Pain in the Shoulder
Free Symptom Checker
with Physician-supervised AI
Reviewed By:
Kent C Doan, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr Doan Graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine and completed residency training in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Colorado. He completed additional fellowship training in Orthopedic Sports Medicine at the prestigious Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colorado. He is a practicing Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in complex and revision knee and shoulder surgery at the Kansas City Orthopedic Institute. He also holds an assistant professorship at the University of Kansas City.
Tomohiro Hamahata, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr. Hamahata graduated from the Jikei University of Medical Science. After working at Asanokawa General Hospital and Kosei Chuo Hospital, he joined the Department of Orthopedics at Asakusa Hospital in April 2021, specializing in general orthopedics and joint replacement surgery.
Content updated on Nov 29, 2024
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Painful shoulder
Shoulder pain when raising arms
Shoulder pain when sleeping
Moving shoulder causes pain
Pain worsens when moving arm/shoulder
Shoulder pain when moving hands behind my back
Shoulder pain when changing clothes
I have pain in both shoulders
Shoulder pain when attempting to style hair
Cannot raise arm because of shoulder pain
Shoulder injury
Rotator cuff injury
How Ubie Can Help You
With a free 3-min quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
Your symptoms
Our AI
Your report
Your personal report will tell you
✔ When to see a doctor
✔︎ What causes your symptoms
✔︎ Treatment information etc.
People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- I have a pain in my right shoulder
- Joint pain that is worse when moving the joint on your own, than if was moved with help
- Shoulder hurts when trying to thread a belt through the back of my pants
- Throbbing or stabbing pain in shoulder when sleeping
- Shoulder aches when using shampoo on hair
- Shoulder pain on the right and left side
- My shoulder hurts when changing a shirt
- Pain aggravated by moving arm/shoulder
- I have pain in my left shoulder
- Pain on active movement worse than on passive movement
- Shoulder aches when changing clothes
- My shoulder aches when I dry laundry
- Shoulder aches when trying to sleep
- Pain in shoulder from clavicle
- Joint pain exacerbated when moving the join independently
See full list
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Try Free Symptom QuizAbout the Symptom
Shoulder pain can be on either or both sides, or deep within the joint. The pain may be pressing, sharp or dull in nature.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Neck pain / stiffness
- Swelling of the affected area
- Back pain
- Abnormal sensation (tingling, prickling)
- Numbness / sensory disorder
- Recent weight loss
Possible Causes
Generally, Pain in the shoulder can be related to:
- Adhesive Capsulitis
Also known as "frozen shoulder". This condition is caused by inflammation of the ligaments and capsule around the shoulder joint. As the disease progresses, patients find it increasingly difficult to move the shoulder joint. Risk factors include diabetes, thyroid conditions, age, and injury to the joint.
- Cervical Spondylosis
A condition in which the neck bones (cervical spine) become damaged due to wear and tear. Risk factors include long periods of desk work and driving, previous neck injuries, and aging.
- Neuralgic Amyotrophy
Neuralgic amyotrophy is a nervous system disorder characterized by sharp, constant pain in the arm, shoulder, and/or neck. It can be either hereditary or idiopathic (unknown cause). The exact disease mechanism is unknown but could be autoimmune (immune system attacks the body's own tissues), genetic, or external factors (e.g., infections, medications). It's more common in men.
- Slipping Rib Syndrome
- Polymyalgia Rheumatica
- Peri-/Post-Menopausal Symptoms
- Fibromyalgia
- Tension Headache
- Migraine
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Pain in the shoulder may be related to these serious diseases:
- Humeral Fracture
A break in the upper arm bone. This can occur from different types of injuries, and has different patterns depending on the mechanism of injury and location in the bone.
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you have pain in your shoulder?
- How long have you had shoulder pain?
- Do your joints hurt more when moved without assistance?
- On a scale of 1-10, how severe is your shoulder pain?
- Does moving your arms or shoulders make your pain worse?
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Try Free Symptom QuizFAQs
Q.
Why Do I Have the Pain Only on My Left Shoulder?
A.
Pain in the shoulder is often due to issues in the joints of the shoulder or neck. Less commonly, left shoulder pain may be caused by diseases of internal organs such as the heart or gallbladder.
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.
Petchkrua W, Harris SA. Shoulder pain as an unusual presentation of pneumonia in a stroke patient: a case report. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2000 Jun;81(6):827-9. doi: 10.1016/s0003-9993(00)90119-9. PMID: 10857532.
Malik MA, Alam Khan S, Safdar S, Taseer IU. Chest Pain as a presenting complaint in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Pak J Med Sci. 2013 Apr;29(2):565-8. doi: 10.12669/pjms.292.2921. PMID: 24353577; PMCID: PMC3809224.
Q.
Why Do I Have Pain Only in My Right Shoulder?
A.
Pain in the shoulder is often due to issues in the joints of the shoulder or neck. Less commonly, right shoulder pain may be caused by diseases of internal organs such as the heart, lungs or gallbladder.
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.
Petchkrua W, Harris SA. Shoulder pain as an unusual presentation of pneumonia in a stroke patient: a case report. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2000 Jun;81(6):827-9. doi: 10.1016/s0003-9993(00)90119-9. PMID: 10857532.
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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.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025712514000315?via%3DihubBurbank KM, Stevenson JH, Czarnecki GR, Dorfman J. Chronic shoulder pain: part I. Evaluation and diagnosis. Am Fam Physician. 2008 Feb 15;77(4):453-60. PMID: 18326164.
https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2008/0215/p453.htmlMitchell 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.
https://www.bmj.com/content/331/7525/1124NHS
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/shoulder-pain/
Reviewed By:
Kent C Doan, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr Doan Graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine and completed residency training in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Colorado. He completed additional fellowship training in Orthopedic Sports Medicine at the prestigious Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colorado. He is a practicing Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in complex and revision knee and shoulder surgery at the Kansas City Orthopedic Institute. He also holds an assistant professorship at the University of Kansas City.
Tomohiro Hamahata, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr. Hamahata graduated from the Jikei University of Medical Science. After working at Asanokawa General Hospital and Kosei Chuo Hospital, he joined the Department of Orthopedics at Asakusa Hospital in April 2021, specializing in general orthopedics and joint replacement surgery.
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