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Why does it hurting between my shoulder blades?

A burning pain between the shoulder blades often referred to as interscapular pain, is a common problem. You may be asking why am I having pain across my shoulder blades. In most cases, discomfort in the shoulder blade region is caused by muscle strain or a pulled muscle under the shoulder blade as a consequence of poor posture or sitting and standing in an uncomfortable position for a long period of time. For example, a day spent sitting hunched over a computer may result in neck or upper back pain or sharp stabbing pain under the right or left shoulder blade.

However, because of its location in the back, shoulder blade discomfort may not always be caused by a tendon, joint, muscle, or bone injury. Interscapular pain can sometimes be the sign of something more serious, such as a heart attack or gallbladder disease.

In this article, we address some of the more common reasons for upper back pain. Furthermore, we discuss possible home therapies to help you get rid of your suffering and when it is time to see your physician for professional medical advice.

The Muscle That Causes Burning Shoulder Pain

ALT="levator scapulae" ALT="hurts between shoulders"

The rhomboid muscles job is to adduct (move toward the midline) and elevate the scapula as well as stabilize it in the retracted position. They are active in both the forward and backward arm swings when walking and if the rhomboids have trigger points you will experience shoulder blade pain.

The rhomboids are less likely to get trigger points than any other shoulder girdle muscles like the levator scapula, supraspinatus and trapezius.

Symptoms of Rhomboid Trigger Points

If you do have rhomboid trigger points, symptoms include superficial aching shoulder pain at rest that doesn’t seem to get worse with any sort of movement. The rhomboid muscle causes referred pain underneath the shoulder blade. You won’t feel too much pain in the actual shoulder joint. You will likely have pain between the shoulder blade and spine sometimes even severe shoulder blade pain.

If you are feeling pain in your upper arm bone area, this is likely caused by a different muscle. It is not uncommon for multiple muscles to have trigger points at once.

What Causes Pain In Between the Shoulder Blades?

You can get trigger points in the rhomboids by being in a sustained stretch position, the round-shouldered posture, which is caused by tight pectoralis muscles. You

can also get knots here from activities such as painting overhead or working too long hunched over a computer. Interscapular pain is also created with exercise, especially with twisting movements. An unsupported mattress or trauma to the area can cause pain in the middle of the shoulder blades as well.

If you hear snapping and crunching noises during the movement of the scapula, it may be because of trigger points in the interscapular area.

How Can I Fix My Shoulder Blade Pain?

It is imperative to fix a round-shouldered posture to avoid severe shoulder pain. You must elongate the pectoralis muscles and also strengthen the rhomboids and trapezius to fix your poor posture.

The use of a lumbar pillow can help correct the round-shouldered posture and prevent shoulder pain as well. You will want to avoid any chair that pushes the shoulders forward. Also, set a timer so that you get up from your chair every 20-30 minutes to get the blood pumping back into the muscles.

To relieve pain in the rhomboids, you can use a tennis or lacrosse ball placed on the floor. (shown in the video below). The pressure is centered on a tender spot until the tenderness dissipates, which could be up to a minute. When you get up, you should definitely notice your upper back pain has lessened. [7 Tips for Shoulder Blade Pain]

I am including a rhomboid stretching exercises video in this post. This should only be used when your rhomboids hurt from being in a shortened position such as lying on one side too long.

Alternative Reasons for Intrascapular Pain

Herniated or Bulging Disc
Arthritis
Fibromyalgia
Shingles
Acid Reflux
Nerve Compression
Gall Bladder Infection
Heart Attack
Thoracic Aorta Rupture
Pulmonary Embolism
Shoulder Joint Bone Spurs

When To See Your Family Physician

As you can see from our list above, some of the reasons for shoulder pain may be serious, even deadly in certain situations. If severe pain persists and interferes with your mobility or regular activities, talk to your doctor about it.

If you experience any of the following symptoms along with a burning sensation between shoulder blades, you should visit a doctor right away.

Dizziness and lightheadedness
Shortness of breath
Sweating
Fever
Swelling or redness of the legs and feet
Coughing
Rapid heartbeat
Impaired vision
Paralysis
Loss of consciousness
Trouble speaking

Shoulder pain can be a debilitating and frustrating experience, ranging from acute and sharp pain behind
the left shoulder blade to tightness between the shoulder blades, to chronic pain. The cause of the pain can be
linked to both the thoracic and cervical spine and can include issues such as poor posture, muscle tension,
and strain. Treatment of shoulder pain can include physical therapy, massage, chiropractic adjustments,
and lifestyle changes. It is important to seek medical attention if the pain is persistent or severe, as the
cause of the pain may need to be evaluated and diagnosed.

Your doctor can assist you in determining the source of your shoulder blade discomfort and help you to discover the finest treatment alternatives. Please schedule an appointment with us at Body Ache Escape Massage Center before going to the physical therapist. Sometimes all it takes is one massage treatment for the interscapular pain to disappear. Schedule online or call us for your appointment! 614-604-6358