Pain Under Shoulder Blade

One of the most common things which are experienced by most of us and which can be really problematic sometimes is shoulder pain. It can affect people of all ages and under any circumstances. In youngsters it can be a result of overexerting the shoulders during sports or any other activity. Worn out joints can be the culprit for a shoulder pain in elderly people. The main reason for this is the complex make up of the shoulder joint, that makes it vulnerable to sprains, pulls, inflammation of bursa, capsules, muscles and ligaments. Now, the important aspect is the diagnosis of the cause of the pain, which is determined by the particular shoulder and the painful spot. In case you are wondering about your shoulder blade pain, perhaps the text coming up can help.

Anatomy of the Shoulder
The shoulder blade is made of 3 joints and an 'articulation'. The articulation is where the long bone of the upper arm joins the articulation with the collarbone and scapula, that is the shoulder blade. In addition, there are 4 muscles which are responsible for the movements of the shoulder and keeping the shoulder joint together. They make up the rotator cuff on the whole. These are precisely the muscles which are most vulnerable to wear and tear and joint pain.

Pain under Right Shoulder Blade
Cause #1: If an individual is suffering from pain in this area, it is one of the major signs of gallbladder disease or gallstones. In case the gallbladder attack is serious, there will be a severe pain starting in the right shoulder. This can also result in a person having problems in breathing.

Cause #2: Just below the rib cage we have the liver. Consequently if the liver is damaged, there will be pain under right shoulder blade. To be more specific, if there is a liver abscess, which is caused by bacteria, it is surely going to give you signals that something is wrong with your liver.

Cause #3: Arthritis can lead to stiffness of joints, causing pain below shoulder blade. The range of motion is also affected by arthritis.

Cause #4: The above were serious causes, however, it is not necessary that if you are going through pain below your shoulder blades, the reason is going to be that serious. So, apart from the above, the reasons could be a pinched nerve, muscle pain or spasm, sports activities and repetitive strain on shoulder.

Pain under Left Shoulder Blade
Cause #1: An impending heart problem can be a cause of this pain. A neck injury or disease can also lead to this problem. Sometimes the gallbladder or liver problem can also affect the left side of the shoulder.

Cause #2: Rotator cuff injury is another reason for an individual having this pain. Rotator cuff is important for unhindered and complex movements of our shoulder. So the damage to this part is not just painful, but can also weaken your shoulder muscles. Repetitive motions, traumatic injury, wear and tear, etc. all can lead to pain under the left shoulder blade. Dislocation of the rotator cuff is needless to say a serious cause of this pain. Damage to ligaments connecting the shoulder blade with collarbone is an aftereffect of dislocation.

Cause #3: Inflammation of the tendons or bursa or muscles of and around the shoulder can lead to pain. Similarly, tendonitis, which can be an outcome of chronic arthritis is another major cause of pain in the shoulder area.

In case of sports injuries leading to pain, the sports physician and physical therapist can be of help. But if it's amongst those serious causes, it is advisable to go and immediately consult the concerned specialist.