Shoulder pain

What is shoulder pain?

Shoulder pain is very common but it isn't usually caused by arthritis and will generally improve in a relatively short time and with simple treatments. In most cases you won’t even need to see your doctor.

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What causes shoulder pain?

The shoulder is a complex structure, and pain can be caused by problems with the muscles, tendons and other soft tissues or by arthritis in the joint itself. Sometimes shoulder pain is related to a problem in the neck.

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Should I see a doctor?

You should see a doctor if:

• your pain isn’t improving after about 2 weeks
• you have a definite injury
• you have severe pain or stiffness in both shoulders
• you also feel feverish or generally unwell

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What can I do to help myself?

• take painkillers
• apply an ice pack
• balance rest and exercise
• check your posture
• think about whether your daily activities might be contributing to your shoulder problem and what you can do to reduce the strain

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How are shoulder problems diagnosed?

This is usually based on your symptoms and an examination of your shoulder, but may sometimes require:

• blood tests
• x-rays, ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans
• nerve conduction tests

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Specific shoulder problems

• Acute calcific tendinitis
• Bicipital tendinitis
• Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)
• Osteoarthritis
• Painful arc/impingement syndromes
• Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)
• Referred neck pain
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Rotator cuff tear

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What treatments are there for shoulder pain?

• painkillers
• anti-inflammatory tablets or creams
• physiotherapy and exercise
• steroid injections
• surgery

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