Pain in the scapula

The resulting pain in the shoulder blade limits a person's movements, sometimes making them simply impossible due to too much pain. To identify and eliminate the causes of pain, you should visit a traumatologist, neurologist, or even an oncologist.

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Diseases that can cause pain in the shoulder blade

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Injury

A direct blow to the shoulder blade area, a fall on the back, or on a straightened arm or elbow can cause a crack or even a fracture in the bone. Often, the lower part of the bone, broken off during an injury, can move downwards under the influence of muscle tissue. A person with such an injury experiences pain in the shoulder blade, which is especially noticeable when making arm movements. The damaged area begins to swell, and edema occurs.

Winged scapula

This phenomenon is considered acquired and appears after:

• paralysis or rupture of the muscle: serratus anterior, rhomboid or trapezius;
• damage, inflammation of the nerve (long thoracic);
• contusion of the shoulder area;
• transferred myopathy.

If the case is severe, the person is unable to move the arm to the side. When attempting to lift it, the bone sticks out strongly. The pain in the shoulder blade bothers mainly during movement, and muscle weakening is observed. This type of injury is often received by athletes and circus performers when they make a rather sharp turn of the head or unsuccessfully pull themselves up on their hands.

Arthritis

Chronic inflammatory processes in the synovial subscapular bursa and exostosis. Pain in the scapula and a feeling of heaviness in it, scapular crunching that occurs with each movement of the shoulder joint are the symptoms of these diseases.

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Osteomyelitis

A pathological process when the bone tissue of this bone is affected. This disease appears due to specific injuries, such as open damage or a gunshot wound. Pain in the shoulder blade torments the patient along with intoxication of the body. When the purulent process is localized in the front part of the bone, intermuscular leaks also form. Doctors are not always able to achieve full restoration of functionality.

Tuberculosis

The disease is extremely rare and can affect only adults. The area for the spread of the disease is the acromial process, as well as the body of the bone.

Tumors

These are chondrosarcoma, reticulosarcoma (are malignant), osteoma, osteochondroma, osteoblastoclastoma, chondroma (are benign). The studies are carried out using X-ray equipment, taking the necessary tests. Puncture or open biopsy is likely to be used. During the treatment, the tumor is subjected to surgical intervention.

Cervical osteochondrosis

It occurs when the nerve roots in the cervical-brachial plexus are irritated. It provokes pain in the shoulder blade, in the shoulder, which does not subside even at night. Sometimes the pain is echoed in the arm. It becomes difficult to turn or lift it. This disease mainly affects people who are forced to sit with their head down for too long: draftsmen, teachers, accountants, workers in the sewing industry. The disease begins to actively manifest itself in mature people who have reached the age of thirty to sixty years.

Sometimes, the pain in the shoulder blade can stop after a simple change in body position or performing simple warm-up exercises. However, there are situations when the intervention of a specialist is simply necessary.

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Treatment of shoulder blade pain

Treatment of shoulder blade pain depends on what exactly caused the pain syndrome. There are many factors that can provoke shoulder blade pain. Treatment is prescribed individually, based on the patient's age, general health condition, and diagnosis.

Treatment begins with X-rays, which can reveal such diseases as osteochondrosis, spondyloarthrosis of the thoracic and cervical spine, scoliosis of the thoracic spine, instability of the cervical spine, etc. All these ailments can provoke pain in the shoulder blade. The patient may be prescribed additional procedures such as tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

In these cases, anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs, B vitamins, muscle relaxants, Kuznetsov or Lyapko applicators, gabantins (if the pain is very strong), dry heat, rubbing, etc. are used as treatment. After the pain syndrome has been eliminated, they begin therapeutic exercise, massage, acupuncture, swimming, and spa treatment. Daily gymnastic exercises and swimming are also important, since the pain recedes precisely when the muscles are physically trained.

If the cause of the pain in the shoulder blade is osteoporosis, the patient is prescribed X-ray and densitometry. Therapeutic agents include drugs containing calcium, bisphosphonates, and chondroprotectors.

If the cause of the pain in the shoulder blade is a myocardial infarction, the patient must be urgently hospitalized in the infarction department for a further course of rehabilitation.

Pneumothorax is another condition that can cause pain in the shoulder blade. Treatment in this case is urgent, with hospitalization in a medical institution.

Shoulder blade pain may also occur as a result of infectious diseases, such as tonsillitis, tracheitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, or retropharyngeal abscess. Self-medication is prohibited; an urgent consultation with an ENT specialist is required.

In case of lung tumors, bronchial asthma, pleurisy, pneumonia, the patient is recommended to see a therapist as soon as possible. He will prescribe general clinical tests, X-rays and prescribe adequate treatment.

Shoulder-scapular periarthritis can also cause pain in the shoulder blade. Treatment in this situation consists of eliminating pain and muscle tension. Treatment of periarthritis includes local therapy, medication, massage, physiotherapy, as well as therapeutic exercises and acupuncture. You can do this exercise: try to squeeze an unfolded newspaper into a ball with the hand whose shoulder blade is experiencing pain.