Neck pain moving to your shoulder blade is often a result of a nerve issue originating in the neck.
According to information from May 10, 2019, a pinched nerve in your neck can cause pain that radiates toward your shoulder. This condition is also known as cervical radiculopathy.
Understanding Cervical Radiculopathy
Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve root in the neck (cervical spine) becomes compressed or irritated. Since nerves that originate in the neck extend down into the shoulder, arm, and hand, irritation at the source can cause symptoms to appear anywhere along the nerve's path, including the shoulder blade area.
Common Causes
Cervical radiculopathy most often stems from changes in your spine over time. These changes can be brought about by:
- Aging: As we age, the discs between vertebrae can degenerate, or bone spurs can form.
- Injury: Trauma can damage the spine, leading to nerve compression.
The reference specifically mentions that bone spurs can cause a pinching of the nerves that run through the hollow space in the vertebrae. These pinched nerves then send pain signals to the areas they supply, which includes the shoulder blade.
How the Pain Spreads
Think of nerves like electrical wires. If a wire is pinched near its origin (the neck), the signal (pain) can be felt anywhere along that wire's path (down to the shoulder blade). This phenomenon of pain traveling away from the source is called radiation.
In summary, neck pain moving to your shoulder blade is a common symptom of a pinched nerve in the neck (cervical radiculopathy), often caused by spinal changes due to aging or injury, such as bone spurs.
