Scapula popping

Hi

I have very recently mostly resolved a complex and frustrating back pain and lower extremity pain issue. I had very bad low back pain on the right side and arch and calf pain on the left leg. I also had mild left shoulder pain. All these pains seemed to correlate in frequency and extremity. Accompanying this was an extreme tightness in the right torso and in the left leg. I know from experience that “tightness” is very difficult to communicate to physicians so let me emphasize, I had extreme tightness in those areas not like what you feel if you are sedentary or waking up but like my body was literally trying to pull itself apart. It would literally be like I was doing a hamstring stretch except all the time. No exaggeration. I resolved this in the short term by stretching my neck and doing isometric exercises on the left rear neck muscle(don’t know what it is called). The pain relief and regain of mobility was instant. I got in the gym and did the big three lifts with no pain and more mobility than I ever had before. I imagine you find this scenario dubious and I realize that runs counter to the orthodox here but I’m not here to argue with anyone but I wanted to give a brief background.

My question is this: My right scapula seems to have considerably more mobility than the left. When I pull the right shoulder into flexion and extension the scapula makes a pronounced pop. The left scapula seems much more stable. I have no pain in this area but I used to when I was younger. I work a desk job and I’m very right handed. I’m concerned this is some kind of issue that is linked to my pain.

Is the scapula popping something to be concerned about? Is this worth getting imaged or having someone look at it? Are there any exercises to help with this? Is this a matter of simply strengthening and stabilizing the scapula?

Thanks for any help you can offer. I’ve been around and back with this issue and I’m ready to put this puppy to rest and get fucking strong.

Glad to hear you’ve found a way to deal with the symptoms you were experiencing.

Is the scapula popping something to be concerned about?

In the absence of any significant trauma, not really.

Is this worth getting imaged or having someone look at it?

As a general rule, we cannot tell people whether they should or shouldn’t pursue consultation via an internet forum.

With that said, I am skeptical that imaging would be of much utility here.

Are there any exercises to help with this? Is this a matter of simply strengthening and stabilizing the scapula?

Based on the information you’ve provided I don’t really have much reason to believe your scapula is “unstable” or needs “strengthening” (as it is a bone).

I do expect things will improve with time and continued training.

Thanks for the response! I realize the scapula is not a muscle I just used it because I was typing fast and don’t know all the muscles that stabilize it.

I did get MRI of my lower lumbar for the back pain several months ago and they found lots of no good very bad awful awful stuff and I was told I would not be able lift heavy ever again haha so you’re definitely on to something with your theories on that stuff having no meaning.