12 Reasons You Have Shoulder Pain–and What to Do About It

Rotator cuff tendonitis

Of all the reasons you can have shoulder pain, injury to your rotator cuff is the most common. In a recent study, two-thirds of people with shoulder pain had a rotator cuff problem. A group of muscles and tendons that attach to the bones of the shoulder joint, the rotator cuff keeps the ball of your upper arm bone centered in your shoulder socket and also helps you raise and rotate your arm.

Doing the same motion over and over again can lead to inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons, also called tendonitis, which can cause shoulder pain. "The rotator cuff is like a tire—with aging or frequent use it gets thinner and thinner and eventually wears down," says Robert Gotlin, DO, a sports and spine physician in NYC. With tendonitis, shoulder pain and weakness are often mild at first and only noticeable when you move the joint; after a while, they can become more severe and occur all the time.

Rotator cuff tendonitis often gets better with a change in activities to avoid provoking pain so the tendon can heal. "There's a fine line between doing too much and doing too little," says Dr. Stark, "but it's generally okay to do things that don't aggravate it." Ice or heat to the shoulder and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen can reduce pain as well. Your doctor may also refer you to a physical therapist for manual therapy and strengthening exercises to keep your muscles moving and to challenge weaker muscles.

Rotator cuff tears

It's also possible to partially or completely tear a shoulder tendon, either from repetitive motion or from direct trauma, like a fall.

The pain of an acute tear—one that happens suddenly—can be excruciating. But shoulder pain, weakness, and stiffness of a chronic tear worsen slowly over time, so you often don't notice when they begin.

Rest, ice or heat, and NSAIDs may help heal rotator cuff tears. But your doctor will likely suggest physical therapy to strengthen your shoulder muscles and improve the mechanics of the shoulder joint, as well as provide exercises to do at home. "Your tires will last you a lot longer if your alignment and shocks are good, and the exact same thing is true of the shoulder," says Dr. Stark. Cortisone (steroid) injections, which give temporary pain relief so you can strengthen your muscles, or surgery may also be required.

Frozen shoulder

This injury is exactly what it sounds like, says Dr. Stark. "People with frozen shoulder come in with severe stiffness and inability to move their shoulder the way they normally would, with varying levels of shoulder pain." Medically known as adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder results when the connective tissue that lines your shoulder joint becomes thickened and inflamed. Precisely why this happens isn't known, nor is the reason why middle-age women are especially prone to frozen shoulder. There are other factors that can put you more at risk of the condition. For instance, up to 20% of people with diabetes develop frozen shoulder, and people with thyroid problems or Parkinson's disease may also be vulnerable to this type of shoulder pain.

You don't just wake up with frozen shoulder though. Doctors break the progression into three stages: "freezing," "frozen," and "thawing." "Over time, you'll notice a decrease in your range of motion and then all of a sudden it escalates," says Dr. Gotlin. Most people get better without treatment–eventually. It usually takes about 18 months for a frozen shoulder to completely thaw. "You can cut it down a few months with physical therapy, but it will still last a while," says Dr. Gotlin. Since some people wind up with a frozen shoulder on the opposite side as well, doctors often treat the good side too, just to keep it moving.

Shoulder bursitis

Got deep, achy soreness that feels hot and swollen? Chances are you have shoulder bursitis, inflammation of the bursa, a fluid-filled sac that provides a smooth surface for muscles and bones to glide over. "If you have two muscles aligned side by side and there isn't something between them to reduce friction, they wouldn't move," explains Dr. Gotlin. Normally these sacs, which are found in joints throughout the body, are filled with a small amount of fluid. Sometimes, though, when you overdo it (say, by throwing a ball or lifting something over your head repeatedly), the body responds by bringing more fluid to the bursa—and the swelling that influx produces is what's known as bursitis. "A bursa is like a balloon that's practically flat, and bursitis is the balloon being filled up with lots of water," says Dr. Gotlin.

The pain from bursitis is typically on the outside of your shoulder and it's made worse when using your arm above your head. Treatment is usually rest, ice or heat, and pain relievers, but your doctor may recommend physical therapy to stretch or strengthen the shoulder muscles and increase range of motion, and/or cortisone injections to reduce inflammation.

Labral tears

It's not unusual to hear about pro athletes suffering tears to the labrum, a thin rim of soft cartilage that surrounds the edge of the shoulder socket and helps keep the shoulder stable yet mobile. But these tears are a common injury in regular folks too. Indeed, probably half of middle-age men and women have some sort of labral tear from years of using their arms, says Dr. Gotlin. Often you won't even be aware you have one, since some tears are completely asymptomatic and cause no problems. But others can trigger shoulder pain, specifically when moving your arm in an overhead motion or across your chest—say, to scratch your left shoulder with your right arm.

There are several types of labral tears and treatment depends on the severity of the injury. For instance, if the labrum is still attached to the socket and just frayed, rest, NSAIDs, and physical therapy usually help relieve pain; however, because these tears typically don't completely heal, the problem can flare up again. If the labrum is fully detached, surgery is usually required.

Shoulder impingement

Shoulder impingement often occurs after repeated overhead activity, like swimming. Shoulder tendons and bursa get impinged, or pinched, between the bones of the shoulder, which makes it painful to move your arm. Various positions, including overhead motion, reaching back, or lying on the affected side, may all worsen the symptoms.

Shoulder impingement can weaken the rotator cuff, so physical therapy is key to alleviating this pain and preventing further damage. "Since one of the main jobs of the rotator cuff is to stabilize the joint, any weakness to it will lead to further impingement, creating an ever-vicious cycle," says Dr. Stark. Properly strengthening these muscles and balancing all the muscles and tissues that affect the position of the shoulder effectively can relieve the impingement.

Osteoarthritis

Sometimes called degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis (OA) stems from ordinary wear and tear on the shoulder joint. The condition destroys the firm, rubbery cartilage that acts as a cushion between the bones and helps them to glide smoothly against each other. As the cartilage breaks down and the bones of the joint rub against each other, shoulder pain and swelling can limit your range of motion. For instance, it may become difficult to lift your arm to brush your hair or reach up to a shelf. Sometimes you'll hear a grinding, clicking, or snapping sound as you move your shoulder. Other types of arthritis too—like rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis—can lead to shoulder pain, as well.

Most people get relief from rest or a change in activities to avoid provoking pain, heat or ice, NSAIDs, and physical therapy exercises to both stretch and strengthen the muscles to help support the joint and improve its range of motion. Your doctor may also recommend steroid injections.

Shoulder instability

By design, shoulders are unstable—it's what allows them to move in so many ways. But the term "instability" is also a diagnosis that's given when the shoulder hurts because the ball of the joint is too loose and is able to slide around too much in the socket. Chronic strain and worsened instability can occur when an already loose shoulder is overused, especially if the use is repeatedly challenging the ligaments that help hold the shoulder in the socket, says Dr. Stark. "We see this a lot in the throwing athlete, swimmer, or volleyball player—someone who uses their shoulder a lot through its full range of motion." Instability is a likely cause of shoulder pain in younger people, especially if it comes on with certain sports, because wear-and-tear conditions like rotator cuff tears and arthritis tend to occur with age.

Rest, heat or ice, and NSAIDs can help control pain and swelling. But the key fix for instability is physical therapy to strengthen the muscles that assist in keeping the ball of the joint in the socket. This will improve stability of the shoulder and allow your joint to move more smoothly.

Dislocated shoulder

Shoulder instability exists on a continuum, and on the extreme end is complete dislocation, or when the ball of the joint becomes so loose it actually comes out of the socket. It's also possible to partially dislocate your shoulder, called subluxation, which occurs when the shoulder almost slips completely out of the socket, but then pops back in. With subluxation, people often notice that their shoulder feels loose and slips in certain positions—often when their arm is raised over their head. Both subluxation and dislocation can also result from trauma, such as a fall or blow that occurs with enough force to overpower the strength of the muscles and ligaments of the shoulder.

If your shoulder dislocates, it's important to seek medical help: As tempting as it may be to let someone place the bone back in the socket (once a dislocation is "reduced," the severe pain stops almost immediately), an X-ray to rule out a fracture is a must. "Even if you know what you're doing, you can sever a nerve with a piece of sharp bone," says Dr. Stark.

Your doctor will return the ball of the joint to the socket, then control the residual pain and swelling with rest, NSAIDs, and possibly cortisone injections. You may also have your shoulder immobilized in a sling for a few weeks. Physical therapy is also usually required to regain full use of your arm. In some cases, surgery to tighten loose ligaments is necessary.

Fractured collarbone

Breaks in the collarbone (aka clavicle), one of the main bones in the shoulder, are fairly common—they account for about 5% of all adult fractures, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. This type of break usually occurs with trauma, like when you fall onto your shoulder or your outstretched arm. If your shoulder hurts due to trauma—you fell on it or you hear a pop while working out—see a health care provider right away, says Dr. Stark. Some injuries won't heal correctly if they're not tended to within a certain amount of time.

Fractured collarbones can snap just slightly or into many pieces. In either case, the broken pieces of bone may line up straight or be far out of place. A broken collarbone is very painful and makes it difficult to move or lift your arm.

Treatment will depend on the break: "Some collarbone fractures can heal with rest, but others require much more aggressive treatment," says Dr. Stark. If the ends of the bone have not significantly shifted out of place, a simple sling may be all that's needed to position your arm and shoulder during healing. If the broken ends of the bones have been significantly displaced, you may need surgery. Whether you require surgery or not, it can take several months for your collarbone to heal, and physical therapy to maintain or restore movement and strength will be necessary.

Neck pain

To help pinpoint the cause of your shoulder pain, your doctor will usually take your medical history, do a physical exam, and ask a whole host of questions about your shoulder pain, including: When did you first start experiencing shoulder pain, what makes it better or worse, have you ever injured your shoulder, and is the shoulder pain associated with any neck pain? People often have shoulder pain that's actually stemming from the upper back or neck area; in fact, this overlap is so common it's sometimes referred to as "shneck" pain.

Heart attack

Left arm pain or shoulder pain can be a symptom of an impending heart attack—the shoulder can begin to hurt as a result of the pain radiating from the chest. If you think you're having a heart attack (other symptoms include tightness or pressure in the chest area, sweating, and nausea), seek immediate medical attention. A 2016 study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that people who are at risk for heart disease may also be more likely to experience shoulder pain.