of back pain between the shoulder blades

Pain between the shoulder blades manifests itself as a symptom:

• oncological neoplasms;
• pleurisy (pain when taking a deep breath, coughing);
• pneumonia (weak, dull pain);
• polio causes tension in the muscles of the cervical region, which subsequently provokes pain;
• tuberculosis pain throughout the chest;
• back myositis is a pathological process of muscle inflammation that manifests itself after hypothermia. Read about how to treat cervical myositis here.

Back pain between the shoulder blades can be caused by other factors that are not related to diseases:

• sitting in one position for a long time at a computer;
• mechanical back injuries;
• lack of physical activity on the muscles or their excess;
• pain during pregnancy due to heavy load on the spine;
• constant stressful situations.

Answer to the question: What does pain under the left shoulder blade from the back indicate? – read here.

Also, the location of the pain syndrome between the shoulder blades indicates the presence of various diseases of the spine:

• scoliosis – manifests itself as painful sensations in the spinal, lumbar and thoracic region.
• kyphoscoliosis – develops due to two pathologies of the spine: scoliosis and kyphosis, nagging pain;
• spondyloarthrosis (minor pain that increases with prolonged walking and standing);
• kyphosis (recurrent low-intensity pain in the back and curvature area);
• glenohumeral periarthrosis - dull pain that increases with movement of the inflamed joint;
• intervertebral disc herniation – the intensity and nature of pain depend on the degree of its severity;
• mechanical injuries of various parts of the spine;
• disc protrusion in the thoracic region - constant pain of low intensity, becoming chronic, accompanied by numbness;
• radiculitis (pain syndrome is pronounced, paroxysmal or constant);

Prevention of pain in the shoulder blades:

1. Regular gymnastics, walks in the fresh air.
2. Active lifestyle.
3. Carrying out a massage.
4. Maintaining correct posture.
5. Raising immunity.
6. Avoiding stress, quitting alcohol and smoking.
7. Alternation of work and rest.
8. Proper organization of the workplace.
9. Comfortable bed with orthopedic effect.
10. Long sleep.
11. Treatment of chronic diseases immediately after the first symptoms appear.

We wrote about how to choose and where to buy an orthopedic sofa here.

 Pathology treatment methods

The pain that accompanies the disease is eliminated after its treatment.

Pain syndrome, which manifests itself in response to tension and spasms of the muscles of the dorsal spine, can be reduced or eliminated using a number of actions:

• Massage of painful areas, gymnastic exercises.
• If necessary, take medications with anesthetic and anti-inflammatory effects.
• Physiotherapeutic procedures.

Summary of the article

When observing the symptoms of pain in the scapular region, you need to be extremely careful. After all, this symptom accompanies many diseases and pathological conditions that pose a threat to human health.

• Therefore, it is very important to visit a doctor in a timely manner to clarify the diagnosis and necessary treatment.
• If painful sensations in the shoulder blade are associated with muscle overstrain due to a static body position, then getting rid of the pain will not be difficult.
• It will be enough to carry out preventive measures aimed at increasing the mobility of the thoracic spine.

Source: https://spinaspina.com/siptomatika/prichiny-i-lechenie-bolej-v-spine.html