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Shoulder Problems and Injuries

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Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Step One

Step Two

Step Three

If you have any of the following symptoms, evaluate those symptoms first.

Chest pain: Go to the topic Chest Pain.
Abdominal pain: Go to the topic Abdominal Pain, Age 12 and Older or Abdominal Pain, Age 11 and Younger.
Difficulty breathing: Go to the topic Respiratory Problems, Age 12 and Older or Respiratory Problems, Age 11 and Younger.
Bleeding: Go to the topic Cuts or Punctures.


	Yes

Does your shoulder look twisted, bent out of shape, or out of its normal position?


	Yes

Does your collarbone (clavicle) look twisted, bent out of shape, or out of its normal position?


	Yes

Do you have pain or tenderness in your shoulder?


	Yes

Has your hand or arm turned pale, white, blue, or cold after a shoulder injury?


	Yes

Do you have numbness or tingling in or below your shoulder?


	Yes

Are you unable to move your shoulder normally?


	Yes

Do you have swelling in or around the shoulder?


	Yes

Do you have snapping, popping, or grating in your shoulder?


	Yes

Do you think that a shoulder injury may have been caused by abuse?


	Yes

Do you think you have inflammation or infection in your shoulder?


	Yes

Is your shoulder bruised after an injury?


	Yes

Does your shoulder look twisted, bent out of shape, or out of its normal position?


	Yes

Do you think you have broken or dislocated your shoulder?


	Yes

Did your shoulder pop, move, or get pulled out of its normal position and then return to its normal position?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Does your collarbone look twisted, bent out of shape, or out of its normal position?


	Yes

Do you think you have broken or dislocated your collarbone?


	Yes

Did your collarbone pop, move, or get pulled out of its normal position and then return to its normal position?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have severe pain?


	Yes

Do you have shoulder pain (not from an injury) that does not change when you move your neck, shoulder, or arm? Note: Shoulder pain that does not change with movement may be related to chest pain or symptoms of a heart attack.


	Yes

Do you have pain with swelling or bruising that began within 30 minutes of an injury?


	Yes

Do you have moderate pain that is getting worse?


	Yes

Is a young child protecting a shoulder or unable to use an arm?


	Yes

Do you have moderate pain that has not gotten better after 24 hours of home treatment?


	Yes

Is your shoulder tender to the touch but not red or swollen after 24 hours of home treatment?


	Yes

Does moving or lifting your arm still cause shoulder pain after 48 hours of home treatment?


	Yes

Does shoulder pain keep you awake at night?


	Yes

Have you had mild pain that comes and goes with no other symptoms for 1 week or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Is your arm pale, white, blue, or cold below the shoulder?


	Yes

After having a shoulder splint applied, has your hand or arm turned pale, white, blue or cold? Note: See first aid for a cast or splint that may be too tight.

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Have you had new numbness or tingling for more than a few minutes?


	Yes

Do you have numbness or tingling in your hand or arm, and your hand or arm is pale, white, blue, or cold?


	Yes

Are you unable to move your shoulder normally (not because of pain or because a splint is in the way)?


	Yes

Have you had steady numbness or tingling in your arm or hand for 1 hour or longer without other loss of function?


	Yes

Has your numbness or tingling become worse?


	Yes

Have you had brief episodes (less than 1 hour) of numbness or tingling off and on for 1 week or longer?


	Yes

Has numbness or tingling that comes and goes slowly been getting worse for 1 week or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Is your shoulder locked in one position, and you are unable to move it normally?


	Yes

Do you have severe pain?


	Yes

Does your shoulder feel loose or unstable, and a lot of swelling has developed within 30 minutes?


	Yes

After having a shoulder splint applied, are you unable to move your arm normally (not because the splint is in the way)?


	Yes

Does your shoulder feel loose or unstable, but you do not have other symptoms?


	Yes

Is a young child carefully protecting his or her shoulder or unable to use an arm?


	Yes

Are you unable to lift your arm above your head after an injury?


	Yes

Do you have shoulder stiffness or decreased movement after 48 hours of home treatment?


	Yes

Do you have muscle spasms with movement?


	Yes

Does your shoulder lock up from time to time, but it is not locked up now?


	Yes

Has your shoulder felt loose or unstable off and on for a long time, and your symptoms have not been evaluated by a doctor?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Is the area below the swollen area is cold or pale?


	Yes

Has a lot of swelling developed within 30 minutes of an injury?


	Yes

Have you had joint swelling for longer than 24 hours but you have not had an injury?


	Yes

Do you have moderate swelling from an injury after 48 hours of home treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Does your shoulder look twisted, bent, or out of its normal position after an injury?


	Yes

Are you unable to move your shoulder normally after an injury?


	Yes

Does your shoulder feel loose or unstable after an injury?


	Yes

Do you have snapping, popping, or grating in your shoulder after an injury, but there are no changes in its appearance or movement?


	Yes

Have you had a lot of swelling within 30 minutes of the injury?


	Yes

Have you had snapping, popping, and pain in your shoulder with normal movement for 1 week or longer?


	Yes

Does your shoulder snap or pop during normal movement, but it does not cause pain?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you think that a shoulder injury may have been caused by abuse?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have increased swelling, redness, or warmth around your shoulder?


	Yes

Do you have severe pain with movement of your shoulder?


	Yes

Do you have red streaks extending from your shoulder toward your chest or neck?


	Yes

Is your shoulder tender to the touch?


	Yes

Do you have any drainage of pus from your shoulder?


	Yes

Do you know or think you have a fever?


	Yes

Do you have diabetes?


	Yes

Do you have peripheral arterial disease?


	Yes

Do you have a disease or take a medicine that causes problems with your immune system?


	Yes

Do you have any symptoms of a skin infection around your shoulder?


	Yes

Have you had mild pain and swelling with redness less than around the shoulder for 48 hours or longer?


	Yes

Have you had swollen lymph nodes in the armpit or neck for 1 week or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Did a bruise that is as large as the injured person's palm develop within 30 minutes of an injury?


	Yes

Did a painful, swollen bruise develop within 30 minutes of an injury?


	Yes

Are you worried about how easily you bruise?


	Yes

Have bruises from an injury lasted longer than 2 weeks?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Other Symptoms to Watch For

If you have any of the following symptoms, evaluate those symptoms first.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: November 23, 2009

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.