Sharp Upper Back Pain Between Shoulder Blades: Causes and Treatments

What could be causing the sharp upper back pain between shoulder blades?

Pain Between the Shoulder Blades: Should I Worry?

Many who experience upper back pain (between the shoulder blades) think that they’re suffering from a common, harmless problem. They might think that they just slept in the wrong position or they’ve just been working out too much, that the problem is merely muscular and will heal itself. Even though it is possible that this pain stems from bad posture and/or excessive movement, there’s also a chance that it's a sign of a life-threatening disease so, instead of dismissing the pain, it’s much wiser to spend a little time doing research.

The pain in your upper back might be just a strained muscle, but it might be something more. Below, you'll find many other common causes for back pain between the shoulder blades.

Many separate muscles come together at the shoulder blades, making that area prone to strain or injury. 

Upper Back Pain: A Spinal Dilemma

Pain in the upper back could be related to spinal issues.

Swollen facet joints can produce aches in the upper back. The spine’s flexibility is provided by these joints: in other words, they’re necessary to carry out many kinds of movement (turns and bends are just a few examples). As with any other part of the body, facet joints aren’t invincible. If used far too hard or too often, they end up damaged and swollen and of course, swelling leads to soreness.

A herniated disc is another problem that can prove to be extremely painful. Spinal discs are rubbery pads between the vertebrae in the spinal column that work like shock absorbers. In childhood, the discs are gel-filled, but they begin to solidify as we get older. By middle age, the disks become as inflexible as hard rubber and more prone to injury. With injury or stress, a disc's inner material may swell outward, pushing through the outer shell, pressing against surrounding nerves, and rendering that area more prone to injury.

Swollen joints and herniated disks cause pain. However, the pain caused by the latter tends to spread discomfort along the arms as well and may be accompanied by numbness.

Disc problems that may cause back pain.

Sharp Pain in Back: A Bile Problem?

Biliary colic is another medical issue that might cause back pain and shouldn’t be taken lightly. This is a type of pain that occurs when a gallstone blocks a bile duct and causes a sharp upper back or rib pain that radiates to the right shoulder. It may manifest after ingesting a fatty meal in an episode of sharp, intense soreness that starts near the abdomen and branches out to the upper-back region and may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

Back Pain: What to Do 

Upon becoming aware of facet joint issues, spinal disc troubles, and bile-related problems, you may be wondering whether there’s a guide to how to distinguish these three from one another. You may also want to know if there’s a simple what-to-do guide to follow when you feel pain.

There’s no need to worry about finding those things since they’re all here. Use this list to help you determine your source of pain and course of action:

Is it a brief, mild ache? If so, this could indicate mere muscle strain, but it might also be either swollen facet joints or herniated discs. Experiencing this kind of soreness is a nuisance at best. Doing all sorts of chores and completing all kinds of office work should still be possible, but even the mildest pains could turn into more serious issues if proper actions aren’t taken. That’s why these steps are important to remember:

• Rest for a while and see whether the pain subsides.
• If the aching stops, consider these suggestions:

• Do some stretches before engaging in any more physical activity.
• Consider exercising (routines that benefits the upper back).
• Don’t move suddenly and quickly to avoid additional strain.
• Exert effort to correct common posture problems.

Would you describe the pain as long and moderate? If so, this could indicate the presence of either one of the two issues previously mentioned, swollen facet joints or herniated discs. In this case though, medical attention might be necessary. Moderate pain that stays for half an hour (or more) sometimes means that the ache-causing concern has worsened. If the pain gets worse, doctors will have to use certain imaging technologies (such as X-Ray for facet joints and MRI for herniated discs) to determine the extent of the damage.

Is the pain intense and accompanied by numbness? If the episodes of soreness are almost unbearable and there are instances in which certain parts of your bodyfeel numb (or in some cases, tingling), then it’s definitely time to pay a visit to your physician. Together, such symptoms are considered a telltale sign of serious spinal disc dilemmas. If left unchecked, a severely herniated disc could even cause paralysis or permanent nerve damage.

Is your noticeable pain accompanied by nausea? Periods of upper back pain between the shoulder blades that are accompanied by nausea are indicative of biliary colic. In fact, some medical experts suggest that it’s best to immediately call for an ambulance if this combination of symptoms manifest. Also, those who’ve been suffering from aches after they’ve eaten (another warning sign) should really be wary of these simultaneous symptoms.

Solutions and Treatments for Pain Between the Shoulders

So clearly, upper back pain (between the shoulder blades) may be just muscle strain, but it may also be linked to several health problems, medical issues which aren’t equally dangerous–some causing only temporary discomfort while others that might prove to be fatal if left untreated. Well, each of these issues is also solved (or at the very least, managed) in different ways, as well.

• Swollen Facet Joints. As discussed above, the mildest joint troubles could be prevented from becoming worse through fairly simple techniques, such as maintaining proper posture and avoiding sudden movement. If more severe, the condition might require the aid of a physical therapist to help with strength and flexibility. Individuals suffering from more serious cases of facet joint concerns are given these options:
  • To undergo a procedure called "nerve blocking" so that the soreness would immediately subside. People wondering what’s done during the procedure would most likely end up shocked after realizing that steroid injections are involved.
  • To take painkillers and muscle relaxants on a regular basis. While minor cases of the spinal problem can be effectively handled using over-the-counter medication, the condition’s more alarming variants require powerful prescription drugs.

• Herniated Discs. Treatments for this medical issue are similar to the ones developed for swollen facet joints. Doing spine-enhancing exercises and being mindful of the body’s position are more than enough to solve the concerns faced by people with minor disk hernia. Sometimes, anti-inflammatory injections and pain medications are added into the mix. Surgery is only reserved for very severe cases. After all, it’s the solution that comes with the most risks.
• Biliary Colic. People who develop this disease undergo a treatment process that takes advantage of four different types of medication. In particular, they’re asked to take NSAIDs, antibiotics, spasm fighters, and anti-nausea pills. Aside from that, they’re also told to pick among the many ways of cleansing the gallbladder and the bile duct. Well, only one of those methods isn’t surgical in nature – oral dissolution therapy (unlike surgery-type solutions, it doesn’t work fast).

Do the Right Thing

Soreness in the upper-back region (particularly between the shoulders) shouldn't always be dismissed as a minor problem. In some instances, the aching sensation is a sign of spinal degradation. In others, it indicates the emergence of a dangerous digestive system disease.

People who’ve been experiencing chronic upper back pain (between shoulder blades) shouldn't wait until their health worsens before consulting their doctor.