Published on: 5/21/2025
What Could It Mean If Both Shoulders Are in Pain?
Pain in both shoulders could be related to issues with the neck, diabetes, or problems with the rotator cuff tendons.
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, it might be a good idea to talk to a doctor who can help find out what's causing the pain and how to treat it.
(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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