Ambulance 912HAP 9252
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Shoulder problems

Shoulder problems can arise from tendons, a bursa, the joint capsule, a joint, the neck or nerves. Many improve with adjusted activity and gradual movement. Pain after a serious injury, a red and warm joint, loss of arm function or pain with chest symptoms needs prompt assessment.

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Shoulder problems can arise from tendons, a bursa, the joint capsule, a joint, the neck or nerves. Many improve with adjusted activity and gradual movement. Pain after a serious injury, a red and warm joint, loss of arm function or pain with chest symptoms needs prompt assessment.

  • Pain when lifting the arm, reaching, dressing, lifting objects or lying on the affected side.
  • Stiffness and difficulty moving the arm above the head or behind the back.
  • Keep using the arm gently within an acceptable level of pain, and avoid keeping it completely still for a long time without advice.
  • Temporarily reduce heavy lifting and repeated overhead work, but keep up light daily movement.
  • Make an appointment if symptoms do not improve after a few weeks of adjusted activity or greatly limit sleep and functioning.
  • For urgent GP care outside normal opening hours, call HAP 9252. Call Ambulance 912 only for an immediately life-threatening situation.

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Further reading

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T
Tennis elbowTennis elbow causes pain on the outside of the elbow through overloading the tendons that extend the wrist and fingers. Symptoms often improve gradually with adjusted activity and exercises; sudden weakness, a red hot joint or an injury with deformity needs a different assessment.
N
Neck painNeck pain usually comes from muscles, joints and temporary overloading, and often improves with continued movement. Prompt assessment is needed after an accident, with fever and serious illness, or with new loss of arm or leg function.
B
Broken vertebraA broken vertebra, one of the bones of the spine, may result from a serious accident, but also from osteoporosis after a small movement or fall. Some fractures are stable; others may threaten the spinal cord or nerves. Keep someone as still as possible after major trauma, and have new weakness, loss of sensation, breathing problems or loss of bladder or bowel control assessed immediately.