Pain Between Your Shoulder Blades? Common Causes of Mid-Back Pain in Alpharetta, GA
Pain between the shoulder blades can start as a mild annoyance and gradually become something you notice throughout the day.
Maybe it begins after several hours at your computer. Perhaps you feel a tight or burning area beside your spine while driving. Some people describe a persistent “knot” they can’t seem to stretch away. Others notice sharper discomfort when twisting, reaching or taking a deep breath.
The area between the shoulder blades includes the thoracic spine, ribs, muscles, joints and structures associated with shoulder movement. Because so many structures interact in this region, there isn’t one universal cause of mid-back pain.
At Northeast Chiropractic Center in Alpharetta, GA, Dr. Linsey Grant evaluates mid-back and upper-back complaints to help determine what may be contributing to a patient’s symptoms and which conservative treatment options may be appropriate.
What Causes Pain Between the Shoulder Blades?
The middle portion of your spine is called the thoracic spine. It consists of 12 vertebrae located between the cervical spine in your neck and lumbar spine in your lower back.
Your ribs connect with the thoracic spine, while numerous muscles surrounding the area help control the spine, shoulders and shoulder blades.
Because of that anatomy, discomfort between the shoulder blades may be associated with several different factors, including:
- Muscle strain or fatigue
- Prolonged sitting
- Repetitive work or exercise
- Thoracic joint irritation or restricted movement
- Rib-related mechanical problems
- Shoulder mechanics
- Cervical spine problems
- Sudden increases or changes in physical activity
Sometimes the location where you feel pain isn’t necessarily the structure responsible for producing it.
That’s one reason recurring shoulder-blade pain deserves more than simply assuming you have a tight muscle.
Why Does My Upper Back Hurt After Sitting at a Computer?
This is especially common among people who spend much of their workday at a desk.
Long periods of computer work can mean hours with relatively little movement through the upper back and shoulders. Eventually, the muscles surrounding the shoulder blades may become tired or uncomfortable.
However, that doesn’t mean every episode of mid-back pain is caused by “bad posture.”
The relationship between posture and musculoskeletal pain is more complicated than simply sitting upright versus slouching. Rather than trying to maintain one supposedly perfect posture all day, it may be more useful to change positions and move regularly.
Stand periodically.
Walk around.
Move your shoulders.
Change your sitting position.
Adjust your workstation if you repeatedly find yourself reaching or twisting.
Your body generally benefits from movement more than from trying to remain perfectly still.
Why Does It Feel Like I Have a Knot Between My Shoulder Blades?
This is one of the most common descriptions patients use for upper-back discomfort.
The muscles controlling the shoulder blades perform a considerable amount of work during everyday activities. Computer work, lifting, exercise, driving and repetitive arm movements can all affect these tissues.
Massage or stretching may provide temporary relief when muscles are involved.
But if the exact same “knot” repeatedly returns, it may be worth evaluating the neck, thoracic spine, ribs and shoulder mechanics rather than focusing exclusively on the painful spot.
Strength and movement capacity may also matter.
Research examining exercise and posture suggests that strengthening can influence cervical and thoracic posture, supporting an approach that looks beyond stretching alone when appropriate.
Can Neck Problems Cause Pain Near the Shoulder Blade?
Yes.
The cervical spine can sometimes produce symptoms perceived around the shoulder, upper back or shoulder blade.
That possibility becomes particularly important when shoulder-blade pain occurs along with:
- Neck stiffness
- Pain when turning the head
- Headaches
- Pain traveling into the shoulder or arm
- Numbness or tingling
- Weakness in the arm or hand
These symptoms don’t automatically mean you have a “pinched nerve,” but they can justify a more complete neurological and musculoskeletal examination.
Could My Ribs Be Involved?
Possibly.
Each rib connects with the thoracic spine, creating multiple joints throughout the middle-back region.
The ribs and thoracic spine move together during breathing and upper-body movement. Musculoskeletal irritation in this region may sometimes produce localized discomfort near the spine or shoulder blade, particularly during twisting, reaching or certain movements.
However, pain associated with breathing shouldn’t automatically be assumed to come from the spine or ribs.
Chest pain, unexplained shortness of breath or other concerning symptoms require appropriate medical evaluation.
Do I Need an X-Ray for Mid-Back Pain?
Not everyone with mid-back pain needs imaging.
Current imaging guidelines generally don’t recommend routine imaging for uncomplicated acute thoracic back pain without neurological symptoms or other warning signs.
Instead, imaging decisions should be based on factors such as the patient’s history, examination findings, trauma, neurological findings and other clinical considerations.
At Northeast Chiropractic Center, the decision to recommend imaging is based on clinical need rather than automatically taking X-rays simply because someone has back pain.
When Should Pain Between the Shoulder Blades Be Checked?
Recurring musculoskeletal discomfort may warrant an examination when it:
- Continually returns
- Limits normal movement
- Interferes with work
- Prevents comfortable exercise
- Makes sleeping difficult
- Doesn’t improve with reasonable activity modification
- Occurs with persistent neck pain
- Travels into the shoulder or arm
- Includes numbness, tingling or weakness
An evaluation can help determine whether your symptoms appear musculoskeletal and whether conservative treatment is appropriate.
When Is Upper-Back Pain Potentially More Serious?
Most mid-back complaints seen in a chiropractic office are musculoskeletal, but pain between the shoulder blades can occasionally accompany conditions requiring medical attention.
Seek prompt medical care for significant upper- or mid-back pain accompanied by symptoms such as chest pressure, significant chest pain, difficulty breathing, unexplained sweating or nausea, fainting, fever, major trauma, progressive weakness, substantial numbness, balance problems or loss of bowel or bladder control.
Rapidly worsening or unexplained severe pain also warrants appropriate evaluation.
How Northeast Chiropractic Center Evaluates Mid-Back Pain
At Northeast Chiropractic Center, treatment recommendations begin with determining what appears to be contributing to the problem.
Dr. Linsey Grant considers your symptoms, medical history, activities and aggravating factors before performing an appropriate musculoskeletal examination.
Depending upon the presentation, the evaluation may include the:
Thoracic spine — looking at movement and relevant joint findings.
Cervical spine — particularly when neck or arm symptoms accompany the mid-back complaint.
Shoulders and shoulder blades — assessing relevant movement and function.
Neurological system — when numbness, tingling, weakness or radiating symptoms make neurological testing appropriate.
The purpose is to determine whether your condition appears appropriate for conservative chiropractic management or whether another type of evaluation is indicated.
Chiropractic Treatment for Mid-Back Pain in Alpharetta, GA
When examination findings indicate that conservative care is appropriate, treatment can be individualized to the patient.
Depending upon the condition, care at Northeast Chiropractic Center may incorporate chiropractic adjustments along with appropriate therapeutic or rehabilitative approaches.
The objective isn’t simply to “crack” the painful area.
The goal is to address relevant musculoskeletal findings while helping the patient improve movement and function.
Research involving thoracic manipulation suggests potential benefit for certain musculoskeletal conditions, although the strength of evidence varies depending upon the condition and treatment being studied. That is another reason care should be based on the individual patient’s findings rather than promising that one treatment works for everyone.
What Can You Do About Mid-Back Pain at Home?
For mild musculoskeletal discomfort without warning signs, start by looking at your daily routine.
If you work at a computer, change positions frequently rather than trying to maintain one rigid posture for eight hours.
Take short walking or movement breaks.
If you’re physically active, consider whether your symptoms started after introducing a new exercise or significantly increasing training volume.
Pay attention to patterns.
Does the pain appear after an hour at your desk?
After driving?
After working out?
When turning your neck?
When reaching overhead?
Those details can help identify potential contributors during an examination.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mid-Back Pain
What causes burning pain between the shoulder blades?
Muscles, joints, the cervical or thoracic spine and other structures can contribute to discomfort in this region. Persistent burning pain should be evaluated rather than diagnosed based solely on its location.
Why does the pain between my shoulder blades keep coming back?
Recurring symptoms may indicate that the activity or mechanical factors contributing to the problem haven’t been identified. An examination can help determine what structures appear to be involved.
Can neck pain refer into the shoulder blade?
Yes. Cervical spine problems can sometimes produce symptoms around the shoulder or shoulder blade, particularly when accompanied by neck pain or arm symptoms.
Is stretching good for upper-back pain?
Gentle movement may help some people, but stretching isn’t necessarily appropriate for every condition. Depending on the problem, mobility, strengthening or other treatment may be more appropriate.
Can chiropractic care help pain between the shoulder blades?
Chiropractic care may be an option for certain musculoskeletal causes of thoracic and upper-back pain. An examination is necessary to determine whether it is appropriate for an individual patient.
Do I need an X-ray before seeing a chiropractor?
Not necessarily. Imaging should generally be based on clinical indications rather than performed routinely on everyone with uncomplicated back pain.
Looking for Mid-Back Pain Treatment in Alpharetta, GA?
If that nagging discomfort between your shoulder blades keeps coming back, don’t assume you simply need to live with it—or continually stretch the same painful spot.
Finding out why the area hurts is the first step toward deciding what to do about it.
Northeast Chiropractic Center provides chiropractic care for patients from Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton and surrounding North Fulton communities.
Dr. Linsey Grant provides individualized care based on each patient’s examination findings, symptoms and needs.
Schedule an Appointment at Northeast Chiropractic Center
If you’re experiencing persistent mid-back pain, upper-back discomfort or pain between your shoulder blades, schedule a consultation to determine whether chiropractic care may be appropriate.
Northeast Chiropractic Center
Dr. Linsey Grant
Alpharetta, GA
Visit Northeast Chiropractic Center and Schedule an Appointment