Pain in the left under the scalp forces a suspicious person to immediately think of a heart attack. Of course, do not forget about this life-threatening condition, but more often back and left pain occurs for less dangerous reasons. It is worthwhile to find out why it hurts under the left shoulder from the back to the back, to know which doctor to seek help and in what cases to call an ambulance.
1. Intercostal neuralgia
The disease is accompanied by inflammation of nervous processes.
ᲛReasons
Causes nerve irritation:
- Hypothermia;
- Herpes infections;
- Injuries to the ribs or spine;
- Nerve root disorder with osteochondrosis of the chest;
- Diseases accompanied by chest deformity (spondylosis);
- Benign neoplasms of the pleura;
- Allergic reactions;
- Osteochondrosis.
Under the scapula on the left side, the pain of neuralgia suddenly appears and frightens the person, making him suspect the worst.
Symptoms
With intercostal neuralgia, the pain will be excruciating, and the intensity will depend on the severity of the pathology. The pain may be severe, almost unbearable, or the disease may manifest as minor painful discomfort.
Typical symptoms that indicate inflammation or irritation of nerve processes are:
- Connection with movement and respiration. Pain under the scalp is more excruciating when left-handed movement, coughing, sharp breathing, or laughter begin.
- Impact of heat. After reheating the pain decreases or disappears altogether.
- Palpation. It hurts more when pressed.
If the cause is a herpes infection, then the patient develops a characteristic rash along the nerves.
In addition to pain, a person may experience:
- Tachycardia;
- Skin numbness;
- Increased sweating.
It is not always possible to determine whether the pain under the left scapula is caused by intercostal neuralgia or heart pathologies. If the pain syndrome first arises and you are not sure that it hurts due to irritation of the nervous processes, then you should seek medical help immediately.
Treatment
Therapy for intercostal neuralgia depends on the cause of the disease.
Patients are prescribed:
- Antiviral drugs and ointments (for herpes);
- Painkillers;
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Ointments with warming effect.
If the disease is accompanied by severe pain in the left shoulder, which can not be stopped by taking analgesics, then patients are given novocaine blockade to alleviate the condition.
The following are used to improve tissue trophism in the subacute stage and to reduce the length of the recovery period:
- Physiotherapy procedures;
- Massage;
- Acupuncture.
Treatment aims not only to relieve back pain under the left back, but also to treat a provocative disease (osteochondrosis, herpes). If this is not done, then the pathology becomes chronic, exacerbated by hypothermia or physical exertion.
To whom should I turn
If it hurts in the left shoulder area and there is no suspicion of heart pathology, then you need to visit a neurologist.
2. Diseases of the bronchopulmonary system
Disease of the lower respiratory tract (bronchi, lungs, pleura) can cause pain in the back of the left shoulder.
ᲛReasons
The main causes of pain in respiratory pathologies are diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria and viruses:
- Bronchitis;
- Pneumonia;
- Pleurisy.
Also, back pain on the left may occur due to the appearance of neoplasms in the bronchi or lungs.
Symptoms
The person has a constant pulling or aching pain under the left scapula. The cough intensifies with coughing and deep breathing. In addition to painful sensations in the left back, patients may have the following complaints:
- Fever, sometimes reaching high numbers;
- Dry cough or viscous sputum discharge (there may be streaks of blood or a mixture of pus in the mucous discharge);
- Weakness and apathy;
- Shortness of breath.
If the back pain under the left scapula causes a tumor, then there will be no hyperthermia, coughing and breathing problems will become additional symptoms.
Treatment
If the back pain and signs of inflammation are provoked by the inflammatory process, then patients are prescribed:
- Antibiotics or antiviruses;
- Medications to liquefy and stimulate sputum discharge;
- Fever-reducing preparations;
- Painkillers (if you start having severe pain).
Treatment of neoplasms depends on the nature and size of the tumor. Patients are removed for tumor formation or conservative therapy.
Who heals
Inflammatory processes in the bronchi or lungs are treated by a pulmonologist, and in the case of neoplasms, a visit to an oncologist or surgeon is required.
3. Vegetative-vascular crises
The patient complains of pain on the left side under the scalp and a feeling of fear, but during the initial examination the diseases causing pain discomfort can not be detected.
ᲛReasons
Crises can pass independently and due to the absence of signs of organic pathology, such people are considered hysterical and unrestrained. But in reality, crises cause:
- Hormonal imbalance;
- Neurological pathology;
- Stress;
- Psycho-emotional overload;
- Endocrine diseases;
- Prolonged use of antidepressants or psychotropic drugs.
Vegetative crises are often the first sign of neurological disorders. Signs of deteriorating well-being and painful discomfort under the left scapula begin after a strong experience or shock. Most often, children and women under the age of 30 suffer from diseases.
Symptoms
With vegetative-vascular crisis, not only pain on the left side appears under the scapula, in addition, the patient may experience:
- Feeling of suffocation;
- Cardiopalmus;
- Trembling in hands and feet;
- Causeless anxiety;
- Feeling hot or cold;
- Sweating;
- headache;
- Loss of consciousness.
Characteristically, patients may not be able to pinpoint exactly where it hurts. The pain occurs not only under the scapula but also under the ribs, often appearing on the left side of the shoulder, arm or abdomen.
The duration of the crisis varies from a few minutes to an hour and a half. In severe cases a person has seizures.
An additional threat is the fear of attack. The person is afraid of unpleasant sensations, tries to follow all kinds of rituals to avoid pain under the scapula and other unpleasant symptoms. Without treatment the condition will turn into a phobia.
Treatment
The presence of seizures will be an indication for immediate hospitalization, while milder forms of vegetative vascular crisis are treated at home. As therapy, they are used:
- Sedatives for strong fear;
- Herbal remedies to help soothe;
- Antidepressants to reduce increased nervousness and anxiety.
If the crises are caused by neurological or endocrine diseases, then additional therapy will be selected to eliminate the disorders arising.
When the onset of an attack is related to a stress factor, patients additionally learn to respond appropriately to stressful situations and it is recommended to avoid overwork.
Which doctor should I go to
When panic attacks appear, you should contact a vegetarian, but not all cities have these specialists. If it is impossible to get advice from a vegetarian, then you should consult a neurologist or therapist. In addition, you may need to consult an endocrinologist.
4. Myocardial infarction
A life-threatening condition caused by acute ischemia and necrosis of the heart muscle. In this case, the pain under the scalp and back of the chest will be strong.
Provoking factors
The causes of such pain under the scapula to the left of the back are a complete cessation of coronary blood flow to a certain part of the myocardium caused by blockage of a vessel. The following pathologies can cause a heart attack:
- Atherosclerosis;
- Thrombosis.
The resulting clot or plaque breaks down and blood flow goes to the heart. When they reach small-diameter coronary arteries, they close the lumen of blood vessels and stop blood flow to the tissues. Lack of oxygen leads to death of myocardial cells.
Symptoms
The pain is sharp and throbbing, localized to the left side of the chest. Radiates:
- Left hand;
- Under the shoulder of the mouth;
- In the lower jaw.
Atypical course of heart attack can be irradiated:
- In the epigastric region;
- In the right back;
- In the lower abdomen.
Pain during a heart attack does not relieve back pain with analgesics and decreases slightly after taking nitroglycerin.
Treatment
Therapy aims to eliminate obstructions in the blood flow path, reduce the focus of myocardial necrosis, and eliminate pain. To do this, contact:
- Agents that dissolve blood;
- Medicines with blood thinning effect;
- Narcotic analgesics;
- Medications to improve vascular tone.
Other drugs will be selected based on the disorders that may arise - these may include cholesterol-lowering drugs, antihypertensive drugs, etc. Sh.
Surgical angioplasty may be performed in the first hours to reduce the focus of necrosis. Surgical intervention allows you to quickly restore impaired blood circulation and reduce post-infarction scarring.
Which doctor is treating you
In case of a heart attack, emergency hospitalization is indicated in the cardiology department, where resuscitators and cardiologists select effective therapy. If you suspect a heart attack, you should call an ambulance immediately.
5 more reasons why the back may ache under the back of the spine
Think about why it can hurt from the back to the left under the back:
- Angina pectoris. Short-term spasm of the coronary arteries caused by stress or physical exertion. Acute pain appears on the left, back, scapula and back of the chest, which disappears after taking nitroglycerin medication.
- Osteochondrosis or hernia of the chest region. If the nerve root is crushed, there will be diffuse pain in the left back, under the scapula, which is enhanced by movement.
- Peptic ulcer disease. The pain occurs not only in the back of the scapula but also in the epigastric region. He starts having more pain after eating or during prolonged starvation. In addition, heartburn, nausea, nausea are noted. Pain discomfort is slightly reduced after vomiting.
- Disease of the pancreas or spleen. In these pathologies the left side hurts around the scapula and ribs. In acute pancreatitis it not only hurts from the back, but will also be a belt pain that covers the left and right hypochondria.
- Injuries. Spinal cord injuries to the left scapula area can lead to irritation of nerve processes and pain syndrome may reappear a few weeks after the injury with increased physical exertion or hypothermia.
If the back hurts under the mouth of the left shoulder, then you should not ignore this condition, even if the pain is slightly pronounced. Painful discomfort can be caused by a life-threatening condition.
What to do if you have pain in the left side of the spine under the scapula
When pain syndrome occurs from the back to the left under the scapula, you do not need to panic, but you should not ignore the condition that arose. Before you decide which doctor to go to, you should try to find out what hurts from the left back, under the scapula. To do this, you need to identify the additional characteristics of pain:
- Localization. If it hurts in the back below the mouth of the left shoulder and the painful discomfort increases after eating or long fasting, then the likelihood of heart disease is minimal.
- Intensity. Moderate pain syndrome is often accompanied by chronic diseases, but severe pain indicates a severe pathological process.
- Character. Acute pain requires urgent medical attention and in case of traction or excruciating pain, you should visit a clinic.
- Connection with movement and respiration. When it hurts more when coughing, leaning forward, or moving the left hand, it indicates spinal disease or intercostal neuralgia.
Back pain under the left scapula is caused by a variety of reasons and they are not always safe for life and health. Newly started pain syndrome under the left scapula requires special attention - it can be a sign of neuralgia, angina or even a heart attack. If you suspect the onset of pain syndrome, then you need to call an ambulance. Getting medical help on time can help you stay healthy and sometimes save your life.