What might cause shoulder pain when raising my arm to the side?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Shoulder pain when lifting your arm to the side is often caused by rotator cuff injuries, impingement, or complications from conditions like diabetes. The rotator cuff—a group of muscles and tendons stabilizing the shoulder—can become inflamed, torn, or pinched, making side-arm movements painful. Diabetes can also contribute by increasing the risk of frozen shoulder and tendon stiffness.

Because shoulder pain has many possible causes, identifying the right one is key to getting the right treatment. A free, instant, online symptom check can help you narrow down what may be causing your pain, understand urgency, and decide whether to see a doctor, physical therapist, or specialist. It only takes a few minutes and gives you personalized insights based on your symptoms—empowering you to take confident next steps toward relief.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/20/2026

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Explanation

Shoulder pain can happen for different reasons. One reason might be related to diabetes. People with diabetes can have shoulder problems because diabetes can affect the shoulder tissues, making them stiff or painful.

Another reason could be a rotator cuff injury. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that help move and stabilize your shoulder. If these muscles or tendons get hurt, it can cause pain when you move your arm.

Finally, shoulder impingement is another possible cause. This happens when the shoulder bones press on the muscles and tendons, causing pain. Sometimes, this can even feel like neck pain.

If you feel pain in your shoulder when moving your arm, you can start by using Ubie's free AI symptom checker to help identify what might be causing your discomfort and determine the best next steps for care.

(References)

Garcilazo C, Cavallasca JA, & Musuruana JL. (2010). Shoulder manifestations of diabetes mellitus. Current diabetes reviews, 20701586.
Guo C, Liu X, Yang Y, Zhang D, Yang D, & Yin J. (2022). Analysis of Rotator Cuff Muscle Injury on the Drawing Side .... Computational and mathematical methods in medicine, 36017153.
Gorski JM, & Schwartz LH. (2003). Shoulder impingement presenting as neck pain. The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume, 12672838.

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