Shoulder pain

Shoulder pain is pain that you feel in your shoulder area. It is often a sign that a part of your shoulder is injured, strained or not working properly. You may feel the pain only when you move your arm in a certain way.

The shoulder pain you feel may travel down into the arm or up into your neck or head.

You may also experience weakness of the shoulder and upper arm or reduced movement.

Your symptoms may be acute (meaning they start suddenly) or chronic (meaning they last for a long time).

There are many different causes of shoulder pain, some minor and some more serious.

The causes of shoulder pain include:

• osteoarthritis, due to general wear and tear with increasing age or an injury
• a 'frozen' shoulder (when the tissues harden around your joint)
• an injury to your shoulder (tears or strains)
• pain from a problem in your neck or spine that travels to your shoulder
• rotator cuff injury, including bursitis, tendinitis or subacromial impingement syndrome
• bad posture and repetitive movements of the shoulder

Often, shoulder pain is caused by a combination of these factors. One factor can make another worse.

Some serious causes of shoulder pain include:

• dislocation or fracture
• infection
• pain that travels from another area in the body — specifically from having a heart attack
• cancer or tumours

Your shoulder pain may be caused by an underlying medical condition, such as fibromyalgia or polymyalgia rheumatica.

In many cases of shoulder pain, it is not possible to find the exact cause. However, you can still treat your shoulder pain even if the exact cause is unknown.

You should see your doctor if:

• you have shoulder pain after an accident or a fall
• your pain is not going away or is getting worse, especially if you have pain when you are resting your shoulder
• you have other symptoms that are causing you concern

When should I seek urgent care?

You should seek urgent care if:

• your pain is severe
• you have a fever or notice redness, swelling or heat around the painful area
• you are experiencing night sweats or sudden weight loss
• you are worried that your shoulder is dislocated (your bones have been pushed out of their usual place), or your shoulder is sticking out in an unusual way
• you have lost feeling or movement in your shoulder or arm

The treatment recommended for your shoulder pain will depend on the cause.

Self-care at home

You might need to rest your shoulder for a short time to help it heal. Gentle movement and exercise are also useful to prevent stiffness and start healing.

You can use a cold pack on the sore area in the first few days after an injury. This can help to reduce inflammation (redness and swelling). After that, a hot pack can be used to help relax the shoulder muscles.

If you wear a bra, choosing one that fits well, closes at the front and has wide straps may help reduce pain.

Try keeping a symptom diary to track your pain and help identify what actions cause and worsen your pain.

Medicines for shoulder pain

You can ask your doctor or pharmacist about over-the-counter pain relief medicines.

They may recommend you use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) or paracetamol.

If you have underlying health conditions, make sure you check with your doctor if it is safe for you to take these medicines.

For ongoing pain, your doctor may suggest medicine to treat nerve pain.

Steroid injections (such as cortisone) may also be used to treat pain.

Other treatment options

Physiotherapy can be useful to help relieve pain and work on retraining your muscles.

Your physiotherapist will be able to show you strengthening exercises and exercises to increase your range of movement.

If exercises are too painful, your physiotherapist may tape your shoulder for short-term pain relief.

Sometimes, surgery is needed to correct structural problems.

Surgery options include:

• arthroscopy
• stabilisation surgery
• a joint replacement

Shoulder pain can have a significant impact on your health and wellbeing. People with shoulder pain are at a higher risk of suffering from psychological distress and anxiety and may experience difficulties with their work or daily activities.

For advice and to get connected to local mental health services, call Medicare Mental Health (Opens in new tab) on 1800 595 212. Check the operating times.

A possible complication of shoulder pain is chronic pain. You can speak with your doctor to make a plan to manage your chronic pain.

You may be able to prevent some shoulder pain by:

• maintaining a healthy weight
• staying active and doing regular exercise
• being aware of your posture and how you do activities
• warming up before exercise and stretching after exercise
• following proper manual handling techniques to lift and carry heavy items
• taking regular breaks to walk and stretch when you are sitting for a long time

• More information about shoulder pain (Opens in new tab) can be found at Musculoskeletal Health Australia.
• WorkSafe Victoria provides information and videos explaining manual handling (Opens in new tab) in the workplace and how to prevent injury.
• Learn about why it is important to be physically active (Opens in new tab) at the Australian Physiotherapy Association website.
• You can call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Languages other than English

• Health Translations provides videos in multiple languages (Opens in new tab) about understanding and managing pain.
• NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) (Opens in new tab) has information about pain management in a number of different languages.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

• Our Mob (Opens in new tab) provides information about pain and pain management for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.