What could it mean if both shoulders are in pain?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Pain in both shoulders is often caused by neck problems, rotator cuff tendon injuries, or underlying conditions like diabetes. Other common causes include arthritis, poor posture, autoimmune disorders such as polymyalgia rheumatica, and overuse injuries. Because bilateral shoulder pain can stem from many sources—some minor, others requiring medical attention—identifying the root cause matters.

The fastest way to narrow down what's causing your discomfort is to take a free, instant, online symptom check. In just a few minutes, you'll get personalized insights based on your symptoms, helping you understand possible causes and decide on the right next steps—whether that's home care, seeing a primary care doctor, or consulting a specialist.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

Important Next Steps

Discover why both shoulders hurt See if shoulder pain needs care Find likely causes of your shoulder pain Find OTC relief for shoulder pain Find a doctor for shoulder pain Learn safe home remedies for shoulder pain Understand if shoulder pain could be serious

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Explanation

Pain in both shoulders can have several causes.

Neck Problems: Sometimes, shoulder pain is actually coming from the neck. This is because the nerves that go to the shoulders start in the neck. If there is a problem in the neck, like a pinched nerve, it can cause pain in both shoulders.
Diabetes: People with diabetes can have shoulder pain too. This is because diabetes can affect the joints and tissues around the shoulder, causing them to become stiff and painful.
Rotator Cuff Issues: The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that help move the shoulder. If these tendons are damaged, it can cause pain in both shoulders. Sometimes, surgery is needed to fix these tendons.

If you have pain in both shoulders, you can check your symptoms to help identify possible causes and determine if you should see a doctor for treatment.

(References)

Mimori K, Muneta T, Komori H, Okawa A, & Shinomiya K. (1999). Relation between the painful shoulder and the cervical .... Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery, 10472000.
Garcilazo C, Cavallasca JA, & Musuruana JL. (2010). Shoulder manifestations of diabetes mellitus. Current diabetes reviews, 20701586.
Pak CH, Moon YL, Sim SW, & Elsayed MI. (2015). Bilateral arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using a single- .... Orthopedics, 25970371.

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