Diagnose your shoulder problem

  
Urgent referral
Swelling increasing in size - exclude tumour
Fever with swollen / painful joint - exclude infection
Loss of shoulder motion after injury to shoulder - exclude rotator cuff tear
Sudden severe shoulder pain - exclude calcific tendinitis
Age
Symptoms (complaints)
Signs (physical findings)
Diagnosis
25 - 70
Neck pain & stiffness
Pain base of neck / shoulder blade
Pain radiating down the entire arm
Tingling / numbness in arm, forearm & fingers
Neck stiff
Neck movements reproduce symptoms
Neurological signs in arm
 
Neck pathology
35 - 75
Pain upper arm / lateral to acromiom
Night pain
Difficulty using arm above shoulder height
35 - 75
Pain upper arm / lateral to acromiom
Night pain
Difficulty using arm above shoulder height
History of fall
Weakness on abduction of arm
 
30 - 50
Pain front of shoulder
Difficulty sleeping on affected side
Difficulty using arm above shoulder height
Tender / bump over AC joint
Pain when arm is moved across the body
 
40 - 60
Pain front of shoulder
Severe pain
Shoulder stiffness
History of diabetes / thyroid problems
 
60 onwards
Pain front of shoulder
Severe pain
Shoulder stiffness
Grating / creaking noises from shoulder
 
 
10 - 35
History of shoulder dislocation
Feeling of instability
Shoulder pops / slips out of joint
Apprehension with shoulder in external rotation & abduction
 
20 - 40
History of traction injury to shoulder / throwing or overhead motions of shoulder
Popping / snapping of shoulder
 
Reproducing anterior shoulder pain when resistance applied to forearm held at shoulder height
 
 
Any age
History of surgery / injury to the posterior triangle of neck
Fascioscapulohumeral dystrophy
Swimmers
Prominence of medial border of scapula when patient pushes with outstretched hand against a wall
 

 Shoulder examination

Opinions expressed are those of the author Sunil Sharma and are intended to be used as a simple aid to help patients understand more about the conditions and treatments described. Patients should always consult a qualified doctor regarding diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.