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What Causes Pain In Left Shoulder Blade?

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Posted on Tue, 5 Aug 2014
Question: For about a week now I have had pain inside of my left shoulder blade. It hurts most when I breathe deeply of sneeze or hiccup. I have been taking ibuprofen and it relieves the pain, but it comes right back. I just noticed I have about a half degree temp. What could this be?
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Answered by Dr. Karl Logan (18 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Muscle strain

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for your question. Firstly a small increase in your temperature of half a degree is not significant.

The pain you describe that responds to ibuprofen is typical of a muscle strain or sprain.

Muscle strain is injury to muscle as a result of strenuous activity. Almost anyone can put undue tension on muscles during the course of normal daily activities, with sudden, quick heavy lifting, during sports, or while performing work tasks. Muscle strain is sometimes referred to as muscle pull. A severe muscle strain can result in a muscle tear. The tearing of the muscle can also damage small blood vessels, causing local bleeding (with or without bruising) and pain (caused by irritation of the nerve endings in the area). Of note, a sprain, in contrast to a strain, is an injury to ligaments.

Treatment of a muscle strain is as follows.

Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents such as aspirin (Bufferin, Ecotrin) and ibuprofen (Advil) to reduce the pain and to improve your ability to move around.

Protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation (known as the PRICE formula) can help the affected muscle.

Protect the strained muscle from further injury.

Rest the strained muscle. Avoid the activities that caused the strain and any activities that are painful.

Compression can be a gently applied with an Ace or other elastic bandage, which can provide both support and decrease swelling. Do not wrap tightly.

Activities that increase muscle pain or work the affected body part are not recommended until the pain has significantly gone away.

I hope this answers your question. You should see improvement in your symptoms over the next few weeks.

Best wishes



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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Karl Logan

Orthopaedic Surgeon

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 705 Questions

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What Causes Pain In Left Shoulder Blade?

Brief Answer: Muscle strain Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for your question. Firstly a small increase in your temperature of half a degree is not significant. The pain you describe that responds to ibuprofen is typical of a muscle strain or sprain. Muscle strain is injury to muscle as a result of strenuous activity. Almost anyone can put undue tension on muscles during the course of normal daily activities, with sudden, quick heavy lifting, during sports, or while performing work tasks. Muscle strain is sometimes referred to as muscle pull. A severe muscle strain can result in a muscle tear. The tearing of the muscle can also damage small blood vessels, causing local bleeding (with or without bruising) and pain (caused by irritation of the nerve endings in the area). Of note, a sprain, in contrast to a strain, is an injury to ligaments. Treatment of a muscle strain is as follows. Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents such as aspirin (Bufferin, Ecotrin) and ibuprofen (Advil) to reduce the pain and to improve your ability to move around. Protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation (known as the PRICE formula) can help the affected muscle. Protect the strained muscle from further injury. Rest the strained muscle. Avoid the activities that caused the strain and any activities that are painful. Compression can be a gently applied with an Ace or other elastic bandage, which can provide both support and decrease swelling. Do not wrap tightly. Activities that increase muscle pain or work the affected body part are not recommended until the pain has significantly gone away. I hope this answers your question. You should see improvement in your symptoms over the next few weeks. Best wishes