Shoulder pain

Category: Muscles, Bones & Joints · All muscles & joints symptoms

What it can feel like

Shoulder pain is pain in and around the shoulder joint, often worse reaching overhead, lying on that side, or doing up clothing behind the back. The shoulder's wide mobility comes at the price of vulnerability — its tendons pass through a tight space and are easily irritated.

Possible causes

A symptom can have many causes, and most are not serious. The lists below group conditions this symptom can be associated with — common causes first. They are possibilities to discuss with a clinician, not a diagnosis.

Common causes

Shoulder pain can be associated with tendon irritation (impingement), rotator cuff strains, inflammation of the fluid sac (bursa), stiffness of the joint capsule (frozen shoulder) and wear of the small joint at the top of the shoulder.

Other possible causes

Shoulder pain can also be associated with a torn rotator cuff after injury, arthritis of the joint, referred pain from the neck, gallbladder or diaphragm, and — left-sided, on exertion — the heart.

Red flags — when to seek help promptly

Shoulder pain with chest tightness, breathlessness or sweating — urgent
Shoulder pain after a fall with inability to lift the arm
A hot, swollen shoulder with fever
Shoulder pain with unexplained weight loss, or constant night pain in someone with a history of cancer

What a clinician may do

A clinician will test the movements of the shoulder and neck, feel the tendons, and compare strength. Ultrasound or X-ray images the tendons and joint; physiotherapy is first-line for most causes, with injections or surgical referral for defined problems.

Watch: related videos

Examination and clinical videos from the MedicalVideos.com library relevant to this symptom. Some clinical footage is graphic — that is the nature of a medical video library.

▶ WatchFrozen shoulderWatch on MedicalVideos.com ▶ WatchFrozen shoulder surgeryWatch on MedicalVideos.com ▶ WatchShoulder pain and exercises milwaukee wiWatch on MedicalVideos.com

Related guides on MedicalVideos.com

Frequently asked questions

What is a frozen shoulder?

The joint capsule thickens and tightens, progressively restricting movement in all directions — classically over months, then slowly thawing over one to three years. It is more common with diabetes and after shoulder injury or surgery. Early recognition matters because the stiffening phase is when treatment helps most.

Why does the doctor move my neck for shoulder pain?

Nerves leaving the neck supply the shoulder region, and a trapped neck nerve commonly masquerades as shoulder pain. Testing the neck and comparing shoulder movements separates joint pain (painful arc on movement) from referred nerve pain.

Related symptoms — Muscles, Bones & Joints

A joint that locks or gives way Aching and stiffness in the shoulders and hips Aching muscles Ankle pain Back pain Elbow pain

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Please note: This page is educational information about a symptom. A symptom alone cannot diagnose any condition, and the causes listed here are possibilities, not a diagnosis. If you are worried about a symptom — especially one that is new, severe, getting worse or not going away — please see your own clinician, who can examine you and arrange tests. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.