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Published on: 4/28/2025

How Can I Determine If My Left Leg and Left Shoulder Pain Are Related?

To check if your left leg and left shoulder pain are related, a careful look at your pain patterns, movement, and overall strength can help reveal a connection.

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Explanation

You can start by keeping track of when you feel the pain in both your left leg and left shoulder. Ask yourself if the pain happens at the same time or if one area hurts before the other. Notice if you change the way you move because your leg hurts. This change can put extra stress on your shoulder, making it hurt too. In some studies, leg weakness was linked to later shoulder pain, which means your body might be working harder in one part because the other is hurting. A good first step is to talk with a healthcare provider. They may do a physical exam and ask about your pain, daily activities, and how you walk or stand. Sometimes, exercises or physical therapy might be suggested to make your leg stronger. This, in turn, may help your shoulder feel better. By noticing your pain patterns and getting the proper checkup, you can better understand if these pains are connected and what to do next.

(References)

  • Laslett LL, Otahal P, Hensor EM, Kingsbury SR, Conaghan PG. Knee Pain Predicts Subsequent Shoulder Pain and the Association Is Mediated by Leg Weakness: Longitudinal Observational Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. J Rheumatol. 2016 Nov;43(11):2049-2055. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.160001. Epub 2016 Oct 1. PMID: 27803343.

  • Creech JA, Silver S. Shoulder Impingement Syndrome. [Updated 2023 Apr 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet].

  • Mitchell C, Adebajo A, Hay E, Carr A. Shoulder pain: diagnosis and management in primary care. BMJ. 2005 Nov 12;331(7525):1124-8. doi: 10.1136/bmj.331.7525.1124. PMID: 16282408; PMCID: PMC1283277.

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