Published: June 19, 2026
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
It can take you by surprise — that pain in your shoulder when raising an arm over your head. Maybe you’re reaching for a top-shelf item or waving to a friend, but sudden aching or sharp pain when lifting the arm up is a common complaint, especially in middle-aged and older adults. Causes of pain in the shoulder joint or surrounding area can feel like achiness, soreness or stiffness. There are a few causes, and some may require medical attention.
Early diagnosis is key.“Many people wait too long to have shoulder pain evaluated, but earlier diagnosis really does lead to better recovery,” said Joshua M. Christensen, M.D. “If you’re losing sleep over it or noticing significant weakness, or the pain has lasted more than a couple of days — that’s your signal to come in. We have sophisticated imaging tools that can pinpoint exactly what’s going on, and the sooner we identify the cause, the more options we have for getting you back to full function.”
The shoulder joint is a complex piece of anatomy and includes the joint itself, shoulder blade (scapula), collarbone (clavicle) and the upper arm bone (humerus), as well as surrounding tissue, cartilage and fascia. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder and allow a range of motion in the arm. The rotator cuff tendon connects the upper arm bone to the shoulder blade. Any of these areas can become irritated or injured from many causes.
Overhead movement of the arm can put stress on the joint and result in pain, weakness and reduced range of motion. When you raise your arm overhead, the tendon can become compressed or pinched. If the muscles of the shoulder are weak, the strain on the joint increases. The arc of pain is a classic symptom of compression and tendinitis and causes pain between about 60 degrees and 120 degrees of arm elevation. If you lift your arm to the side and feel pain, that may be a sign of a more serious issue.
There are several possible causes of shoulder pain, including:
Many people wait too long to have shoulder pain diagnosed by a healthcare provider. Earlier diagnosis leads to better long-term results and can slow or reverse the condition and lead to better quality of life. Often an imaging scan is needed to accurately diagnose these conditions.
Visit a healthcare provider if you:
Visit an emergency department if you have chest pain or difficulty breathing in addition to shoulder pain.
“Shoulder pain doesn’t automatically mean surgery. We always start with the least-invasive options — rest, physical therapy, targeted rotator cuff strengthening, anti-inflammatory medications — and most patients respond well to those approaches,” Dr. Christensen said. “Surgery is only on the table when conservative care has been thoroughly tried. Our goal is to find the most effective, lowest-cost path to restoring your motion and relieving your pain.”
Your healthcare provider likely will start with noninvasive treatments, including:
Sometimes conservative care is not enough. If you have tried everything, surgery may be your next step. If you have tried months of the above noninvasive pain relief and mobility-restoring techniques, surgery may help you regain quality of life, reduce pain and experience other benefits.
Two types of surgery include arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (minimally invasive) and shoulder replacement (total shoulder arthroplasty).
Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (replacement) — Reverse total shoulder replacement (R-TSR) is a procedure designed for patients with significant rotator cuff tears, severe arthritis or failed previous shoulder replacements. By switching the places of the joint’s ball and socket, R-TSR uses the deltoid muscle instead of the damaged cuff muscles for movement. Recovery takes several months, with a sling used for three to four weeks. It generally offers high success rates for pain relief and restoring function and motion.
The shoulder specialists at Norton Orthopedic Institute have the experience and knowledge to identify conservative treatments, typically with lower cost, that can be effective for your condition. Norton Orthopedic Institute shoulder specialists use sophisticated imaging and other diagnostic tools to pinpoint the cause of your pain. Then, working with you, they’ll develop a personalized treatment and rehabilitation plan to help restore motion and ease pain.
Norton Orthopedic Institute’s board-certified and fellowship-trained surgeons are at the forefront of using minimally invasive techniques and robotics for precision. Nonsurgical orthopedic specialists are trained and experienced in the latest approaches to relieving bone and joint pain without surgery. Sports medicine specialists help athletes and other active adults recover from injury, prevent reinjury and get back to moving without pain.