To diagnose the cause of shoulder pain, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and conduct a physical examination to check for tenderness, weakness, instability and loss of mobility. An X-ray or MRI may be needed to determine the extent of the damage.

Once the cause of the shoulder pain has been identified, an exercise program or steroid injections may be tried as conservative treatment before surgical intervention is pursued.

Shoulder pain and loss of mobility are sometimes caused by minor injuries that heal easily with self-help measures, such as resting, placing ice on the affected area and using over-the-counter medications to reduce pain and swelling. In some people, however, the pain and loss of mobility may be persistent, recurrent or severe.

Symptoms of a shoulder problem that require medication intervention include:

• pain that radiates over the shoulder and into the arm
• pain that awakens you from sleep
• weakness or an inability to move the shoulder or arm
• stiffness, swelling or popping of the joint
• pain that becomes sharper during movements, such as pushing, pulling and reaching overhead

Because most cases of shoulder pain will continue to progress until treated, it is important to seek medical intervention early.