Referred pain means that a problem exists somewhere else in the body other than where you feel the pain. It causes unexplained pain in the shoulder that does not change or subside when you move your neck, shoulder, or arm or that occurs with symptoms elsewhere.

Causes of referred shoulder pain may include

• Osteoarthritis

• Brachial plexus injury

• Cervical disc bulge

• Cervical facet joint sprain

• Cervical postural syndrome

• Cervical spine degeneration (neck arthritis)

• Thoracic disc bulge

• Thoracic facet joint sprain

• Thoracic postural syndrome

• Costovertebral joint sprain

• Spinal degeneration (thoracic)

Regardless of patient type, prior to initiating treatment the orthopaedic surgeon does a thorough history and physical examination. Where indicated, additional information is obtained through X-ray images or MRI.