The pain shoulder blade can give can result from a number of different circumstances. One understandable cause is arthritis. Arthritis causes joint pain. There are many different types of arthritis, including shoulder arthritis. The most common type of arthritis in the shoulder is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is also known as “wear and tear” arthritis. It may be related to injuries and chronic wear and tear. It usually starts in middle age with smaller amounts of pain that worsen over time. It will get worse with age. There are also other types of arthritis. Other types are caused by problems such as inflammation in the joints, rotator cuff tears, other wears and tears, and inflammation. Any type of arthritis can cause severe pain. Some people limit movement to try and reduce pain, but not allowing shoulder movement can cause stiffness, which will actually a restriction in the range of motion and cause further pain.