What causes shoulder pain?

• an injury or fall (e.g. injury to muscles, bones, tendons)
• repetitive, new and/or reduced activities
• pain travelling from the neck into the shoulder
• other conditions such as soteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia
• factors such as poor sleep, stress or anxiety, feeling run down, obesity or smoking

What are the symptoms?

You may experience constant or intermittent (comes and goes) symptoms that are aggravated by certain activities and reduced by others. They may include:

• Pain / discomfort when moving your arm or shoulder
• Restriction in movement and / or strength of your arm or shoulder
• Affected sleep - especially if laying on the painful side

Self Help

Pain / symptoms should normally settle within 6-8 weeks without medical intervention. Try some of these self-help measures to aid your recovery:

• For the first few days after the onset of pain - changing or reducing your usual activities may help. However, gradually returning to all your usual activities and exercise is important to help your recovery
• Apply heat (e.g. a wheat pack) or ice to the area as and when needed
• Try to stay at work, or return as soon as you are able to. Your GP, Employer or Health Practitioner should be able to support a graded return to your normal duties
• General aerobic exercise such as walking, can help the body's natural pain relief system
• At night - try placing a pillow in the armpit of your painful arm, resting your arm on the pillow across your chest when lying on your non-painful side
• At night - try placing a pillow under the painful arm when lying on your back to stop you rolling onto this side
• Try a short course of simple pain medication as advised by your pharmacist
• Good sleep habits and managing stress can help you cope better with your pain
• Try some of the exercises on these pages and build up gradually

Should I refer myself to Physiotherapy?

If you have tried the self-help measures on these pages and the symptoms have not settled, you can self-refer to MSK Physiotherapy if you live in Leicester, Leicestershire or Rutland.

For more information on how to self-refer to MSK Physiotherapy visit our Service Page.

When should I seek urgent medical advice?

Call 111 for advice or visit your local Walk-In Centre if you have:

• had a fall or an accident and have pain that isn't easing and you are unable to lift your shoulder / arm
• A sudden loss of power and/or loss of feeling in one or both arms
• Any colour or temperature changes to the shoulder or arm
• A painful, red, hot and swollen shoulder and you have a high temperature

General Shoulder Advice and/or Exercises

• Early Shoulder Exercises for Injury or Pain (UHL)
• Pain in the top of your shoulder - Acromioclavicular Joint (UHL)

Shoulder Injury, Surgery or Injection - Advice and Information

• Early Shoulder Exercises for Injury or Pain (UHL)
• Advice and Exercises for a Dislocated Shoulder (UHL)
• Care after Injection for Frozen Shoulder (UHL)

Other Useful Resources

• British Elbow and Shoulder Society (BESS)
• Shoulder Doc (providing clear, evidence-based information on shoulder injuries, treatments, and recovery)
• Leicester Shoulder Unit
• Understanding Sleep and how to improve it for your wellbeing (UHL)