Definition
The pain between the shoulder blades can occur in many forms. The area between the shoulder blades is located in the upper back and surrounds parts of the thoracic spine. Nerves, muscles and ribs run under the shoulder blades and end at the vertebral bodies. Pain in this area can be traced back to the numerous anatomical structures in this region. On the one hand, superficial triggers are possible, but on the other hand the thoracic and upper abdominal organs, which are protected by the rigid rib skeleton, must not be overlooked.
Causes
The many causes of pain between the shoulder blades can be narrowed down considerably by specifically naming the location and type of pain. Organic causes can also be behind the pain, but they are much less common than the more likely musculoskeletal complaints. Very often the cause of the pain between the shoulder blades is found in the back muscles.
The strong muscles of the upper back and neck can be severely strained by certain movements and strength exercises and, similar to muscle ache, can cause pain. After strength exercises of the upper back or through sports such as road cycling, this pain can occur quickly. The neck muscles are also very susceptible to tension and pain.
The neck is often not covered by clothing and can therefore become hypothermic and tense. In addition, the neck muscles carry a relatively heavy weight with great flexibility. Tension can also occur quickly during sleep due to incorrect positioning.
This pain can travel along the muscles into the upper back and lead to pain between the shoulder blades. More rarely, the spine can be responsible for the pain. Spinal pain is often caused by the intervertebral discs between the individual vertebral bodies.
A herniated disc can also occur in the upper back due to incorrect loading and heavy lifting. The pain occurs centrally between the vertebral bodies and can be provoked by movement. In some cases, the pain can radiate into the arms or chest.
In rare cases, chest and upper abdominal organs may be behind the pain. Especially in the case of very sudden and very strong pain, but also in the case of permanent pain that has no muscular cause, an organic cause must be excluded. The lungs, heart and stomach can be particularly affected.
In the case of very acute severe pain, there may be an indication of a heart attack. The pain may radiate into the left arm and may also cause breathing difficulties. Stinging pain that occurs more or less suddenly after eating or drinking may be related to the stomach.
For example, in the case of severe heartburn or a gastric ulcer, eating can lead to severe pain, which in most cases occurs behind the breastbone but also between the shoulder blades. Under certain circumstances the lungs can also cause the pain between the shoulder blades. This can be caused by inflammation, injuries to the pleura or tumors.
Pneumonia often occurs in the context of protracted, progressive influenza infections. Typical symptoms are a feeling of illness, shortness of breath, coughing, fever and pain. Pain can occur in the chest and radiate to the lower abdomen and in the area between the shoulder blades.
In principle, all joints and muscles can cause pain during an infection. Typically, the pain between the shoulder blades and in the chest area is increased when breathing in. If pain between the shoulder blades and other possible symptoms of pneumonia occur, pneumonia should be ruled out by the treating physician.
In addition to the typical symptoms of a cold, a cold, cough and sore throat, a cold can cause a pronounced feeling of illness and pain in all joints and muscles. A (simple) cold is a possible cause of pain between the shoulder blades. In very rare cases, pain between the shoulder blades can originate in the lungs.
Often, only pneumonia is responsible for this. If the pleura is affected, it can develop painfully, as the lung itself is not sensitive to pain. External injuries to the costal pleura, for example from needlesticks or a broken rib, can also lead to this pain.
However, a slowly progressive, dull pain can also be one of the first symptoms of lung cancer.Since the lung itself is not sensitive to pain, the tumor has time to grow large and spread locally. Only when the tumor spreads to the edge of the lung, the chest or other organs does pain occur. Often, the focus is on discomfort, a feeling of pressure and pain in the chest.
If the tumor is located in the rear sections of the lung, pressure pain between the shoulder blades can occur. These increase over time and are only slightly controllable by movement or breathing. If symptoms such as coughing, tiredness, and indisposition are also present, a doctor should be consulted.
The heart can also provide an organic cause of pain between the shoulder blades. A typical constellation of symptoms in acute heart events is severe pain in the back and chest with a feeling of tightness and shortness of breath. This can be an acute heart attack.
In this case, an emergency doctor should be called and the affected person should assume a sitting position and support breathing by supporting the arms. In the case of already known heart diseases, the pain between the shoulder blades can occur as an occasional attack after a short period of exertion. Depending on its severity, a few meters or steps of movement are sufficient to trigger pain.
This is caused by a narrowing of the coronary arteries, which limits the oxygen supply to the heart. The stomach is located in the upper abdomen and extends to below the ribs. If pain develops in the stomach, it can be projected onto the sternum, the ribs or between the shoulder blades.
The most common cause is heartburn. Excessively fatty foods, caffeine, alcohol or nicotine can lead to excessive acid production in the stomach, which irritates the mucous membrane there. This can cause a burning sensation in the chest and also between the shoulder blades.
In the case of severe irritation, an ulcer may occur in the stomach, which also leads to severe pain associated with eating. This painful irritation of the mucous membranes heals itself within several weeks if no further acid is applied to it. The therapy consists of reducing the acid in the stomach.
A very dreaded and rare disease is pancreatic cancer. It does not become noticeable over a very long period of time and the first symptoms often appear only after a proliferation and spread. Pain between the shoulder blades is a very unspecific, potential symptom of the pancreas. It is often accompanied by constant, mild, diffuse pressure pain that does not get much worse or better. Even in this case, a cause in the pancreas is still very unlikely, since many spinal changes also cause similar pain.
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