What usually causes shoulder pain at your age
| Age | Common causes |
|---|---|
| Under 30 | Shoulder dislocation and instability, labral tears, overuse from throwing or gym work |
| 30 to 50 | Rotator cuff tendon problems, impingement, frozen shoulder, particularly with diabetes or thyroid problems |
| Over 50 | Rotator cuff tears, frozen shoulder, shoulder arthritis |
These are patterns, not rules. Any cause can occur at any age.
Check your shoulder at home
These questions help you describe your shoulder to a doctor. They cannot diagnose the problem.
- Did it start with a fall or injury, or come on slowly?
- Does it hurt when you reach overhead or behind your back?
- Does it wake you at night, especially when you lie on that side?
- Is the shoulder getting stiffer, so someone else cannot move it easily either?
- Is your arm weak when you lift things away from your body?
- Has it ever slipped out, or does it feel as if it might?
Treatment without surgery
Most shoulder pain improves with a targeted plan once the cause is clear.
- Short-term activity changes, avoiding what aggravates the pain
- Physiotherapy for shoulder blade control and rotator cuff strength
- Gentle stretching to recover movement in a stiff shoulder
- Pain medicines for short periods, as your doctor advises
- Better posture and technique at the gym, at work and in sport
- Injections in selected cases, after discussing what they can and cannot do
When to get your shoulder seen
Call an ambulance immediately on 108 or 112 if shoulder or arm pain comes with chest pain, breathlessness or sweating, as this can be a heart problem. Go the same day after a dislocation or if you suddenly cannot lift your arm after an injury. Book a visit if you notice any of these:
- Pain lasting more than a few weeks despite rest and exercises
- Pain that wakes you at night
- Increasing stiffness or a shrinking range of movement
- Weakness when lifting your arm
- A shoulder that has dislocated, or feels as if it might
Procedures for shoulder pain
Surgery is considered only when the cause is clear and other treatment has not helped, or will not.
Shoulder arthroscopy
Keyhole treatment inside the shoulder joint.
Rotator cuff repair
Re-attaches torn tendons to the bone.
Frozen shoulder treatment
Eases pain and restores movement in a stiff shoulder.
Shoulder instability surgery
For a shoulder that keeps dislocating.
Shoulder replacement
For advanced arthritis that limits daily life.
Questions patients ask
See an orthopaedic doctor, ideally one experienced in shoulder and sports problems. Dr. Abhishek Saxena is a Jaipur orthopaedic surgeon and a life member of the Shoulder & Elbow Society of India, and sees patients at Durgapura and Vaishali Nagar.
See a specialist if pain lasts beyond a few weeks, disturbs sleep or limits daily activity. Go the same day after a dislocation or sudden loss of arm movement, and call an ambulance immediately on 108 or 112 if you also have chest pain.
Most shoulder pain is managed without surgery once the exact cause is known. Surgery is considered for problems such as a large or worsening rotator cuff tear, repeated dislocation, or advanced arthritis.
Frozen shoulder causes growing pain and stiffness, so the arm cannot move fully even when someone else moves it. It is more common from around 40 to 60 and with diabetes. An examination confirms it.
Night pain is common with rotator cuff problems, frozen shoulder and arthritis, and lying on the shoulder adds pressure. It is a good reason to get your shoulder assessed rather than waiting.
It might be, but persistent or night-time shoulder pain has many possible causes, so it is best assessed rather than assumed. Pain from a simple strain should ease over days to a couple of weeks.
Not always. Examination comes first, followed by an X-ray, ultrasound or MRI if needed to confirm the cause. MRI is most useful when a tendon or labral tear is suspected.
Yes. Heavy pressing, overhead lifts and sudden increases in training often irritate the rotator cuff or strain the joint. Lowering the load and correcting technique often helps, but see a doctor if pain continues.