# What is a pain in the back between the sholder blades called? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 24, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-pain-in-the-back-between-the-sholder-blades-called/597481 "2011-09-24T19:39:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-pain-in-the-back-between-the-sholder-blades-called/597481/1 "2011-09-24T19:39:55Z")
And how is the best way to self-treat it over the weekend? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-pain-in-the-back-between-the-sholder-blades-called/597481/2 "2011-09-24T20:15:25Z")
A knife wound? And the best approach to self-treatment would be to take oneself to visit a nearby emergency room. If the knife or other penetrating weapon is absent, try a little tylenol, some stretching, and a nice gentle massage. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-pain-in-the-back-between-the-sholder-blades-called/597481/3 "2011-09-24T20:23:04Z")
Maybe the word _intra-scapular_ will be in there somewhere. If you need a low-tech treatment, I’d recommend putting a bag or two of frozen vegetables on the floor, and lying down on them for 20 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-pain-in-the-back-between-the-sholder-blades-called/597481/4 "2011-09-24T21:25:52Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > Maybe the word _intra-scapular_ will be in there somewhere. Wouldn’t that be a pain _within_ the shoulderblade? [Interscapular](http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/interscapular)would be between the shoulder blades. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-pain-in-the-back-between-the-sholder-blades-called/597481/5 "2011-09-24T21:46:44Z")
Well, depending on age and medical history, the good doctor’s advice above is the most prudent…especially in women, heart problems can manifest in some weird ways too. I do fairly physical work and get a strained muscle between my shoulder blades sometimes (but I don’t know what it’s called.) There’s a yoga stretch that really feels good…aww heck it’s too difficult to describe and I can’t find a description online. Alternate hot bath with ice packs! That cures all sorts of ills. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-pain-in-the-back-between-the-sholder-blades-called/597481/6 "2011-09-25T02:07:03Z")
Nerve pain caused by neck spinal disks or bony spurs on the vertebrae often manifest as pain between the shoulder blades. Stretching the neck and especially the rearmost part of the spine in the neck can alleviate this, which also demonstrates that the problem isn’t where the pain is. If you lie on your back and support your head so your neck is curved up, and perhaps bend your head toward whichever shoulder is further from the pain, you might find the pain goes away pretty quickly. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-pain-in-the-back-between-the-sholder-blades-called/597481/7 "2011-09-25T02:24:12Z")
And, watch your back! It’s probably precognition! ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-pain-in-the-back-between-the-sholder-blades-called/597481/8 "2011-09-25T02:42:15Z")
Tension. Try some yoga and a nice hot bath on a regular basis. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-pain-in-the-back-between-the-sholder-blades-called/597481/9 "2011-09-25T03:01:31Z")
If it is a burning pain it could be caused by muscles in the chest and shoulders pulling too hard on the muscles in your back. I get this and I think it is stress related. Stretches for the shoulders, neck and pecs should help. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-pain-in-the-back-between-the-sholder-blades-called/597481/10 "2011-09-25T04:45:10Z")
The medical term for that sort of pain is dorsal ettubrute. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-pain-in-the-back-between-the-sholder-blades-called/597481/11 "2011-09-25T16:36:43Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > The medical term for that sort of pain is dorsal ettubrute. In over 25 years of practicing medicine (including treating a hell of a lot of back pain) I’ve never heard that term. “Then fall, doctor!” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-pain-in-the-back-between-the-sholder-blades-called/597481/12 "2011-09-25T18:11:11Z")
Google gives me one ghit for “dorsal ettubrute” - the reply above. The woman with the pain says heat and exercise help temporarily and that the pain is moving right. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-pain-in-the-back-between-the-sholder-blades-called/597481/13 "2011-09-25T18:23:51Z")
> [@janeslogin](#): > > Google gives me one ghit for “dorsal ettubrute” - the reply above. Aww, it always makes me sad when I have to explain a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-pain-in-the-back-between-the-sholder-blades-called/597481/14 "2011-09-25T19:47:56Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Aww, it always makes me sad when I have to explain a joke. I got it… 🆒