When should you see a doctor about shoulder pain?

Pain may come from tendons, the joint, surrounding muscles, or a nerve in the neck. Rotator Cuff Tendinitis and Shoulder Impingement can hurt during lifting, while a Rotator Cuff Tear may cause marked weakness after an injury or with ongoing symptoms. Frozen Shoulder tends to restrict movement in several directions, and Shoulder Osteoarthritis can cause pain with stiffness. Cervical Radiculopathy may send pain, tingling, or weakness from the neck into the shoulder or arm.

Avoid heavy lifting and repeated overhead work, but keep the arm gently moving within a tolerable range unless a clinician has told you to immobilise it. Note the onset, injury, movements that trigger pain, sleep disruption, weakness, and any neck or hand symptoms. An assessment may include movement and strength testing; treatment can involve Physiotherapy, medicines, or in selected cases a Cortisone Injection.

Seek emergency care for shoulder pain with chest pressure, breathlessness, sweating, faintness, or nausea. Seek urgent assessment after a major injury, with a visible deformity, a suddenly unusable arm, new severe weakness, or an arm that is numb, pale, or cold. Arrange a routine appointment for persistent pain, night pain, recurrent episodes, or steadily decreasing movement.

Ask which structure may be causing the pain, whether the neck should be examined, whether imaging is useful, and which movements or exercises are safe during recovery.