Shoulder Pain: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Exercises & When to See an Orthopaedic Doctor

What Is Shoulder Pain?

Shoulder pain is a very common orthopaedic complaint. It can start suddenly after a fall, sports injury or lifting movement, or develop gradually over weeks or months.

The shoulder is a highly mobile joint. This allows you to reach overhead, dress yourself, comb your hair, lift objects and perform many daily activities, but it also means that several different tissues can become painful.

You may feel pain at the front, side or back of the shoulder, over the top of the shoulder, or sometimes around the shoulder blade. Pain may be present only with movement or may continue at rest or disturb sleep.

Not every shoulder pain is frozen shoulder, and not every shoulder problem needs surgery. The correct treatment depends on the cause, your age, activity level, examination findings and, when needed, investigations.

How Patients Commonly Describe Shoulder Pain

Patients often describe the same shoulder problem in very different ways. These descriptions are useful during consultation.

• “Kandhe mein dard hai.”
• “Shoulder upar karne par pain hota hai.”
• “Haath uthane mein dikkat hoti hai.”
• “Raat ko shoulder pain se neend khul jati hai.”
• “Shoulder jam ho gaya hai.”
• “Kapde pehne mein problem hoti hai.”
• “Peeche haath le jaane par pain hota hai.”
• “Shoulder mein clicking hoti hai.”
• “Shoulder baar-baar nikal jata hai.”
• “Haath mein weakness lagti hai.”
• “Gym ya cricket ke baad shoulder pain hota hai.”
• “Kandhe aur neck ke paas dard hai.”

Try to mention where the pain is, when it started, whether there was an injury, which movements hurt, whether sleep is affected, and whether there is stiffness, weakness, numbness, clicking or instability.

Common Causes of Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain has many possible causes. The most useful starting point is to consider whether the problem followed an injury or developed gradually.

• Rotator cuff problems — including tendinopathy and tears
• Bursitis and other tendon-related problems
• Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)
• Shoulder instability and recurrent dislocation
• Acromioclavicular (AC) joint problems
• Arthritis of the shoulder
• Sports and overuse injuries
• Fractures around the shoulder
• Clavicle (collarbone) injuries
• Problems originating from the neck and nerves

The same symptom can occur with different conditions, so symptoms alone should not be used to make a diagnosis.

Shoulder Pain During Daily Activities

Shoulder problems often become obvious during activities that require reaching, lifting or rotating the arm.

Patients may have difficulty with:

• Reaching overhead to a shelf or fan
• Putting on or removing a shirt
• Combing or tying hair
• Washing or bathing the back
• Putting a hand into a back pocket
• Reaching behind the back
• Lifting a bucket or household object
• Sleeping on the painful side
• Gym exercises involving overhead movement
• Throwing a ball or playing cricket, badminton or other overhead sports

The exact movement that causes pain can provide useful information. For example, pain mainly while lifting the arm, difficulty reaching behind the back, or a shoulder that feels unstable may point toward different problems.

Shoulder Pain at Night

Night shoulder pain is a common complaint. Some patients find that the pain is worst when they lie on the affected side, while others wake up even when they are not directly lying on the shoulder.

Night pain can occur with rotator cuff problems, including tears, as well as frozen shoulder and other painful shoulder conditions.

Persistent pain that repeatedly disturbs sleep should not simply be treated with painkillers indefinitely. The cause should be assessed, particularly when there is associated weakness or loss of movement.

Shoulder Stiffness and “Frozen” Shoulder

Some patients say the shoulder is painful; others describe it as “jammed” or “stuck”. Shoulder stiffness can occur for several reasons.

Frozen shoulder is a specific condition in which pain and stiffness progressively interfere with shoulder movement. Patients may have difficulty lifting the arm, reaching behind the back, dressing, combing hair or performing other daily activities.

Stiffness can also develop after an injury, fracture, surgery or a period of prolonged immobilisation. Arthritis and other shoulder problems can also reduce movement.

Do not assume that all painful stiffness is frozen shoulder. The pattern of restricted movement and the clinical examination are important.

For detailed information about frozen shoulder, including its stages and treatment options, see the Frozen Shoulder patient guide.

Shoulder Pain With Weakness

Weakness is different from pain-limited movement. Some people can move the arm but feel that it has become genuinely weaker, especially when lifting or reaching overhead.

Shoulder weakness may occur with rotator cuff disorders, nerve problems, pain-related inhibition or other conditions.

A sudden loss of strength after a fall or other injury deserves prompt assessment because an acute tendon injury may require specific treatment.

For detailed information about rotator cuff tears and repair, see the Rotator Cuff Tears & Repair guide and the arthroscopic rotator cuff repair page.

Shoulder Dislocation and Instability

The shoulder can move through a very large range, but this mobility also makes it vulnerable to dislocation and instability.

A patient may describe:

• The shoulder “came out” during a fall or sports injury
• Repeated episodes of dislocation
• A feeling that the shoulder may slip out
• Fear while moving the arm into certain positions
• Clicking or catching with a feeling of instability

A dislocated shoulder needs prompt medical treatment. Do not try to push the shoulder back into place yourself.

For recurrent instability and Bankart/Hill-Sachs problems, see the detailed Bankart & Remplissage guide and arthroscopic Bankart repair page.

Shoulder Pain After a Fall, Accident or Sports Injury

Shoulder pain after a fall or accident may be due to a sprain, tendon injury, dislocation or fracture.

Fractures may involve the collarbone, upper arm bone near the shoulder, or other bones around the shoulder.

Important symptoms include:

• Sudden severe pain
• Inability or major difficulty moving the arm
• Visible deformity
• Rapid swelling or bruising
• A shoulder that appears out of position
• Numbness or altered sensation in the arm or hand

For more detailed fracture information, see the shoulder fracture treatment guide, clavicle fracture guide and proximal humerus fracture guide.

Sports and Gym-Related Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain is common in activities involving repeated overhead or throwing movements. It may occur in cricket, badminton, swimming, gym training and other sports.

Suddenly increasing training volume, poor technique, inadequate recovery or a previous injury may contribute to symptoms.

Do not continue heavy overhead lifting through significant pain. Reducing the aggravating activity temporarily and obtaining an appropriate rehabilitation plan is usually more useful than repeatedly testing the shoulder under heavy load.

For broader sports-injury information, see the Sports Injury Treatment guide.

What Can I Do for Shoulder Pain at Home?

The right home care depends on the cause.

For a recent minor problem, temporarily reduce activities that clearly increase the pain while continuing gentle, comfortable movement.

• Keep the shoulder gently moving within a comfortable range.
• Avoid repeated heavy lifting or strenuous overhead exercise while the shoulder is acutely painful.
• Use a cold pack wrapped in cloth for short periods after a recent injury if it helps swelling or pain.
• Some people find warmth useful for stiffness or muscle discomfort.
• Improve sitting and workstation posture, particularly during prolonged computer or mobile use.
• Use exercises prescribed for your specific shoulder problem rather than making up strenuous gym exercises.

Completely stopping shoulder movement for a prolonged period can contribute to stiffness in some conditions. At the same time, forcing a very painful shoulder through aggressive exercises can make symptoms worse. The balance depends on the diagnosis.

What About Pain Medicines?

Pain medicines can help some patients stay active enough to participate in appropriate rehabilitation, but the choice depends on age, medical history and other medicines.

Anti-inflammatory medicines are not suitable for everyone. People with certain stomach, kidney, heart or blood-pressure problems, those taking blood thinners and some older adults may need particular caution.

Do not routinely self-medicate for weeks without understanding why the shoulder is painful.

Do I Need an X-ray, Ultrasound or MRI?

Not every patient with shoulder pain needs a scan immediately. A careful history and physical examination are often the first and most important steps.

X-ray is useful for evaluating bones, fractures, alignment and some forms of arthritis.

Ultrasound can be useful for assessing some rotator cuff and other soft-tissue problems, depending on the clinical question and operator expertise.

MRI can provide detailed information about rotator cuff tendons, labrum, cartilage and other soft tissues. It may be particularly useful when a significant tendon or internal shoulder injury is suspected.

The appropriate investigation depends on what the doctor is trying to confirm or rule out. More imaging does not automatically mean better treatment.

Does Shoulder Pain Need Surgery?

No. Many shoulder problems are initially managed without surgery.

Depending on the diagnosis, treatment may include:

• Activity modification
• Physiotherapy and targeted exercises
• Medicines when appropriate
• Selected injections
• Management of underlying medical or metabolic factors

Surgery may be considered for selected problems such as certain traumatic rotator cuff tears, recurrent shoulder instability, fractures requiring fixation, or symptoms that remain disabling despite suitable non-operative treatment.

The decision is individualized. A rotator cuff tear, frozen shoulder, recurrent dislocation and fracture are different conditions and should not be treated as if they were the same.

For deeper information, see the Rotator Cuff guide, Frozen Shoulder guide, Shoulder Instability guide, Rotator Cuff Repair and Bankart Repair pages.

How to Describe Shoulder Pain Clearly

Before your consultation, note:

• Which shoulder is affected — right, left or both?
• When did the pain begin?
• Was there a fall, accident, lifting injury or sports activity?
• Where is the pain — front, side, top, back or around the shoulder blade?
• Does lifting the arm hurt?
• Can you reach behind your back?
• Can you sleep on the affected side?
• Is there genuine weakness?
• Is there clicking or instability?
• Is there numbness or tingling in the arm or hand?

These details can help an orthopaedic doctor understand the problem more quickly and decide whether further examination or imaging is needed.

When Is Shoulder Pain Urgent?

These symptoms may indicate a fracture, dislocation, significant tendon or nerve injury, infection, or—in some situations—an important non-orthopaedic problem requiring urgent assessment.

Common Questions About Shoulder Pain

Continue Reading

These published pages provide more detailed information about specific shoulder problems and treatments. Choose the topic that best matches your symptoms.

• Frozen Shoulder Patient Guide — symptoms, stages, diagnosis and treatment of adhesive capsulitis.
• Rotator Cuff Tears & Repair — symptoms, MRI, conservative treatment and surgery.
• Recurrent Shoulder Dislocation: Bankart & Remplissage — shoulder instability and recurrent dislocation.
• Arthroscopic Bankart Repair — detailed surgical information for recurrent instability.
• Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair — detailed repair and recovery information.
• Shoulder Fracture Treatment — fracture-specific treatment information.
• Clavicle / Collarbone Fracture — fracture and fixation information.
• Proximal Humerus Fracture — upper-arm fracture near the shoulder.
• Sports Injury Treatment — broader sports-injury guidance.
• Back Pain Guide — useful when pain around the shoulder blade is related to the neck or upper back.

Clinical Sources & Further Reading

For additional patient information, see:

• NHS — Shoulder pain
• NHS — Frozen shoulder
• NHS — Dislocated shoulder
• AAOS OrthoInfo — Rotator Cuff Tears
• AAOS OrthoInfo — Frozen Shoulder