Cause for stabbing pain in shoulder blade area

by Nathan Wei, MD, FACP, FACR

Nathan Wei is a nationally known board-certified rheumatologist and author of the Second Opinion Arthritis Treatment Kit. It's available exclusively at this website... not available in stores.

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Sharp stabbing pains usually indicate either muscle or nerve irritation or inflammation.

Referred pain to the shoulder blade may occur as a result of internal organ dysfunction such as gall bladder disease, aortic dissection, myocardial infarction (heart attack), pneumonia, pleurisy, pulmonary embolus, ectopic pregnancy, peptic ulcer disease, etc.

Neuropathic pain – pain originating from nerve irritation usually comes about as a result of infection such as shingles or even Lyme disease.

Mechanical neuropathic pain usually arises from arthritis or disc problems in the neck with referred pain.

Muscle spasm from fibromyalgia or myofascial pain can also cause sharp shooting pains.

The treatment for this condition hinges first on establishing the proper diagnosis.

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