Shoulder Blade Pain That Just Won’t Quit? It Might Be Your Dorsal Scapular Nerve
- Whit Voss
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
Ever get that deep, annoying ache right along the inside of your shoulder blade? The kind that sticks around even after stretching or trying to crack your back? If that sounds familiar, the dorsal scapular nerve may be asking for help.
Here at our Alameda chiropractic office, we see this all the time, especially in people who work at computers, lift weights, or have had a previous neck or shoulder injury. The good news: with the right approach, it’s very treatable.
What Exactly Is the Dorsal Scapular Nerve, and Why Does it Cause Shoulder Blade Pain?
This small but mighty nerve starts in your neck (usually around the middle area) and travels down to support two important muscles:
Rhomboids — pull your shoulder blade toward your spine
Levator scapulae — elevate your shoulder blade and help with neck movement
When the dorsal scapular nerve gets irritated or compressed, you might feel:
Sharp or aching pain along the shoulder blade
Shoulder blade sticking out a bit (winging)
Weakness with pulling or pushing
Neck tightness that just keeps returning
Pain that worsens during deep breaths or overhead movement
Poor posture that feels impossible to fix
It often gets mistaken for a simple muscle strain, which is why proper assessment matters!
Why Does This Happen?
In our community, we see a few common causes:
Hours hunched over laptops and phones
Overhead sports like tennis, volleyball, or climbing
Lifting injuries, including gym training errors
Whiplash or sudden neck trauma
Tight neck muscles compressing the nerve
Shoulder blade stability issues (underworked posture muscles)
Once irritation sets in, the body starts compensating, and the cycle continues until it’s addressed.
How We Figure Out What’s Going On
Our assessment is hands-on, movement-focused, and specific to you. We look at:
✔ How your shoulder blade sits and moves
✔ Neck and upper back mobility
✔ Strength of your muscles
✔ Rib and breathing mechanics
✔ Tender spots along the nerve pathway
✔ How certain positions or motions reproduce symptoms
This allows us to pinpoint the true source of your pain, not just guess.
How We Treat Dorsal Scapular Nerve Impingement
We focus on restoring healthy motion, calming the nerve down, and strengthening the right muscles -- so you can move confidently again.
Personalized Chiropractic Adjustments
We improve motion in your neck and upper back to decrease nerve tension and help everything move more freely.
McKenzie Directional Therapy
These repeated movements help centralize and reduce pain, and give you tools you can use at home anytime discomfort shows up.
Soft Tissue + Muscle Release Work
We address tight muscles like the scalenes and upper traps that often compress the nerve.
Scapular Strength & Postural Rehab
We teach your shoulder blade to move and stabilize the way it’s meant to, with exercises tailored to your activities.
Simple Lifestyle + Ergonomic Tips
Small changes to posture and daily habits add up to big improvements in how your body feels all day long.
You Deserve to Move Without That Constant Shoulder Blade Ache
If you feel like you’ve tried everything and nothing has helped, you’re not alone. Many people don’t realize nerve irritation is the hidden cause behind their stubborn shoulder blade pain.
We’d love to help you get back to feeling strong and comfortable again.
📍 Local chiropractic care in Alameda, CA
👋 Friendly, supportive care
🏃 Active care approach designed for real-life movement
Ready to get this fixed?
Give us a call or schedule online. Let’s get you out of pain and back to doing the things you love.