Do you feel some pain under your left shoulder blade? Some people feel pain in the left shoulder blade and feel uncomfortable. This pain usually feels like heart pain and gets worse when you move and stretch your body. Some people also feel pain while breathing. People feel a dull, sometimes heavy pain that can be caused by a nerve or even an organ in other health conditions.
Let’s have a look at why this pain happens and what type of pain you feel when you feel pain under the left shoulder blade. We will also discuss the different pain that you feel under your left shoulder blade.
How do you feel Pain Under the Left Shoulder Blade?
You can feel Pain under the left shoulder blade that can come from many reasons, ike shoulder strain and poor posture. This pain is usually normal and can be managed easily, but some pains are serious and need medical attention.
Muscle Strain
It is the most common problem when you feel pain under the left shoulder blade. Your shoulder and back muscles cause pain when you lift a heavy object that strains your muscles. This pain can be managed easily, and some rest can give you relief, but some pains are serious and need medical attention.
Poor Posture
Poor posture is also a common problem because of excessive phone and laptop usage when you sit slouched at work. This is a common habit in many young people that pushes their blade out of alignment and causes pain. This makes your muscles hard and causes pain under the left shoulder blade. Poor posture can also cause many other men’s and women’s health problems.
Nerve Compression
Sometimes you feel pain under your left shoulder blade and it comes from a nerve compression in your neck and upper back. This nerve pinching sends pain and makes you feel heavy with a tingling sensation in your arm and hand.
Stress and Tension
Some people feel physical pain when they are mentally stressed and have some tension. This makes your muscles so tight that it causes pain under the left shoulder blade and you feel extra stressed. This is a common problem and can be managed by simple self care and stress management. You usually feel a dull pain if it is high and seek medical help.
Heart problems
Pain under the left shoulder blade is a serious problem and can be caused by any cardiac issue. This pain can feel you having sweating and nausea which is an alarming sign. This type of pain usually spreads from the shoulder to the arm and chest. You should seek medical attention immediately to manage the pain and cause.
Lung Problems
Some pulmonary disorders can cause Pain under the left shoulder blade that may cause coughing and shortness of breath. Some serious left lung problems, like infection or inflammation can cause this stabbing and dull pain around your upper chest sometimes cause Back pain.
Stomach and Digestive Problems
Some gastric problems can cause stomach acid reflux that feels like dull Pain under the left shoulder blade. Many other problems like gallbladder issues and pancreatic problems can also send pain signals to your upper back.
Types of Pain Under the Left Shoulder Blade
You feel different types of pains in different regions of the upper back because each tells a different story. Your body gives you a lot of signs of harm so you just need to understand the situation.
Left Side Pain
Left side pain under the left shoulder blade makes you feel uncomfortable, especially when you twist your back. This pain stays directly under the left blade and makes your movement uncomfortable. This pain mainly comes from a poor posture or when you sleep on the left side of your body. When this pain starts, you would feel dizziness and breathing trouble with jaw pain.
Sharp Pain in the Chest
You may feel stabbing pain that feels like a knife and suddenly scares you. This type of under the left shoulder blade moves to your chest and makes your movements uncomfortable. This pain can feel heavy when you breathe deeply or move your arm freely.
This stabbing pain can be caused by
- Nerve pinching
- Lung irritation
- Muscle tear
- Cardiac problem
Do not ignore this kind of stabbing pain that moves from the shoulder blade to the chest. This can be an alarming sign if it moves to your chest from the left side.
Sharp Pain Under the Shoulder Blade
A stabbing pain usually does not move in your chest and stays under the shoulder blade. This pain can be caused by
- Pulling a muscle
- Sleeping oddly
- Carrying heavy bags
- Sudden twisting
- Nerve irritation
This pain usually feels sharp when you lift or stretch your arm but stays in one spot. This pain is a common pull and can be treated easily with care and rest.
Back Pain Behind the Blade
Back pain usually stays in the back muscles behind the shoulder blade and makes your breathing uncomfortable. This type of pain is usually caused by muscles of the back and ribs that make a pull in your upper neck muscles. People who use laptops and mobiles for a long time can feel this pain when they bend or push something. This makes the muscles under the rib stiff and tender, which causes a pull in the shoulder blade.
Dull and Heavy Pain
This pain makes you feel uncomfortable and usually feels heavy with a deep pressure. The common causes of the pain can be
- Stress
- Tense muscles
- Slouching
- Sitting all day
- Mild inflammation
This dull pain makes you very uncomfortable because it lasts for hours and days. You can manage this pain with mild stretching and some massages.
Symptoms You Should Never Ignore
Pain under the left shoulder blade is common and can be managed with simple care but some signs can be alarming. You should not ignore all the signs
- Chest pressure
- Short breath
- Sweating
- Feeling faint
- Pain moving to the jaw or left arm
- Sudden sharp pain after an injury
- Trouble breathing deeply
- Severe back stiffness
These signs indicate serious issues related to the heart and lungs so you should seek medical help as early as you can.
How to Relieve Pain Under the Left Shoulder Blade
You can do simple steps to relieve your pain at home but do not ignore the severe symptoms. Here are some simple care methods you can apply to ease your pain under the left shoulder blade.
Heat therapy: Heat will help to increase blood circulation in your muscles and relax your muscles to ease stiffness. Place a heat pack on your left shoulder blade for about 1 to 20 minutes without a break. Make sure to keep moving your muscles slightly after heating to avoid stiffness.
Cold therapy: Place a cold pack if you feel pain after a sudden pull or injury to reduce swelling and sharp pain in the area. Place a cold pack on the area for 15 to 20 minutes to numb the sharp pain under the left shoulder blade.
Gentle stretches: Gentle stretching after applying heat and cold can help to reduce muscle stiffness in the upper back. Try simple moves like shoulder and mild neck stretching from one side to another. You can stretch your arms to stretch both shoulders and twist them gently to reduce pain.
Make sure to move slowly and stop if pain increases.
Massage the area: Place your fingers on the upper back and press them gently. Slide your fingers around the upper back and left shoulder blade to relax muscles and relieve pain.
Correct posture: Bad posture is a common problem that causes pain under left shoulder blade. You should sit straight by supporting yourself with a chair. This will reduce stress on the neck and the shoulders.
When Do You Need a Doctor?
pain under the left shoulder blade can come from a normal stretch, but consult a doctor if
The pain lasts more than a week
- The pain becomes worse over time
- You have chest discomfort
- You have difficulty breathing
- You feel numbness in your arm
- The pain started after a fall or an accident
The doctor may suggest physical therapy to relieve the pain and recommend medical scans in serious conditions. In wellness for life blog we provide information to manage the pain under the left shoulder blade.
FAQs
What does pain under the left shoulder blade usually show?
You can feel pain under the left shoulder blade due to a muscle strain or poor posture. It can be a sign of nerve pressure or indicate serious heart issues. This pain can be sharp and dull which makes you feel uncomfortable.
Which organ sometimes gives pain under the left shoulder blade?
You can feel pain under the left shoulder blade in case of any cardiac issue. It can also be a sign of stomach and pancreatic pain due to the mutual nerve path of the nerves. You should consult a doctor if the pain moves to the chest and causes nausea.
How do I know if shoulder blade pain connects to the heart?
This pain can be heavy and sharp and radiate to your chest and jaw. You can feel this pain in your left arm with sweating and dizziness, which usually causes shortness of breath. Some people feel a tingling sensation in their left arm and hands.
When does shoulder pain become a concern during pregnancy?
Pain in the left shoulder blade could be a serious sign if you are feeling pain with swelling and headache. In some women it can cause vision issues and severe stomach pain that cannot be managed easily. You should consult a doctor to seek medical care immediately.
Should you consider left shoulder blade pain a sign of a heart attack?
Pain in the left shoulder blade can be a sign of a heart problem if it is sudden and severe and feels different from discomfort. It can be serious if it comes with shortness of breath and feels like a knife scratch behind your left shoulder blade.
Conclusion
Many people feel pain in the left shoulder blade due to poor posture and nerve pressure that makes the muscles tight and painful. You can manage the pain easily by applying heat and doing some simple stretches only when the cause is normal. It can be a sign of any heart problem or a gastric problem that causes severe pain in the upper back and behind the left shoulder blade.
Must consult a doctor if you feel severe pain that does not stop after home care. Note the signs early to avoid any big issues.
