What to do if your shoulder blade is blown out: how and how to treat it

Most people have at least once experienced back pain of varying intensity and character. It is this part of the body that bears the main load. In this regard, the spine is exposed to various pathological changes (osteochondrosis, radiculitis, hernia).

You can often hear the expression “I blew my back.” This condition is associated with the influence of certain physical factors that cause inflammation in different locations, including in the area of ​​the shoulder blades. Just after warming up the muscles during sports or physical labor, get exposed to the wind, and you can expect trouble.

Causes of pathology

You can catch a cold on your back in a draft or in short outerwear.
Most often your back gets cold in the area of ​​the shoulder blades in the summer in hot weather. People wear clothes that are open at the back, so if there is a cool breeze blowing outside, it can cause pain.

A sharp change in temperature, for example, while under air conditioning, can be a provoking factor.

Often your back gets blown when you are in a draft. A person sometimes catches a cold when his muscles are warmed up after training.

Signs and symptoms

When hypothermia occurs, the back muscles suffer.
If the shoulder blade is blown out, the first signs appear quickly. The following symptoms indicate the development of inflammation in the muscles:

• The appearance of pain of varying degrees of intensity in the affected area, accompanying any body movement.
• Pain from inflammation of the muscles in the scapular region can spread to the central part of the back, “spreading” from the spine to the sides. Sometimes it can radiate to the neck.
• The pain can radiate to the arm and chest area. The syndrome occurs on the affected side.
• The skin over the inflamed muscle may become red or bluish, and there is a feeling of itching and burning. It may feel like it's tingling.
• Muscles lose tone - become weak and sluggish.

A slight increase in overall body temperature is possible.

If the inflammation affects the intercostal nerves on the left or right, we are talking about the development of intercostal neuralgia. It is characterized by the appearance of severe pain when inhaling. Because of this, breathing becomes shallow and shallow.

The condition can also be caused by myositis. The pathology is an inflammation of skeletal muscles. The disease can be recognized by the following symptoms:

• increased pain during movement, trying to palpate the muscle;
• increased body temperature;
• the appearance of swelling of the muscle on the affected side.

Upon palpation, the doctor finds characteristic nodular formations.

Why does a nerve become pinched?

For what reason does pinching occur, and why specifically in the shoulder blade? After all, there are nerves throughout the spine. This is true, but it is in the thoracic area, where the shoulder blades are located, that the nerves are most susceptible to various influences. Second in line is the back, which is supplied with lumbar nerves. A person may also experience pain in the shoulder, collarbone and neck when the nerves of the cervicothoracic area are pinched.

Pain may radiate to the neck

This diagnosis is noteworthy in that a person often makes it himself, saying that a nerve is pinched, and a compress or poultice at home, without bothering to see a doctor, or it will go away on its own. And in most cases, especially if the scapular nerve is inflamed due to hypothermia, the pain actually begins to subside the very next day.

Prices for painkillers for back pain

Important! But a pinched nerve in any part of the spine is a symptom that needs to be addressed by a doctor. No pain arises in the body just like that. And the diagnosis signaled by this symptom can only be established by a medical professional.

The cause of the pain must be determined by a doctor

It’s worth starting to understand the problem with the question: how does pinching occur? It occurs due to the fact that the nerve is compressed by the tissues surrounding it. This can be bone or cartilage tissue, muscle or tendon tissue. For this reason, pain can occur at any spinal level.

By the way. Nerves can become pinched not only in the spine; facial, radial, ulnar nerves and so on can also be pinched, causing pain in the corresponding organs.

The disease is spread throughout the body and occurs in a large percentage of patients, but as such there is no diagnosis of “pinched nerves”. This is because it is not a disease, but only a symptom of it. And not even one, but many diseases. This is why diagnosis is important to identify the cause of the pinched nerve.

It is important to undergo an examination and find out the cause of the pinched nerve.

Why a nerve may become pinched:

• due to injury;
• due to tumor;
• a growth forms on the bone tissue;
• the patient leads a sedentary life;
• he experiences excessive stress;
• there is an intervertebral hernia;
• osteochondrosis is present;
• hypothermia occurs;
• disc protrusions are formed;
• this is a consequence of arthrosis;
• the patient has arthritis;
• gastrointestinal diseases;
• there are diseases of the endocrine system;
• tumor-like formations;
• history of an autoimmune disease.

The nerve can be pinched due to herniated discs, as well as for many other reasons.

As you can see, there are many reasons for a nerve to be “pinched.” There are also indirect accompanying circumstances that will help or provoke the process. Excess weight and old age, damage to posture and hereditary factors, as well as pregnancy, are called provoking factors.

Nerves can become pinched during pregnancy

The following can directly cause an attack of pain from a pinched nerve:

• lifting weights, if you do it abruptly or take significant weight;
• a certain position that is not comfortable that a person takes during sleep;
• sleeping on a mattress that is too hard/soft or of poor quality;
• being in a draft, wind, or low temperatures;
• overeating with existing obesity;
• injury to the back or chest.

A nerve may be pinched due to an uncomfortable posture during sleep.

These reasons are secondary. And, unlike the list of reasons given above, they are much easier to deal with. In a short time it is possible to return to your normal life and stop experiencing pain. If the problem is a disease, then the patient must undergo long-term complex therapy so that pinching does not recur.

Important! Neither in the second, nor even more so in the first case is it possible to self-medicate. Yes, if constriction occurs for a secondary reason, it is enough to limit yourself to ointments, compresses and certain medications, but in order for them to be prescribed correctly, you need to go to the doctor.

Diagnostic measures

For pain on the left, if there is a suspicion of intercostal neuralgia, an electrocardiogram of the heart is done.
The muscles in the area of ​​the scapula can become inflamed for various reasons. The doctor’s task is to determine the true factor that provoked back pain localized in the area of ​​the shoulder blades.

First of all, the doctor carefully palpates the area of ​​inflammation. He needs to determine the most painful areas, as well as detect formations uncharacteristic of muscle tissue.

To confirm the diagnosis and determine the causes of pain, the following laboratory and instrumental tests are prescribed:

• CT, MRI. The techniques are used to identify tumors of all types, as well as signs that accompany the destruction of the nerve sheath.
• Electrocardiography. The study helps to assess the electrical activity of the myocardium. The technique is indicated for suspected intercostal neuralgia, whose symptoms resemble angina attacks.
• Radiology. It is used if there are suspicions of various types of formations in the area of ​​the scapula or respiratory organs.
• Lab tests. The results obtained allow us to determine the existing inflammatory process.

If the need arises, the patient is assigned consultations with other specialists.

Diagnostics

Since pain in the area of ​​the shoulder blades can be caused by various reasons, to confirm that the inflammatory process arose precisely due to the influence of natural factors, it is necessary to undergo a thorough diagnosis. It will help differentiate different pathological conditions and prescribe the correct treatment.

Diagnostic measures:

• blood and urine tests;
• antibody tests;
• Ultrasound;
• radiography;
• MRI;
• electromyography and others.

The doctor determines the scope of research for each patient individually, based on the collected medical history, the results of a visual examination, and a study of symptoms.

Treatment methods

To relieve pain, you can use Diclofenac ointment.
Therapy should begin immediately after the appearance of characteristic symptoms. To alleviate the condition, the following tactics are recommended:

• compliance with bed rest;
• refusal of any physical activity;
• taking medications (prescribed by a specialist).

Medications

Drug therapy helps reduce pain, restore the functions of affected muscles, prevent the chronicity of the pathology and the development of possible complications.

Different groups of drugs with local and systemic action are prescribed. NSAIDs and analgesics:

• Tramadol;
• Meloxicam;
• Diclofenac;
• Ibuprofen;
• Nimesil;
• Ketoprofen.

Mydocalm relaxes muscles
The next group is muscle relaxants:

• Sirdalud;
• Baclofen;
• Toplerizine;
• Mydocalm.

Local preparations:

• Capsicam;
• Nise gel;
• Dolgit;
• Finalgon;
• Voltaren;
• Ketonal;
• Diclofenac;
• Fastum gel.

Voltaren warming patch helps relieve inflammation and pain.
Patches with a warming effect:

• Dorsaplant;
• Voltaren;
• Nanoplast;
• Pepper;
• Ketonal thermo;
• Versatis.

When the first symptoms appear, anti-inflammatory ointments should be used. When the pain becomes less pronounced, the application of drugs with warming properties is allowed.

During pregnancy, medications must be selected with extreme caution, taking into account the current gestational trimester and individual contraindications.

Physiotherapy

Electrophoresis is used to deeply warm the tissues.
Physiotherapy is one of the most effective ways to treat the condition. They help relieve the inflammatory process and speed up recovery, restoring functionality to the muscles.

In practice, the following methods are prescribed to the patient:

• ultrasound treatment;
• electrotherapy;
• radon, salt baths;
• EHF;
• magnetotherapy.

Reflexology techniques are effective - acupuncture, vacuum therapy, electroacupuncture. Additionally, sessions with a chiropractor, as well as a complex of physical therapy, may be prescribed.

Folk remedies

Cabbage leaf with honey can be applied as a compress to a sore spot.
At home, traditional medicine recipes can be used to alleviate the condition. The following products have proven themselves to be effective:

• The cabbage leaf should be smeared with honey and used as a compress, applied to the area of ​​inflammation. Take it off in the morning.
• Combine 4 parts of lard with 1 part of crushed horsetail herb. Apply ointment to your back two to three times a day. The product is a good cure for inflammation of the muscles under the shoulder blade caused by hypothermia.
• Prepare “strong” mashed potatoes. Fold a cotton cloth in several layers, put the puree on it, spread it in the form of a cake and apply it to the sore spot. After removing the compress, treat the skin with alcohol and insulate it with a woolen scarf/scarf.
• Mix 100 g of melted goose fat and fir oil. Use as a compress (the duration of the procedure is no more than 1 hour) or simply smear the area of ​​pain several times during the day.

Before starting treatment, you should consult a doctor.

Treatment

When a nerve is pinched and severe pain is felt, the following must be done.

1. The patient lies down on a surface, preferably one that is hard.
2. Painkillers are taken.
3. A sedative is also given, since the patient may experience not only pain, but also stress.
4. Blood vessels, along with the nerve, may be pinched. In this case, there is difficulty breathing. The patient needs fresh air (open the window) and freeing the chest from clothing.
5. Further, in case of severe pain, an ambulance is called.

Therapy for pinched nerves is carried out according to a specific scheme.

Table. Stages of treatment for a pinched nerve.

Preventive measures

Multivitamins help support the immune system
There are a number of measures that can be taken to prevent the development of back pain under the shoulder blade. Doctors advise the following:

• prevent hypothermia - local and general;
• do not exceed the physical activity recommended by age;
• promptly eliminate problems with poor posture;
• to live an active lifestyle;
• eat properly and nutritiously.

If your work activity involves prolonged sitting, it is advisable to do a little warm-up regularly. Exercises can be very simple: turns right/left, bends, body rotations and others. Exercises in the pool, horseback riding - everything that helps strengthen the spine and joint-muscular system will bring benefits.