What causes sharp pain in the upper back?
Patient: I am having sharp pains in my upper back on the left right below my shoulder blade.  I have heard that in women this could possibly be signs of a heart attack.  It comes and goes but has been consistent for the last hour or so.  I am a 68 year old female. Doctor: Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.Pain in left shoulder and arm, might be caused from heart or from neuromscular problems.To determine if this pain is related to heart problems, it is needed a more detailed history of the symptoms, and a physical examination.If the pain gets worse with movement is generally related to neuromuscular problems, but it should never be ignored, so I highly recommend you to consult a cardiologist.Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.