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Shoulder pain (145.7k)

ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION OF VICTORIA
www.arthritisvic.org.au  ... (Copy reviewed 2009)

Shoulder pain

This sheet has been written for people with a painful shoulder. It provides general information about shoulder pain and how to manage it. It also tells you where to go for further information.

What is shoulder pain?

Shoulder pain is pain that is felt in the shoulder area, at the top of the arm. It is a sign that the joints, muscles or other parts of the shoulder are injured, strained or not working properly. About one in 10 people experience shoulder pain at some time in their lives.

What are the symptoms?

Shoulder pain is most commonly felt in the front of the shoulder or in the upper part of the arm. Pain is usually felt when moving the arm and you may notice it with only certain movements. Most shoulder problems do not cause pain when the arm is not moving. However many people find it painful when lying on the sore shoulder in bed at night. Pain that travels right down to your hand, with tingling in your fingers, may be from a problem with your neck, rather than your shoulder.

What causes it?

The shoulder is the most flexible joint in the body. There are many muscles and other structures in the area that can cause problems. In most cases of shoulder pain it is not possible to find a cause of the pain. It can be worrying not knowing exactly what is wrong. The good news is that research shows you do not need to know the exact cause of the pain to be able to deal with it successfully. It is rare for shoulder pain to be caused by a serious medical problem.

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