5 Common Causes of Pain Under Your Shoulder Blade

QI Spine Clinic, 4 years ago

The shoulder blades, medically known as the scapulae, are the triangular bones on the back of the shoulders. Three sets of muscles are linked to each shoulder blade, which joins the upper arm bone to the collarbone. The shoulder joint is moved by these muscles. Any pain experienced between these shoulder blades is not uncommon. In medical terms, this uneasiness is known as interscapular pain. Any person with this discomfort, senses either a dull, sore or sharp shooting pain in the upper part of their back between their shoulder blades or on the spine of the scapula. In many cases, these aches are nothing to worry about unless proved otherwise. Chronic scapular pain could be an underlying musculoskeletal condition that may affect the movements of arms and backs.

Muscles present at the shoulder blade allows it to rotate, move up and down, side to side or in a circular motion. Sometimes, If tension arises, even a trivial injury can cause excruciating pain or temporary disability when you cant move your arms.

At times, a distressed organ such as lungs or heart also radiate pain in the shoulder region. Lung ailments, heart diseases, back problems, liver malfunctions are typically associated with left-back shoulder problems. A thorough examination from a primary healthcare provider helps to rule out such conditions.

However, in most of the cases researchers have found the following reason of scapula pain –

• Prolonged slouched posture
• Injury from a direct hit, fall or accident
• Uncomfortable sleeping position.
• Excessive pressure felt from lifting a heavy object.
• Musculoskeletal conditions like shoulder instability, rotator cuff tears and collarbone to shoulder blade joint dislocations.

Let’s discuss the most common causes of pain under or around shoulder blades. It can be categorized into various segments-

1. Stressed Postures 

Continuously sitting in poor posture may result in building stress on the upper back, spinal discs, muscles and ligaments. This may lead to severe pain underneath the shoulder blade. This usually happens while slouching or bending your upper back, excessive tilting your head down, or sitting to one side for a long period of time.

Example: Talking on phone for prolonged hours in the same position can lead to neck and shoulder blade pain. 

2. Poor Lifting Techniques 

We have seen people pull incredible stunts like pulling a truck or doing the impossible. We wonder if their bodies were made of steel.

Lifting heavy weight against your capacity can harm your body especially on the shoulder blades. One must practise proper lifting techniques to minimize drastic ligament, spine, joints injury in the long run. Including a proper workout regime can help in strengthening the muscles.

3. Poor Heart Condition

Studies have shown that people with heart ailments can experience discomfort in the shoulder region. A common yet life-threatening condition called aortic dissection occurs when the heart’s largest artery gets a tear that leads to severe pain in the heart region but also moves to other parts of the body like the shoulder blade.

4. Cervical Herniated Disc Problem

The medical condition where a disc’s outer layer (known as annulus fibrosis) tears along with leaking of the inner layer (also known as nucleus pulposus) outward. The reason for this tear could be a sudden jerk such as putting brake in car suddenly or weak neck and shoulder muscle leading to instability. In this condition, the individual experiences immense pain originating from the upper back to the spine.

5. Structural conditions like Cervicothoracic Scoliosis or Dislocated Rib.

There are a few cases recorded when a rib may get misaligned due to repetitive pressure imposed on them It results in sharp pain which makes it difficult to engage in physical activities and even to breathe.

Another condition like scoliosis- where the shape of the spine is reversed, stressing the muscles around the joint. This leads to imbalance and pain in shoulder and scapula region.

Let us now discuss a few techniques to relieve this left shoulder pain:

• Rule out serious conditions such as organ related pain which demands special medical attention.
• Rest and home remedies such as massage, ointments or hot/cold packs also help.
• However, if the pain is persistent, it is recommended to take an opinion with spine experts as spine is the most common root of such pain. You might need to undergo a complete spine analysis where the muscles around the spine, especially neck and upper back, is evaluated and  precise exercises are given accordingly.

It is important to note that long lasting effects can be seen with targeted muscle training to off load the structure around either right or left shoulder blade.

To conclude, anyone experiencing muscle spasm or pain in scapula region, must consult a spine expert would help minimize the pain and after-effects. If you are experiencing back shoulder pain, kindly visit www.qispine.com and request an appointment from the website.