The shoulder blade or scapula is a triangular-shaped bone located at the back of the shoulder or upper back. Shoulder pain can be caused by many factors. However, this condition is generally not a serious problem to worry about.
Although it may seem trivial, bad habits such as sitting too long, lifting too heavy weights, and exercising excessively can make muscles too tense and back can be injured. This of course can cause some parts of the body to feel pain, one of which is pain in the shoulder blades.
Diseases Associated with Shoulder Pain
In addition to strained muscles and injuries to the back, shoulder blade pain can also be caused by certain diseases, such as:
Aortic dissection
An aortic dissection occurs when a blood vessel leading to the heart is torn and causes sharp, stabbing pain in the back of the back. This condition generally occurs in men aged 60–70 years.
Pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary embolism occurs when a large blood vessel in the lungs becomes blocked. This condition can be caused by the release of blood clots in the legs and carried to the lungs. In many cases, the sufferer will feel a sharp pain in the shoulder blade when the blockage occurs.
Broken shoulder blade
Shoulder fractures can occur as a result of a fall, accident, or trauma. When the shoulder blade is broken, you will feel pain, bruising, and swelling around the shoulder blade. You also won't be able to lift the arm on the side of the broken shoulder blade.
In addition to the three diseases above, back pain can also be affected by several other diseases, such as scoliosis, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, gallstones, spinal stenosis, lung cancer, liver cancer, lymphoma, or esophageal cancer.
How to Overcome Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain can be treated independently in the following ways:
1. Get enough rest
The first thing you can do when you feel pain in your shoulder blade is get plenty of rest, especially if the pain is caused by an injury. Adequate rest can speed up the recovery process.
2. Compress with cold or warm water
Pain in the shoulder blade can be relieved by using a cold or warm compress. You can compress the painful area for 15 minutes and repeat every four hours.
3. Massage in the back and shoulder blade area
Gentle massage in the shoulder blade area can help stiff muscles become more relaxed and deal with pain that arises due to excessive muscle activity.
4. Exercise and stretching (stretching)
Muscle strength training, such as push ups, pull ups, and sit ups, can strengthen the muscles in the back and abdomen, as well as relieve pain. You can also stretch to relax stiff muscles. Stretching improves blood flow to muscles and joints, which can relieve pain and improve joint movement.
5. Eat healthy food
Several types of foods can help relieve pain that appears, especially fruits, vegetables, or foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon.
When to go to the doctor?
If the pain is very severe and bothersome or does not subside, it is recommended that you see a doctor. Moreover, if the shoulder blade pain is accompanied by several symptoms such as:
- Chest pain and shortness of breath
- Excessive sweating and fever
- Feet are sore and swollen
- Coughing up blood and impaired vision
- Irregular heartbeat and difficulty speaking
- Part of the body is paralyzed
- Loss of consciousness
Treatment for shoulder blade pain depends on the cause and severity of the disease. Healing time will also be different for each person. If the pain in your shoulder blade is accompanied by some of the above symptoms, it is possible that the pain is a symptom of a serious illness. Therefore, you need to see a doctor so that the pain you are experiencing can be treated immediately.