Pain is one of those weird things; it can move around. I work with clients daily who experience this. One day it’s on their left side, then it’s on their right, then both. It doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense.
For you, it might be that you’re having shoulder blade pain and then experiencing armpit pain after that.
So to answer your question directly, can shoulder blade pain cause armpit pain, yes, it can. I’ll explain in more detail through the rest of this post.
The answer is a little more detailed than I expected so I’ll be answering more thoroughly below.
Let’s dive in!
How can shoulder blade pain cause armpit pain?
If you are having shoulder blade pain between the shoulder blades that then travels to the outer part of your shoulder blade, it’s possible there is some latissimus muscle contribution. If you have a strained latissimus or pain that is emanating from there, due to the origin and insertion points of the latissimus, you may also experience armpit pain.
The latissimus (lat for short) muscle originates from the thoracolumbar fascia which attaches to the pelvis and travels around the outside of the shoulder blade, coming together through a conjoined tendon that passes under the armpit and finally attaching at the front of the shoulder.
When people have anterior shoulder pain (front of shoulder), there are several structures that attach there. Lats, biceps, teres major, and pectoralis major all have attachment points.
What structures potentially cause shoulder blade pain?
As I discussed in one of my more popular articles about shoulder blade pain, there are many different structures and it’s very difficult to know which ones contribute. Usually, it’s a muscle that’s been overstrained or has been in a stretched position for too long.
Most people often attribute this to the rhomboid but it could just as easily be the middle trap muscle or the spinalis musculature. It’s really hard to tell, if not impossible with our current technology.
Is it possible to know which structures such as ligaments, muscles, tendons, or nerves cause shoulder blade pain?
If you have a major tear that was due to a traumatic event you may be able to image the area with an MRI and see which structure is damaged.
But, that is a very rare occurrence. It’s more likely that you will not be able to tell the exact muscle, tendon, nerve, or ligament that is causing discomfort.
And, what is most important is that you are able to find a few different movements that help your symptoms.
How many different structures attach to the shoulder blade?
Over 17 different structures attach to the shoulder blade. This includes muscles, tendons, and connective tissue. (any guess as to what muscle is under the shoulder blade?)
This is why it’s so difficult to know exactly which structure is responsible for the symptoms you are experiencing.
This is why testing out different movements and other modalities to see which one works best for you is the most important.
Who Should You See About Shoulder Blade Pain?
If it’s a dull and achy pain that is sometimes sharp that feels like you constantly need to stretch it I would recommend seeing your physical therapist first.
Depending on what country you’re reading this from you may have direct access to the physical therapist. In the United States, in all 50 states, it is legal to see a physical therapist before any other healthcare provider.
The reason for that is PTs in the US and in some other countries have training in differential diagnosis and medical screening.
Long story short; we know when something is not quite right when it’s not musculoskeletal.
If you are having other symptoms along with the shoulder blade pain such as shortness of breath, progressive numbness, tingling, and weakness down both arms, or severe pain that is unrelenting, I would recommend seeing your doctor first.
While infections, thoracic disc herniations, and cancer would be very rare diagnoses for this area, it can happen.
So to summarize all that, musculoskeletal issues, see a PT. For medical issues, see a physician.
Key Takeaways
- Shoulder blade pain could cause armpit pain but it’s very uncommon
- It’s very difficult to know exactly what structure is causing pain
- Visit your physical therapist or doctor if you are concerned and aren’t sure about what the next steps are.
- The most important thing to do if it is musculoskeletal is to stay moving and find a few specific exercises that make it feel better and then let time do its thing.
