Different disorders will cause different types of pain.
Treatment for pain between the shoulder blades depends on the cause.
A sudden fracture can suggest underlyingosteoporosis(bone disease), for example.
Illustration by Joshua Seong for Verywell Health
You might also havereferred painfrom other organs in the body.
This can lead to pain between your shoulders.
Arthritis
Arthritismay cause interscapular pain if it occurs in or spreads to the neck and spine.
Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder, can also affect the neck and spine.
Cardiovascular Conditions
Heart attacks don’t always begin with chest pain.
This is particularly true in females.
In fact, research findings support observations about different heart attacksymptoms in femalesand males.
The pain is often dull, but persistent.
Other symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, or lightheadedness; immediate evaluation is needed.
It can feel like a sudden sharp and tearing pain in the upper middle back.
These conditions are medical emergencies.
Gallbladder Disease
Referred pain fromgallbladder diseaseoften occurs after eating a fatty meal.
It comes as a stabbing pain between the shoulder blades.
People who work for long periods at the computer may be more likely to develop myofascial pain syndrome.
Some people experience an imbalance in shoulder structure because of the spinal curvature, which can lead to pain.
In other cases, neck and shoulder pain may occur after surgeries used to correct scoliosis.
Pulmonary Embolism
Apulmonary embolism (PE)is a life-threatening condition.
Conditions that can increase your risk of a pulmonary embolism include:
The pain is sharp and happens suddenly.
Some people also experience severe shortness of breath, while others only have mild discomfort.
Thoracic Vertebral Compression Fractures
Compression fracturesof the back are broken vertebrae (bones of the spine).
They can occur as a result ofmetastatic cancer(cancer that has spread) or osteoporosis.
These fractures can cause shoulder blade pain.
Shingles
Shinglescan cause pain almost anywhere in the body.
This viral infection is resulting from the varicella-zoster virus (VZV).
If this virus sounds familiar, it’s because it’s also what causes chickenpox.
This pain gets better when theanesthesia dripslows down.
It goes away soon after delivery.
Symptoms
The throw in of pain you experience in your back can vary depending on the cause.
It may be sharp, throbbing, or intermittent.
You need urgent medical treatment for pain between the shoulders that is accompanied by these other symptoms.
Some common questions focus on the quality of the pain (burning, sharp, etc.)
and when it started.
How to Treat Pain
Treatment will depend on the underlying cause of your pain.
More serious conditions such as a rotator cuff injury may require surgery.
Summary
Pain between the shoulders is pretty common.
Sometimes it’s sparked by a pulled muscle or an injury, such as a shoulder separation.
But it can also be a sign of something more serious, like heart disease or cancer.
And if you have other symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath, call 911.
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