Further pain of a pinched nerve at the shoulder | Pinched nerve at the shoulder

Further pain of a pinched nerve at the shoulder

A pinched nerve on the shoulder or shoulder blade can cause pain, especially when breathing. Since the nerves run in pairs from the back to the chest wall, the pain is usually only localized on one side.The pain character of a pinched nerve is sharp and lasts only for a moment. If, however, every breath causes pain and even breathing through it is hindered, another cause can be hidden behind the discomfort.

In particular, if there is a general feeling of illness, coughing and possibly fever, it may be pleuritis (inflammation of the pleura) instead of a pinched nerve in the shoulder blade. If, on the other hand, the symptoms have occurred after an injury or a fall, a broken rib may also be the cause. In the cases described above, it is therefore advisable to have a doctor examine and treat you.

The nerves at the shoulder and shoulder blade originate from the spinal cord within the spine, so that complaints due to a pinched nerve are often accompanied by back pain. The nerve can also be pinched directly by tension in the muscles of the vertebral bodies. Despite the sometimes severe symptoms and major limitations, the causes are harmless in most cases and do not require special therapy. In cases of frequent back pain and complaints caused by trapped nerves in the shoulders, regular physical activity and thus training of the back muscles is the most important treatment measure.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of a trapped nerve in the shoulder or scapula is made on the basis of a typical description of the symptoms and, if necessary, a medical physical examination. The primary focus is to rule out possible dangerous other causes of the symptoms, such as heart or lung disease. If the physician does not find any indications of a disease requiring treatment from the conversation with the patient and specific questions (anamnesis) and the physical examination, the diagnosis of non-specific back pain can be made.

The term “pinched nerve” is only one possible explanation for the symptoms. Since it is not possible to prove that a pinched nerve has been trapped, further diagnosis, for example by means of an X-ray or even magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is not advisable in the vast majority of cases.