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Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

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By Armen Hareyan G+ April 8, 2004 - 10:30pm for eMaxHealth

Pain between the shoulder blades, or any pain for that matter, is your body's way of notifying you that something is amiss. You should never ignore it and hope it will "go away by itself".

There are a multitude of possible causes of pain between the shoulder blades. We'll discuss common ones in this article and start with the most serious conditions first:

Heart Attack

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Although the one of the classic signs of an impending or actual heart attack in males is pain in the shoulders, females frequently report pain between the shoulder blades instead.

If you are experiencing pain between the shoulder blades, combined with any of these symptoms, call your Doctor or 911 immediately! Your life may be in danger.

- Squeezing chest pain or pressure
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
- Tightness in chest
- Recurring chest discomfort
- Pain spreading to shoulders, neck or arms
- Indigestion or gas-like pain
- Dizziness, nausea or vomiting
- Unexplained weakness, fatigue
- Discomfort/pain between shoulder blades
- Sense of impending doom

Gallbladder Disease / Gallstones

Although Gallbladder pain is commonly felt the right upper abdomen. It can also manifest itself as pain between shoulder blades or under the right shoulder blade.

Usually sudden and severe, the pain can last from 15 minutes to several hours. In severe instances, the pain may be accompanied by vomiting or sweating. Once the attack passes, it may not reoccur for a period of days, weeks, months, or even years. Whether it appears as pain between the shoulder blades, or in any of the more common areas, it is most likely to start after a meal that is high in fat.

SLIDESHOW: Work-Related Factors Effecting Shoulder Pain

The main treatment of gallbladder disease is to remove the gallbladder with a procedure called a laparoscopy cholecystectomy. This is the most popular way to remove the gallbladder because there is less post surgery pain, and it results in a shorter hospital stay.

Liver Cancer

Liver cancer, an abnormal cell growth in the liver, comes in two types:

Primary cancer means that the cancer started in the liver. Or the liver occurs when the cancer starts in the liver.

Secondary cancer of the liver occurs when a cancer starts someplace else and spreads to the liver.

These early warning signs of Liver Cancer:

- A hard lump in the belly, below the rib cage on the right side.
- Discomfort in the upper belly on the right side.
- Pain around the right shoulder blade, or pain between the shoulder blades.
- Yellowish skin color (jaundice)
- Abdominal swelling causing a feeling of fullness

Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer appears as tumors, or an abnormal growth of cells in the esophagus. The esophagus is the food passageway that connects the throat to the stomach.

Esophageal cancer usually does not display any symptoms until the cancer has advanced to a stage that is too late for a cure. The main symptom is difficulty in swallowing food. There is a frequent sensation of food getting stuck in the throat or chest.

Signs of advanced Esophageal cancer include:

- Pain when swallowing.
- Pain in the throat or back, behind the breastbone or pain between the shoulder blades.
- Decreased appetite and weight loss.
- Hiccups with the feeling of food getting stuck in your throat or chest.
- Vomiting and coughing up blood.

Less Scary Stuff

Of course, pain between the shoulder blade could just be the result of a muscle strain from too much time hunched over the computer's keyboard, stress, the way that you are sleeping at night, or other muscle injury caused by sports, exercise, normal aches and pains, or even a bra being worn to tightly.

If you are experiencing pain between the shoulder blades, don't lookup the worst case scenario and jump to conclusions. Look for additional supporting symptoms as well. Read: How To Treat Shoulder Pain As Well As Neck and Back Pain.

No matter what symptoms you have, consult your Doctor if you have even the slightest concern that something may be wrong.

***

Jessica Horowitz is a writer on health topics at Medical Supplies Services.
Jessica Horowitz Copyright 2004
This page is updated on May 11, 2013.

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Comments

#1 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on April 21, 2013 - 3:09pm.

Interesting that you didn't mention a very important and common cause of shoulder blade pain: issues with the cervical spine, be they lack of lordosis, spine osteoarthritis, degenerative disk disease, osteophytes, anterolysthesis, etc. Anything that can cause the nerves to get "pinched" and can result in pain in that area, shoulderblade, between shoulderblades, radiating into the shoulder, radiation down the arm.

#2 Pain between both shoulder blades

Submitted by Unregistered User on July 10, 2012 - 8:55pm.

Uggghhhhh..

The worst pain ever. Everyday I wake up with little pain. But as the day goes on and with the more physical activity the day brings .. the pain under both my shoulder blades and between them is unreal. It feels like a burning aching type -as if I just shoveled a huge pile of mulch all day long. It takes nearly nothing to start up. I'm 21. 6'5 .. 200. Smoked from 16-20. Had a slight buldged disk in my lumbar spine. I believe the last one before my ass. The only thing that makes it better is lying on my back. I sleep on my side but changing that has been a hard task.

Anyone with any similar problems ... What Can I do??? I wanna live my 20's!!!!

#3 Re: Pain between both shoulder blades

Submitted by Unregistered User on December 11, 2012 - 5:05pm.

Hey, i am 24, i apparently have shoulder impingement. i've been waiting a long time for a decision on this (13 months ago i visited GP about painful right shoulder). i am researching tonight to try to find some answers as to why nothing thats been thrown at me is working!

#4 Re: Pain between both shoulder blades

Submitted by Unregistered User on January 21, 2013 - 11:44am.

maybe your diet is poor i too have these pains . poor diet can cause liver problems .that cause sore shoulders.

#5 Re: Pain between both shoulder blades

Submitted by Unregistered User on October 30, 2012 - 5:22pm.

I have burning pain in my shoulder blades and starts ok in the morning and deteriorates as the day goes on. I was told recently the cause is pinched nerves in the neck and it radiates pain in the shoulder blades. The pinched nerve is from cervical spondylosis and stenosis which is the cause of my pinched nerves. I was run over by a out of control car crossing the street. The trauma has bought this on and now surgery is looking very likely if the pain does not settle which it is not. Feel like this is not fare at my age.

#6 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on July 1, 2012 - 11:17am.

.Be careful of chiropractors. They haven`t helped me.

#7 Shoulder and arm pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on June 3, 2012 - 1:28pm.

Theres pain in my shoulder and upper arm. Aswell when i go to lift the arm the pain get 10x worse in both areas. I didn't hurt myself that i know of. This is the left shoulder and arm. Any idea what this could be?

#8 Re: Shoulder and arm pain

Submitted by Kathleen Blanchard RN on June 3, 2012 - 2:08pm.

Suspicious for a rotator cuff inury

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rotator-cuff-injury/ds00192/dsection=symptoms

  • Flag as offensive

#9 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on May 4, 2012 - 9:16pm.

I had pain in my shoulders so i massage it and it became worst. I tried doing circular movements to contradict the pain. Applied some creams but it became worst so i tried using a warm steamer and it worked so i did it almost every night for a week. The pain worse and it reached below my breasts and when i lift my hand it is too painful...i just keep on massaging it until it is better... The pain is still there specially if i reached something at my back...this bearable so i stop doing things on it....the more you touch it the more the pain.

#10 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on June 30, 2012 - 6:12pm.

i had this sort of pain and at first i have been diagnosed with shoulder instability and nou with thoracic oulet sindrom,just had my second op,try and go for an MRI ,and ultrasound for yr arms ans shoulder blade,or it can bee a reapt ligament that weken the muscles as they became very week in time,I also got stenosis (block arteris)along with my TOS,or blook veins,can be anithing ,took me 6 years and half to finde the right dyagnosis and still i am not confident!!!

#11 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on February 24, 2012 - 12:07am.

Good article. Liver cancer - primary. - requires editing
Thx

#12 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on January 26, 2012 - 7:06am.

I'm a little disturbed that all the life-threatening possibilities are listed. It's almost like you want to get the reader stirred into a panic before the final paragraph of "or instead of something that's about to kill you it could just be a muscle strain or cramp". It's like telling them first to call 911 and go to ER, followed by "just walk it off, champ."

#13 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on November 24, 2012 - 1:13pm.

Hear hear. Starting with the extremes is intended to create fear. Fear is harmful. The Hippocratic Oath says "first do no harm."

#14 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Kathleen Blanchard RN on January 31, 2012 - 8:38pm.

Honestly, you would want to rule out serious causes first by going to the ER, exactly because some of the possibilities are life-threatening.

  • Flag as offensive

#15 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on January 9, 2012 - 6:23am.

HI
I have been experiencing the same problem my sholder blade is sore i cant even lift the pillow

#16 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on November 8, 2011 - 3:09pm.

Pain in the left shoulder could be lung cancer or even breast cancer.

#17 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on October 23, 2011 - 9:50pm.

Hi all

Don't know if this blog is still being monitored but I have been having the same problem for the last 5 years. After numerous useless physiotherapist and GP visits, I did a bit of research myself. It turns out that the majority of shoulder pain is related to your rib cage. Try massaging under your armpit (pressing in and out with the palm of your hand). If this relieves the pain, even slightly, its quite possible you have a problem with one of your ribs. Visit a chiropractor and ask them to focus on this area. Doctors are human and often make mistakes. Always do your own research before a visit.

Hope this helps some of you

#18 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on December 13, 2012 - 4:43am.

that's right. the thoracic nerve is responsible for the irritating pain. Massage your ribs in sternum area and under the arm pit will helps a lot; and massage the medial side of the forearm also helps - but eliminate the possible factors of heart, gallbladder, lung, and other organs, at the first, by visiting your MD office.
MassageToronto@yahoo.ca

#19 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on October 17, 2012 - 6:11pm.

I started having pain between my shoulder blades when I was about 15 years old. I'm now 46. I have it maybe once every 6 months, usually at night. Pain is always the same continuous sharp pain that takes my breath away. Can't be a heartattack because I'm sure I'd be dead by now as I've been having this for the last 30 years. The remedy is always the same. One or two Tylenol or Alieve, and a whole glass of water. Pain is usually gone in 10 to 15 minutes.

#20 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on March 26, 2012 - 2:45am.

good on you! :) so many poeple go through pain for years on end and never think to give something else a go. something that actually works!
medicine does not help if it's a musculoskeletal condition!
medicine is only necessary if your life is dependant on it!

#21 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on September 24, 2011 - 12:19pm.

I have had this pain in my right shoulder blade for three days now. I can't sneeze, cough, or even take a deep breath with out pain that brings tears to my eyes. I've taken pain relief pills and have had the heating pad on. What else us there to do and what can ne the cause?

#22 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on October 22, 2011 - 8:56am.

I have that same exact pain!!! Med's dont cure my pain, and my shoulder blade is swollen in one area.

#23 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on March 16, 2013 - 5:52pm.

I have the same pain and I have what feels like a knot on the right side of my spine in between my shoulder blades.. I have no idea what to do, the meds don't help and it's only slightly better with a heating pad on it.

#24 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on April 10, 2013 - 3:17am.

Try a good massage therapist. I've had knots, or trigger points between my right shoulder blade and spine for months. I found a great therapist and she was even able to tell me how to work on it at home with a tennis ball and simple stretches. It has helped immensely, where steroids and muscle relaxers failed. Also if it is trigger points or muscular heat will ultimately hurt even if it does offer temp relief. Use cold!

#25 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on March 31, 2013 - 9:48am.

That is textbook for a rib subluxation (essentially having a rib out). This has happened to me before, and my chiropractor was able to put it back rather easily. Unfortunately, there isn't much an MD or PT can do if the bone is fixated that severely

#26 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on September 10, 2011 - 5:34pm.

Had an xray hav mild enphsema at 39 need to stop smokin

#27 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on November 2, 2011 - 9:07pm.

I was diagnosed with emphysema too at 39 years ols, 11Dec 2004, stopped smoking right there and then .

#28 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on September 12, 2011 - 9:23pm.

goodluck bro

#29 Re: Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on March 25, 2013 - 5:16pm.

I have shoulder pain a lot here are some reasons you get shoulder pain or shoulder blade pain.....Having sex with your back hunched over, swimming, exercising, and a lot of other stuff!!!!

#30 Re:Severe right Shoulder Pain

Submitted by Unregistered User on July 1, 2011 - 5:57am.

I am having pain in my right shoulder and in between the shoulder blades for more than a year now. Have done all MRI scans and Xrays. Doctors couldnt find any major deffect. Still the apin is there in the same pace. Please provide any suggestions.

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