Did this pain start suddenly and now you have a pressure-like feeling in the shoulder?

Yes No

Yes?

Continue

Did it start suddenly and now it is like a crushing pain in the shoulder?

Yes No

Let's make sure you are not looking at a heart attack in progress.

Continue

Does this pain run from your jaw to the shoulder?

Or run from the neck to your shoulder?

Yes No

Emergency!
Call 911.

Note:
We do not advice continuing. You should only continue if you are not experiencing the question asked.
Pull down this page to continue.

Call 911

Does the pain run from your chest to your shoulder?

Yes No

Emergency!
Call 911.

Note:
We do not advice continuing. You should only continue if you are not experiencing the question asked.
Pull down this page to continue.

Call 911

Are you feeling dizzy and sweating with this shoulder pain?

Yes No

Emergency!
Call 911.

Note:
We do not advice continuing. You should only continue if you are not experiencing the question asked.
Pull down this page to continue.

Call 911

What about feeling short on breath with this shoulder pain that started suddenly?

Yes No

Go to the Emergency Room.

Note:
We do not advice continuing. You should only continue if you are not experiencing the question asked.
Pull down this page to continue.

Nearest ER

We've tried to rule out a possible heart attack coming on.

Sudden unfamiliar shoulder pain may be a sign of a heart attack coming on.

Now let's see if you need to visit the nearest urgent care or see a doctor for this shoulder pain.

Continue

Seek urgent care or emergency room.

Nearest Clinic Continue

Do you have fever with this shoulder pain?

Yes No

Seek urgent care or call the doctor.

Nearest Clinic Continue

Is the shoulder swollen and red?

Or looking bluish?

Yes No

Seek urgent care or call the doctor.

Nearest Clinic Continue

Is this shoulder pain lasting longer than 1 to 2 weeks?

Yes No

Time to see a doctor.

Nearest Clinic Continue

Do you have a history of arthritis?

Yes No

Seek urgent care or call the doctor.

Nearest Clinic Continue

Seek urgent care if dislocation or a direct shoulder injury.

If none of the above discussions so far apply to you, then you may be looking at an inflammation such as bursitis, overuse or injury of nearby tendons, such as the bicep muscles of your arms.

Let's continue and see what can come up with.

Continue

Yes?

Try pressing around the shoulder joint.

Do you feel pain or tenderness?

Yes No

Yes?

OK. Try moving the shoulder joint.

Any feeling of stiffness or achiness?

Yes No

Yes?

Is there swelling over the affected shoulder joint?

Yes No

Yes?
You may be looking at bursitis.

It is adviceable to see a doctor for this because you may need some steroid shots or your doctor may need to drain the fluid from the sac if it is infected and give appropriate antibiotics often against stap. aureus.

FYI Continue

What about redness over the shoulder joint?

Or feeling warm to touch?

Yes No

Yes?
Most likely looking at bursitis.

See a doctor for this. You may need steroid shots or the doctor may need to drain the fluid from the sac if it is infected and give appropriate antibiotics.

Continue

Try putting on a coat or a jacket.

Is the shoulder painful?

Yes No

Yes?
We are thinking a possible bursitis.

Continue

Oh well.
Those were the signs and symptoms of bursitis.

If none of the signs or symptoms apply to you, you may have just a shoulder sprain or slept on the shoulder in a wrong way.

You could also be looking at injury of nearby tendons, such as the bicep muscles of your arms.

Let's see what a pharmacist recommend you do to help with the shoulder pain

Or would like to go to the nearest urgent care clinic if you are thinking bursitis?

Urgent Care Continue