Why Won’t My Shoulder Pain Go Away?

Maybe it started as a minor ache after a workout. Maybe you’ve been dealing with an old injury for years. Or maybe your shoulder simply started hurting and you’re not sure why.

Shoulder pain can make everyday movements surprisingly difficult. Reaching into a cabinet, putting on a jacket, carrying groceries, exercising, or even sleeping comfortably can become frustrating when your shoulder isn’t moving the way it should.

If you’ve been waiting for shoulder pain to go away on its own and it hasn’t, it may be time to take a closer look at what’s causing it.

What Does Persistent Shoulder Pain Feel Like?

Shoulder problems don’t always feel the same. Depending on what’s contributing to your discomfort, you may notice:

• A dull or persistent ache
• Sharp pain with certain movements
• Pain when lifting your arm overhead
• Difficulty reaching behind your back
• Stiffness or decreased range of motion
• Weakness in the shoulder or arm
• Clicking, popping, or catching sensations
• Pain that becomes worse after activity
• Shoulder pain that makes it difficult to sleep comfortably

Sometimes shoulder pain improves with rest. When it keeps returning or begins limiting what you can comfortably do, an evaluation can help determine what may be contributing.

Why Does My Shoulder Hurt?

The shoulder is a complex joint that relies on muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and other structures working together to provide a wide range of motion.

Because so many structures are involved, shoulder pain can have a variety of potential causes.

Overuse and Repetitive Movement

Repeated overhead movement, lifting, sports, physical work, and even certain everyday activities can place repeated stress on the shoulder.

Over time, that may lead to irritation and discomfort, particularly if the shoulder isn’t getting enough time to recover.

Previous Injuries

An old shoulder injury can sometimes continue causing problems long after the initial injury has healed.

You may notice recurring pain, reduced mobility, weakness, or discomfort that appears whenever you increase your activity level.

Changes Within the Joint

Wear and tear within the joint can develop over time and may contribute to pain, stiffness, or decreased mobility.

Age can be one factor, but persistent joint pain shouldn’t automatically be dismissed as something you simply have to live with as you get older.

Inflammation or Irritation

Tendons and other structures around the shoulder can become irritated or inflamed, particularly after repetitive activity or injury.

Because different shoulder problems can produce similar symptoms, determining the cause usually requires more than identifying where it hurts.

Why Does My Shoulder Hurt at Night?

For some people, shoulder pain becomes especially noticeable at bedtime.

Lying directly on the affected shoulder can increase discomfort, while certain sleeping positions may place additional pressure on an already irritated area.

You may find yourself constantly changing positions, avoiding one side, or waking during the night because your shoulder hurts.

If shoulder pain is regularly interfering with your sleep, that’s worth discussing with a healthcare provider.

When Should I Have Shoulder Pain Checked?

An occasional ache after strenuous activity may improve with time and rest. Persistent or recurring pain is different.

Consider having your shoulder evaluated if pain has lasted for several weeks, keeps returning, limits your range of motion, interferes with sleep, or prevents you from comfortably doing your normal activities.

Sudden severe pain, significant weakness, obvious deformity, inability to move the arm, or pain following a significant injury should receive prompt medical attention.

Could Regenerative Medicine Be an Option?

Once the cause of your shoulder pain has been evaluated, your provider can discuss treatment options based on your individual needs.

For some patients with certain musculoskeletal conditions, regenerative medicine approaches such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may be considered as part of a treatment plan.

PRP uses a concentration of platelets prepared from a patient’s own blood. These platelets contain growth factors involved in the body’s natural healing processes. Whether PRP is appropriate depends on the condition being treated and the individual patient.

Regenerative medicine isn’t the right solution for every type of shoulder pain, which is why proper evaluation comes first.

Start by Finding Out Why Your Shoulder Hurts

You don’t need to know which treatment you need before scheduling an appointment.

At Restoration Wellness in Lebanon, Tennessee, we can evaluate your symptoms, discuss how your shoulder pain is affecting your daily life, and help determine appropriate next steps.

If shoulder pain isn’t going away or is keeping you from doing the things you enjoy, schedule a joint pain consultation with Restoration Wellness.