Shoulder Pain and Stiffness — Causes and Treatment
Also described as frozen shoulder, rotator cuff pain, painful arm lifting.
Shoulder pain with difficulty lifting the arm overhead usually comes from the rotator cuff, while progressive loss of movement in every direction suggests frozen shoulder, which is more common in diabetes. Shoulder pain with chest tightness or breathlessness can be cardiac and needs emergency assessment.
🚨 Get emergency care if you have
- •Left shoulder or arm pain with chest tightness, sweating or breathlessness — emergency
- •Inability to lift the arm at all after a fall
- •Obvious deformity after injury
- •Shoulder pain with fever and redness
- •Numbness or weakness spreading down the arm
What causes shoulder pain?
Rotator cuff tendinitis or tear
Pain on lifting the arm, reaching behind, or lying on that side at night.
Frozen shoulder
Progressive stiffness in all directions, notably more common in diabetes. Recovers slowly.
Shoulder osteoarthritis
Deep aching with grinding on movement, usually in older adults.
Referred neck pain
Pain originating from a cervical nerve root, often with tingling into the hand.
Cardiac pain
Left arm or shoulder ache with exertion, chest pressure or sweating. Excluded first.
How it is investigated
- ✓Examination of active and passive shoulder movement
- ✓X-ray shoulder
- ✓Ultrasound or MRI for rotator cuff tears
- ✓Blood sugar, given the association with frozen shoulder
Not every patient needs every test. The consultation decides which of these apply to you.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my shoulder hurt more at night?▼
Lying on the shoulder compresses the inflamed rotator cuff tendons and the bursa, and there is no daytime distraction from the pain. Night pain that prevents sleep is one of the clearest indications for imaging and a structured physiotherapy programme.
How long does frozen shoulder take to recover?▼
It typically runs through painful, stiff and thawing phases over 12 to 24 months. Physiotherapy, a steroid injection and good blood sugar control shorten it considerably, and manipulation or arthroscopic release is available when it stalls.
This page is general health information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for a consultation. Symptoms overlap between harmless and serious conditions, and only an examination can tell them apart. If you are worried, see a doctor.
Plan your first visit
Not sure which specialist to see? Tell our care team the reason for your visit and we will help you choose.
- Bring previous prescriptions, relevant test reports or scan images, a medication list and photo ID.
- If you plan to use insurance, bring your policy details. OPD, tests and admission benefits depend on your individual plan and approval.
- Your first consultation determines which tests or treatments are needed; not everyone needs every test listed on this page.
Appointments are requests until confirmed. In a medical emergency, call 044 2025 2025 or go to the nearest emergency department.