If you’ve experienced a nagging ache or soreness under your shoulder blade, it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis and seek immediate medical attention. Your spine specialist can recommend treatments to prevent this pain from worsening and help you experience long-term relief.
Your muscles can become strained or develop knots in the area under your shoulder blade from being in the same position for too long, such as when you slouch forward while at work or when you have poor posture. These knots can limit your mobility and make it difficult to carry out daily activities such as reaching for objects on high shelves or twisting the torso, so it’s important to learn how to improve your posture.
Pain in your back under the shoulder blade may also be caused by a pinched nerve in your neck spine from a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or arthritis. Your doctor can recommend treatments to ease this pain and provide you with a customized recovery plan.
Your doctor will want to know your full medical history, any medications you take, and whether you’ve had a recent injury or illness that might be related to your pain in the back under your shoulder blade. Some over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen (Advil, Motrin, Aleve, Anaprox DS, Naprosyn), reduce inflammation, while others, like acetaminophen (Tylenol), prevent or alter pain signals in your brain. Your doctor will create a treatment plan based on the results of your exam and the type of pain you’re experiencing. pain in back under shoulder blade