Muscle Strain
Muscle strain at the upper back may occur due to constant lifting of heavy weights or from excessive use of the muscles around the scapula. It is important to stick to a simple routine when exercising to avoid overstretching your muscles. When the muscle fibers are heavily loaded beyond their strength, they may tear or get injured. This may result in a sharp pain and inflammation across and beneath the shoulder blade.
Other Visceral Causes
Shingles, an infection that affects the region supplied by the lesioned nerve also causes shoulder blade pain. It causes tingling or burning pain with a rash. In some cases, gallstones may also cause pain in the shoulder blade.