Upper Shoulder Blade Pain

If you have a pain between your shoulder blades, the first thing to do is see a medical professional. This is important because shoulder blade pain is a sign of many serious medical conditions that need to be evaluated and treated.

Your shoulders are the joints where your upper-arm bone (humerus) fits into a rounded socket on each side of the collarbone (clavicle). The shoulder is held in place by an arrangement of muscles and tendons, called the rotator cuff. Overuse of the shoulder, such as with throwing or swinging a heavy object, may weaken these muscles and tendons. This is a common cause of shoulder blade pain.

Other causes of shoulder blade pain include gallstones, shingles, and lung or oesophageal disease. You can help reduce pain by taking short breaks from activities that are causing it, doing exercises and stretching and applying hot or cold compresses to the area. If the pain persists, you can visit a physical therapist to learn exercises that will ease shoulder and back muscle overuse. Massage therapy can also ease pain and increase circulation in the area.

Your doctor will examine you and perform tests to measure the range of motion in your shoulder. In some cases, X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be used to look for damage to the shoulder joint and other structures in the neck and chest. Your doctor will then determine the best treatment plan for you, which may include physical therapy; over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to ease pain; cortisone injections into the shoulder; and surgery.chiropractor in my area