Causes

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Shoulder pain causes include:

  1. Avascular necrosis (osteonecrosis) (The death of bone tissue due to limited blood flow.)
  2. Brachial plexus injury
  3. Broken arm
  4. Broken collarbone
  5. Bursitis
  6. Cervical radiculopathy
  7. Dislocated shoulder
  8. Frozen shoulder
  9. Heart attack
  10. Impingement
  11. Muscle strains
  12. Osteoarthritis
  13. Polymyalgia rheumatica
  14. Rheumatoid arthritis (a condition that can affect the joints and organs)
  15. Rotator cuff injury
  16. Separated shoulder
  17. Septic arthritis
  18. Sprains (Stretching or tearing of a tissue band called a ligament, which connects two bones together in a joint.)
  19. Tendinitis
  20. Tendon rupture
  21. Thoracic outlet syndrome
  22. Torn cartilage

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

We use the data you provide to deliver you the content you requested. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, we may combine your email and website data with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, we will only use your protected health information as outlined in our Notice of Privacy Practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email.

Aug. 31, 2023

See also

  1. Angina
  2. Bone spurs
  3. Reverse shoulder replacement
  4. Rotator cuff damage
  5. Rotator cuff: Tendon transfer
  6. Coronary artery spasm: Cause for concern?
  7. CSF leak (Cerebrospinal fluid leak)
  8. Dislocated shoulder
  9. Ectopic pregnancy
  10. Eyestrain
  11. Frozen shoulder
  12. Gallbladder cleanse: A 'natural' remedy for gallstones?
  13. Gallstones
  14. Headaches and stress
  15. Hemophilia
  16. Hidden Heart Attack
  17. Myocardial ischemia
  18. Pleurisy
  19. Polymyalgia rheumatica
  20. Pseudotumor cerebri (idiopathic intracranial hypertension)
  21. Recurrent breast cancer
  22. Rotator cuff injury
  23. Rotator Cuff Repair
  24. SCAD 2 Social Media as a Lifesaving Link
  25. Separated shoulder
  26. Shoulder disorder
  27. Small vessel disease
  28. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD)
  29. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD)
  30. Tension headache
  31. Relieving tension-type headaches
  32. Thoracic outlet syndrome
  33. Integrative approaches to treating pain
  34. Nutrition and pain
  35. Pain rehabilitation
  36. Wiiitis