Many conditions can cause pain under the right shoulder blade. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, or AAOS, the shoulder blade is a mobile, triangular bone that is protected by a complex system of surrounding muscles. Pain in or around the shoulder blade may be caused by the shoulder blade itself, or by other tissues or structures that send pain to that area. Pain that manifests under or below the right shoulder blade can be mild, moderate or severe.
Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Myofascial pain syndrome can cause pain under the right scapula or shoulder blade. According to MayoClinic.com, myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic type of muscle pain. Myofascial pain syndrome-related pain is associated with sensitive and hyper-irritable points in the muscles. These points are known as trigger points. When pressed, trigger points can cause significant pain that spreads throughout the involved muscle. Common signs and symptoms associated with myofascial pain syndrome include deep and aching muscle pain, persistent or progressive muscle pain, muscle stiffness, joint stiffness near the involved muscle, trigger points and decreased sleep quality. MayoClinic.com states that, although most people experience occasional muscle pain, a person with myofascial pain syndrome has pain that gets worse over time. Myofascial pain can manifest anywhere throughout the body, including in the muscles below the right shoulder blade.
Herpes Zoster
Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, can cause pain below the right shoulder blade. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, or NINDS, states that herpes zoster is characterized by a rash or blisters on the skin and is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. The varicella-zoster virus is the same virus that causes chickenpox. Although shingles is not a life-threatening condition, it can cause extreme pain. The shingles-related rash can occur anywhere on the body, although it usually appears as a band that wraps around one side of the torso. Common signs and symptoms associated with herpes zoster include burning pain, tingling or numbness in the affected area, a red rash that manifests several days after the pain, fluid-filled blisters that may rupture and intense itching. According to the NINDS, the severity and duration of a shingles attack can be significantly reduced by immediate treatment.
Gallbladder Attack
According to the MedlinePlus website, a gallbladder attack occurs when gallstones -- pebble-like deposits that form within the gallbladder -- block the flow of bile through the cystic duct. The cystic duct is a tube that connects the gallbladder with the common bile duct. The MedlinePlus website states that gallstones can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. Common signs and symptoms associated with a gallbladder attack include intermittent pain in the right upper or middle abdomen, pain that radiates to the back or below the right shoulder blade, fever and jaundice -- yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. According to MedlinePlus, certain risk factors may increase the likelihood of developing gallstones, including diabetes, liver cirrhosis, bone marrow transplants, rapid weight loss and being over the age of 40.
