Shoulder blade pain is one of the most common complaints we see at Pain Free Health. While many patients assume it’s due to muscle knots or posture, one overlooked cause is irritation of the dorsal scapular nerve—a small but important nerve that originates from the C5–C6 cervical roots.
Origin: Primarily from the C5 nerve root, sometimes with input from C4 or C6.
Pathway: Travels through the middle scalene muscle, deep under the levator scapulae, and along the medial border of the scapula beneath the rhomboids.
Innervation: Provides motor supply to the rhomboid major, rhomboid minor, and levator scapulae, which are key stabilizers of the shoulder blade.
When irritated, the dorsal scapular nerve can cause:
Unlike true radiculopathy, patients often don’t experience numbness or tingling—making diagnosis tricky.
Because the dorsal scapular nerve arises from the C5–C6 nerve roots, conditions such as cervical disc bulges, foraminal narrowing, or facet joint arthritis can directly affect it. This results in a combination of neck pain and scapular pain, often mistaken for muscular tension or even rotator cuff problems.
It’s important to distinguish dorsal scapular nerve pain from:
Our physiotherapists perform a detailed evaluation, including:
At Pain Free Health, our approach focuses on both nerve decompression and muscle rebalancing:
Early recognition leads to faster recovery, while chronic irritation can cause muscle weakness or atrophy. Addressing both the local entrapment and the cervical root involvement is key to long-term relief.
At Pain Free Health, we specialize in managing complex neck and shoulder conditions like dorsal scapular nerve irritation. If you’re struggling with persistent pain between the shoulder blades or neck tightness, our physiotherapy team can provide targeted assessment and treatment.
👉 Book an appointment today at Pain Free Health (South Surrey, Richmond, Ladner, Langley, Queensborough, and Surrey) to start your recovery. https://painfreehealth.janeapp.com/
