Cymraeg
Shoulder pain is a common muscle, joint and bone symptom.
Shoulder Pain
Where is it felt?
Shoulder pain is mainly felt in the shoulder and upper arm. It can also be felt up towards the neck.
How could it affect me/my child?
- The symptoms can be felt with simple day to day activities such as reaching above shoulder height, washing your hair and putting clothes on/off
- Shoulder pain can affect our ability to carry out daily activities, including activities in school and hobbies
- At times the pain can feel severe and for some be ongoing. This can affect our general well-being and mental health
Why does it happen?
Shoulder pain can start because of an injury (for example a fall onto the shoulder), from doing more than you normally do (for example increased activity or exercise) or it can also start for no obvious reason.
Is it serious?
Although the pain and disability caused by an episode or flare of shoulder pain can be severe at first, it is not always a sign of serious injury or damage.
However:
If you have had a recent fall or injury and you are unable to move the arm or shoulder you need to be further assessed in a minor injuries department.
If you are feeling unwell, sick or have a fever with shoulder pain make an appointment at your GP practice.
If you are noticing increasing stiffness in your shoulder that is not just related to pain consider seeking further help or contact your GP.
Will it get better?
The answer for most people is yes as most symptoms will ease in the first 2 to 6 weeks for a new onset of shoulder pain or a flare-up of longstanding shoulder pain. It can take some people longer to get back to their normal and some describe ongoing problems.
Taking steps to look after your physical and mental health can give the best opportunity of a successful recovery.
Things to look out for
It might be worth seeing your GP if symptoms persist, alongside one or more of these:
- Unrelenting pain or pain at night
- Significant weight loss
- Pain in multiple joints (such as hips or knees)
- Pins and needles/ altered sensation down the arms
- Weakness in the hands
- Skin changes
If you have an injury to your shoulder and it is red, hot, extremely painful, swollen and you are unable to move it, you need to be further assessed in a minor injuries department.
Some acute changes may need more immediate assessment such as:
- continuous throbbing/burning pain
- sensitivity to touch/cold
- swelling of the painful area
- fluctuating skin temperature
- skin colour and texture changes – white + blotchy/red/blue/tender, thin or stripey skin, hair and nail growth changes
- muscle spasms, tremors, weakness and loss of movement
- joint stiffness, swelling and damage
If you have any concerns or worries, feel free to contact 111 where they will be happy to advise you regarding your problem or question.
What can I do to help myself/my child?
It’s likely that your posture is affecting your shoulder pain, these changes may help:
- Try to sit upright (not hunched over) especially when playing video games
- Try making sure you carry your backpack on both shoulders, or try switching shoulders if you can only carry it on one shoulder. Make sure it’s not too heavy, and a suitable height on your back (don’t wear it too low). For more info on backpacks check out this leaflet: Parent Leaflet – Choosing the right school bag (Updated 2016) | Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists (csp.org.uk)
- Exercises like squeezing your shoulder blades together (either lying on your tummy, sitting upright, or sat with arms supporting either side) can be helpful.
Older children/young adults may develop pain due to repetitive movements (especially young athletes). This can be treated in a similar way to adults. This booklet provides some easy, basic exercises to try.
Some of the most important things you can do to help your shoulder pain are related to your lifestyle choices and general health. We have provided some useful links to help guide you through.
The information in Step Two and Step Three explains the factors that can affect the severity and impact of muscle joint and bone symptoms.
Step Two explains the factors that may be contributing to your situation.
Step Three explains self-management advice on what you can do to help yourself.
Following the 3-step process will help you make the most out of the information on this website.
Learn more about:
What can be done to help me/my child?
An assessment of your problem and treatment may be necessary if the self-management advice in Step 3 does not help. Consider seeking further help.
If you continue to be concerned about the symptoms you are experiencing and are unsure what to do contact your GP practice or ring NHS Wales 111.
