Pain Between Shoulder Blades

The shoulder is the most unstable joint in the human body, and operates regularly except when the body is at rest. People often complain of shoulder pain after they carry out a physical job for a long time. In every physical job, the shoulder is used. Some people take the shoulder pain lightly and think that it will heal by itself. Shoulder pain should not be taken for granted but should be given proper attention at the earliest, as it may also cause shoulder dislocation in the future. The pain actually stems from the muscle that starts at the first four vertebrae of the neck and curves around the inside corner of the shoulder blades. The primary aim of the muscle is to help you raise your shoulder blades. Unfortunately, many people strain their shoulders more than they are meant to handle and that results in pain. Pain between the shoulder blades can sometimes be felt in the neck as well as at the blades. There can also be a burning pain that may lessen the strength of the shoulder.

Causes for Pain Between Shoulder Blades

Gall Bladder Pain: In this case, the pain normally extends up, from the abdomen to in between the shoulder blades; which may cause gas, nausea, and vomiting. It can also spread from one shoulder to the other. The affected gall bladder can experience pain for hours, before the pain vanishes. It is a symptom to many diseases like gastric ulcer, back pain, heartburn, pneumonia, and kidney stones.

Angina Pectoris: It is a Latin phrase which means a 'tight chest'. It is a condition that is normally accompanied by heavy chest pain wherein you feel the breastbone trying to squeeze itself. The pain moves in the whole body, usually in the arms but less likely to be felt in the abdomen, throat, or between the shoulder blades. It is caused by physical activities, psychological stress, extreme cold, and fat meal.

Arthritis or Disc Diseases: In gall bladder pain, we mentioned that the pain stems from a lower point like the abdomen, but in arthritis or disc diseases, it comes from the neck. This results in pain in most of the body parts like the arms, hands or head. Arthritis and disc diseases cause severe neck pains called 'torticollis', which makes the neck turn to one side. There is a feeling of weakness in the arms and shoulders that is caused by pain at the bottom of the skull, which may also give you numb fingers.

Liver Cancer: There are many symptoms of liver cancer like a lump in the belly, on the right side, and under the ribcage, the skin turning yellowish, a feeling of a full stomach, and pain between the shoulder blades. If you have liver cancer, there is a possibility that you may feel pain in between shoulder blades.

Esophageal Cancer: Shoulder blade pain is generally a sign of a person suffering from esophageal cancer. There are, however, some other important symptoms like a feeling of food stuck in the throat, pain while swallowing, eating disorders, coughing up blood, and aortic dissection. A heavy pain between the shoulder blades can also occur, that may lead to many shoulder complications if the patient is not taken to the hospital immediately.

Other Temporary Causes: There are times when a person has to strain his shoulder to lift a heavy object, which can cause pain in the left or right shoulder blade, depending on the side where the pressure was more. Sleeping on one side for a long time can also cause shoulder blade pain.

Shoulders are an important part of our body without which we cannot perform any task. Proper care needs to be taken when doing physical activities. It is strongly advisable to meet the doctor when you experience pain in the shoulders.