{"id":7180,"date":"2019-07-05T09:08:10","date_gmt":"2019-07-05T09:08:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=7180"},"modified":"2021-06-12T15:44:06","modified_gmt":"2021-06-12T15:44:06","slug":"20-potential-causes-of-shoulder-blade-pain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/20-potential-causes-of-shoulder-blade-pain\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Potential Causes of Shoulder Blade Pain"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Pain in the shoulder blades is not uncommon; in fact, it is estimated that as many as 67 percent of Americans will experience this type of pain at some point in their lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pain can occur directly in the shoulder blades themselves, in the space that lies between the shoulder blades, or in the muscles that surround the shoulder blades. The pain can range from mild to moderate to severe. It can also last for a short period of time and never return again, it can wax and wane, or it can be chronic and always be felt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are experiencing pain in or around your shoulder blades, there\u2019s no doubt that you are feeling alarmed; especially if the pain comes on suddenly or worsens over time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several potential reasons why this type of pain can occur; some aren\u2019t concerning, while some are and require medical care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Frozen shoulder. <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Medically referred to as adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder is a common cause of pain in the shoulder blades. It\u2019s comprised of stiffness and pain, and in severe cases, it can reduce mobility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The specific cause of a frozen shoulder is not yet known; however, it\u2019s believed that there are multiple factors that could cause it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diabetics <\/a>have an increased risk of developing this condition, as well as those who have problems with their thyroid (hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid, and hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Individuals that have Parkinson\u2019s disease are also prone to developing frozen shoulder. Immobilization, or lack of use of the joint, can also lead to a frozen shoulder. If you are suffering from a frozen shoulder, it is important to seek medical care to rule out any serious underlying medical conditions that could potentially be causing the condition so you can receive appropriate care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2.Arthritis.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not surprising that arthritis is a common cause of shoulder blade pain. Arthritis <\/a>is a condition that is marked by the degeneration of cartilage, the soft substance that lies between the joints. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cartilage cushions the bones that form the joints, and it also absorbs shock from movements; when there is little or no cartilage between the joints, the bones begin rubbing together, which can cause pain that progressively worsens and can severely limit mobility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arthritis can develop within any joint in the body, including the shoulder blades. While this degenerative condition is chronic and there is no treatment, there are ways to manage the pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a family history of arthritis, you are genetically predisposed to the condition, and there is a chance that your shoulder blade pain may be related. Arthritis can also develop as a result of severe injuries to the shoulder blades. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Tendonitis.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tendonitis <\/a>is a condition that occurs when the muscles and tendons that are connected to a joint become injured or inflamed (typically, injury leads to inflammation). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of this inflammation, the joint that is affected can become very stiff and experience mild, moderate, or severe pain. It can also reduce mobility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like arthritis, tendonitis can affect any joint within the body, including the joints of the shoulder blades. If the rotator cuff, the top portion of the shoulder blade, is affected, it will place pressure on the soft tissues that lie underneath it, which will result in pain when you are lifting the arm up and away from the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tendonitis can also affect the biceps, the large muscle within the upper part of the arm. It\u2019s usually marked by pain when lifting. Rest, ice, and elevation are the treatments prescribed for tendonitis of the shoulder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Myofascial pain syndrome.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is a chronic condition that is marked by pressure being placed on trigger points; sensitive spots that are located with the muscles<\/a>. This pressure can lead to pain in the affected muscle, as well as referred pain, or pain that is felt in another part of the body, though the root cause of the pain is located somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myofascial pain syndrome usually happens when a muscle has been contracted on a repetitive basis; for example, if you repetitively move your arm for work for a pastime, you may develop this condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though most people develop pain related to muscle tension at some point, myofascial pain syndrome is different because it does not go away, but rather it remains and becomes worse over time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no cure, but there are treatments; physical therapy and acupuncture have been found to offer effective pain relief. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Strain.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another common cause of shoulder blade pain is a strain <\/a>in any of the muscles that are situated in or around the area. There are a number of reasons why the muscles that lie within or around the shoulder blade can become strained. For example, if you have fallen and used your arm to brace yourself, you may have strained the muscles of the shoulder blade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other factors that can lead to strain include arthritis and tendonitis. There are several symptoms that are associated with a shoulder strain, including swelling and bruising of the affected area, redness at the site where the injury occurred, throbbing, aching, and weakness in the arm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the strain is severe, you may have extreme difficulty moving the shoulder at all. With rest, the application of hot and cold compresses, and anti-inflammatory medications, the condition should subside. Physical therapy may be recommended in severe cases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Bursitis.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yet another condition that is known to cause pain in the shoulder blades is bursitis<\/a>. The bursa located within the joints; they\u2019re small sacs that are filled with fluid and their function is to provide cushioning between the bones, as well as the soft tissues that surround the joints. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They reduce the amount of friction that occurs as the joints are moved. The bursa can become inflamed, a condition that is known as bursitis. Bursitis can occur as a result of overusing the affected joint; in this case, the bursa that sits between the rotator cuff and the acromion; a condition that is known as subacromial bursitis. It is not uncommon for bursitis to occur along with tendonitis of the rotator cuff. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This condition is marked by severe pain that may make it very difficult to complete normal, everyday activities. Rest and anti-inflammatory medications can ease the pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Cardiac conditions.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In severe cases, pain in the shoulder blades may be a sign of a more severe problem, such as a cardiac episode; pericarditis, aortic dissection, or even a heart attack<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often, people assume that issues with the heart cause pain in the chest; however, that is often not the case. In fact, many people who have had heart attacks did not report any pain in their chest at all, but rather in their shoulder blade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pericarditis, which is a condition that causes the lining of the heart to become inflamed, often presents itself as pain that develops in the left shoulder blade. Aortic dissection, which happens when a tear develops within the wall of the aorta, the most important artery in the human body, also often presents itself as pain in the left shoulder blade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any problem that affects the heart is considered serious, immediate medical care is required.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Pulmonary conditions.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, and another serious concern for shoulder blade pain, are conditions that affect the lungs. It has been reported that a large percentage of individuals who were diagnosed with lung cancer first reported that they were experiencing pain in either their shoulder or within their shoulder blades. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same is true for patients who were diagnosed with mesothelioma. A specific type of tumor<\/a>, known as a Pancoast tumor, which grows on the outer portion of the lungs, often results in pain in the shoulder blades, shoulders, and upper arms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another lung-related condition, pulmonary emboli, which is marked by blood clots that started in the legs and detach and travel into the lungs, is also often marked by shoulder blade pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pneumothorax, the medical terminology for a collapsed lung, can also cause pain in the shoulder blade. All of these conditions are severe and require immediate medical care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Rotator Cuff Tear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The rotator cuff<\/a> comprises a group of four muscles in the shoulder. The rotator cuff acts to stabilize the joint during movement, especially during lifting objects overhead or away from your chest. Unfortunately, the stabilizing muscles in the rotator cuff are not designed to support heavy loads, and lifting a heavy object overhead, may result in injury to this area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your job involves lifting overhead, then you may end up on the receiving end of a rotator cuff injury, especially if the object is too heavy for your muscular capacity. As a result, people who work in storerooms and warehousing should make use of lifting equipment, like forklifts and gantries, to raise or remove boxes or objects from high shelves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two types of rotator cuff injuries; partial or completes tears. A partial tear occurs when there is damage to one or two of the four supporting muscles in the rotator cuff, resulting in the fraying of the tissue. A complete tear occurs when the ligaments or muscles tear off of the bone, requiring surgery to repair the rotator cuff.
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10. Fractures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another common cause of shoulder blade pain is sustaining an injury that results in a break or fracture<\/a>. Breaking your shoulder is a tremendously painful experience. This complex joint has a risk of fracture or breaks in multiple areas, including the shoulder capsule and collar bone. After a diagnosis, there isn’t much that doctors can do to repair the joint, other than to operate on the affected area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, the patient may end up with screws and other supporting instruments in their joint to help the affected area heal. If the patient sustains a fracture, the impact may affect multiple areas in the shoulder, including the rotator cuff and shoulder blade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fracturing the shoulder blade is a reasonably uncommon occurrence, but it can happen if there is force applied directly to the shoulder blade. Doctors will conduct x-rays on the shoulder to determine the extent of the damage, and recommend treatment based on their findings.
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11. Whiplash<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Being involved in a car accident <\/a>creates significant amounts of trauma, especially if it’s a high-speed accident. One of the most common injuries sustained by individuals during motor vehicle accidents is damage to the shoulder. The seatbelt harness crosses the shoulder and the chest, creating a pivot point that places the force on the shoulder. During a high-speed accident, the seatbelt locks up, transferring the inertia from the sudden stop of movement into the upper body of the driver or passenger.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sudden impact, combined with the restriction of the seatbelt, may save the drivers life, but it also causes a significant amount of damage the upper chest and shoulder area. The neck may also experience a sudden jerking forward and backward, resulting in a condition known as “whiplash.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This injury affects all of the muscles in the neck, shoulders, and upper back, causing symptoms of pain in this area. The person may have sore shoulder blades, a stiff neck, and a reduced range of motion in the shoulder as a result of their injuries.
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12. Stress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We live in a world where we are under constant levels of stress<\/a>. Our responsibilities to our family, work, and social circle create a buildup of accumulated stress that can lead to numerous physiological and psychological problems.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Excessive levels of stress may cause the affected individual to experience tightening of the muscles around the neck and shoulders, resulting in changes to posture. As a result of the changes, the patient may find that they start to incur conditions like “geek neck,” where the chin moves forward, and curvature starts to develop in the cervical spine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This accumulation of tension in the neck and shoulder may lead to the onset of pain symptoms in the shoulder blades, where the patient may feel as if they are continually flexing their shoulder blades to relieve the tension. These symptoms will only dissipate when the patient takes time off of their regular schedule to rest. If the patient fails to take time off and relax, the symptoms may continue to intensify.
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13. Dislocation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The shoulder is a complex joint, and it’s not designed to stand up to forces at peculiar angles, that are beyond its normal range of motion. As a result, if you sustain an impact to the shoulder that causes it to hyperextend beyond its normal range of motion, it may result in dislocation where the shoulder tears away from ligaments <\/a>and pops out of the shoulder capsule.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This injury is incredibly painful and has a unique visual appearance where the shoulder slumps below its usual resting point, with the collarbone protruding. People who sustain dislocations require medical assistance to pop the joint back into place. After treatment, the patient may experience pain and tenderness in the shoulder capsule, as well as the shoulder blade. The affected area will remain stiff and sore for a few weeks afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients should ice the shoulder and make use of anti-inflammatories and painkillers to reduce symptoms of pain and swelling.
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14. Spinal Stenosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This condition describes a narrowing of the spinal canal, resulting in a compression of the vertebrae and discs that traps nerves. Patients with spinal stenosis may find that they experience sensations of shooting pain that radiate from the spine into the shoulder or down the legs. While the lower limbs are the most commonly affected region, stenosis of the cervical or thoracic spine may cause pain issues in the upper body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of the degenerative effects of thoracic or cervical spinal stenosis, the patient may start to experience pain in the upper back or shoulders, causing tension that sparks the development of shoulder blade pain. There is no cure for spinal stenosis<\/a>, and the affected individual requires physical therapy to slow the progression of the condition.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spinal stenosis typically occurs in adults over the age of 50-years old, and require management with anti-inflammatories and painkillers to ease pain symptoms.
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15. Lupus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lupus <\/a>is an autoimmune condition where the body mistakes healthy cells and tissue for invading pathogens. As a result, the patient may experience pain symptoms as the antibodies and white cells produced by the immune response start to attack the joints and ligaments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shoulders are a common area for Lupus attacks that cause symptoms of pain. The shoulder capsule and shoulder blades are typically the most affected areas. Pain in the shoulder capsule may radiate down the arm, causing similar sensations to those caused by a heart attack. Pain in the shoulder blade may cause an increase in tension in the upper back and thoracic spine, resulting in the patient’s upper back locking up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lupus is more common in women than in men, and it affects people of all ages and races. There are two types of Lupus; systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), both which can lead to the development of pain in the shoulder blade.
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16. Mouse Shoulder<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mouse shoulder describes a condition that occurs due to repetitive stress. If you use an external mouse with your computer and don’t use a wrist or arm support, you may find that you develop this disorder. Mouse shoulder does not occur overnight; it’s a repetitive disorder that occurs over weeks or months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the tension <\/a>and stress build-up in your shoulder, the affected individual may start to experience pain in the ligaments securing the shoulder capsule. Patients describe the pain as a slow ache that slowly intensifies over time. The ache may also spread from your wrist to your elbow, then to the front of the shoulder and the upper back, including the shoulder blade.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If left untreated and unmanaged, the condition will continue to progress, resulting in the development of carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrist, along with the development of mouse shoulder and issues with the neck and upper back.
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17. Fibromyalgia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This condition is a syndrome and not a disease. Patients with fibromyalgia<\/a> experience pain symptoms in the connective tissues of the body. Medical science is unable to provide a reason for the development of fibromyalgia, but some doctors think that the condition may be related to hypersensitivity in pain signals coming to and from the central nervous system.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fibromyalgia is similar in effect to other conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome and Lupus, in the fact that some medical experts think that it may be an autoimmune disorder affecting the central nervous system. There is no known cure for the condition, and doctors can only help patients manage pain symptoms through the use of medications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fibromyalgia may also cause cognitive dysfunction, resulting in sleeping disorders like insomnia, as well as brain fog, mood disorders, and chronic fatigue. When fibromyalgia symptoms show up, they can cause pain in the neck, shoulder blade, upper back, and shoulder capsule.
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18. Neck Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Around 15 to 20-percent of adults experience the onset of chronic neck pain at some stage in their life. Neck pain<\/a> has a tremendous adverse impact on your quality of life, making it challenging to do everyday tasks like driving, and sitting at your desk.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a variety of reasons why the affected individual may develop neck pain. Some of the attributing factors that cause the development of the condition include issues like “geek neck,” where the patient may spend too long looking downward at a cellphone or laptop screen. As a result of this behavior, the patient may start to develop imbalances in the muscles in the neck that support the head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The patient may experience pain symptoms that increase tension in the neck and upper back, resulting in symptoms of pain spreading to the shoulder capsule and shoulder blade. Patients with muscular imbalances in the neck require physical therapy to recover the natural range of motion and support structures.
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19. Sports Injuries<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most common causes of shoulder blade pain is sports injuries. If you participate in any form of contact sport, you are at a higher risk of developing an injury <\/a>during practice or competition. Contact sports involve athletes colliding with each other using their full strength, at high speed.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sports like football and mixed martial arts involve severe impact to the head, neck, and upper back. As a result of the forces involved in the collision, sportspeople may develop conditions like whiplash or dislocations, and broken bones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People who are involved in contact sports should take the necessary safety precautions to avoid injury, such as wearing protective padding in football. Warming up before you start training helps to drive oxygenated blood to the muscular system, reducing the likelihood of sustaining an injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, sportspeople and athletes that do sustain injuries may need a combination of physical therapy and medication to heal the affected area and manage symptoms of pain and inflammation.
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20. Rheumatoid Arthritis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

RA is very different from other forms of degenerative arthritis that affect the skeletal system. Conditions like osteoporosis and arthritis are forms of bone disease that affect a localized area of the body, such as the joints in the wrists and hips. However, rheumatoid arthritis<\/a> has a medical classification as an autoimmune disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Autoimmune disorders occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly identifies tissues and joints as a bacterial, viral, or fungal intruder. As a result, the immune system releases antibodies and white blood cells that cause significant amounts of pain and swelling in various areas of the body. People with RA find that the condition affects the same joints with every attack. The most common areas at risk of an attack of RA include the shoulders, shoulder blade, upper back, and neck. There is no known cure for the condition, and patients have to manage pain symptoms as they occur. Typically, doctors prescribe pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory and painkillers to relieve symptoms of pain and prevent further flare-ups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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