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Shoulder Pain & Stiffness Guide

Whether your shoulder is stiff when reaching behind your back, painful at night, or feels unstable overhead, select your symptom pattern below to identify the probable cause.

Step 1: Differentiate Your Shoulder Symptoms

What is the main issue with your shoulder?

Tap the description that best fits your shoulder pain or movement limitation:

Step 2: Accompanying Signs (Optional)

Select any additional factors that apply to your shoulder:

Probable Orthopaedic Impression Scheduled Evaluation

Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)

Selected Pattern: Progressive stiffness and night ache

What Is Happening Inside the Shoulder

Safe General Advice You Can Start Today

    Why an In-Person Orthopaedic Evaluation Is Essential

    Share My Shoulder Symptoms & Book OPD Visit View Shoulder Rehab Guide

    Educational symptom guide only. Definitive diagnosis requires clinical examination and imaging by an orthopaedic specialist.

    Frozen Shoulder vs. Rotator Cuff Tear: Key Differences

    Why treating both the same way can worsen your shoulder pain

    Frozen Shoulder (Passive Stiffness)

    • The "Blocked Door" Test: Even if a family member tries to gently lift your relaxed arm or rotate it outward, it physically stops as if hitting a mechanical block.
    • 3 Clinical Stages: Freezing (painful), Frozen (stiff), and Thawing.
    • Treatment Approach: Requires calming joint capsule inflammation first, blood sugar optimization, and gentle stage-appropriate stretching.

    Rotator Cuff Tear (Active Weakness)

    • The "Weakness" Test: Someone else can lift your arm overhead (passive motion is free), but you cannot lift it or hold it up yourself without pain or the arm dropping.
    • Why Early Diagnosis Matters: Full-thickness cuff tears can retract over time; keyhole arthroscopic repair works best while the tendon muscle is still healthy and elastic.

    Shoulder Red Flags: When to Seek Immediate Emergency Care

    • Acute Shoulder Dislocation: Visible squared-off deformity and severe pain after a fall or sports injury—never let a non-medical person pull on the arm, as this can fracture the humerus or damage axillary nerves.
    • Cardiac Referral Warning: Left shoulder or arm pain accompanied by chest tightness, sweating, jaw pain, or shortness of breath requires immediate cardiac emergency evaluation.

    Consult Dr. Avneet Sandhu in Amritsar

    Morning OPD (No OPD Fees): Mon & Thu, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM at Sri Guru Ram Das Hospital, Valla.
    Evening OPD: Mon – Sat, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM at Amritsar Golden Hospital.

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