Our Services
Medical Information
Helpful Resources
Published on: 7/15/2026
Why do I have pain only in my right shoulder?
Right shoulder pain is most often caused by problems in the shoulder joint itself or the neck, such as muscle strain, rotator cuff injuries, tendinitis, or pinched nerves. Less commonly, pain in the right shoulder can signal issues with internal organs, including the heart, lungs, liver, or gallbladder — conditions like gallstones or referred cardiac pain can present as shoulder discomfort.
Because the causes range from minor to potentially serious, identifying the root of your pain quickly matters. Taking a free, instant, online symptom check can help you understand possible causes based on your unique symptoms and guide your next steps — whether that means at-home care or seeing a doctor promptly.
Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026
Important Next Steps
Not seeing your question? No worries.
Submit your own QuestionExplanation
The causes of right shoulder pain can be due to issues with the muscles or bones around the shoulder, or less commonly due to causes in areas other than the shoulder itself.
Shoulder and neck problems
When the pain intensifies upon moving the right shoulder, it is often due to issues with the muscles or bones around the shoulder joint. Pain can also radiate from the neck into the shoulder due to a pinched nerve or tight muscle in the neck.
Frozen shoulder
Frozen shoulder can lead to pain because the capsule covering the shoulder joint gets stiff. As a result, you can lose movement in the shoulder due to the all the inflammation. It can take several months for the shoulder to "thaw" and get back to normal range of motion.
Fracture
Fractures of the humerus, scapula, or clavicle cause acute severe pain in the shoulder.
Cervical disc hernia
When the cushions (intervertebral discs) between the neck bones are damaged, it can lead to pain or even compression of the nerves leaving the spine. While the pain originates from a problem in the neck it ends up causing shoulder pain.
Problems with Internal Organs
Less commonly, right shoulder pain may result from what is known as "referred pain". Referred pain is pain coming from a deeper internal organ that ends up causing pain in another part of the body. Disease of the heart, lungs and gallbladder are known to lead to right shoulder pain.
Heart disease
In diseases where the blood flow to the heart worsens, such as angina and myocardial infarction, you may feel severe pain in your shoulder. In the case of aortic dissection, a condition where the aorta tears, you may similarly feel intense pain in your shoulder as a result of referred pain.
Lung disease
There are cases where diseases of the right lung, such as pneumonia, lung cancer, or pneumothorax (air in the chest cavity that compresses the lung) are the cause.
Gallbladder disease
The gallbladder is located under the liver on the right side of the body under the rib cage. Gallstones, are a common disease that can lead to right shoulder pain. The gallstones get stuck in the gallbladder leading to pressure buildup in the gallbladder or even infection. This leads to referred pain in the right shoulder. If you're experiencing persistent shoulder pain and want to understand what might be causing it, take our free AI symptom checker to help identify potential causes and determine if you need medical attention.
(References)
Greenberg DL. Evaluation and treatment of shoulder pain. Med Clin North Am. 2014 May;98(3):487-504. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2014.01.016. Epub 2014 Mar 22. PMID: 24758957.
Littlefield A, Lenahan C. Cholelithiasis: Presentation and Management. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2019 May;64(3):289-297. doi: 10.1111/jmwh.12959. Epub 2019 Mar 25. PMID: 30908805.
Storari L, Barbari V, Brindisino F, Testa M, Filippo M. An unusual presentation of acute myocardial infarction in physiotherapy direct access: findings from a case report. Arch Physiother. 2021 Feb 15;11(1):5. doi: 10.1186/s40945-021-00099-x. PMID: 33583432; PMCID: PMC7883431.
Tell your friends about us.
We would love to help them too.
For First Time Users
What is Ubie’s Doctor’s Note?
We provide a database of explanations from real doctors on a range of medical topics. Get started by exploring our library of questions and topics you want to learn more about.
Was this page helpful?
Purpose and positioning of servicesUbie Doctor's Note is a service for informational purposes. The provision of information by physicians, medical professionals, etc. is not a medical treatment. If medical treatment is required, please consult your doctor or medical institution. We strive to provide reliable and accurate information, but we do not guarantee the completeness of the content. If you find any errors in the information, please contact us.