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Shoulder pain

Shoulder pain can be caused by issues with the shoulder joint. Or it can be caused by issues with the surrounding soft tissues. These soft tissues include muscles, ligaments, tendons and bursae. Shoulder pain that comes from the joint often gets worse with arm or shoulder movement.

Also, certain health conditions of the neck, chest or stomach can cause shoulder pain. These include nerve issues in the spine, heart disease and gallbladder disease. When other health issues cause shoulder pain, it’s called referred pain. If your shoulder pain is referred, it shouldn’t get worse when you move your shoulder.

Shoulder pain causes include:

Call 911 or emergency medical assistance

Shoulder pain along with certain symptoms may signal a heart attack. Seek emergency medical help if you:

Seek immediate medical attention

If you hurt your shoulder by falling or through another accident, get a ride to urgent care or the emergency room. You need urgent medical attention if you have:

Schedule an office visit

Make an appointment with your care team for shoulder pain if you have:

Self-care

To relieve minor shoulder pain you might try:

Often, self-care steps and a little time could be all you need to relieve your shoulder pain.

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