Back Shoulder Blade Pain
In most cases, back shoulder blade pain is caused by a muscle strain or injury. This can be from overuse or lifting something heavy above your head. It may also be due to poor posture which places stress on the muscles and ligaments. Over time, the position of the shoulder blade can change which is called scapular dyskinesis. This can cause the medial border of one shoulder blade to appear more prominent than the other which is known as winging of the scapula.
Some medical conditions such as gallstones, peptic ulcer disease, acid reflux or pancreatitis can produce referred pain between the shoulder blades. This pain is usually felt more on the right side of the body and it may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
If you suspect this is your case, it is best to seek professional help. Your doctor will review your symptoms and perform a physical exam of the back, neck and shoulders to pinpoint the cause of the pain. They will also run some diagnostic laboratory tests such as a complete blood count (CBC) and possibly a C-reactive protein (CRP) which checks for inflammation. They may also order a chest x-ray or computerized tomography (CT) scan which look at the organs and structures in your chest and abdominal cavity.
Over the counter medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox DS, Naprosyn) can reduce some types of shoulder blade pain by reducing swelling and decreasing pain signals to your brain. They can also be used in combination with heat therapy to relieve pain and stiffness.back shoulder blade pain