Shoulder pain is any pain in or around the shoulder joint.

 

• health care provider or physical therapist can recommend such exercises.
• If you are recovering from tendinitis, continue to do range-of-motion exercises to avoid frozen shoulder.
• Practice good posture to keep your shoulder muscles and tendons in their right positions

Go to the hospital emergency room if you have just had a severe injury and your shoulder is very painful, swollen, bruised, or bleeding.

Call your provider if you have:

• Shoulder pain with a fever, swelling, or redness
• Significant pain even with moving the shoulder with the arm or by someone else
• Pain for more than 2 to 4 weeks, even after home treatment
• Swelling of the shoulder
• Red or blue color of the skin of the shoulder area

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

Your provider will perform a physical exam and closely look at your shoulder. You will be asked questions to help the provider understand your shoulder problem.

Blood or imaging tests, such as x-rays or MRI, may be ordered to help diagnose the problem.

Your provider may recommend treatment for shoulder pain, including:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Injection of an anti-inflammatory medicine called corticosteroid
• Physical therapy
• Surgery if all other treatments do not work

If you have a rotator cuff problem, your provider will likely suggest self-care measures and exercises.