In cases involving paralysis of the long thoracic nerve, the scapula moves back away from the body causing:
Mild to severe aching in the shoulder and back.
Sometimes there is fatigue and inability to use the arm (although it can be elevated overhead).
Patients with scapular winging may have:
inability to raise the arm above shoulder level with an uncomfortable feeling of the scapula winging out and away from the back.
pain in front and on top of the shoulder because the rotator muscles of the shoulder are often placed at a mechanical disadvantage when the scapula wings.
a feeling of shoulder instability when the glenoid (socket) fails to move underneath the humeral head (ball) as the arm is raised and the scapula wings.
