It's not uncommon for people to struggle with shoulder blade pain on just one side; either causing left shoulder blade pain or right shoulder blade pain.
It's not particularly significant which side you are suffering from, but it's helpful to be able to identify what's really going on.
Perhaps you're right-handed when playing pickleball, and this shoulder blade is being overworked, and struggling to cope.
Alternatively, you might notice that you sleep on one side, and the arm and shoulder that you lay on are in an unusual position during the night.
If your shoulder blade pain is worse on the left, or right side, consider what you do on a regular basis, or what has happened recently, that could be leading to the pain.
This is why it's so important to speak to someone who knows what they are talking about. Trying to spot these things on your own is challenging, and it's hard to know what's important and what isn't.
That's why we pride ourselves on giving people time to talk to our expert team, without being rushed or giving the same standard advice as everyone else. This means we can identify EXACTLY what's happening, and create personalized treatment plans which lead to rapid recovery from shoulder blade pain and injuries.
At Titan Physical Therapy in Lexington, you can arrange a Free Shoulder Pain Assessment where you can share your struggles with shoulder blade pain, get answers to questions you've had for months, and learn how to get quick relief without pills.
To arrange your Free Shoulder Pain Assessments, call our team on 859-303-6393.
When Is Shoulder Blade Pain A Problem?
Shoulder blade pain is never a nice thing, but certain activities can really highlight the problem.
People often experience shoulder blade pain when:
Reaching up high (grabbing something from your kitchen cupboards)
Reaching behind you (trying to get something from the back seat when driving)
After sitting or laying for long periods of time (watching your favorite Netflix series or working at your computer)
On a morning (waking up feeling stiff and achy)
Carrying things (like grocery shopping, or carrying your grandchildren)
Playing sports or exercising (especially involving repetitive movements)
There are lots of situations where shoulder blade pain can affect you, and if it is, then we appreciate it's incredibly inconvenient and sore.
It's also very annoying when you hear the standard advice of "take some painkillers and rest".
Because this advice very rarely works and leaves you feeling stuck and helpless while you do everything you can to take care of your responsibilities like housework and gardening, while making time for fun things that you love, like vacations and playing with the grandchildren.
What Causes Shoulder Blade Pain?
Shoulder blade pain can occur for a variety of reasons, and the most common causes of shoulder blade pain include:
1. Poor Posture
Sitting in an awkward position with rounded shoulders or hunching over a desk for extended periods can place strain on the muscles in your shoulders, leading to pain and discomfort.
2. Strained Muscles
Activities that require repetitive motions such as weightlifting, throwing a ball or swimming can cause inflammation in the muscles of the shoulder blades resulting in pain. Overusing certain muscles during activity or pushing yourself too hard can also cause muscle strain.
3. Injury
An accidental blow to the shoulder or a fall onto the shoulder blade can cause acute pain and discomfort in the area due to direct physical trauma.
4. Postural Imbalance
When the spine is out of alignment, it can place stress on muscles and ligaments, leading to pain in the shoulder blades. Poor posture, such as sitting with rounded shoulders or hunching over a desk can also cause postural imbalance.
5. Stress
High levels of stress and tension can cause tightness and discomfort in the muscles around the shoulder blades.
6. Medical Conditions
Certain medical conditions such as osteoarthritis and rotator cuff tears can also underlie shoulder blade pain.
Is My Shoulder Blade Pain Caused By A Pinched Nerve?
If you experience shoulder blade pain that is severe, radiates down your arm, or is accompanied by tingling or numbness in your arm or hand, it may be caused by a pinched nerve.
Other signs of a pinched nerve in the shoulder blade area include muscle weakness, difficulty moving your arm or shoulder, and throbbing or burning sensations.
If you are suffering from these symptoms, it can be really terrifying and most people feel a lot of relief from actually speaking to a specialist, like our team, because it gives some reassurance as to what it is, and more importantly, how you can treat it so it doesn't get worse.
How To Relieve Shoulder Blade Pain Quickly Without Pills
You can see that there are lots of potential causes for your shoulder blade pain, whether that's in your left shoulder blade, right shoulder blade, or a combination of both.
And as the shoulder is such a complex joint, it means that fast relief requires expert help.
The problem is that most people visit their doctor who doesn't specialize in this area - or worse they seek advice from friends, family, and social media - and they don't identify what is actually causing their shoulder blade pain, or what's stopping it from healing.
Without this knowledge, treating shoulder blade pain is guesswork.
And that's why so many people struggle for years with all kinds of injuries (not just shoulder blade pain).
Because they are either treating and masking the symptoms with pills, endless rest and avoiding doing what they want to do...
Or they are treating something that isn't the underlying cause of their shoulder blade pain.
For some people, addressing posture is vital, but for others, it's not relevant to their pain and means they spend a lot of time and energy fixing something that's not broken.
Want to QUICKLY and NATURALLY relieve shoulder blade pain?
Start with a 100% Free Shoulder Pain Assessment by calling our friendly team on 859-303-6393 or simply click HERE to arrange your Free Shoulder Pain Assessment.
Don't want to travel?
That's not a problem, you can speak to us over the telephone by arranging a Free Telephone Consultation.
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