Back health is the key to the normal functioning of the whole organism. Sometimes it happens that a person suddenly begins to feel as if the back area is on fire.
This indicates the manifestation of diseases, and often they are not associated with the spine itself. So pathologies of internal organs can manifest themselves.
What causes itching
When the back burns in the area of the shoulder blades, the main cause of the unpleasant syndrome is hidden in the pathological processes in the muscles. The condition may be accompanied by pain.
Most often occurs in people leading a passive lifestyle. If the back burns in the region of the shoulder blades, then most likely this is the first sign of the onset of spinal deformity. This condition can be caused by the following diseases:
- upper spine;
- scoliosis;
- neuralgia.
Often these symptoms are manifested:
- cardiac ischemia;
- angina.
Burning, which is accompanied by a pain syndrome of a permanent or temporary nature, aggravated by a change in the position of the body, may indicate reflux esophagitis (heartburn).
Depending on which side the disease is localized, the back can bake on the right or left side. If discomfort arose on the left side, then this indicates:
- peptic ulcer,
- gallbladder disease,
- disorders in the liver.
If it burns under the shoulder blade on the right from the back from the back, then in this case we can talk about problems of a neuralgic nature. Most often this happens due to.
Often this condition occurs in the background. If the problem lies not in the condition of the spine, then most likely it manifests itself as follows:
- hepatic colic;
- blockage of the bile duct;
- abscess.
Often the cause of discomfort is a nervous breakdown. The shoulder blades of the back burn from depression, because when a person’s psycho-emotional state is disturbed, the nerve endings become constantly excited.
The nerve roots located along the spinal column are pinched and cause burning and pain in the back.
Who to contact
If an unpleasant symptom occurs, you should first contact a therapist, then a neurologist.
With prolonged and accompanied by a burning sensation in the back, it is necessary to seek help from a psychotherapist.
You should not try to cope with the disease on your own and traditional medicine, as this often leads to a deterioration in the condition.
A burning sensation is a consequence, and for proper treatment it is necessary to establish the cause of its occurrence.
You may need to be examined by the following specialists:
- rheumatologist,
- cardiologist,
- surgeon,
- hepatologist,
- gastroenterologist.
A complete examination will allow you to establish a diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment.
Diagnostics
When the back burns between the shoulder blades, the causes can be hidden anywhere, so as soon as an unpleasant syndrome appears, you should immediately go to a specialist.
The doctor will assess the condition of the spinal column and all organs. For this, an integrated approach is used, which helps to establish an accurate diagnosis.
During the examination, you will definitely have to pass tests, undergo an ultrasound examination, x-rays.
In addition to general analyzes, there are additional ones, including:
- blood chemistry,
- marker of liver and kidney disease,
- biochemical analysis of urine.
When it is precisely established why the back is burning between the shoulder blades, adequate treatment is prescribed. Treatment should take place only under the supervision of a specialist. For serious pathologies, hospital treatment may be required.
Usually, the treatment regimen includes a number of procedures aimed at eliminating unpleasant symptoms, relieving pain, and reducing inflammation.
A lot of diseases of both the spine and internal organs can be hidden behind a burning sensation in the area of the shoulder blades, so it is important to consult a specialist before the condition worsens.
Pain between the shoulder blades is not a separate disease, but a symptom inherent in a large number of pathologies (cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory systems) or a consequence of an injury.
If it occurs, consult a doctor for a quick diagnosis of the disease and the start of effective treatment.
Types and location of pain
Did you know that the spine between the shoulder blades hurts in people whose professional activity is associated with constant tension of the muscles located in the upper belt? These include seamstresses, machinists, drivers, etc.
Pain occurs in one of 2 forms:
- Acute. Accompanied by burning pain (often described by the words "stake in the spine"), aggravated by turning the body, arms, tilting the neck.
- Chronic. The syndrome “flows into it after 2-3 acute periods. The pain becomes regular and affects the quality of life of a person.
Does your back hurt between your shoulder blades when you inhale? The reason is intercostal neuralgia or diseases of the respiratory system. They are expressed in a simultaneous increase in temperature, drowsiness, loss of appetite.
The described symptom in children in 85-90% of situations indicates the formation of scoliosis. An important signal for their parents will be the asymmetry of the shoulders, unevenly located shoulder blades.
Chest pain between shoulder blades
Simultaneous pain is caused by spinal deformities and pathologies of other internal organs. So, with a stomach ulcer, pancreatitis and cholecystitis, patients complain of a burning sensation in the chest area, “radiating” to the back.
If between the shoulder blades, then the cause may be diseases of the respiratory system. At the same time, another symptom is additionally manifested - an increase in temperature s.
There are situations when pain in the spine between the shoulder blades "gives" to the chest. To establish the correct diagnosis, a complete examination of the patient's body, including the cardiovascular system, is performed.
Aching dull pain
Dull aching pain in the back between the shoulder blades is due to pathological conditions of the muscles, tendons and ligaments. It occurs with osteochondrosis and damage to internal organs (inflammation of the gallbladder, pneumonia, etc.).
Attention! Burning pain is formed with inflammation of the mucous membranes of the esophagus, renal colic, etc.
If pain is constantly felt and the condition of the spine is the cause, then the following symptoms are inherent in the pain syndrome:
- it does not extend to other parts of the body (for example, to the thoracic region),
- becomes more intense with loads (with the condition of tension of diseased muscles and ligaments),
- the manifestation of itching, pain, burning in the spine between the shoulder blades increases with palpation.
Burning and pain are observed during inflammatory processes in the nerve endings of the spinal cord. In this case, the patient has a desire to “rub” the damaged area, but any pressure on it leads to an increase in the intensity of pain.
If the symptom is permanent, then immediately seek medical help - only timely diagnosis and therapy will help to avoid worsening your condition.
Video
Video - pain between the shoulder blades
Sharp and sharp pain
Sharp back pain in the spine between the shoulder blades is the result of infringement or inflammation of the nerve roots. Often their deformation is caused by pathologies - osteochondrosis, scoliosis, etc.
Reflex muscle tension leads to the fact that the back hurts between the shoulder blades. Spasms provoke a gradual increase in the clamping of the nerve ending and, as a result, lead to an intense pain syndrome.
Sharp pain in the back between the shoulder blades is present in biliary colic.
It is accompanied by additional syndromes:
- discomfort in the area of the right hypochondrium,
- deterioration in general well-being,
- nausea and vomiting,
- an increase in temperature.
Interestingly, if severe pain in the spine between the shoulder blades is caused by biliary colic, then the cause of its manifestation (intensification) is the consumption of fatty or fried foods (discomfort is observed 3-3.5 hours after eating).
Breathe heavily
It is difficult to breathe with pain between the shoulder blades - a clear sign of lung damage (usually with pleurisy, pneumonia, etc.).
Pain when inhaling and breathing in a number of situations makes it possible to diagnose angina pectoris, which is additionally manifested by the following symptoms:
- pronounced shortness of breath,
- pressure drop,
- skin pallor,
- "Return" of pain between the shoulder blades in the hand.
If these symptoms appear, you should immediately call an ambulance!
Relationship between pain and disease
The cause of pain between the shoulder blades in the back in 70% of cases is associated with various pathologies. We propose to study the relationship of pain with diseases diagnosed in a patient:
| The type of pain that occurs in the spine between the shoulder blades | Provoking the occurrence (intensification) of the disease | What are the features? |
|
Aching | - kyphoscoliosis, - herniated intervertebral discs, - fibromyalgia, - spondylarthrosis. | Less commonly, aching pain manifests itself with an ulcer. |
|
Pulling | - osteochondrosis (neck / chest area), - scapular-rib syndrome, - myofascial syndrome. | Pulling pain syndrome indicates pathologies of the bone and muscle structures of the body. |
|
stabbing | - pleurisy (accompanying symptoms - cough, weakness), - vegetative dystonia, - pyelonephritis. | Less commonly, stabbing pain between the shoulder blades indicates perforation of the ulcer. Other symptoms: - pain in the abdomen, Bloating - heartburn |
|
Acute | - an attack of cholecystitis (+ pain appears under the ribs on the right side), - stomach ulcer, - stage of exacerbation of osteochondrosis. | |
|
strong | - intercostal neuralgia, - pancreatitis (+ bloating), - protrusion of the intervertebral discs. | Severe pain between the shoulder blades - a sign of what disease can be? It may indicate a myocardial infarction! Then, along with pain, there is: - a sharp deterioration in well-being, - loss of consciousness, - pressure drop, - arrhythmia. |
Attention! If the vertebra hurts when pressing (pressing) between the shoulder blades, then this indicates the presence of pathologies of the spine
By informing the doctor about the nature of the syndrome, it will be possible to determine the causes of back pain between the shoulder blades and diagnose a concomitant disease.
Diseases of the spine
If it hurts between the shoulder blades, then the factor that caused pain in many cases is diseases of the spine. It is important that such a syndrome is not a separate disease - it only signals the presence of pathology.
Pain between the shoulder blades in the upper back occurs due to:
- scoliosis,
- kyphosis,
- spondylarthrosis,
- osteochondrosis,
- protrusion of the intervertebral discs.
If back pain between the shoulder blades radiates to the sternum and lower back, then the causes can be hidden not only in diseases of the spine, but also in the cardiovascular (CHD, angina pectoris, etc.), digestive (ulcer, inflammation of the gallbladder, etc.) systems.
Pain during pregnancy
Many pregnant women complain of back pain between the shoulder blades. If you experience discomfort, immediately sign up for a gynecologist - it is important to timely exclude circumstances that can affect the health of the future mother and child.
Why do women experience pain between the shoulder blades during pregnancy? An increase in the load on the spine and a change in the center of gravity of the body provokes an overstrain of the back muscles, and entails the appearance of pain.
Injuries
The cause of back pain between the shoulder blades is often an injury. So, with fractures of the ribs or sternum, a severe pain syndrome is formed, passing through all parts of the spinal column.
Do you have pain in your neck and between your shoulder blades? Consider whether there have been recent situations that could cause damage to the spine (for example, a severe bruise, a blow to the spinal column, etc.).
What to do, how to treat and which doctor to go to?
What to do if your back hurts between your shoulder blades? Go see a therapist. He will conduct an initial examination and a general examination, based on the results of which he will issue a referral to a narrow specialist:
- surgeon
- neurologist,
- cardiologist
- traumatologist, etc.
What and how to treat pain in the spine between the shoulder blades? To eliminate pain in stationary conditions, an integrated approach is used, which involves taking medications, prescribing physiotherapy and therapeutic exercises.
Any discomfort that occurs in the back requires professional diagnosis. Burning between the shoulder blades can appear for various reasons. It is a symptom of many diseases of the spine, but often speaks of problems with vital organs. To deal with what caused such an unpleasant manifestation, only a specialist can. You should consult a doctor as early as possible, this will allow you to start treatment in a timely manner and completely get rid of discomfort.
First of all, if a burning sensation occurs, localized between the shoulder blades, the presence of pathologies of the spine is suspected. They are the most common causes of such a symptom. Among the diseases that are most common are:
The thoracic spine is another common cause of discomfort between the shoulder blades. The disease is characterized by a violation of the structure of the intervertebral discs and inflammation of the spinal nerves. It is accompanied by numbness of some areas of the skin, pain in the chest. Unpleasant sensations are aggravated by deep inhalations and exhalations, coughing, as well as physical exertion. If left untreated, the pathology can lead to problems with the heart, intestines, and compression of the spinal cord.
Burning between the shoulder blades can also talk about problems not related to the spine. Such reasons include coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, stomach ulcers, and cholera. Discomfort is also associated with occupational diseases that lead to degenerative changes in the thoracic region. So, the risk group includes people whose activities are associated with the need for prolonged tension of the back muscles - seamstresses, PC operators, drivers.
Diagnostics
The examination necessary to determine the cause of the burning sensation between the shoulder blades, as well as assess the condition of the spine and internal organs of a person, includes a complex of various procedures and methods. First of all, the doctor conducts an initial diagnosis, which allows narrowing down a number of alleged factors that led to discomfort. Then the patient is sent for various instrumental studies and laboratory tests. One of the stages of the examination is often a differential diagnosis, which allows you to accurately determine what caused the discomfort. Patients complaining of a burning sensation between the shoulder blades may be referred for the following procedures:
| Diagnostic technique | Time | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|
| X-ray of the thoracic spine | 15-30 minutes | 88-90 % |
| CT or MRI of the chest | 30 minutes | 95-97 % |
| Electrocardiography | 20 minutes | 85-87 % |
| 24 hour Holter monitoring | 20 minutes | 92-95 % |
| Ultrasound or tomography of the abdominal organs | 20 minutes | 85%-99% |
Among the tests that need to be passed to a person complaining of back discomfort are general and biochemical blood and urine tests. In addition, blood clotting and the presence of cardiac, renal and liver markers are checked.
Which doctor will help with the treatment?
In order to receive effective therapy, you need to contact a medical institution. Self-treatment or the use of traditional medicine, as a rule, leads to an aggravation of the patient's condition and the appearance of complications. Sign up for a consultation with a burning sensation between the shoulder blades should be to the doctors of the following specialties:
You may also need the help of a rheumatologist, cardiologist, orthopedic surgeon and specialists such as a gastroenterologist, hepatologist.
At the initial appointment, the doctor takes an anamnesis, analyzes complaints, conducts a physical examination, during which he examines the skin, palpates the spine, measures the pulse, blood pressure, and body temperature. For more information, he conducts a survey. So the doctor might ask.
Such a pain syndrome as a burning sensation in the back in the area of the shoulder blades is a fairly common occurrence. It can be associated not only with a long uncomfortable position of the human body (during a night's rest, or when a person sits in one position for a long time), but also with any awkward movement. Most often, this condition is associated with a very serious disease of the body.
The etiological factors that cause burning in the back along the spine can be divided into two groups. The first consists of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system and the muscular apparatus. In this case, the burning sensation in the spine or in the upper back is neurogenic in nature. These can be such diseases:
- Kyphosis;
- Osteochondrosis;
- Scoliosis;
- Spondylarthrosis;
- Intervertebral hernia;
- Intercostal neuralgia;
- Disk protrusions.
The second group includes diseases of the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract and respiratory system. These are pathologies such as coronary heart disease, chronic pathologies of the lungs and pleura, diseases of the liver and gallbladder, and peptic ulcer of the stomach and intestines.
There are, in addition, non-specific causes, which include incorrect position during sleep and work, muscle spasms due to excessive physical exertion and problems with ligaments, joints and tendons.
To correctly diagnose, it is necessary first of all to exclude cardiogenic causes of pain, which indicate ischemic myocardial damage or acute coronary syndrome. To do this, an electrocardiogram is recorded and blood is taken to determine troponin, a marker of damage to the heart muscle.
The next step is a plain x-ray of the chest, abdomen, and pelvic region. Then, images of the cervical region, or the thoracic or lumbar region of the spine, are accurately performed. Each vertebra is evaluated, its shape and position. This list of studies is complemented by tomography.
If the doctor suspects that the burning sensation under the left or right shoulder blade behind the back is caused by a stomach ulcer or gastroesophageal reflux disease, it is advisable to perform an esophagogastroduodenoscopy.
The most common diseases in which patients complain of pain and burning sensation are osteochondrosis of the spine, vertebral hernia and protrusion. Patients experience not only pain, but also a burning sensation under the right or left shoulder blade behind the back, numbness of the hands and other manifestations of this condition.
The main reason for this nature of pain is the compression of the nerve trunks and roots, caused by the displacement of the vertebrae and a decrease in their size. These sensations are both temporary and permanent.
Injuries to the neck cause such a symptom, which is associated with damage to the nerve endings sandwiched between the vertebrae. The patient at the same time feels a burning sensation in the subscapular region. This symptom also appears when the patient has heartburn or a non-erosive reflux process.
Scoliosis can also cause muscle inflammation and burning or sharp pain in the back. Radiculitis also manifests itself due to the involvement of muscle fibers in the inflammatory process.
Intercostal neuralgia can cause a situation where the back in the area of the shoulder blades and the area of \u200b\u200bthe chest along the ribs burns, burns and hurts. There is compression of the nerve fibers, this causes all the manifestations described above.
Injury to the shoulder blades, the appearance of a closed injury to the elbow, bursitis (when inflammation of the synovial membrane of the shoulder joint occurs), tuberculosis and tumor neoplasms also give sharp, burning or aching pain in the shoulder blades.
There are similar sensations with peptic ulcer, pathological processes in the kidneys, disruption of the liver, gallbladder diseases and abscesses.
A disease such as a perforated stomach ulcer may indicate pain under the shoulder blade on the left. This is characterized by an increase in body temperature, vomiting and a sharp burning pain in the epigastrium. The same condition is observed with injury to the spleen.
With a pathology of the heart, the patient feels that he is baking between the shoulder blades and a burning sensation appears in the chest. Another cause of these sensations may be dorsalgia. The pain radiates to the abdomen, chest cavity and interscapular region. It is caused by myocardial infarction, progressive angina pectoris, and dissecting aortic aneurysm.
If the back burns very often, then the reasons for this lie in the transferred bronchitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis or SARS. All these situations can be complicated by bacterial left- or right-sided inflammatory changes in lung tissue. Pneumonia causes inflammation in the pleura. It can cause pain and burning in the back between the shoulder blades.
Causes a burning sensation under the right or left shoulder blade from behind from the back and shingles. In this case, blisters appear on the skin. In the early stages, there is a burning sensation from the back and tingling. The cause of this disease is the smallpox virus. It manifests itself due to a weakened immune system.
There is no single approach to the treatment of such a disease. It will depend on the pathogenetic mechanisms of the disease. If the appearance of pain and burning in the back is associated with a violation of the functions of the musculoskeletal system without injury, then a therapeutic and protective regimen is needed. It helps to relieve muscle tension and restore impaired functions.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed for pain relief. You can use tools such as Celebrex, Voltaren, Movalis. To eliminate muscle pain, Mydocalm, Sirdalud or their analogues are prescribed. Medicines are used in combination with analgesics, massage, physiotherapy and exercise therapy. Such treatment is most effective, and the burning sensation in the back on the right or left is eliminated in a very short time.
As an additional treatment, sessions of manual therapy are prescribed. With its help, you can reduce muscle blockade, reduce pain impulses and improve joint mobility. Acupuncture is actively used. After courses of this technique, nerve conduction is restored, pain decreases and stops burning and burning the back.
With bronchopulmonary and cardiological diseases, as well as with pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, the patient is prescribed individual treatment, since the back can burn for a variety of reasons.
Patients with a heart attack and progressive or unstable angina are hospitalized. If an aneurysm and severe pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract are diagnosed, then doctors recommend surgical treatment.
All patients are given vitamins and antibiotics. In chronic pain, in situations where the back between the shoulder blades burns for a long time, antidepressants are prescribed
When there is pain in the back, in particular, under the shoulder blades, various diseases of the internal organs can be the causes. Very often, the pain is of a burning nature, there is a feeling that the sore spot is “baking” or “burning”.
There are probably few people who would not experience similar symptoms when there is a burning sensation in the back between the shoulder blades.
Sometimes there is numbness of problem areas.
The nature of the discomfort
Burning in the back between the shoulder blades, if it is a sign of some kind of illness, can:
- be observed only in one place, on a certain part of the back;
- spread to a significant part of the body;
- be constant, painful;
- periodically subside, but then return;
- disturb the sensitivity of the affected area.
All people have a different pain threshold, so some patients patiently endure discomfort, while others complain that the diseased part of the body “burns” and causes severe discomfort.
When this signal of the body appears, you should seek medical help to understand the causes, as well as carry out appropriate treatment.
Causes of burning pain
Often, these symptoms indicate diseases associated with the spine. Among them is scoliosis, or.
It can also be various back injuries, excessive physical exertion or the consequences of wearing improperly selected shoes.
Office workers, who are almost always in the same sitting position, almost always suffer from pain in the shoulder blades.
The reason here is incorrect posture, the result of which is an overstrain of the back muscles, as a result, there is pain with burning sensations under the shoulder blades on the back.
You should not always associate the symptoms that appear with the spine or the loads on it, since more serious health problems can take place here.
There are several main diseases that contribute to the appearance of this unpleasant feeling:
- heart diseases;
- pathology of the digestive system;
- endocrine problems.
Burning under the left shoulder blade from behind from the back, many experts associate with osteochondrosis. This is not true in all cases. This condition can also signal a heart attack or internal bleeding.
Pathologies such as ischemic disease, pneumonia, stomach ulcers, and sometimes even cystitis are often the culprits of pain.
A burning sensation in the region of the right shoulder blade often provokes cholelithiasis, in which the painful feeling becomes simply unbearable, very painful. Painful sensations of this particular part cause diseases of the human respiratory organs.
If the symptom is found on the right side, then, perhaps, the matter is in the right-sided inflammation of the lungs, and if on the left, then, respectively, on the left-sided.
When there is a burning sensation in the back below the shoulder blades, this most often indicates the following:
- excess weight;
- posture problems;
- infectious diseases;
- inflammatory process;
Quite rarely, it is the spine that is the culprit of back pain. Basically, this place begins to hurt due to pathologies of the internal organs, which provoke spasm of the interscapular muscles.
How is the diagnosis carried out
Making a correct diagnosis in connection with these pain sensations is very difficult. A comprehensive study of the patient's health status will be required.
First of all, you need to consult a general practitioner, as well as a neurologist. Usually, the therapist performs the primary one, which makes it possible to determine which narrower specialist's help will be needed for further effective treatment (surgeon, gastroenterologist, cardiologist, etc.).
To do this, the doctor palpates the area that causes discomfort, notes blood pressure, body temperature, and finds out other complaints.
The following procedures are mandatory for this case:
- electrocardiogram;
- tomography;
- ultrasound examination.
You will also need a complete blood count, biochemical, urinalysis.
Medical tactics
Burning in the back in the area of the shoulder blades, the causes of which are serious internal pathologies of the body, needs professional treatment, and depending on which organ is out of order, the correct treatment is prescribed.