Right Shoulder Blade Pain

Pain in the shoulder blade or scapula can be an indicator of several different conditions, some of which can be minor, while others can be quite serious. Pain in the shoulder blade can be experienced in the left or right side, and also in between the two shoulder blades. Most of us know pain under left shoulder blade can be a sign of heart attack, but not many people know that pain in the right shoulder blade too can be a sign of certain major health problems. However, this does not mean that pain around or under the right shoulder blade (which is also known as scapula) is always associated with a serious medical condition. Instead, it can also be caused by factors like, muscle strain, wrong posture, overuse of the muscles of the shoulder or any kind of injury to the muscles, tendons or ligaments of the shoulder and the neck region.

What Can Cause Pain in the Right Scapula?

As mentioned already, this pain can be associated with several factors or conditions, right from minor injury, muscle strain to some serious underlying health conditions.

Gallbladder Disease
Commonly, gallbladder dysfunction or disease produces pain in the upper right abdomen. But, sometimes this conditions can produce pain between shoulder blades or under the right shoulder bone. The pain can be mild or severe and can begin quite suddenly. Such pain can be accompanied by vomiting and sweating at times.

Arthritis
Arthritis of the shoulder joint too can manifest in pain in the shoulder blade. Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can affect the shoulders, both right and the left shoulder. Osteoarthritis is caused by age-related wear and tear or degeneration of the cartilage of the joints, while rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. Along with pain, both the conditions can cause stiffness, for which the affected individual can find himself or herself unable to lift the arms.

Liver Disease
As liver is located below the rib cage, cancer or other problems of the liver can manifest in pain. Sometimes, the pain can also be felt between the shoulder blades. Liver abscess is caused by bacteria and protozoa, which destroy the liver cells and form a cavity, filled with infectious agents and leukocytes. Liver abscess can produce symptoms like, fever, jaundice and flu like symptoms, along with this type of pain. The symptoms of liver cancer on the other hand include, discomfort in the right side of the upper abdomen, hard lump in the belly, swelling of the abdomen, a feeling of abdominal fullness and jaundice.

Breast Cancer
In breast cancer, the malignant cells can sometimes spread to the shoulder and cause shoulder blade pain. The cancer of the right breast therefore, can cause pain below the right shoulder bone. So, it can be an indicator that the cancer has metastasized.

Other Causes
Sometimes, pain in the shoulder blade or between the shoulder blade can be a sign of heart attack, if it is accompanied by symptoms like, chest pain, shortness of breath, profuse sweating, nausea and dizziness. Apart from this, some other possible causes of pain in or under the right scapula are, pinched nerve, muscle spasm, muscle strain, sprains or shoulder dislocation, injury or problem in the neck, neck pain and esophagus cancer.

Right Scapula Pain Treatment

Minor pain of the shoulder blade can be reduced with adequate rest and the application of heat or ice pack. You can apply ice pack or heat alternately to the shoulder several times a day, in order to get quick relief from shoulder pain, and other symptoms like, inflammation and stiffness. If such simple measures seem to not work, then talk to your physician regarding the use of medications like, pain killers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for shoulder blade pain relief. If shoulder blade pain does not resolve even after taking medications, and is also very frequent, then inform your physician as soon as possible.

To sum up, this pain can be caused by various factors, both minor and major. So, before coming to any conclusion regarding the cause of your shoulder blade pain, please consult your physician. Your physician can help to determine the exact causes of shoulder blade pain, and rule out the possibility of serious diseases or disorders.