When you have pain under your shoulder blade, it can be a sign that something is wrong. If the pain is persistent and gets worse, or if you are experiencing other symptoms like fatigue, headache, tingling, and weakness, it’s time to get in touch with a doctor. This will help prevent severe consequences and find a successful treatment.
Muscle strain is one of the most common causes of shoulder blade pain. Repetitive movements, especially those that involve the upper back like throwing a ball repetitively, lifting weights, or certain swimming strokes can strain muscles in your shoulder and chest area, which can cause a muscle knot or tenderness under your shoulder. This is usually relieved by resting, ice application, and taking medication to reduce pain and inflammation.
Acute injuries like falls, accidents, and sports injuries can also cause shoulder blade pain. The pain may also be the result of chronic health conditions like fibromyalgia, which is characterized by widespread pain and tenderness in specific areas of the body called tender points. This condition can affect 3-6% of people and it is a serious concern, especially because it can lead to other problems such as depression, irritability, sleep issues, and anxiety.
Other medical conditions that can cause shoulder blade pain include scoliosis, osteoarthritis, and cancerous tumors in the chest like stomach, esophageal, or pancreatic tumors. Heart conditions such as aortic dissection, peptic ulcer disease, and acid reflux can also trigger shoulder pain by causing referred pain in the upper chest area. back pain by shoulder blade