Shoulder Pain and the Shoulder Joint

The stage-by-stage question with a painful shoulder starts with the joint itself. According to MedlinePlus, your shoulders are the most movable joints in your body.

Articles by stage

Four articles follow, each for a different point in a shoulder problem. Read the one that matches what you feel now, and use a guide to how the shoulder joint works if you want the anatomy first.

• Shoulder Bursitis Flare Relief is for a flare of bursitis.
• Rotator Cuff Tear Treatment Options is for readers choosing among treatments for a tear.
• Frozen Shoulder Stiffness Stages is for stiffness that changes over time.
• Calcific Tendonitis in the Shoulder is for readers asking about calcific tendonitis.

Why the joint shapes the timeline

Your own notes make the timeline. Note which movements feel different from last month and bring that list to an appointment in Clifton.

When to see a clinician

Treat a shoulder that is getting worse from one week to the next, or that no longer settles after a flare, as a reason to book a visit. For wider reading first, a pain management resource offers general background.