What to Do When Rhomboid Muscle Pain Persists Despite Treatment

When it comes to shoulder or upper back pain that won't go away, it's time to see a doctor or physical therapist. Everyone experiences muscle pain from time to time, but if it persists despite rest, massages, and other self-care measures, it's important to make an appointment with a medical professional. If you're experiencing pain in your left shoulder blade that feels like stretching, the goal is to place the scapula in the correct positions so that the rhomboid muscle can function optimally. Stretching exercises and chiropractic care can help with this.

It's also possible that a pinched nerve is causing your symptoms, in which case releasing your scalene muscles may help reduce them. Additionally, the erector muscles of the spine can cause problems in this area. If you have chest and scapula tightness that won't release, a neurologist may be able to determine the origin and location of a neuromuscular condition responsible for your shoulder pain by measuring the conduction velocity of the peripheral nerve and comparing it with muscle activity. If you injured your supraspinatus in the past, this could be causing your current pain between the shoulder blades on the left side of your spine.

Pain in this area can also occur when you extend your arms horizontally forward, squeeze them against your hips when sitting, or exercise - especially when doing dips or vertical push-ups on parallel bars. If this pain becomes so intense that you start to feel numbness in the area, it's important to seek medical attention right away.