Shoulder Problems & Symptoms

Shoulder pain may result from swelling, damage, or bone changes in the vicinity of the rotator cuff. This discomfort can manifest when lifting the arm above the head or when moving it forward or behind the back.

The primary cause of shoulder pain often arises when the tendons of the rotator cuff become trapped beneath the bony structure in the shoulder. This leads to inflammation or damage to the tendons, a condition known as rotator cuff tendinitis or bursitis.

Shoulder pain may also be caused by:

*Arthritis in the shoulder joint

*Bone spurs in the shoulder area

*Bursitis, characterized by inflammation of a fluid-filled sac (bursa) that typically protects the joint and facilitates smooth movement

*Fractured shoulder bone

*Dislocated shoulder

*Shoulder separation

*Frozen shoulder, where the muscles, tendons, and ligaments inside the shoulder become stiff, impeding movement and causing pain

*Overuse or injury of adjacent tendons, including the bicep muscles of the arms

*Nerve injury leading to abnormal shoulder movement

*Tears of the rotator cuff tendons

*Poor shoulder posture and mechanics

At times, shoulder pain may originate from issues in another part of the body, such as the neck or lungs, a phenomenon known as referred pain. In such cases, there is typically pain at rest, and the pain does not worsen when moving the shoulder.