JASMA

That annoying ache in your right shoulder that creeps down your arm isn’t just “getting old”
or “I slept funny.” Shoulder pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints in the
United States, and your right side is often the star of the show thanks to computer mice,
dominant hands, and weekend warrior projects gone wrong.

The tricky part? Right shoulder and arm pain can come from several very different problems
some are minor overuse issues, and a few are medical emergencies. Understanding which
is which can help you decide whether you need rest, physical therapy, or a 911 call.

Below, we’ll walk through six common causes of right shoulder and arm pain, what they feel
like, and what you can do next including simple home strategies, when to call your doctor,
and the red flags you should never ignore.

Why your right shoulder and arm hurt in the first place

Your shoulder is a complex joint where your upper arm bone, shoulder blade, and collarbone
meet. A group of muscles and tendons called the rotator cuff helps keep the
joint stable while you lift, reach, and rotate your arm. Nerves from your neck travel
down your shoulder and into your arm and hand, which is why a problem in your neck can
show up as tingling in your fingers.

Pain on the right side often comes from:

• Overuse or injury to muscles, tendons, or ligaments
• Wear-and-tear changes in the joints
• Pinched nerves in the neck
• “Referred” pain from organs like the heart or gallbladder

Let’s break down six of the most common culprits and the smartest ways to respond.

1. Rotator cuff strain, tendinitis, or tear

What it is

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and tendons that wrap around the top of your
upper arm bone. They help you lift your arm overhead, reach out to the side, and rotate
your shoulder. When these tendons become irritated (tendinitis), inflamed, or torn,
you get the classic “shoulder pain when I lift my arm” story.

How it feels

• A dull ache deep in the shoulder, especially on the outside
• Pain when lifting the arm above shoulder level or reaching behind your back
• Weakness you might struggle to lift a jug of milk or reach into a cabinet
• Worse pain at night, often when lying on the affected side

Why it often hits the right side

Many people are right-handed, so the right shoulder tends to be the “workhorse” for
throwing, lifting, carrying kids, doing DIY projects, and endless computer mouse use.
Repeated overhead or reaching motions can slowly wear on the rotator cuff tendons until
they start to complain.

What to do

• Rest from painful activities, especially overhead lifting and heavy carrying.
• Ice or heat: Ice helps early on for soreness; heat can be soothing later.
• Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen may help,
  if your doctor says they’re safe for you.
• Physical therapy: Research supports physical therapy exercises to improve
  strength and range of motion for many rotator cuff injuries and even some small tears.
• See an orthopedic specialist if the pain is severe, you can’t lift your arm, or the pain
  has lasted more than a few weeks.

Large or traumatic tears sometimes require surgery, but many people improve with non-surgical
treatment.

2. Shoulder impingement and bursitis

What it is

In shoulder impingement, the tendons of the rotator cuff rub or “impinge”
under a bony arch at the top of the shoulder when you lift your arm. This repeated pinching
can irritate the tendons and the small fluid-filled sac (bursa) that acts as a cushion
leading to bursitis.

How it feels

• Sharp pain when raising your arm between shoulder height and overhead
• Difficulty reaching up to get items from high shelves or putting on a jacket
• Soreness over the top or outside of the shoulder
• Pain often improves when your arm is at your side

What to do

• Activity changes: Temporarily avoid repetitive overhead motions, heavy lifting,
  and sleeping directly on the right shoulder.
• Posture resets: Rounded shoulders and a forward head can narrow the space
  in the shoulder. Gentle posture and scapular-strengthening exercises help open it back up.
• Physical therapy can teach targeted stretches and strengthening moves to
  relieve impingement and protect the joint long term.
• A healthcare professional may recommend corticosteroid injections in some
  stubborn cases to calm inflammation.

3. Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)

What it is

Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is a condition where the capsule
around the shoulder joint thickens, tightens, and becomes stiff. Over time the joint
moves less and less like someone gradually tightening a belt around your shoulder.
It often develops after you’ve had to keep the shoulder still for a long time, such as
after surgery or an injury.

How it feels

• Deep, aching pain in the shoulder, often worse at night
• Very limited range of motion you can’t reach overhead, out to the side, or behind you
• Pain may be intense at first (“freezing” stage), then stiffness dominates (“frozen” stage),
  followed by gradual improvement (“thawing” stage)

What to do

• See your doctor or a physical therapist if your shoulder is becoming steadily
  stiffer and more painful.
• Guided stretching exercises are the mainstay of treatment and can gradually
  restore motion over months.
• Anti-inflammatory medications, steroid injections, or procedures like hydrodilatation
  (stretching the joint capsule with fluid) may be recommended for severe cases.
• The good news: most frozen shoulders eventually improve over one to three years, although
  patience is required.

4. Cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve in the neck)

What it is

Sometimes the problem isn’t in your shoulder at all. Cervical radiculopathy
happens when a nerve root in your neck is pinched or irritated by a bulging disc, bone spur,
or narrowing of the spinal canal. That nerve then sends pain, tingling, or weakness down
your arm often on just one side, like the right.

How it feels

• Pain that starts in the neck and radiates into the shoulder, arm, or hand
• “Pins and needles,” numbness, or burning along the arm or into specific fingers
• Weakness dropping objects, trouble gripping, or difficulty raising the arm
• Pain may worsen when you turn or tilt your head toward the affected side, cough,
  or strain.

What to do

• Get evaluated: Because this involves your spine and nerves, a clinician
  should assess strength, reflexes, and sensation and may order imaging if needed.
• Conservative care like physical therapy, posture correction, and short-term
  use of anti-inflammatory medications often helps many people.
• If you have significant or worsening weakness, loss of coordination, or problems with
  bladder or bowel control, seek urgent medical attention.

5. Shoulder osteoarthritis

What it is

Osteoarthritis is the classic “wear-and-tear” arthritis. Over time, the
cartilage that cushions the shoulder joint breaks down. Bones can rub against each other,
causing pain, stiffness, and sometimes grinding or clicking sensations. Shoulder arthritis
is less common than knee or hip arthritis but can still be a significant source of right
shoulder and arm pain.

How it feels

• A deep ache in the shoulder, often worse with activity
• Stiffness, especially after rest or first thing in the morning
• Grinding or popping when you move the joint
• Gradual loss of range of motion over months or years

What to do

• Stay gently active: Motion helps lubricate the joint. Light range-of-motion
  work often feels better than complete rest.
• Strengthen surrounding muscles with guidance from a physical therapist.
• Your doctor may suggest anti-inflammatory medications or injections to
  manage flares.
• For severe arthritis that limits daily activities, joint replacement surgery may eventually
  be considered.

6. Referred pain: heart, lungs, or gallbladder

What it is

Not all right shoulder and arm pain comes from muscles and joints. Sometimes your brain
“misreads” signals from internal organs and feels them as shoulder or arm pain. This is
called referred pain.

Two big red-flag examples:

• Heart attack: Pain or discomfort from a heart attack can spread to one or
  both arms, the shoulder, neck, jaw, or back not just the chest.
• Gallbladder problems: Gallstones or inflammation can cause pain in the upper
  right abdomen that sometimes radiates to the right shoulder or shoulder blade.

How it feels

Referred pain is often:

• Not clearly linked to movement of the shoulder
• Accompanied by other symptoms like chest pressure, shortness of breath, sweating,
  nausea, or abdominal pain
• Diffuse or hard to pinpoint, rather than a specific sore spot you can touch

What to do emergency red flags

Call emergency services right away if your shoulder or arm pain is accompanied by any of
the following:

• Chest pain, pressure, squeezing, or fullness
• Pain that spreads to the jaw, neck, back, or both arms
• Shortness of breath, breaking out in a cold sweat, or feeling lightheaded
• Sudden nausea, vomiting, or a feeling of impending doom

These can be signs of a heart attack, especially in people with risk factors like high
blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or a history of heart disease. Do not
try to drive yourself to the hospital call for emergency medical help.

When right shoulder and arm pain means “see a doctor”

You don’t need medical attention for every twinge. However, make an appointment with a
healthcare professional if:

• The pain lasts more than a couple of weeks despite rest and basic care.
• It’s getting worse instead of better.
• You can’t move your arm normally or raise it above shoulder level.
• You notice weakness, dropping objects, or difficulty with fine motor tasks.
• You have night pain that repeatedly wakes you up.

A clinician may recommend imaging like X-rays, ultrasound, or MRI, and often physical
therapy as a first-line treatment for many shoulder problems.

Simple things you can do at home for right shoulder and arm pain

While your exact plan depends on the cause, a few general strategies are often safe and
helpful for mild to moderate shoulder discomfort:

• Respect the pain, but keep gentle motion. Total immobilization can make
  some conditions, like frozen shoulder, worse over time. Move within a comfortable range.
• Take a posture break every 30–60 minutes. If you work at a computer, set
  a reminder to roll your shoulders, gently stretch your neck, and reset your sitting
  position.
• Adjust your workstation. Keep the mouse close to your body, your elbow
  relaxed at your side, and your screen at eye level to reduce strain on the right shoulder.
• Alternate sides. Carry bags on different shoulders, switch mouse hands
  occasionally (even for short tasks), and balance one-sided sports with general strength
  and mobility training.
• Warm up before activity. Light dynamic movements before sports or weight-lifting
  can help prepare your shoulders.

Always talk with a healthcare professional before starting new exercises if your pain
is severe, you’ve had recent trauma, or you have other medical conditions.

Real-life experiences with right shoulder and arm pain

It’s one thing to list diagnoses and treatment options. It’s another to live with right
shoulder and arm pain while trying to do normal life things like getting dressed, lifting
a toddler, or reaching for a coffee mug without wincing. Here are a few common “real world”
scenarios that help bring the causes and solutions to life.

The desk-job rotator cuff wake-up call

Imagine a 42-year-old office worker who spends most days clicking a mouse with the right
hand, shoulders slightly hunched, and laptop perched just a bit too low. At first, there’s
only mild soreness at the end of a long day. Over months, the ache creeps up. One weekend,
after painting a ceiling, the pain in the right shoulder becomes sharp and doesn’t settle
down especially when reaching overhead.

At the clinic, the exam shows pain and weakness when lifting the arm to the side and
rotating it outward, pointing toward a rotator cuff problem. With a mix of physical
therapy, better workstation setup, and smarter warm-ups before DIY projects, the pain
gradually eases and strength returns. The big takeaway: repetitive “light” tasks can be
just as stressful to the shoulder as heavier one-time efforts if you never give the joint
a break.

The weekend athlete with impingement

Now picture a recreational tennis player in their 30s who loves serving big and playing
several matches in a row. Over time, the right shoulder starts to protest with a sharp,
catching pain during the serving motion especially in the middle of the arc on the way
up. Everyday tasks like hanging curtains suddenly hurt too.

The likely culprit: impingement and bursitis from repeated overhead swings. A few weeks
of relative rest, focused strengthening of the shoulder blade muscles, and coaching to
tweak the serve mechanics make a big difference. Within a couple of months, the player
is back on the court, this time with a proper warm-up and a healthier respect for shoulder
conditioning.

The “frozen” shoulder after surgery

A different story: someone in their 50s has hand surgery and, to protect the hand, keeps
the whole right arm tucked close to the body for weeks. The hand heals, but the shoulder
becomes more and more stubborn. Reaching overhead to get a plate or behind the back to
fasten clothing feels nearly impossible. The pain is deep, and the joint feels stuck,
not just sore.

This pattern fits frozen shoulder, which often shows up after periods of immobilization.
With guided stretching, gentle but consistent home exercises, and time, the “ice block”
shoulder gradually warms up and motion returns. It doesn’t happen overnight, but many
people fully regain function and learn to keep the shoulder moving after future procedures.

The neck that fooled everyone

One more scenario: a person in their late 30s starts waking up with right shoulder and
arm pain that runs down to the forearm, sometimes with tingling in the thumb and index
finger. Shoulder X-rays are normal. They notice that looking down at a phone for long
periods or driving with the head slightly turned makes the arm symptoms flare.

In this case, the true issue is a pinched nerve in the neck (cervical radiculopathy),
not a shoulder joint problem. Neck-focused physical therapy, ergonomic changes, and posture
work significantly reduce the symptoms. The lesson: if your pain has a strong “electric”
or tingling character and travels in a specific line down the arm, looking at the neck
is just as important as looking at the shoulder.

The red-flag shoulder that saved a life

Finally, consider someone who suddenly develops a pressure-like discomfort in the chest
that radiates into the right shoulder and arm, along with shortness of breath and a cold
sweat. It would be easy to blame the shoulder, especially if it’s the side that’s usually
overworked. But these are classic warning signs of a heart attack.

This person calls emergency services instead of waiting it out, receives rapid treatment,
and avoids major heart damage. It’s a powerful reminder: sometimes shoulder and arm pain
are your body’s alarm system for something far more serious than a strained muscle.
When in doubt, especially with chest symptoms, it’s always safer to get checked quickly.

The bottom line

Right shoulder and arm pain has many possible causes, from irritated tendons to pinched
nerves to heart problems. While mild pain often improves with rest, smart movement, and
better posture, persistent or severe symptoms deserve a closer look.

If your right shoulder and arm pain is lingering, keeps you up at night, limits everyday
tasks, or comes with red-flag signs like chest discomfort or shortness of breath, don’t
ignore it. A timely evaluation can help you get the right diagnosis, start effective
treatment, and protect not just your shoulder but your overall health.

This information is educational and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice.
Always talk with a healthcare professional about new or worsening pain.