Shoulder Pain Diagnosis Chart Free
(Free Self-Help Guide Inside)
Shoulder pain can be frustrating, especially when you’re not sure what’s causing it. Whether it’s rotator cuff pain, frozen shoulder, or back ache between the shoulder blades, finding the root cause is the first step to relief.
This guide will walk you through a shoulder pain diagnosis chart, common symptoms, and the best non-surgical self-help options.
👉 And if you’d like to go deeper, don’t miss my FREE Shoulder Self-Help Guide — covering 18+ shoulder conditions with clear, plain-English advice.
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Common Causes of Shoulder Pain
Here’s a simplified chart of the most frequent shoulder problems I see:
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy → pain lifting your arm, worse at night, painful arc of motion.
- Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) → deep ache, stiffness in all directions.
- Shoulder impingement / bursitis → pain when reaching overhead or behind your back.
- AC joint pain → pain on top of the shoulder, especially with pressing or reaching across your body.
- Upper back pain in between shoulder blades → often linked to posture, thoracic stiffness, or muscle imbalance.
💡 Each of these conditions can often be improved with early, safe rehab exercises — but knowing which one you have is key.
When to Seek Urgent Help
While most shoulder pain is not dangerous, seek medical advice if you experience:
- Sudden inability to raise your arm after an injury
- A hot, swollen joint with fever
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arm/hand
- Pain that doesn’t improve after 2–3 weeks of self-care
👉 More details: NHS advice on shoulder pain
First Steps You Can Try at Home
Stay gently active — complete rest can make stiffness worse.
Try ice or heat — whichever feels better for your pain.
Gentle stretches — especially for posture and thoracic mobility.
Strengthen your upper back — see my post: Strengthen Your Thoracic Spine & Relieve Upper Back Pain
Free Shoulder Self-Help Guide (Download)
If you’d like structured guidance, I’ve created a FREE Shoulder Self-Help Guide:
✅ Covers 18+ shoulder problems in plain English
✅ First-72-hour steps and safe home rehab (2–6 weeks)
✅ Red-flag checklist so you know when to see a doctor
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