Shoulder Services
When to See a Doctor About Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain is a fairly common symptom for adults to experience. In some cases, shoulder pain isn't caused by a problem in the shoulder itself, but instead by a problem in another area of the body felt in the shoulder and upper back. It’s important to see a medical provider if you’re experiencing shoulder pain and any of the following symptoms:
- Inability to move your shoulder, especially raising your arm above your head
- Lasting bruising and tenderness at/around the shoulder joint
- Heat around the shoulder joint
- Pain lasting more than a few weeks that does not improve with home remedies
- Fever lasting longer than 48 hours
Should you talk with a doctor about your shoulder pain? Take our free joint pain assessment or download an orthopedic guide to find out.
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Call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room if you have injured your shoulder and are bleeding and/or you can see exposed tissue or bone. If your shoulder pain is sudden and not related to an injury, it could be a sign of a heart attack. Seek immediate medical care.
What Causes Shoulder Pain?
Shoulder pain can become more common as you age, especially for adults over 60. Sometimes, pain is caused by natural degeneration of the bone, muscle, ligament or tendons surrounding the shoulder. Other factors that can cause shoulder pain include:
- Arthritis
- Cartilage tears
- Swollen tendons
- Pinched nerves in the neck
- Frozen shoulder
- Dislocated shoulder
Shoulder pain also may be caused by a rotator cuff tear. The shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in the body, and it gets its range of motion from the rotator cuff. When one of the four muscles that wrap around the upper portion of the arm bone are damaged, it may be painful or difficult to lift your arm over your head. Playing sports, doing manual labor or repetitive motion through other activities can lead to a rotator cuff injury over time.
Shoulder surgery may be recommended if you suffer from arthritis of the shoulder joint, have had a severe fracture, or if you have a rotator cuff injury.
Start My Assessment Request an AppointmentWhat Happens During Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery?
With a rotator cuff injury, your surgeon will evaluate your symptoms to determine the best procedure to repair the tendons or muscles that may be torn or damaged. Depending on the severity of the injury, your surgeon may be able to make a series of small incisions to repair the damaged areas. More complex tears might require a larger incision and longer recovery time.
Request an AppointmentWhat Happens During Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery?
Arthritis and other injuries may lead to compromised cartilage, which can cause painful bone-on-bone contact. The main goal of a shoulder replacement surgery is to provide pain relief when other methods have failed. During a total shoulder replacement, the damaged parts of the shoulder – both the cartilage and a portion of the top of the arm bone (humerus) and the socket of the shoulder – are removed. The head of the humerus is replaced with a plastic or metal ball. The socket of the shoulder also is replaced with a metal implant. Prior to surgery, your surgeon will conduct a thorough medical evaluation of your situation to determine which option is right for you.
Curious to know more about shoulder pain treatment options, including surgery? Watch an on-demand online seminar or Request an appointment.
Watch an On-Demand Seminar Request an AppointmentPatient results may vary. Consult your physician about the benefits and risks of any surgical procedure or treatment.