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Painful-arc test · no account · nothing to buy
Shoulder pain?
At what angle does it hurt?
Raise your arm and mark where it starts to hurt. That angle is a real clinical test; take the result to your own clinician.
Which daily tasks are hard? Make a list for the visit →
Already know it's surgical? Find an orthopedic surgeon near you
Shoulder Pain in 15 seconds
- Shoulder pain you can't ignore. Cuff tear, impingement, frozen shoulder feel alike.
- At what angle does it hurt? Raise your arm and mark the painful arc.
- Five movements, no equipment. About 30 seconds each. Stop if pain is sharp.
- Your pattern points the way. PT, a surgeon, or home support. Your clinician decides.
- Shoulder Pain. What to do next about shoulder pain. shoulderpain.help
Before the appointment
Two things to do in about five minutes each. Both run on this device; nothing is sent. Emergency signs are listed first on both pages.
At what angle does it hurt?
Where pain appears as you raise your arm is a real clinical test — the painful arc. Sweep the arm, mark where it hurts, and see which structure that points to.
Drag the hand up and down to mirror raising your arm.
Raise your arm out to the side. As you sweep the handle, mark where pain starts and where it eases or stops.
Or, if the limit is not pain:
How well does your shoulder move?
Five simple movements you can do right now. Each takes about 30 seconds. No equipment needed.
Stop if any movement causes sharp or severe pain. This is the site’s own 5-item educational check (0 = full comfortable motion, 10 = all 5 movements severely limited). Its score bands are not a validated clinical scale, and it is not a medical diagnosis.
Raise arm straight overhead
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Raise your affected arm straight up, reaching as high as possible toward the ceiling.
Reach behind your back
Reach your affected arm behind your back and try to touch between your shoulder blades (as if reaching for a zipper).
Reach across your body
Reach your affected arm across your chest to touch the opposite shoulder. Note any pain as you do this.
External rotation
Hold your elbow at your side at 90 degrees (like you're carrying a tray). Rotate your forearm outward away from your body, as if opening a door.
Sleep on affected side
Think about the last few nights. Are you able to sleep comfortably on your affected shoulder?
The four most common shoulder problems
Shoulder pain looks similar on the surface. The underlying diagnosis changes whether you need PT, injections, or surgery. When you have read them, check what you know.
What recovery actually looks like
Shoulder recovery is highly condition-specific. Select your diagnosis to see realistic milestones — so you know what to expect before you start treatment.
Shoulder Impingement
Conservative treatment — no surgery
Many people improve without surgery. Subacromial decompression did no better than a placebo operation in the CSAW trial, and a BMJ guideline recommends against it.
First weeks
Activity modification + pain relief
Ease off the overhead movements that set it off. Ask a pharmacist or clinician whether an anti-inflammatory suits you. Avoid behind-the-neck exercises.
Next
Physical therapy
Scapular stabilization, posture work and rotator cuff strengthening with light resistance, progressed by a physical therapist.
If it is not settling
Injection + continued PT
A corticosteroid injection can calm pain enough for the exercise program to progress.
After 3 months
Still painful? Re-check the diagnosis
The CSAW trial enrolled people with at least 3 months of pain after exercise therapy and an injection; decompression did no better than arthroscopy alone. A specialist visit at this point is to confirm what is causing the pain.
Beard et al., Lancet 2018 (CSAW, PMID 29169668); Vandvik et al., BMJ 2019 (PMID 30728120)
Put your recovery questions on the visit sheetRecovery timelines are general estimates. Individual outcomes vary based on age, tear size, pre-operative function, and adherence to physical therapy. Consult your surgeon for a personalized plan.
Step-by-step: when conservative care is not enough
Most shoulder conditions are treated conservatively first. But each has a specific point where continuing to wait causes harm. Here is the evidence-based escalation ladder for each condition.
Step 1 · Weeks 1–6
Activity modification + NSAIDs + targeted PT
Pain improving, overhead activity tolerable
Step 2 · If not improving at 6 weeks
Corticosteroid injection + continued PT
2–6 weeks of significant pain reduction; allows PT progress
Step 3 · 3–6 months of failed conservative care
Specialist review: re-check the diagnosis (a tear, the AC joint, the neck, arthritis)
Subacromial decompression is not a routine next step: in a placebo-controlled trial it did no better than arthroscopy alone (CSAW, Lancet 2018), and a BMJ guideline recommends against it (2019)
Surgical referral criteria — Shoulder impingement
See a specialist when pain persists after 3–6 months of structured PT and at least one corticosteroid injection and still limits daily life, or sooner for weakness after an injury. The visit is to confirm what is causing the pain, not to schedule a decompression.
Beard et al., Lancet 2018 (CSAW, PMID 29169668); Vandvik et al., BMJ 2019 (PMID 30728120)
Find a surgeon for a second opinionEscalation timelines are general estimates. Individual circumstances — tear size, age, activity level, medical history — significantly affect timing. A surgeon with your imaging and history provides the definitive recommendation.
What you should know
Key information about shoulder conditions and treatment options.
Rotator Cuff Tears
Rotator cuff tears become more common with age: about 30% of people in their 60s and more than 60% of those over 80. Many atraumatic full-thickness tears are managed without surgery. Surgical repair provides better functional outcomes for acute traumatic tears and large tears causing significant weakness. After a repair, most people have functional motion and strength by 4–6 months. (PMC11692865; AAOS OrthoInfo)
Jump to →Frozen Shoulder
Adhesive capsulitis progresses through three stages: freezing (6 weeks to 9 months), frozen (4–6 months), and thawing (6 months to 2 years). It generally gets better without surgery, although it may take up to 3 years. Physical therapy focused on flexibility is the main treatment; a steroid injection can ease pain. People with diabetes are at higher risk. (AAOS OrthoInfo)
Jump to →Shoulder Impingement
The most common cause of shoulder pain in adults. Tendons become pinched under the acromion during arm elevation, creating a painful arc between 60° and 120°. Strength is usually preserved — distinguishing it from rotator cuff tears. Many people improve with structured PT; decompression surgery did no better than a placebo operation in the CSAW trial. (Kessel & Watson 1977; Beard et al., Lancet 2018)
Jump to →When Surgery Helps
Surgery is appropriate for: full-thickness rotator cuff tears with significant weakness in active patients; recurrent shoulder dislocations (Bankart repair); end-stage arthritis (shoulder replacement); and impingement failing 3–6 months of PT. A good surgeon exhausts conservative options first. Diagnosis determines the operation — no single shoulder surgery fits all conditions.
Jump to →Physical Therapy: What Actually Works
PT usually focuses on scapular stabilization (lower trapezius, serratus anterior), posterior capsule stretching, and progressive rotator cuff strengthening. Avoid behind-the-neck exercises, sustained overhead positions, and sleeping on the affected side. A therapist should assess whether active or passive motion is more restricted — this guides the protocol.
Jump to →Shoulder Arthritis & Replacement
Shoulder osteoarthritis is less common than knee or hip OA. Symptoms: progressive pain, grinding, and stiffness at the glenohumeral joint. Conservative management (PT, NSAIDs, corticosteroid injections) should be maximized before surgery. Total shoulder replacement can reduce pain substantially, and implants are designed to last many years. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty is used when the rotator cuff is irreparably damaged — it actually requires less intact tissue than standard replacement.
Jump to →When to seek help
See a healthcare provider if you experience any of these warning signs. Some need care today, or 911 now, as marked.
Sudden inability to lift or rotate the arm after an injury
Get seen today, at your doctor, urgent care or an ER. If after a fall or a blow you cannot move the arm at all, or the shoulder looks out of place: call 911 now. Call 911
Shoulder pain that persists at rest or wakes you at night
Visible deformity or swelling of the shoulder
After a fall or a blow, if the shoulder looks out of place or deformed, or you cannot move the arm: call 911 now (possible dislocation or break). Call 911
Shoulder pain with shortness of breath or chest tightness
Call 911 now: with shoulder or arm pain, chest pressure or discomfort, shortness of breath, a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness is a possible heart attack. Call 911
Numbness or tingling running down the arm into the hand
Shoulder that feels like it slips out of place
Increasing weakness when lifting everyday objects
Fever or warmth around the shoulder joint
Hot, swollen and very painful, especially with a fever: get seen today, at your doctor, urgent care or an ER (a joint infection needs fast care).
Why this is different
Not another symptom checker. A way to understand your shoulder and get to the right care.
Nothing to buy
No account and no paywall. Take a test and see your pattern right away.
Runs on your device
The tests map your pattern with fixed rules on this page; nothing you mark is sent. Patient information, not medical advice.
Path to real care
When you need a specialist, search the public national provider registry for one near you.
HSA/FSA, case by case
Whether a shoulder expense qualifies depends on the item, your plan and a clinician. The sorter below checks the common ones against IRS rules.
Find an Orthopedic Surgeon
Search the public CMS NPI Registry for a orthopedic surgeon by state, city or name.
Where to go from here
Your pattern determines the path: PT, a surgeon, or help at home.
If surgery comes up
Large tear · failed PT · significant weakness
Plain-language guides for before, during and after orthopedic surgery, and a way to rehearse the visit.
surgeryprocess.com →Home exercise tracking
Knee and hip only
Tracks knee and hip home exercises with your phone camera. It does not cover the shoulder; ask your physical therapist for a shoulder home program.
jointcoach.com →Learn what to expect
Surgery is planned
A shoulder class, week by week, for the weeks before and after an operation.
jointclass.com →Is it arthritis?
Stiff mornings · both shoulders · other joints too
Ten questions sort mechanical wear from an inflammatory pattern and point to the right specialist.
arthritisrisk.com →Help at home after surgery
Post-repair recovery · older adults
A worker-owned care cooperative. Whether care costs may qualify for HSA/FSA is decided case by case.
co-op.care →Keep what the doctor said
After the visit
A family file that lives on your device: receipts, letters and notes in one list. No account.
comfortcard.org →Is a shoulder expense HSA/FSA-eligible? Sort it at agentichsa.com (runs in your browser; nothing is sent).
Shoulder pain in depth
Evidence-based articles for patients who want to understand more.
Shoulder pain red flags: when to seek care urgently
Shoulder pain is extremely common and usually not serious. But several presentations require immediate emergency or same-day evaluation.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room immediately for: shoulder or arm pain accompanied by chest pressure or discomfort, shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea, or pain radiating to the jaw or neck (possible heart attack); and after a fall or direct blow, a shoulder that looks out of place or visibly deformed, or an arm you cannot move at all (possible acute dislocation or fracture).
Get seen today (doctor, urgent care, or ER) for: a shoulder that is hot, swollen, red, and severely painful, especially with fever or chills (possible septic arthritis — a joint infection can damage cartilage within days); or sudden inability to lift the arm overhead or to the side after a fall, pull, or pop (possible acute full-thickness rotator cuff tear).
See your doctor promptly (within a few days to a week) for: new numbness or tingling radiating down the arm into the hand; shoulder pain in someone with a history of cancer or unexplained weight loss; or pain that was steadily improving and has sharply flared without a clear trigger.
Schedule a routine appointment for: pain that has persisted more than 4–6 weeks without improvement; night pain disrupting sleep; pain limiting overhead activities; or progressive stiffness suggesting early frozen shoulder.
Source: AHA Warning Signs of a Heart Attack; AAOS OrthoInfo Shoulder Trauma & Rotator Cuff Tears; MedlinePlus Septic Arthritis.
Frequently asked questions
Real questions patients ask about shoulder pain. General education, not medical advice.
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
Check what you know.
The tests above ask about your shoulder. This asks what you know. Eight questions, each keyed to a line on this page; a wrong tap shows the line and where to re-read it. Nothing leaves your phone.
It measures what this page explained, not how your shoulder is doing. For that, use the painful-arc test, the screener and your clinician. In an emergency call 911; in crisis call or text 988 first.
1Shoulder or arm pain comes with chest pressure, shortness of breath, a cold sweat or nausea. What does this page say to do?
2After a fall or a blow, the shoulder looks out of place and the arm cannot be moved. What does this page say to do?
3Can a full-thickness (complete) rotator cuff tear heal on its own?
4An atraumatic full-thickness rotator cuff tear, treated with physical therapy. What did the multicenter study on this page find?
5A painful arc of motion between 60 and 120 degrees of elevation, with strength intact, is the pattern this page links to:
6Frozen shoulder, where pain comes first and stiffness second, usually:
7After a rotator cuff repair, most patients have a functional range of motion and adequate strength by:
8Shoulder pain with numbness that runs below the elbow into the forearm and hand, provoked by neck movement, most likely comes from:
General education, not medical advice
Check the sources linked here, and confirm anything important with your own clinician.
Medical disclaimer: The information on this website is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It does not replace a consultation with a qualified healthcare provider. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately. Always consult your physician or another qualified health provider before starting, stopping, or changing any treatment.
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