Shoulder Stiff and Painful: Understanding the Symptoms

Pain when lifting the arm may occur with rotator cuff tendinitis, shoulder impingement, or calcific tendinitis. A frozen shoulder presents with pain and progressively restricted movement. Shoulder osteoarthritis can produce deep aching, stiffness, and grinding. Pain travelling from the neck into the shoulder or arm, especially with tingling, can occur with cervical radiculopathy. A rotator cuff tear may present with weakness after a fall or forceful movement. Shoulder pain has many possible sources, and an examination helps separate them.

Reduce activities that repeatedly provoke the pain, while keeping the elbow, wrist, and shoulder gently mobile within comfort. Support the arm when resting and try heat or cold, using whichever feels better and protecting the skin. Do not force an overhead stretch or repeatedly test strength through pain. Arrange assessment if symptoms interfere with sleep, work, dressing, or reaching, or if they are not settling.

Get urgent help after a significant injury if the shoulder looks out of place, the arm cannot be used, or the hand becomes numb, pale, or cold. Seek urgent medical care for chest pressure, breathlessness, sweating, or pain spreading to the jaw or arm. A hot, red, swollen shoulder with fever also needs prompt assessment.

Which structure appears to be causing the pain? Do I have restricted movement or true weakness? What activity changes and exercises are suitable, and when would imaging be useful?